It wasn’t long ago that OnlyFans was hailed as a game-changer for sex workers. A way to make money safely, on your own terms, without needing to rely on traditional cam sites. But over the last year, the mood has certainly changed.
For many creators, OnlyFans has become oversaturated, underpaying, and mentally draining. Unless you’re already in the top 1%, it’s increasingly hard to make real money. And for newcomers? The odds are stacked.
Now, a growing number of performers are pivoting back to live camming—and not just for the money. For many, it offers something OnlyFans no longer can: visibility, connection, and actual support.
We spoke to Angel (otherwise known as Angel from Hell), a rising sex chat cam model on the platform Flirtbate, to understand why she—and many others—are making the switch.
“OnlyFans was never enough”
For Angel (pictured above), it all started during the pandemic. Like many, she dipped into content creation in 2020 as a side hustle—selling recorded clips and offering video calls. At first, it seemed promising. But the deeper she went, the more disillusioned she became.
“OnlyFans is really tedious,” she told us. “There was a time when I used Reddit to promote myself, and it helped… but still, it wasn’t enough. You’re always posting, messaging, chasing subscribers. It’s a lot of work with very little reward.”
This is a sentiment echoed by countless creators. According to recent stats, the average income on OnlyFans is under $150 per month—a shockingly low number given the time and effort it takes to grow even a small following.
There are already many girls with perfect lighting, professional cameras, and agencies helping them. The fact that beginners and amateurs are supposed to compete with that alone is enough to put them off.
Why camming is making a comeback
Unlike OnlyFans, camming platforms allow creators to earn in real-time without needing to promote endlessly on social media. There’s a built-in audience, live interaction, and instant feedback. For many, it’s far more sustainable.
Angel now works on Flirtbate—a camming platform that’s gaining traction for being performer-friendly. And while she admits she was unsure at first, she’s grown to love it.
“At first I didn’t really understand it,” she said. “But there’s a team that helped me with everything. I joined their modelling program, and honestly, I’m grateful. It made a huge difference.”
She describes a typical day like this: wake up, brush her teeth, start her tablet, and go live. She eats breakfast while chatting with viewers, logs off at noon for lunch, then comes back in the afternoon. Between live shows, she shoots photos and videos. It’s structured, yes, but flexible, and far less isolating than content-only work.
Real connection = real income
One of the biggest differences Angel noticed? On cam sites, viewers tip based on connection, not just content. Instead of marketing a fantasy to thousands, she’s now focused on building a real-time rapport with the person on the other end of the screen.
“I’m very authentic on camera,” she said. “It doesn’t feel like acting. I light incense, put on music, and just go with the vibe.”
That authenticity is exactly what makes camming more sustainable for some creators. While OnlyFans demands endless self-promotion to keep followers engaged, cam sites—especially platforms like Flirtbate, which focus on one-on-one live sessions—thrive on personal interaction.
“I try to talk to them a lot at the beginning and dance sensually,” Angel explained. “That always gets them hooked and wanting more.”
She’s found her niche in fetish and roleplay content… areas where fans want to be seen and understood, not just entertained.
“Lately, I really enjoy interacting with people who have a fetish,” she said. “I love roleplay and costumes… and sometimes they’ll ask for really creative things.”
Like the man who wanted to suck her feet while she masturbated. Or the viewer who asked her to dominate him with a strap-on.
But that level of intimacy can blur lines—something that rarely happens on a subscription feed. When you’re connecting live, emotions can slip in.
“Yes, I’ve caught feelings for a regular before,” Angel admitted. “I don’t recommend it.”
So… is camming the future?
OnlyFans isn’t dead. But for thousands of creators, it’s not enough anymore. Between the burnout, the brutal competition, and the never-ending hustle to stay visible, more and more women are walking away—and finding freedom elsewhere.
Camming might not be the easy option. But for performers like Angel, it’s real work, real income, and real connection.
And in a saturated industry chasing viral moments, that might just be the biggest flex of all.
