Tim Stokely, the co-founder and former CEO of OnlyFans, has made a bold return to the creator economy with the launch of Subs.com, a new subscription-based content platform unveiled on May 8, 2025.
While Stokely pitches Subs as a versatile hub “for all creators”— from athletes and podcasters to musicians and influencers — the platform’s early content and features suggest it’s treading familiar territory, with a heavy lean toward NSFW content.
Scratch the surface, and Subs.com feels like a polished evolution of OnlyFans, complete with a few shiny new tricks.
A Civilized Facade for All Creators
At first glance, Subs.com presents itself as a creator-friendly, mobile-first platform designed to empower everyone. Stokely emphasizes its broad appeal, stating, “There’s a clear demand for a subscription platform that gives creators everything they need in one place. It isn’t just for one type of creator, it’s for all creators.”
The platform boasts features like an Instagram-like “Explore” feed, a YouTube-style “Shows” section for long-form content, and a revenue-sharing model to foster creator collaborations.
It’s all wrapped in a sleek package with AI-powered content moderation and rigorous age and identity verification to ensure a “safe, secure, inclusive” environment.
Stokely’s vision is ambitious. He cites the potential for massive earnings, using Kylie Jenner as an example: if just 0.5% of her Instagram followers subscribed at $10 a month, she could rake in $20 million monthly.
The platform’s messaging is clear: Subs.com is here to help creators of all stripes monetize their audiences effectively, with tools to seamlessly transition fans from free to paid content.
The NSFW Elephant in the Room
But dig a little deeper, and the platform’s early content tells a different story. The “Trending” section, while sparse, is dominated by NSFW creators. Roughly half the visible profiles feature women in bikinis (or less) offering subscriptions for as low as $5 a month.
Among the early adopters is former adult film star Lisa Ann, a name that carries weight in the NSFW space. In contrast, the non-NSFW representation is thin — a single former footballer and one podcaster stand out as exceptions.
This lopsided mix raises eyebrows, especially given Stokely’s insistence that Subs isn’t just another OnlyFans.
The platform’s 20% commission rate is another familiar echo of OnlyFans, aligning with the industry standard but offering no clear cost advantage over competitors.
While Subs.com markets itself as a broader alternative, its early creator pool and fee structure feel like a deliberate nod to the adult content creators who propelled OnlyFans to a billion-dollar valuation.
The Killer Feature: Paid 1:1 Calls
What sets Subs.com apart is its standout feature: paid 1:1 audio and video calls. Unlike OnlyFans, which lacks this functionality, Subs allows creators to monetize direct interactions with fans, positioning it as a way to “sell their expertise.”
Stokely calls this a “lucrative revenue stream” that can command “premium rates,” whether for personalized coaching, fan engagement, or, in the case of NSFW creators, more intimate interactions.
This feature, combined with the platform’s “Shows” format — where paid profiles sit directly behind free content —aims to make monetization smoother and more intuitive than on OnlyFans.
Challenges and Competition
Subs.com isn’t launching in a vacuum. It faces stiff competition from platforms like Patreon, Substack, and Fanfix, which cater to non-NSFW creators and can operate native apps on Apple and Google stores by avoiding adult content.
Subs, like OnlyFans, is forced to run as a web app due to app store restrictions on pornography, which Stokely frames as a benefit to avoid in-app fees. However, this could limit its accessibility compared to competitors with dedicated apps.
Moreover, Subs.com must overcome the perception that it’s simply “OnlyFans 2.0.” While Stokely insists he’s “not building on what’s been done before,” the platform’s NSFW-heavy early content and OnlyFans-like structure make comparisons inevitable.
Creators frustrated with OnlyFans’ reliance on external platforms like X or Reddit for audience-building may appreciate Subs’ built-in discovery tools, but it remains to be seen whether the platform can attract a diverse enough creator base to live up to its “for all creators” promise.
A Calculated Bet by Stokely
Tim Stokely’s track record speaks for itself. After founding OnlyFans in 2016 with a £10,000 loan from his father, he turned it into a global phenomenon before stepping down as CEO in 2021.
His brief hiatus included ventures like Zoop, a creator app that made headlines for a TikTok acquisition bid, but Subs.com marks his full return to the subscription economy.
With early adopters like lingerie expert Saterra St. Jean and podcaster Alex Chisnall already onboard, Stokely is betting that Subs can capture both NSFW and mainstream creators.
Also read:
- Pavel Durov probably knows that the main source of income for Onlyfans models is paid personal messages
- Bitcoin Surpasses Google and Amazon to Become the World’s Fifth-Largest Asset by Market Capitalization
- Apple Becomes the New HBO: Tim Cook’s Streaming Service Masters Quality and Consistency
The Road Ahead
Subs.com is a calculated play to capitalize on the booming creator economy while addressing pain points from OnlyFans’ model. Its 1:1 call feature and discovery tools are compelling, but the platform’s NSFW tilt could pigeonhole it before it has a chance to diversify.
For now, Subs.com walks a fine line: it’s polished and ambitious, but its roots in OnlyFans’ playbook are unmistakable.
Whether it can truly become a home for “all creators” or remains a haven for NSFW content will depend on how Stokely navigates the platform’s early days.
As the creator economy continues to evolve, Subs.com is a bold move by a proven entrepreneur. But for those squinting at the details, it’s hard to shake the feeling that this might just be OnlyFans with a fresh coat of paint—and a phone line.
