✓Quick Takeaways
- Passes takes 10% + $0.30/transaction. OnlyFans takes 20% flat. At $10K/month, that's roughly $1,000 more in your pocket on Passes.
- Passes requires 100,000+ social followers to sign up. OnlyFans has no minimum. Most creators can't use Passes at all.
- Passes bans explicit nudity ("Soft R" policy). OnlyFans allows everything. If you create adult content, OnlyFans is your only option.
- Passes has a real mobile app (iOS + Android). OnlyFans still doesn't have one — and that's a genuine advantage.
- Trustpilot rates Passes 2.0/5 stars. Common complaints: AI chatbots pretending to be creators and billing issues.
- A Feb 2025 class-action lawsuit alleges Passes allowed CSAM distribution. The case is ongoing.
- The smartest creators run both platforms — suggestive content on Passes, explicit on OnlyFans, different price tiers for each.
Passes takes 10%. OnlyFans takes 20%. Quick math: Passes wins. Except most creators asking me about Passes can't even sign up. The platform requires 100,000 followers across your social accounts. Got 99K? Too bad. I manage creator revenue at B9. When Passes started showing up in every OnlyFans alternative list, we looked into it for our creators. Lower fees, screenshot-blocking tech, a real mobile app. On paper, it looked like the obvious switch. Then we dug into the numbers. The 100K requirement eliminates almost every working creator. The "no nudity" policy is genuinely confusing — creators on Reddit say they post NSFW content despite the ban. And Trustpilot sits at 2.0 out of 5 stars, with fans saying they're chatting with AI instead of real creators. This is the real passes vs onlyfans breakdown — actual fee math, payout data, and the stuff the other comparison guides leave out.
What Is Passes (and Who Is It Actually For)?
Passes.com is a creator monetization platform founded in 2022 by Lucy Guo — the same person who co-founded Scale AI. It's a subscription platform built for creators who already have huge followings on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. The simplest description I've seen came from a Reddit user with 33 upvotes: "Passes seems like Instagram but more direct with the person. So you're basically paying to be their friend." That's pretty accurate. If you land on the Passes website for the first time, the pitch is simple: pay to connect with your favorite creator directly. Notable creators on Passes include Livvy Dunne, Blac Chyna, Andrea Botez, Paige Spiranac, and a growing number of CrossFit athletes like Dani Speegle. The Passes company raised $40M in Series A funding. Backers include Paris Hilton, Jake Paul, and Joe Montana — which tells you exactly how it's positioned: the celebrity-friendly alternative to OnlyFans. But here's the number that matters most: Passes has roughly 900 creators. OnlyFans has 2.1 million. That's the scale gap you're looking at. So what is passes.com for? Influencers with existing audiences — not creators building from scratch. If you're still figuring out what OnlyFans actually is, start there first. This guide assumes you know the basics and want to see how Passes stacks up.
Passes requires 100,000+ social media followers to sign up as a creator. OnlyFans requires zero. This single gate makes Passes irrelevant for the vast majority of working creators.
creators on Passes
Sacra research, 2024
registered fans
Sacra research, 2024
Series A funding (Feb 2024)
Bond Capital
Passes vs OnlyFans: 14 Differences That Actually Matter
I've broken this into the numbers that actually matter when you're choosing a platform. Not marketing copy — real operational differences. If you've already read our Patreon vs OnlyFans or Fansly vs OnlyFans comparisons, you'll notice Passes is a very different animal. It's not competing for the same creators.
| Passes | OnlyFans | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2022 (Lucy Guo) | 2016 (Tim Stokely) |
| Commission | 10% + $0.30/tx | 20% flat |
| Content policy | No explicit nudity ("Soft R") | Explicit content allowed |
| Creator requirement | 100K+ social followers | None (18+ with ID) |
| Mobile app | iOS + Android | No native app |
| Min payout | $50 | $20 |
| Payout speed | Instant to 5 business days | 7-day hold (up to 21 days) |
| Active creators | ~900 | 2.1M+ |
| Platform revenue | $9.5M ARR | $5.6B gross (2022) |
| Leak protection | Screenshot-blocking DRM | None built-in |
| Live streaming | Yes | No |
| Merch store | Yes | No |
| 1-on-1 video calls | Yes | No |
| Trustpilot rating | 2.0/5 (53 reviews) | Not actively reviewed |
Data from Sacra, platform documentation, and Trustpilot as of early 2026
Does Passes Allow Nudity?
