OnlyFans is a content subscription platform for creators to generate revenue by offering exclusive content in exchange for subscriptions. OnlyFans is known for its large user base and possess the potential to provide high earnings for creators. We provide you here a guide to build an app like OnlyFans.
How OnlyFans App Work
Firstly creators set up a profile and upload content and set a monthly subscription price. Now fans can subscribe to creators’ of their choice gaining access to their exclusive content. Creators can also offer pay-per-view content.
OnlyFans takes a 20% commission on all subscriptions and tips received.
OnlyFans has over 120 million registered users, 420 million monthly active users and 3 million creators as of May 2023. The platform generated over $2.5 billion in revenue in 2022 and it paid out $5 billion to creators.
Progressive Web Apps (PWA)
Progressive web apps (PWAs), are a type of application software delivered through the web, built using common web technologies intended to work on any platform with a standard browser, that is PC or mobile devices.
PWAs are a cost-effective and efficient way to reach users across different platforms negating the need for separate native apps for each platform.
| Advantages of using PWA | Disadvantages of using PWA |
| Cross-platform compatibility | Limited access to device APIs |
| Cost-effective development | Performance limitations |
| Easy updates & Responsive Design | Limited discoverability |
| Offline functionality & Push Notifications | Issues with legacy devices |
Guide To Build An App Like OnlyFans
Creating a robust tech stack is crucial for the success of your platform. Consider using the following technologies:
Backend:
Node.js: Known for its speed and scalability, Node.js is an excellent choice for building the server-side of your application. It uses the “Single Threaded Event Loop” architecture to handle multiple clients simultaneously. As it uses fewer threads, it utilises fewer resources/memory, resulting in faster task execution. For real-time applications, Node.js is the right choice.
Python: Utilise Python for personalised content delivery. Its versatility and powerful libraries make it ideal for implementing sophisticated recommendation algorithms. Python offers server-side call functions from the browser, and you can connect your code running anywhere.Python offers built-in user authentication, a database, email support and PDF generation. You can build HTTP APIs, enjoy one-click integrations and encrypted storage.
Database:
Preference needs to be given to databases like MongoDB or PostgreSQL to handle large amounts of data efficiently.
- Elastic Search – For lightning fast search
- Cassandra – For money wallet
- MongoDB – As a data store
- Neo4J – For Social graph
Frontend:
React.js: A popular choice for building responsive and dynamic user interfaces. Its component-based architecture facilitates code reuse and maintenance.
Node.js and Python: A Dynamic Duo
Node.js excels in handling real-time applications, making it perfect for content sharing. Python also shines in personalisation engines, thanks to its extensive libraries like TensorFlow and PyTorch. By combining the strengths of both, you ensure a seamless user experience with personalised content recommendations.
Other Possible Best Backend Technologies
Choose a backend technology that can handle high user engagement and data-intensive processes:
Express.js: A minimal and flexible Node.js framework for building robust backend systems.
Django: A high-level Python web framework that simplifies complex development tasks.
Frontend Stack/Framework for OnlyFans-Like App
Crafting an engaging and responsive frontend is essential. Consider using:
React.js: A JavaScript library for building user interfaces, providing a smooth and interactive experience for your users. React allows building high-quality, rich UI through its declarative components.
Benefits of using React.js
- Speed: React allows utilisation of individual parts on both the client-side and server-side, speeding the development process.
- Flexibility: Due to its modular structure React code is easier to maintain as it is flexible.
- Performance: React JS offers a virtual DOM program and server-side rendering, making complex apps fast.
- Usability: Basic knowledge of JavaScript is enough.
- Reusable Components: Reuse of components saves time and it will not affect other parts of the application.
- Mobile app development: Make mobile native applications for both Android & iOS platforms with React JS.
Next.js and Its Advantages
NextJS is an open-source framework and an excellent choice for server-rendered React applications. You can create SEO-friendly websites, landing pages, and e-commerce stores with it. Platforms like TikTok, Binance, Hulu, Twitch.tv have adopted Next.js.
Benefits of using Next.js
- NextJS requires lesser coding than most frameworks.
- NextJS has two types of rendering: SSR and static generation, making apps faster.
- It has improved image optimisation.
- You get better SEO and can easily create titles and keywords using featured head component.
- NextJS is highly customisable. Deployment is quite easy and you can launch applications quickly.
