Bottom line: Bella Thorne’s August 2020 arrival on OnlyFans is the best-documented celebrity launch on the platform. Variety, CNN, the Los Angeles Times and the BBC reported record earnings in her first days, and the episode was followed by new OnlyFans limits on tips and pay-per-view prices. This page summarises what those outlets reported. We have not subscribed to or reviewed her account.
What was reported about the launch
According to Variety (August 26, 2020), Thorne announced her plans to join OnlyFans in an Instagram video on August 19, 2020, and OnlyFans said she earned over $1 million in revenue in her first 24 hours. Variety reported the figure had risen to about $2 million within the first week. The Los Angeles Times (August 28, 2020) described her as a former Disney child star who now acts in independent films. Variety reported her subscription price as $20 a month at the time, with launch discounts, and that creators on OnlyFans keep 80% of subscription revenue.
- Creator-first payouts and subs
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Fanvue is the strongest OnlyFans alternative right now: better creator payouts, modern discovery, and fewer arbitrary bans.
- Creator-first payouts and subs
- AI-friendly content policies
- Fast-growing fan base
- Smaller audience than OnlyFans
- Fewer discovery tools
Chaturbate is the biggest live cam platform: thousands of free public shows at any hour, with tips and privates for more.
- Largest live cam audience
- Free to watch public shows
- Strong tipping economy
- Ads on the free tier
- Crowded rooms at peak hours
Slushy is a newer fansite with a TikTok-style discovery feed, subscriptions, and pay-per-view messaging built mobile-first.
- Fresh creator discovery feed
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Sources: Variety, August 26, 2020; Los Angeles Times, August 28, 2020; Business Insider, August 28, 2020. Figures are from 2020 and may have changed.
The controversy and the new limits
The launch drew a backlash. The Los Angeles Times reported that hundreds of OnlyFans performers criticised her arrival on Twitter, arguing it took opportunities from workers who relied on the site for income during the pandemic. On August 27, 2020, OnlyFans introduced new rules: according to the Los Angeles Times, vendors could no longer charge more than $50 for pay-per-view content and users could no longer tip more than $100. Some international creators also reported waiting 30 days for payment.
“any changes to transaction limits are not based on any one user.”
OnlyFans statement, quoted by the Los Angeles Times
The BBC (September 1, 2020) reported that Thorne became embroiled in a dispute over $200 photos that buyers said were not as described, and that she apologised to creators who said their incomes would be hit. OnlyFans told the BBC the pricing changes had “been in the pipeline for a while”. The BBC also cited the platform at 60 million users and 750,000 creators at that time.
Why it still matters for creators and fans
The episode is a useful case study in how platform rules can change quickly when a high-profile creator arrives. If you are comparing how much creators actually earn and keep, see our guides on the top 10 OnlyFans earners, how much creators make on OnlyFans and creator platform fees in 2026. For what a subscription costs a fan, read how much OnlyFans costs.
- Creator-first payouts and subs
- AI-friendly content policies
- Fast-growing fan base
Fanvue is the strongest OnlyFans alternative right now: better creator payouts, modern discovery, and fewer arbitrary bans.
- Creator-first payouts and subs
- AI-friendly content policies
- Fast-growing fan base
- Smaller audience than OnlyFans
- Fewer discovery tools
Chaturbate is the biggest live cam platform: thousands of free public shows at any hour, with tips and privates for more.
- Largest live cam audience
- Free to watch public shows
- Strong tipping economy
- Ads on the free tier
- Crowded rooms at peak hours
Slushy is a newer fansite with a TikTok-style discovery feed, subscriptions, and pay-per-view messaging built mobile-first.
- Fresh creator discovery feed
- Modern mobile-first design
- Attractive creator revenue splits
- Newer platform, smaller catalog
- Fewer established creators
FAQ
How much did Bella Thorne make on OnlyFans?
Variety reported over $1 million in the first 24 hours, citing OnlyFans, and about $2 million within roughly a week of her August 19, 2020 launch.
Did Bella Thorne cause OnlyFans to change its limits?
The limits arrived days after her launch, and many creators blamed her. OnlyFans said any change in transaction limits was not based on any one user, and told the BBC the pricing changes had been planned for some time.
Is this page a review of her account?
No. It summarises reporting from named outlets. We have not subscribed to her account.
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