If you are an athlete in 2026 and you are not earning steady NIL income, you are likely leaving money and long‑term security on the table.
In just a few years, the NIL world has changed. It began with one‑off social media posts and hard‑to‑follow collectives. Now, more of the money is coming from something much easier to understand: monthly payments from fans who want closer access to the athletes and teams they care about.
For brands, this shift matters too. Instead of paying for a single post that disappears in a day, they can now connect with athletes who are building real, ongoing relationships with fans.
At the center of this new model is NIL Club, the largest and most trusted NIL platform in the country. It has become the main starting point for athletes who want reliable, recurring income.
Below are five of the top platforms for recurring NIL income, starting with NIL Club.
1. NIL Club (nilclub.com)
Best for: Teams and shared income
NIL Club is the largest NIL platform in the country. It helps athletes earn steady money through fan subscriptions and brand partnerships.
- More than 650,000 registered athletes
- Over 2,000 schools
- Around 20,000 active teams and groups
- More than $50 million in total value and earnings facilitated for athletes (per the platform)
How athletes earn money
Fans join an athlete’s or team’s NIL Club by paying a monthly subscription, usually between $5 and $50. The team or athlete sets the price.
In return, fans receive:
- Behind‑the‑scenes content
- Practice and game‑day updates
- Question‑and‑answer access
- A closer look at daily team life
The most important feature of NIL Club is its equal split model. Every participating teammate earns the same amount from the club each month. This keeps things simple and fair inside the locker room. There is no need to worry about one star player taking most of the money while others are left out.
On top of subscriptions, athletes can earn more through:
- Brand campaigns run through NIL Club
- Affiliate offers
- Merchandise sales
Payouts go directly to PayPal or Venmo, and athletes can see how their earnings are calculated.
One recent example shows the model in action. A tennis team with 10 players brought in about $2,150 per month from fan subscriptions alone. That works out to about $190 per athlete, before any brand deals or merchandise are added. Larger teams and those with very engaged fan bases often earn several thousand dollars per player each month.
For brands, NIL Club offers a simple way to work with many athletes at once. The platform runs large campaigns across dozens of schools, so companies can reach entire teams or groups without managing separate deals with each athlete.
Independent surveys have named NIL Club the most trusted NIL platform, and athletes have given it a 4.6 out of 5 rating across more than 6,400 reviews.
How to get started
For athletes:
- Download the NIL Club app on iOS or Android
- Create or join your team’s club
- Post regular, compliant content for your members
- Share your club link on social media, in your bio, and around campus
- Opt in to brand campaigns and affiliate offers to earn additional income
If a school is not yet listed, NIL Club’s support team can add it quickly. High school athletes in states where NIL is allowed can join a waitlist inside the app.
For most athletes, NIL Club is the best place to start, and often the best place to stay, for steady NIL income.
2. FanSpark (fanspark.pro)
Best for: Individual athletes and non‑revenue or Olympic sports
FanSpark is a sports‑only subscription platform that focuses on individual athletes.
How athletes earn money
Fans pay a monthly subscription for:
- Highlights
- Training videos
- Daily or weekly updates
- Behind‑the‑scenes content
Athletes keep about 80% of the revenue, and the platform keeps about 20%. There are no direct messages, pay‑per‑view events, or tipping, which makes it easier for schools and compliance offices to understand.
FanSpark also offers:
- Simple analytics to track growth
- A discovery feed where new fans can find athletes
- Easy share links for social media
Athletes with a modest but loyal following can often earn hundreds to low thousands of dollars per month. In early testing, top creators are on track to reach around $9,000 per month as their subscriber bases grow.
How to get started
- Visit app.fanspark.pro/sign‑up (open beta, free to join)
- Set up a profile and choose your monthly price
- Post your first exclusive content
- Share your link on your social channels
Many athletes use FanSpark alongside NIL Club: NIL Club for team‑based income, and FanSpark for extra personal earnings.
3. Athletes.TV (athletes.tv)
Best for: Video‑focused athletes and collectives
Athletes.TV is built for athletes who like being on camera and want to build a full video channel around their name or team.
