Guest written by Rain Andersen (@wearenotfriends_) a veteran sworker with nine years of experience in the adult entertainment industry and five years working with Lovers.

In late August 2021, OnlyFans announced their plans to remove adult content from their website. A few days later, the company made a dramatic turnaround. The subscription platform claimed that banking partners had been applying pressure to the site, encouraging them to modify their content policies to comply with new banking guidelines. Many of OnlyFan’s longtime Creators rejected this narrative- convinced that the U-turn decision was a result of a rapidly declining user rate. While some adult creators continued to operate on the platform, others swore never to return.

 

“Some adult creators have already felt an impact, saying in interviews that their OnlyFans subscriber numbers dipped after the short-lived ban in August,” says Washington Post reporter Lateshia Beachum. “OnlyFans performer Allie Eve Knox said that her income has fallen by 25 percent since August when OnlyFans announced and then revoked its ban, and that her revenue has shrunk even more as she waits for clips to be approved.”

In our article, OnlyClothed: A New Era of OnlyFans, we talk about some of the up-and-coming platforms that adult creators have been looking to as an alternative to OnlyFans.
In this article, we’ll be revisiting the most successful OnlyFans competitors, listening to sex workers about their user experiences, and introducing a few Darkhorse’s along the way.

QUICK LINKS:

1. A Brief History of OnlyFans
2. Just for Fans: The Best Platform for Male Sex Workers
3. Frisk: The Best Platform for European Sex Workers
4. Fan Centro: The Best Platform for New Sex Workers
5. Model Centro: The Best Platform for Going Rouge
6. The Future of Adult Subscription Platforms

A Brief History of OnlyFans

By the late 1990’s the internet played host to over half a million adult websites. Jennifer Kaye Ringly, who is widely considered to be the first webcam model, began charging viewers for access to her site, JenniCam in 1997. The success of JenniCam, which is said to have attracted four million viewers per day, helped to shape modern adult entertainment platforms like MyFreeCams, Clips4Sale, and Streammate. 

The OnlyFans platform launched in 2016, differed from traditional stream and clip sites. Their platform helped sex workers to retain existing clients through program tiers, added exclusivity to Creators through their memberships, and incentivized program services through an 80% payout percentage. This payout percentage is still one of the highest rates in the adult industry, largely contributing to their allure.

A subscription-based platform and a booming market of curious consumers has made OnlyFans a compelling option for many adult content creators. Nevertheless, the fatigue of digital censorships bills like SISEA & FOSTA, a pandemic entering its third year that has barred many sex workers from receiving benefits, and the whiplash from OnlyFans sexy-but-sanitized platform, has inspired discussions about what a sex worker led platform might look like. Sex workers, being the incredible entrepreneurs that they are, are attempting to find out.

JustFor.Fans: The Best Platform for Male Sex Workers

✔ FREE WALL
✔ PAID WALL
✔ PPV
✔ PAID CHAT
✔ STORE SALES  
✔ FAN TIPS
✔ SCHEDULED POSTS

About the Platform
JustFor.Fans is a sex worker-led subscription platform launched in 2017 by longtime male porn star and former OnlyFans Creator, Dominic Ford. Ford saw opportunities to optimize the OnlyFans platform for both clients and users. The JustFor.Fans platform is open to all sex workers over the age of 18, but it’s user demographic is primarily made up by gay men. The site offers an 80% payout percentage to all models, and an 85% payout percentage to JFF Exclusive Models.

Platform Benefits
JustFor.Fans offers Creators a bevy of ways to boost organic traffic, reducing the need for complex client acquisition strategies. While OnlyFans generates more traffic then JustFor.Fans, it can be difficult to capitalize on their site views with so few opportunities for organic discovery. This can be particularly challenging on a site that aims to promote specific user archetypes, as OnlyFans does.

Models and fans can easily navigate the JFF Dashboard to adjust or manage their subscriptions. Paid content- including sub payments, tips, customs, chat sales, and store purchases- are all neatly logged in your account, allowing you to track your best-selling products and services.