The nudity policy is the single most confusing thing about Passes. And I'm not being dramatic — Reddit threads about passes.com are full of creators who can't figure out the rules. The official policy: no explicit nudity. Passes calls itself "Soft R" — think lingerie, implied nudity, suggestive content. Not explicit. The reality? Way murkier than that.
What Passes officially allows
Lingerie, swimwear, implied nudity, suggestive poses, artistic semi-nude shoots. The platform calls this "exclusive, not explicit" content.
What creators actually post
One creator on r/Fansly_Advice openly said she "created NSFW content on PASSES." Others describe posting "semi see-through lingerie or tasteful cover topless type stuff." The content line keeps moving.
What OnlyFans allows
Everything. Explicit content has been allowed since launch (they tried banning it in August 2021 and reversed within a week). No content restrictions beyond illegal material.
If you create explicit adult content, Passes isn't an option — full stop. If you create suggestive or lingerie content, the policy technically allows it. But the enforcement is inconsistent enough that I wouldn't build a business on it.
“Nudity is not allowed on the platform... but it's becoming more and more OF-like, with a line drawn at soft core 'ish' limits.”
— r/crossfit user, 18 upvotes
The Earnings Math Nobody Shows You
Every comparison says "10% vs 20%" and moves on. But I manage revenue for creators — I know the actual take-home depends on more than the headline rate. Here's what you'd actually keep at different monthly revenue levels on each platform. I'm assuming 50 transactions per month on Passes (the $0.30 per-transaction fee adds up).
The math looks good — but there's a catch
Passes saves you roughly $1,000/month on a $10K account. That's real money. But here's the thing: you need 100K followers to get on Passes at all. If you have 100K followers and you're only making $10K/month on OnlyFans, the problem isn't your platform fee. It's your monetization strategy.
The audience size gap matters more
Passes has 500,000 users across 900 creators (about 555 fans per creator on average). OnlyFans has tens of millions of active subscribers. You might save 10% on fees — but you're fishing in a pond instead of an ocean.
If fans pay through the Passes iOS app, Passes adds a 50% surcharge to cover Apple's 30% cut. A $10 subscription costs $15 on iOS. This doesn't affect creator payouts directly — but it does affect how many fans are willing to pay.
| Monthly Gross | Passes Take-Home | OnlyFans Take-Home | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $885 (88.5%) | $800 (80%) | Passes +$85 |
| $5,000 | $4,485 (89.7%) | $4,000 (80%) | Passes +$485 |
| $10,000 | $8,985 (89.9%) | $8,000 (80%) | Passes +$985 |
| $25,000 | $22,485 (89.9%) | $20,000 (80%) | Passes +$2,485 |
Assumes 10% + $0.30/tx on Passes (50 tx/month) vs 20% flat on OnlyFans. Excludes taxes and payout fees.
Where Passes Beats OnlyFans: App, DRM, and Payouts
Feature-for-feature, Passes does things OnlyFans still hasn't figured out after 8 years. So what is the Passes app? It's a native iOS and Android app with subscriptions, PPV messages, paid DMs, tipping, live streaming, a merch store, and 1-on-1 video calls — all in one place. OnlyFans? Subscriptions, PPV, DMs, and tips. No app. No live streams. No store. No calls. The lack of an OnlyFans app has been a pain point since day one. Passes solved it.
| Payout Detail | Passes | OnlyFans |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum payout | $50 | $20 |
| Payout methods | Bank (ACH), PayPal | Bank (ACH/wire), eWallet, SEPA |
| Instant payout | Yes (with fee) | No |
| Standard processing | 3-5 business days | 7-day hold |
| Maximum hold period | 5 business days | Up to 21 days (some countries) |
| Payment processing fee | $0.30/transaction (included in 10%) | Included in 20% |
Payout data from platform documentation, early 2026
✓Pros
- Real iOS and Android app (OnlyFans has nothing)
- Screenshot-blocking DRM protects your content
- Lower commission rate (10% vs 20%)
- Live streaming, merch store, and 1-on-1 video calls built in
- Faster payouts — instant option available
✕Cons
- 100K follower minimum blocks most creators
- Only ~900 creators means tiny discovery pool for fans
- 2.0/5 Trustpilot rating with complaints about AI chatbots
- NSFW policy is confusing and inconsistently enforced
- iOS fans pay 50% more due to Apple surcharge
- Feb 2025 CSAM class-action lawsuit pending
Safety, Trust, and the CSAM Lawsuit
Here's what other comparison guides skip entirely — probably because it's uncomfortable. But if you're considering Passes, you need the full picture. In February 2025, a class-action lawsuit (Rosenblum v. Passes Inc.) was filed. The allegation: Passes allowed the distribution of child sexual abuse material on its platform. The lawsuit claims Passes turned off safety features and recruited talent managers who groomed underage creators. A Reddit thread about the lawsuit on r/popculturechat hit 702 upvotes. Top comment with 514 upvotes: "Forbes 30 under 30 to jail pipeline remains undefeated."
