In 2025, the creator economy is thriving, and fans are craving deeper, more personalized connections with their favorite celebrities. Platforms like Cameo and Thrillz have capitalized on this desire by offering personalized video messages from celebrities and influencers—for birthdays, shoutouts, business promotions, and more.
For startup founders and app entrepreneurs, understanding the Cameo vs Thrillz business model is crucial before diving into this niche. Each platform operates with a unique strategy around pricing, partnerships, growth tactics, and customer acquisition.
So, how do their revenue models compare? What are their costs and monetization strategies? And which model offers a better blueprint for success in 2025?
Let’s explore.
What is Cameo?
Cameo is a Chicago-based celebrity video platform that launched in 2017. It allows fans to purchase custom video messages from celebrities, athletes, influencers, and other public figures.
- Over 50,000 celebrities onboarded
- Used for birthdays, anniversaries, proposals, motivational messages, and brand shoutouts
- Expanded into B2B and corporate markets
What is Thrillz?
Thrillz is a UK-based platform, launched in 2019, offering personalized video messages, live video calls, and digital fan experiences with celebrities and influencers.
- Offers additional services like live Zoom sessions, merchandise, and event bookings
- Focuses heavily on European talent
- Supports enterprise partnerships and celebrity management tools
Cameo Business Model Breakdown
Revenue Model
- Commission-Based: Cameo takes ~25% commission from each transaction.
- Cameo for Business: Brands can pay celebrities for custom promotional videos.
- Cameo Live: Monetized live sessions with celebrities.
- Subscription (Beta): Monthly fan subscriptions for exclusive access.
Cost Structure
- Celebrity payouts (75% of each order)
- App development, hosting, and video infrastructure
- Celebrity onboarding and curation teams
- Marketing and influencer acquisition
Key Partners
- Talent agencies (WME, CAA)
- Payment providers (Stripe)
- Video hosting services (AWS, Vimeo)
Growth Strategy
- Aggressive social media marketing
- Viral user-generated content
- Celebrity referral incentives
- Expansion into enterprise and gifting use-cases
NLP Keywords: Cameo business model, Cameo revenue, celebrity shoutout monetization
Learn More: Business Model of Cameo: How the App Makes Money
Thrillz Business Model Breakdown
Revenue Model
- Revenue Share: Takes 20-30% commission per sale.
- Add-on Services: Paid live calls, merchandise upsells, fan clubs.
- White-label B2B tools: Offers backend services for celebrity agencies.
- Talent Management SaaS: Tools for booking management and analytics.
Cost Structure
- Talent payouts (~70%)
- Licensing and content moderation
- Customer support and talent relations
- Platform hosting and AI tools
Key Partners
- Celebrity PR agencies
- Zoom (for live video integrations)
- Merch fulfillment companies
Growth Strategy
- Heavy PR and media outreach
- Localized celebrity onboarding
- SEO and fan community engagement
- Product diversification (calls, events, eCommerce)
NLP Keywords: Thrillz business model, Thrillz revenue, fan engagement monetization
Cameo vs Thrillz: Business Model Comparison Table
| Feature | Cameo | Thrillz |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2017 | 2019 |
| Geography | Global (focus on US) | UK & Europe |
| Revenue Model | Commission + B2B + Subscription | Commission + SaaS + Add-ons |
| Commission Rate | ~25% | 20–30% |
| Live Interactions | Yes (Cameo Live) | Yes (Zoom-powered) |
| Fan Clubs & Subscriptions | In beta | Available |
| SaaS Offerings | No | Yes (booking & analytics tools) |
| Merchandise Sales | No | Yes |
| B2B Enterprise Options | Yes (Cameo for Business) | Yes (White-label + agency solutions) |
| App Integration | Native apps (iOS/Android/Web) | Web-first with mobile optimization |
Pros & Cons of Cameo’s Business Model
Pros
- Strong brand recall and celebrity partnerships
- Efficient one-time revenue generation per video
- Scalable globally with minimal overhead
- Expanding into corporate use-cases
Cons
- No SaaS diversification
- Saturation risk with look-alike platforms
- Limited recurring revenue streams
- Dependent on celebrity availability
Pros & Cons of Thrillz’s Business Model
Pros
- Multiple revenue streams (calls, merch, SaaS)
- Recurring revenue from fan clubs
- White-label offerings for B2B scale
- Strong appeal in non-US markets
Cons
- Slightly lower brand recognition
- More operational complexity (Zoom, merch)
- Higher support overhead
- Lower celebrity density compared to Cameo
Market Data: Growth, Revenue, and Funding
Cameo
- Revenue (2024 est): $140M+
- Funding: Over $165M (Series C led by SoftBank)
- User Base: 10M+ users globally
- Growth: 4x growth during pandemic, steady demand from businesses and events
Thrillz
- Revenue (2024 est): ~$12M
- Funding: $2M+ seed funding
- User Base: 300K+ fans, 4,000+ creators
- Growth: Focused on steady market capture in UK & EU
Which Model is Better for Startups in 2025?
If you’re a startup founder or app entrepreneur in 2025, the better model depends on your target market, tech capabilities, and growth vision:
- Cameo’s model is excellent for lean startups targeting viral fan experiences, US markets, or one-time transactions.
- Thrillz’s model is better suited for platforms that aim to monetize deeper fan engagement, provide SaaS tools, or build B2B pipelines.
Choose a Cameo-Style Model If…
- You want a minimalistic, viral platform for fan videos
- You have access to popular talent influencers
- You’re targeting North America primarily
- You aim to build a gifting or celebrity shoutout app
Launch your own Cameo-style app with Miracuves
Choose a Thrillz-Style Model If…
- You want a feature-rich platform (calls, merch, SaaS)
- You are targeting UK, Europe, or Asia
- You want recurring revenue via fan clubs and subscriptions
- You plan to build a celebrity management portal
Get started with a Thrillz-style app with Miracuves
Conclusion
The celebrity-fan engagement market is booming in 2025—and whether you choose Cameo’s streamlined viral approach or Thrillz’s comprehensive engagement suite, success depends on execution.
At Miracuves, we specialize in custom clone app development tailored to your vision. From Cameo clones to Thrillz-style platforms, we provide end-to-end tech solutions with fast turnaround, UX optimization, and marketing integration.
Build your celebrity video platform with Miracuves — Your Innovation Partner.
FAQs
1. What is the main difference between Cameo and Thrillz?
Cameo focuses on one-off personalized video messages, while Thrillz offers deeper engagement with video calls, fan clubs, and merchandise.
2. How does Cameo make money?
Cameo earns through commissions, business orders, and premium fan subscriptions.
3. Does Thrillz offer recurring revenue opportunities?
Yes, Thrillz supports fan clubs, live video sessions, and merchandise for continuous income.
4. Which model is more suitable for international expansion?
Thrillz’s diverse feature set and localization strategy make it better suited for international (non-US) markets.
5. Can I build a Cameo or Thrillz clone app?
Absolutely. Miracuves offers ready-to-launch and customizable clone apps for both Cameo and Thrillz platforms.