Platform Features

• Charitable Giving Program: The Charitable Giving Program empowers JFF Models to donate a percentage of their earnings to non-profit organizations including Black Lives Matter, Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP USA), Trans Lifeline, Woodhull Freedom Foundation, Pineapple Support, the HIV League, Point of Pride, and the Free Speech Coalition. The program, launched in June 2019, has raised approximately $94,000.
• Model Findr: Verified JFF Models will be the first to try out JustFor.Fans new, Findr service, designed to connect models with other local performers, for safe and profitable content collaboration.
• Referral Program: The JFF Referral Program is one of the best commission programs for adult performers, boasting a 10% Lifetime Revshare for successful model referrals.
• PornGaurdian: Dominic Ford’s subscription platform is backed by his own anti-piracy agency, PornGaurdian, which specializes in pirated adult content and DMCA takedowns. Looking for an extra layer of protection? JFF Models who are frequently pirated can access the PornGaurdians new, digital fingerprinting tool, designed to embed user information into video streams and downloads from JustFor.Fans. The software is so effective, it’s said to survive editing, cropping, and re-rendering.
• Minimum Payout: $50.00

Frisk.Chat: The Best Platform for European Sex Workers

✔ FREE WALL
✔ PAID WALL
✔ PPV
✔ PAID CHAT
✔ STORIES
✔ SCHEDULED POSTS

About the Platform
In 2020, OnlyFans reported to host over 2.5 million American Creators, approximately 51% of their userbase. The United Kingdom, where the OnlyFans brand is headquartered, attracted the second largest group of Creators, with over 788,000 users, comprising about 15% of their userbase.

Frisk is a UK-based adult subscription platform founded in 2016 by Buzz Creative Limited. The company appointed sex worker, Sascha Mcgee as program director on October 31^st, 2019, just prior to OnlyFans August 2021 announcement. The site, which claims to be run by sex workers with a combined industry experience of 25 years, does not specify if this claim is specific to McGee’s industry experience. Buzz Creative Directors, Elenore Tait and Michael Roberts do not appear to have a history of sex work, and have positioned McGee as the brands primary ambassador. I suspect that there will be a higher demand for brand transparency as sex worker led platforms evolve.

Frisk offers the industry standard 80% Payout Percentage, but American content creators should remain wary. Site earnings can be impacted by International Transfer Fees for Model’s based outside the UK.

Platform Benefits
Sex workers who use Frisk never have to compete with SFW content creators or accommodate biased pricing caps. The Frisk platform gives sex workers more control over their earning by providing a weekly payout schedule without any imposed pricing regulations. Models can set their own fees and collect earnings more frequently using Frisk.

Platform Features

• Frisk Academy: Frisk Academy is a coaching and support hub for Frisk Creators that provides advice and tutorials on how to use the site and optimize your profile. They also offer 1-2-1 chat with Creators looking for individualized support.
• Personalized Promotional Assets: After releasing your first 50 pieces of content, Creators can request free promotional assets for their account using their own non-nude images. This is a small plus- though many sex workers are natural masters of marketing.
• Referral Program: Frisk offers Creators the opportunity to earn money through Creator referrals, with a 5% Lifetime Revshare on subscription earnings.
• Minimum Payout: No Minimum Payout Amount! Frisk is one of the rare platforms that does not set restrictions on payout amounts, but sex workers should still expect to encounter the same holds that occur as tokens convert into your account wallet.

Fan Centro: The Best Platform for New Sex Workers

✔ FREE WALL
✔ PAID WALL
✔ PPV
✔ PAID CHAT
✔ SELL MEMBERSHIPS TO 3RD PARTY ACCOUNTS
✔ FAN TIPS

About the Platform
Fan Centro may not be run by sex workers, but it falls under the direction of Stan Fiskin and Alan Hall, two entrepreneurs behind the adult licensing service, AdultCentro, and adult website builder, ModelCentro.

The Fan Centro platform is widely regarded as one of the leading competitors to OnlyFans, offering more ways to monetize content, greater search discoverability, and a compelling user interface that has attracted an average of 2 million views per month. Models can set their own rates for their content and monthly subscriptions, but take a smaller payout percentage of 75%.

Platform Benefits
If you are just dipping your toes into adult content creation, consider looking into Fan Centro. This respected subscription platform has its own online business school dedicated to adult influencers. Centro University is an invaluable resource for anyone starting out in digital sex work, that helps to protect content creators and ensure more robust site content. Their free, online courses cover subjects like marketing, promotion, censorship, and safety precautions for industry professionals.

Those concerned with loosing subscribers can use Fan Centro’s import team to quickly and easily transfer your content from OnlyFans to your new, Fan Centro account.

