Fansly
 | |
Type of site | Subscription-based social media platform |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
| Owner | Select Media LLC / CY Media LTD |
| Founder | Micheal Etelis |
| Industry | Creator economy, adult entertainment |
| URL | fansly |
| Registration | Required |
| Launched | 2020 |
| Current status | Active |
Fansly is a subscription-based social media platform that allows content creators to monetize exclusive content, including photos, videos, live streams, and direct messages. Operated by Select Media LLC, the platform is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.[1] While the platform hosts a variety of content genres, it is primarily known for adult content and is frequently compared to OnlyFans.[2]
History
[edit]Fansly was launched in 2020 by Micheal Etelis under Select Media LLC, which was incorporated in February 2020.[1] The platform also operates through CY Media LTD, registered in Kamares, Cyprus, established in May 2021.[1] The company has remained privately held with no disclosed external funding rounds or official valuation, operating as a bootstrapped entity.[3]
Based on Fansly's social media presence, which was created in November 2020, the platform did not begin gaining traction until early 2021 when creators started to become concerned about potential content policy changes at OnlyFans.[1] In August 2021, OnlyFans announced it would ban sexually explicit content effective October 2021, citing pressure from banks involved in its payment processing.[4] Although OnlyFans reversed the decision six days later, the announcement triggered a massive influx of users to Fansly; the platform received nearly 4,000 new creator applications in a single hour, causing its servers to crash from the surge in traffic.[4][1] By August 21, 2021, Fansly had reached 2.1 million users.[1]
Features and business model
[edit]Fansly operates as a B2C marketplace, taking a 20% commission on all transactions conducted on the platform, with creators retaining the remaining 80%.[3][5] This commission rate is the same as that charged by its main competitor, OnlyFans.[6]
A distinguishing feature of Fansly is its tiered subscription model, which allows creators to set multiple subscription levels at different price points, each offering different perks such as exclusive content, chat access, or custom requests.[2][7] By contrast, OnlyFans historically relied on a single-tier subscription model.[8]
Revenue streams on the platform include recurring subscriptions, one-time pay-per-view content purchases, tips, paid messaging, and live-streaming fees.[3] The platform also features an algorithmic "For You" feed that helps users discover new creators, addressing a limitation of competitors that lack internal content promotion mechanisms.[3]
Additional features include content watermarking, geolocation blocking to control where content is visible, two-factor authentication, community polls, 24-hour stories, and social media integration with platforms such as Twitter and Twitch.[2][9] Payouts are processed within one to two business days and support multiple methods, including bank transfers, Skrill, Paxum, and cryptocurrency.[6]
In December 2025, Fansly expanded its live-streaming capabilities, introducing ticketed access, private list gating, configurable chat permissions, stream goals, and interactive device integration.[3]
Controversies
[edit]OnlyFans anti-competitive allegations
[edit]In August 2022, a series of lawsuits were filed in the United States alleging that OnlyFans had bribed employees of Meta Platforms to place Instagram accounts of creators who also sold content on competitor platforms, including Fansly, onto a terrorist blacklist. The lawsuits alleged that adult performers had traffic driven away from their Instagram accounts after being falsely tagged as terror-related. OnlyFans denied awareness of such activity. The plaintiffs withdrew the bribery claim in July 2023, and the case was dismissed in August 2023.[10]
Privacy class action
[edit]In June 2025, Select Media LLC (operating as Fansly) was the subject of a digital privacy class action lawsuit filed in Massachusetts District Court. The lawsuit alleged that the platform secretly collected and shared users' sensitive viewing data with Google and other third parties without consent. The case was brought on behalf of an estimated class of over 10,000 users across multiple states.[11]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Taylor, Magdalene (August 23, 2021). "Everything You Need to Know About Fansly, the Next OnlyFans". MEL Magazine. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ a b c "What is Fansly and Can it Compete with Onlyfans?". Money Inc. July 16, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e "Fansly news & analysis". Sacra. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ a b "OnlyFans is delaying its porn ban to stave off an exodus of creators". Euronews. August 25, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ "What is Fansly and Can it Compete with Onlyfans?". Money Inc. July 16, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ "Fansly Uncovered: The Essential Guide for Creators and Subscribers". Streetwise Journal. April 9, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ "Is Fansly the Future of Adult Content? A Full Analysis". Fanspicy. March 17, 2025. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ "OnlyFans vs Fansly (2025): Which One Should You Choose?". Pleaze Me. June 14, 2025. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ "OnlyFans Vs Fansly: Which Is a Better Platform for Creators". Vocal Media. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ "M. v. Select Media, LLC d/b/a Fansly". Law.com Radar. Retrieved February 20, 2026.