Passes denies the allegations
The company says it uses PhotoDNA scanning and has safety measures in place. The lawsuit is ongoing — no verdict yet. But the allegations are serious enough that any honest comparison needs to mention them.
Trustpilot paints a rough picture
Passes has a 2.0 out of 5 rating from 53 reviews. Two-thirds are 1-star. The most common complaints: fans say they're chatting with AI bots instead of real creators, agencies run accounts without disclosure, and one subscriber reported being charged $460 for what was advertised as a $13 subscription.
OnlyFans isn't perfect either
OnlyFans has its own leak problems — no screenshot-blocking, and content regularly appears on piracy sites. But it has 8 years of operational history and processes billions in payments. The platform is established. Passes is still proving itself.
I'm not saying Passes is unsafe. I'm saying it's a 3-year-old platform with a pending CSAM lawsuit and a 2.0 Trustpilot rating. If you're evaluating it as a safe platform for your business, those facts need to be part of your decision.
Who Should Use Passes (and Who Should Stick With OnlyFans)
A lot of creators assume 10% fees automatically mean more money. They don't — not if you can't sign up in the first place. After digging through the data, talking to creators on both platforms, and running the numbers — here's my take. Passes is genuinely interesting. The 10% fee is real. The app is real. The DRM is real. But it's built for a very specific type of creator, and most people reading this aren't it.
Use Passes if you have 100K+ followers AND create non-explicit content
Athletes, fitness creators, musicians, lifestyle influencers — if you already have a big audience and don't post nudity, Passes gives you better economics than OnlyFans. The app, live streaming, and merch store are genuine advantages.
Use OnlyFans if you create adult content (any level of explicit)
This isn't even a debate. Passes bans nudity. OnlyFans allows everything. For adult creators, OnlyFans is the only real option — and the 80% payout on the largest subscriber base in the industry isn't a bad deal.
Use OnlyFans if you have fewer than 100K followers
You literally can't get on Passes. And honestly? The 10% savings doesn't matter if you can't sign up. Focus on growing your audience first.
Run both if you qualify for Passes and want to maximize revenue
The smartest creators don't pick one platform — they run both. Post suggestive content on Passes, explicit on OnlyFans, and treat each platform as a separate revenue stream. One Reddit creator described using Passes as "a slightly lower tier than my OF with lingerie, photo shoots, and SFW updates."
From an agency perspective: we manage creators across multiple platforms. The ones who earn the most aren't loyal to any single platform — they go where the money is. If you qualify for Passes, test it alongside OnlyFans for 90 days and compare your revenue per hour of work.
Mistakes to Avoid
✕ Switching to Passes just because of lower fees
The 10% vs 20% difference sounds huge. But if Passes has a fraction of OnlyFans' audience, you might save on fees and lose on revenue. Always compare total earnings, not percentages.
✕ Ignoring the 100K follower requirement
If you don't have 100K social followers, you can't sign up for Passes. Don't waste time researching a platform you can't access. Focus on growing your audience first.
✕ Assuming Passes allows your content
The NSFW policy is vague and inconsistently enforced. Don't build your business on a platform where the content rules might change or where your account could be shut down without warning.
✕ Leaving OnlyFans entirely for Passes
Even creators who qualify for Passes should keep their OnlyFans running. OnlyFans has 2.1M+ creators and a massive subscriber base. Abandoning it means walking away from your biggest revenue pool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Summary
Passes vs OnlyFans isn't really a competition — it's two platforms built for completely different creators. Passes works for a narrow slice: influencers with 100K+ followers who create suggestive-but-not-explicit content and want a mobile app experience. The 10% fee and DRM are real advantages for that group. OnlyFans works for everyone else. No follower minimum. No content restrictions. The largest subscriber base in the industry. And an 80% payout that's produced more creator millionaires than any platform in history. If you qualify for both, run both. If you don't qualify for Passes — and most of you won't — there's nothing wrong with that. OnlyFans is where the money is for most creators. Getting your payout setup right matters more than shaving 10% off your platform fee. We manage creator revenue across multiple platforms at B9. If you want a team handling your chatting, pricing, and growth strategy while you focus on content — that's what we do.