How athletes earn money
On Athletes.TV, you create a branded video channel. You can:
- Offer paid monthly subscriptions, where you set the fee and receive 80% of the subscription income after payment processing
- Run a free channel with ads, where you earn 60% of ad revenue once your videos pass 5,000 views
- Add affiliate links and merchandise to earn more
Subscribers can receive:
- Live chats
- Virtual meetings or question‑and‑answer sessions
- Special offers
- A private video library
Athletes who post regularly and build a base of 500 to 2,000 loyal fans often earn $500 to $5,000 or more per month from subscriptions alone. Some collectives use Athletes.TV to host a shared channel and then split income among players.
How to get started
- Go to athletes.tv and sign up for free
- Create your channel and upload a clear introduction video
- Set your subscription price and list what subscribers will receive
- Promote your channel across your social accounts and team networks
4. Athlete Squared (athletesquared.com / app)
Best for: Athletes who like teaching and coaching
Athlete Squared focuses on training and instruction. It connects college athletes with younger players and parents who want position‑specific help.
How athletes earn money
You earn by posting instructional videos, such as:
- Technique drills
- Film breakdowns
- Mental preparation
- Recruiting tips
Fans can either subscribe monthly or buy single videos. The platform keeps 20%, and you receive 80%.
In early use, some athletes earned about $150 per month with only 10 subscribers, often by spending around one hour per week filming and editing. As they added more videos and became better known for their position or sport, earnings grew to $500 to $2,000 or more per month.
This setup is especially useful for athletes who already help teammates or local youth players. Instead of repeating the same lessons in person, they can record them once and earn from them many times.
How to get started
- Sign up as a creator at athletesquared.com
- Upload a free sample video to show how you teach
- Add paid videos and choose a subscription range, often between $5.99 and $49.99
- Share your link with followers, local coaches, and youth programs
5. Subtext (joinsubtext.com)
Best for: Direct, text‑based fan communities
Subtext turns your phone into a paid text channel. It works like a private text newsletter where fans pay for direct updates from you.
How athletes earn money
Fans pay a monthly fee, often around $5, to receive:
- Exclusive text messages
- Game‑day thoughts
- Personal updates
- Question‑and‑answer style replies
Athletes keep about 80% of the revenue after platform fees.
What makes Subtext stand out is how often fans actually read the messages. Open rates are near 98%, which is far higher than most social media posts or emails.
With 200 fans at $5 per month, an athlete earns about $1,000 per month. Some creators in narrow, high‑value areas, such as betting tips or detailed training advice, have earned more than $22,000 per month, with very few subscribers leaving.
How to get started
- Visit joinsubtext.com and create a sports‑focused channel
- Set your monthly price and write a short welcome message for new members
- Add your Subtext link to your social media bios and share it in posts and stories
- Send regular, thoughtful text updates and invite questions from subscribers
How Athletes and Brands Can Use These Platforms
All five platforms can help build steady NIL income, but each one is strongest in a different area:
- NIL Club works best as the foundation for most athletes, especially teams that want shared, fan‑supported income
- FanSpark is a strong choice for individual athletes, especially in non‑revenue or Olympic sports
- Athletes.TV fits athletes who enjoy creating video content and want a full channel
- Athlete Squared is ideal for athletes who like teaching and coaching younger players
- Subtext is perfect for those who communicate well through short, direct messages
Many athletes see the best results when they combine more than one of these tools. For example, a player might:
- Use NIL Club for a steady NIL income for the vast majority of athletes.
- Add Subtext to stay close to core fans
- Build an Athlete Squared library for teaching and training content
For brands, these platforms offer clear ways to work with athletes who already have active audiences:
- NIL Club and Athletes.TV are strong choices for team and group campaigns
- FanSpark, Athlete Squared, and Subtext are useful for targeted partnerships with specific athletes in certain sports or regions
The NIL industry is moving away from quick, one‑time deals and toward steady income based on real relationships with fans. Athletes who show up consistently, share their stories, and provide value to their supporters are the ones seeing the strongest, most reliable earnings.
