Recent updates to Patreon’s guidelines, which come on the heels of Gumroad’s decision to ban NSFW art on its platform, have left many adult creators searching for new ways to monetize their work. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll introduce you to five alternatives to Patreon that welcome NSFW creators, so that you can continue earning money from your art in 2024 and beyond.
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1. SubscribeStar
Payout options: bank transfers, Payoneer global payment service
Service fee: 5%
SubscribeStar is a platform that closely resembles Patreon in terms of features and user experience. There are actually two versions of SubscribeStar. There’s SubscribeStar.com, which is intended for SFW content creators, and there’s SubscribeStar.adult for NSFW content creators.
One of the main advantages of SubscribeStar.adult over Patreon is its relaxed content guidelines. While Patreon has strict rules regarding NSFW content, SubscribeStar allows creators to post content that would never fly on many other platforms, so it’s excellent for those who are seeking more freedom in their creative expression.
However, the journey to becoming a part of the SubscribeStar community involves a manual approval process for every new creator. While some users report being approved in just a few days, others have experienced much longer waiting periods.
2. OnlyFans
Payout options: determined by location
Service fee: 20%
OnlyFans is a platform that has significantly impacted pop culture by making it easy for independent content creators to monetize adult-only content. Even though the site made headlines when it announced a ban on NSFW content due to pressure from payment processors, the decision was shortly reversed. It is now a great alternative to Patreon.
The platform offers various tools for creators to interact with their subscribers, such as direct messaging, live streaming, and the ability to create custom content for individual fans.
OnlyFans has relatively strict policies regarding the content allowed on the platform, so it’s essential to read their guidelines carefully before creating an account. For non-vanilla content, including fiction stories and 2D/3D art, SubscribeStar is a better option.
3. pixivFANBOX
Payout options: PayPal or bank transfer
Service fee: 10%
pixivFANBOX is a Japanese platform (also available in English) with over 12 million users and more than 230,000 creators. The platform allows all kinds of content creators to build and manage their own subscription-based fan communities.
One of the most appealing aspects of pixivFANBOX is that 90% of each pledge goes directly to the creator, while the remaining 10% covers a settlement fee paid to an accounting company and a service fee paid to FANBOX for management and feature production.
The biggest potential issue for some creators is that pixivFANBOX’s Terms of Use and Guidelines are based on Japanese law and legal precedent, so adult content needs to be reviewed and censored accordingly. Also, AI-generated content is prohibited on the site.
4. Itch.io
Payout options: PayPal, Stripe
Service fee: Customizable (Open Revenue Sharing model)
Itch.io is a platform primarily known for hosting, selling, and distributing indie video games and video game assets. It’s home to numerous NSFW games (nearly 20,000 at the time of writing this article), many of which are supported with pay-what-you-want donations.
Thanks to Itch.io’s Open Revenue Sharing model, creators can decide what percentage of their sales will go towards Itch.io, ranging from 0% to 100%. This flexibility enables creators to choose how much they want to contribute to the platform’s maintenance and development.
While fictional, illustrated, and rendered NSFW content is allowed, 18+ images or videos of real-life humans are not permitted on Itch.io to reflect the acceptable use policy of PayPal and Stripe, the platform’s payment processors.
5. Self-Hosted Subscription Service
Payout options: Varies
Service fee: Varies
For more tech-savvy content creators, setting up a self-hosted subscription service can be an attractive alternative to Patreon. This approach allows you to have full control over your platform and customize it to your specific needs and preferences.
There are various ways to create a self-hosted subscription service, ranging from adding a simple PayPal donation button in WordPress to using the Ghost open-source blogging platform, which comes with built-in membership functionality.
When choosing the self-hosted approach, it’s essential to prioritize the security of your website, as you’ll be responsible for safeguarding the private information of your supporters. This may involve implementing security measures such as SSL certificates, strong passwords, and regular updates to your website’s software.
Of course, there’s no reason to use only one NSFW-friendly alternative to Patreon. Diversifying your income sources by utilizing multiple platforms can help you reach a broader audience and ensure stability in your earnings, which you can easily track using budget templates for Google Sheets.
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David Morelo –
Staff Writer
David Morelo is a professional content writer in the technology niche, covering everything from consumer products to emerging technologies and their cross-industry application. His interest in technology started at an early age and has only grown stronger over the years.
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