Platform Features

• Premium Snapchat Management: FanCentro helps Creators to manage their social media sales through in-dashboard notifications on both new and expired subscribers.
• Centro University: Centro University is an educational program that Fan Centro Creators can use to grow their business. The program offers free, on-demand workshops and webinars on everything from video production to distribution support, designed to help Creators grow their fan base. They are currently working on expanding this program to include mentorship and in-person trainings.
• The Feed: The Feed is a public sales channel that Creators can use to promote their content and entice new fans. The Feed provides yet another way for Creators to promote their work to improve organic traffic.
• Referral Program: The Fan Centro Referral Program is the most competitive commission program for adult performers, with a 25% Lifetime Revshare on subscription sales.
• Minimum Payout: $100.00 for Check, $50.00 for Paxum, $100.00 for ACH, $1,250.00 for Direct Wire Transfer, and €250.00 for SEPA

Model Centro: The Best Platform for Going Rouge

✔ FREE WALL
✔ PAID WALL
✔ PPV
✔ PAID CHAT
✔ CROSS PROMOTIONAL UPLOADS
✔ FAN TIPS
✔ LIVE STREAM
✔ CUSTOM DOMAIN
✔ STORE SALES

About the Platform
The volatility of adult subscription platforms has left many sex workers wondering if they would be better off creating platforms of their own, but digital censorship bills have left many payment processers reluctant to partner with adult creators and services, who are perceived as increasingly high risk.

ModelCentro is a great option for digital sex workers looking to go rouge. The service differs from other subscription-based platforms that pit Creators against one another, by allowing sex workers to create custom subscription sites, clip stores, and live streams. Model Centro users receive a Payout Percentage of 85%, with a 10% fee for payment processing.

Platform Benefits
Break away from traditional subscription platforms with ModelCentro’s premier website builder. A 10% processing fee gives ModelCentro users complete access to their payment providers. Control your content, eliminate competition, and refine your brand with 24-hour chat support, free educational webinars, and a community forum crafted by and for sex workers. ModelCentro users are paid out weekly and can set their own rates on all forms of content.

Platform Features

• SynC: SynC is an application available exclusively to ModelCentro users. It allows Creators to upload content to free tube sites and paid clip stores, to generate additional income.
• Centro University: Centro University is an educational program that Fan Centro Creators can use to grow their business. The program offers free, on-demand workshops and webinars on everything from video production to distribution support, designed to help Creators grow their fan base. They are currently working on expanding this program to include mentorship and in-person trainings.
• Referral Program: The ModelCentro Referral Program offers Creators a 10% Lifetime Revshare on each successful referral. Unlike competing subscription platforms, ModelCentro removes this from their overall platform earnings, rather than the individual Creator’s earnings.
• Minimum Payout: $100.00 for Check, $50.00 for Paxum, $100.00 for ACH, $1,250.00 for Direct Wire Transfer, and €250.00 for SEPA

NFTs: The Future of Sex Work?

On December 1^st, 2021, AVN (Adult Video News) announced that they would be discontinuing monetization features on both of their popular adult subscription platforms, AVN Stars & GayVN Stars. The pandemic has driven many sex workers to digital subscription platforms like AVN Stars as an alternative to in-person clients and clubs. Digital censorship bills like SISEA & FOSTA have made this transition difficult for sex workers, as content and banking policies adapt to comply with these new laws.

The new site policy is set to go into effect at midnight, on January 1^st, 2021. Any content uploaded after the new year will be available for free on the website.

“We’re in awe of the amazing community of creators that have made AVN and GayVN Stars such vibrant platforms since we launched over three years ago — and it has been our pleasure to provide an adult friendly space where creators can monetize their content,” said AVN Media Network CEO Tony Rios. “Unfortunately, AVN and GayVN Stars has not been immune to the banking discrimination that so many of our industry friends have also encountered recently. We have had numerous corporate accounts shuttered in the past year alone.”

AVN’s announcement provides some ominous clues as to how other established platforms plan to respond to these new restrictions, but for the adult media giant, Playboy- the future looks optimistic. Playboy met with Forbes in October 2021, to discuss their plans for their new Playboy Centerfold platform. The website, slated to launch in the fourth quarter of 2021, is said to include Cryptocurrency and NFT applications as part of the platform’s infrastructure. 

NFTs, or Non-Fungible Tokens, are a digital asset that is part of the Ethereum blockchain. Any digital asset- be it a song, a painting, or a pornographic movie- can be sold as an NFT. Though these digital files can be shared and reproduced, the original asset is coded with a digital signature that signifies its authenticity. Many people have looked to NFT’s as the future of the adult industry. Some see it as a possible loophole for consenting adult creators to monetize their work- while others see it as a means of legitimizing and adding value to the industry of sex work as a whole. We’ll be curious to see what role NFT’s play in the success of the Centerfold platform, and whether it will influence the approach of competing websites.

“We’ve been a free-expression platform for 70-plus years for some of the biggest talent in the world and this is that next generation of it,” Playboy CEO, Ben Kohn tells Forbes. “We are looking to not only provide a great platform for talent to work with us but to then leverage that into a much larger digital membership offering as we move into 2022.”

Further Readings:

Destigmatizing the Blockchain: The Defiant
The Insatiability & Necessity of OnlyFans: VICE Magazine
A History of Sex on the Internet: WIRED

WITH PLEASURE,

LOVERS