A new data-driven study by OnlyGuider, supported by traffic analytics firm OnlyTraffic, has shed light on the hidden economics of OnlyFans. After examining nearly 59 million transactions from over 1 million subscribers and nearly 3,000 content creators, the research reveals a sharp economic divide on the platform, and a high-stakes game for those trying to earn a living.

Key Findings:

• Just 4.2% of Subscribers Pay: Out of 1,003,855 subscribers analyzed, only 42,162 made purchases. The remaining 95.8% consume free content or do not engage.
• $48.52 Average Spend per Paying Subscriber: While most subscribers spend nothing, those who pay average just under $50 per creator.
• Top 0.1% of Creators Earn $146,881/Month: A minuscule group of elite creators—representing only one in a thousand—collect 76% of all revenue on the platform.
• Whales Drive Revenue: Just 0.01% of subscribers, known as “whales,” are responsible for 20.2% of all money spent. These high-value users are a critical revenue source.
• Revenue per Subscriber is Just $2.06: Across the board, creators earn an average of $2.06 per subscriber, underscoring the importance of low acquisition costs and strong sales tactics.
• Messages, Not Subscriptions, Are the Gold Mine: Messages account for nearly 70% of all creator income, while subscriptions represent only 4.1%. Direct interaction proves far more lucrative.
• Spending Peaks Early: More than 83% of revenue is generated within the first 48 hours of a new subscription. Early engagement is essential.
• Weekends Are Prime Time: Almost 30% of weekly revenue is earned on Saturday and Sunday. Including Friday, weekend-related spending jumps to 44.3%.
• Low Engagement, Big Impact: Only 17.2% of subscribers start a conversation with creators, but these initial messages often determine revenue potential. Even fewer—just 4.2%—go on to make purchases.

The findings confirm a stark reality: OnlyFans’ success is highly concentrated and demands strong engagement strategies. New subscribers must be greeted promptly with personalized messages and high-conversion offers, ideally within the first 24 hours. Creators who fail to act during this short window risk losing nearly all revenue potential from a subscriber.

Moreover, creators should prioritize their highest spenders. Just a handful of users are responsible for a disproportionate share of the income, meaning time and marketing resources should be allocated to identifying and retaining these “whales.”

The data also highlights the importance of sales-focused communication. While subscriptions provide stable monthly income, messages, tips, and personalized content dominate platform earnings. For creators, that means acting more like digital sales professionals than passive performers.

As OnlyFans continues to grow, the platform’s economic landscape favors creators who can convert fleeting interest into rapid, high-value interaction. The overwhelming majority of users never pay, but for those who do, the financial stakes are high.

With engagement patterns peaking on weekends and within the first 48 hours, success may depend on planning, persistence, and knowing exactly who—and how—to target.

You can read the full study at onlyguider.com, and you can follow them on X at @onlyguider.