- The OnlyFans fee in its own Terms of Service
- Which OnlyFans payments the 20% applies to
- How OnlyFans pays creators and what can slow it
- OnlyFans rules that can reduce your earnings
- Tax on OnlyFans income
- How the OnlyFans fee compares with other creator platforms
- OnlyFans creator checklist
- Frequently asked questions
OnlyFans takes 20% of every fan payment, so creators keep the other eighty percent before tax and any bank or currency charges. Its Terms of Service say the fee is calculated as 20% of the total fan payment and deducted from each one, whether it's a subscription, a tip or a paid message. OnlyFans is for adults only: you must be 18 or older.
OnlyFans gets talked about a lot, but its fee is one of the easiest in the creator world to explain, because it's written plainly in the platform's own terms. I'll keep this factual: what OnlyFans keeps, what reaches you, and the conditions in the small print that are worth reading before you sign up.
A quick note first. OnlyFans is an adults-only platform. Its terms say you must be at least 18 to register, and that applies to fans and creators alike.
The OnlyFans fee in its own Terms of Service
The Terms of Service set it out in one line under creator payouts: OnlyFans' fee is calculated as 20% of the total fan payment and is deducted from each fan payment. There's no tiered plan, no monthly charge to be a creator, and no separate rate depending on how big your account is.
What's left is called Creator Earnings. The terms define that as the part of a fan payment payable to the creator after all fees are deducted and relevant tax laws are applied. So for every payment a fan makes, OnlyFans keeps a fifth, and four fifths goes towards your balance.
Which OnlyFans payments the 20% applies to
The fee is described as applying to each fan payment, and that covers the different ways fans pay creators on the platform: subscriptions, tips, and paid content or messages. You set your own prices. The terms say creators are solely responsible for determining pricing.
Two details about how fans are charged can affect how your prices look:
- Prices are in US dollars. The terms say all prices appear and are charged in US dollars, and payment providers may charge fans currency conversion fees.
- Tax is added on top for fans. Fan payments are exclusive of indirect sales tax, which is added at the applicable rate. Your price is the price before that tax.
How OnlyFans pays creators and what can slow it
To open a creator account, OnlyFans' terms say you must upload a valid form of ID and two photos of yourself, add bank or payment details, and pick a payout option for receiving your Creator Earnings. If you're VAT-registered in the UK, you're also asked for your VAT number.
Earnings only become available to withdraw once they show in your account, and your balance has to meet the minimum payout amount before you can take it out. The terms don't print that minimum, so check it in your own account settings.
All fan payments and Creator Earnings are handled in US dollars. If your bank or e-wallet works in another currency, it may charge for the conversion or add its own fees. OnlyFans says it doesn't control exchange rates or those charges and isn't responsible for paying them.
OnlyFans rules that can reduce your earnings
The 20% is only part of the picture. A few other lines in the terms can affect what you keep:
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- Refunds and chargebacks. If a fan successfully gets a refund or chargeback from their card provider, OnlyFans may deduct an amount equal to your share of that payment.
- Reviews and holds. OnlyFans may withhold Creator Earnings while it reviews a suspected breach of its terms or suspected fraud.
- Disputes have a deadline. If OnlyFans takes action and you don't dispute it within six months of being notified, you waive the right to dispute it.
- Co-authored content. Anyone else who appears in your content must be at least 18 and have given written consent, with proof of identity. Missing paperwork can lead to content being removed or earnings withheld.
Tax on OnlyFans income
OnlyFans is clear that tax is your job. Its terms say creators are responsible for their own tax affairs, and that by using the platform you confirm you've reported, and will keep reporting, all payments you receive to the tax authority where you live. It also reserves the right to restrict payouts if an account becomes tax non-compliant.
Rules differ a great deal from country to country, so I'd always talk to an accountant about your own situation rather than guess. Keep a simple record of every payout as it arrives; it makes that conversation far easier.
How the OnlyFans fee compares with other creator platforms
A flat 20% is higher than some membership platforms charge as a headline fee. The difference is that OnlyFans' figure is the only percentage written into its terms; on some other sites a smaller headline fee has processing and payout charges added on top. If you're weighing up options, my explainer on what Patreon takes from creators shows how a fee stack can add up.
Whichever platform you use, the same warning applies: be wary of anyone promising quick, easy money from content subscriptions. My guide to making money online without falling for scams covers the red flags, including fake agencies that ask for your login.
| What | How it works | Source checked |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | 20% of the total fan payment | OnlyFans Terms of Service |
| Creator share | The rest, after fees and relevant tax laws | OnlyFans Terms of Service |
| Minimum age | At least 18 to register | OnlyFans Terms of Service |
| Currency | Prices and earnings in US dollars | OnlyFans Terms of Service |
| Withdrawals | Balance must meet the minimum payout amount | OnlyFans Terms of Service |
| Refunds | Your share of a refunded payment may be deducted | OnlyFans Terms of Service |
OnlyFans creator checklist
- Read the full Terms of Service before you open an account.
- Have your ID and payout details ready, as both are required.
- Set prices knowing a fifth of each payment goes to the platform.
- Check the minimum payout amount in your settings.
- Keep consent and ID records for anyone else in your content.
- Speak to an accountant about reporting the income.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage does OnlyFans take?
OnlyFans takes 20% of the total fan payment. Its Terms of Service say the fee is deducted from each fan payment, and the creator receives the rest as Creator Earnings.
Do OnlyFans creators keep eighty percent?
Yes, before tax and any bank or currency charges. The terms set the platform fee at 20% of each fan payment, so the remaining share goes to the creator's balance.
Does OnlyFans charge creators a monthly fee?
No monthly fee is set out in the terms. The platform earns through its 20% fee on fan payments.
How old do you have to be to use OnlyFans?
At least 18. OnlyFans' terms require every user to be 18 or older, and creators must verify their identity with ID and photos.
Can OnlyFans take money back from creators?
Yes. If a fan gets a refund or chargeback, OnlyFans may deduct an amount equal to the creator's share of that payment.