- Server-side rendering allows pre-render of pages on the server, ensuring fully rendered pages, even for dynamic content improving performance and enhancing SEO.
- Next.js provides automatic code splitting resulting in faster loading times by downloading the code necessary a specific page.
Top Features for an OnlyFans Alternative in 2024
In 2024, with so many alternatives available to build an app similar to OnlyFans, the one that would stand out would the one with more number of innovative features and monetising options. Therefore prioritise these features:
- Live Streaming: Enable content creators to connect with their audience in real-time.
- Virtual Gifts: Allow users to send virtual gifts to their favourite creators.
- Augmented Reality (AR) Integration: Enhance user engagement with AR filters and effects.
- Live streaming with integrated tipping: Real-time engagement and monetization options.
- Customizable storefronts: Sell merchandise, digital products, or exclusive content directly.
- Collaborative content creation: with other creators for cross-promotion and audience expansion.
- Direct payment options: from fans via crypto or other alternative methods.
OnlyFans creators can earn money through:
There are certain misconceptions that majority of income is generated through paid subscriptions, but on closer scrutiny it has been discovered that the large amount of revenue is generated via Pay-Per-View (PPV) messages that include multimedia attachments.
Monetisation avenues include:
- Paid Subscriptions
- Direct messaging
- PPV
- Tips
- Live streams
Revenue-Generating Features on OnlyFans
To boost your platform’s revenue, focus on the features detailed below:
- Bulk Messages: Offer content creators the ability to send personalized messages to multiple subscribers simultaneously.
- Upsells on Chat: Implement features allowing creators to offer premium content within chat conversations.
- Premium Content on Chat: Enable content creators to share exclusive content directly through chat, creating additional revenue streams.
- Leverage social media: Create seamless integration with social media platforms to promote OnlyFans content and drive new subscribers.
- Merchandise and Product Sales: Offer built-in storefront to sell branded merchandise, digital products, or exclusive content downloads.
An Ideal Tech Stack For An OnlyFans Like App
| Category | Options |
| Back-end | Node.js with Express or Django with Python |
| DevOps | Docker and Kubernetes |
| Deployment | Jenkins or GitLab CI |
| Architecture | Microservices architecture to build a scalable and modular application |
| App | Swift for iOS & Kotlin for Android OR Cross-platform frameworks: React Native or Flutter |
| Website | React.js or Angular.js or Flutter |
| Database | PostgreSQL or MySQL or MongoDB |
| Calling | WebRTC powered via Agora, Sendbird, Twilior or Isometrik |
| Realtime Chat | WebSockets with frameworks like Socket.io or SignalR. |
| Push Notifications | Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) for Android and Apple Push Notification Service (APNs) for iOS |
| SMS | Twilio or Nexmo |
| Payment Gateway | Stripe, PayPal, or Braintree |
| Geolocation | APIs provided by Google Maps or Mapbox |
| Analytics & Crashing Report | Google Analytics, Firebase Analytics, or Crashlytics |
| Social Media Integration | Leverage APIs from platforms like FB, Twitter, or Instagram |
Cost To Build An OnlyFans Like App
| Country / Region | Timeline | Pricing |
| New York – USA | 4 – 8 Months | $90 – 400 K |
| Kyiv – Ukraine | 4 – 5 Months | $70 – 250 K |
| Croatia – Europe | 6 – 9 Months | $80 – 300 K |
| Philadelphia – USA | 4 – 8 Months | $100 – 400 K |
| Hanoi – Vietnam | 5 – 12 Months | $50 – 70 K |
| India | 5 – 9 Months | $20 – 50 K |
Conclusion: Guide To Build An App Like OnlyFans
Overall, OnlyFans has become a significant player in the creator economy, offering creators a unique platform to monetise their skill and connect with fans. Our OnlyFans software solution – Fanzly will help you build a subscription based content platform for creators that is secure for content sharing.
Our solution has amazing features such as Exclusive Posts or price-locked posts that can be purchased by the users. Creators can set a subscription price. Creators can approve one-on-one video calls with any fan. Creators can create a content library with exclusive content that can be shared via private chat.
After an Engineering degree and a Diploma in Management I devoted 16+ years working in the automotive industry. My innate skill and extreme passion in writing, encouraged me to adopt it up as a profession. I have been writing for more than 10+ years in the software industry. The 400+ blogs I published are informative, exhaustive and interesting to a professional and causal reader.
