Gone are the dark days of trawling Google, trying out search words like ‘feminist porn’ for glimmers of hope. Some style. Some heat. Some performers who genuinely look like they’re enjoying themselves. These days, there’s an abundance of ethical porn sites in a wide variety of formats and styles to suit pretty much any taste (and budget).
Money. Yup, that’s right. It may have been normalised over the past couple of decades to watch all your porn online for free. Yet, if you’re serious about ensuring what you’re watching is ethical, you’ll need to realise that it’s essential to pay for it.
So, here’s a quick insight into why this is the case, along with my top four favourite ethical porn sites and a list of other options. From draw-dropping videos to explosive audio and literary erotica, I promise you’ll be satisfied by this collection.
Content warning: unsurprisingly, the following article discusses porn, sexual arousal, and masturbation and contains NSFW links.
What is ethical porn?
To understand what ethical porn is, you first need to think about what ethical actually means. To be morally right. To follow certain principles. To abide by rules and standards. While we may have a sense of what is right and wrong, ethics are still highly subjective.
When it comes to an industry as broad as adult entertainment, there isn’t a clear understanding of what ethical porn means. Yet, there are certain practices that many people value when looking for erotic or pornographic content. These include that all performers are over the age of 18. They are paid well for their work. They are provided with a safe, consensual environment where they are treated with respect.
However, for me, ethics doesn’t just extend to production but also to consumption. You have a part to play in this process too. It’s no good searching for ethical porn online unless you actually pay for what you watch. That way, you are ensuring that the above practices happen. Plus, you have the added benefit of enjoying a guilt-free wank (one where you don’t need to slam the laptop shut in shame as soon as you’re done).
So, my recommendation for ethical porn is to do your research and then pay for it. Transparency is critical for all sites like this, so it should be easy to find out who made and is profiting from the content you’re watching. If a site makes it hard to find this information, I suggest spending your money elsewhere.
That’s why I’ve included details about the creators of each of my favourite porn sites. You’ll notice they’re all women, which isn’t surprising. I like to see and hear content that centres around pleasure, especially if it includes performers with vulvas. I also prefer to watch and listen to queer performers having queer sex, so a lot of what I like is made by some really rad women.
My favourite ethical porn sites
Lustery
The first time a lover showed me this site, I immediately knew it was the porn I’d been looking for but didn’t know was possible. Lustery is a platform where real-life couples share their intimate, affectionate, joyful sex lives in a way I’d never seen celebrated elsewhere.
This site doesn’t allow just anyone to upload their content, as it takes a long, detailed vetting process to become a Lustery couple. They also have specific standards for the content regarding how it is shot and what it should include, such as post-sex cuddle time at the end of each video.
One of the best things about Lustery is that it gives couples a chance to chat on camera about their relationship and sex lives before getting down to the actual play time. Some people opt for a quick introductory hello, but others go deep with their chats. My favourite example is Neen (they/he) and CNR (he/him) discussing the mental and physical aspects of using a strap.
Current subscription price: USD $8 a month when billed annually (plus get 20% off your subscription with my link).
Who created Lustery?
Paulita Pappel is a Spanish filmmaker who founded Lustery in 2016 to create space for couples worldwide to showcase what real sex looks like in relationships. She also works on other exciting projects, such as cinematically-shot HardWerk and is the curator of the Pornfilmfestival Berlin.
Four Chambers (aka A Four-Chambered Heart)
If you’ve ever longed for porn that looks like it was made by someone in art school, then Four Chambers is the site for you. Everything they create is so beautifully shot that their gift card subscriptions make a delicious gift idea for lovers. Even the site’s name is dripping with a lush romanticism that some of the videos are infused with. Others veer more towards kink, while their group films are what initially grabbed my attention.
The main thing I love about Four Chambers is that all the performers look like people I would hook up with. Yes, that means a strong Berlin vibe with many tattoos and partially shaved haircuts (my taste is stereotypical, I know). I also enjoy how much the performers seem to know each other well and are genuinely having a good time. It really does make a difference for onscreen chemistry.
Another thing to know about Four Chambers is that it’s ambitious. From concept and set design to how the videos are shot and edited, these are not your average porn films. Some have titles like A Cyborg Manifesto and Orgone Theory and come complete with essays unpacking the ideas behind the film, complete with a reference list. This might sound like a lot when all you’re looking for is a quick wank, but it’s also fun to think your money is financing their next grand vision.
Current subscription price: USD $9 a month.
Who created Four Chambers?
Vex Ashley is the face of Four Chambers, a project she creates with her anonymous partner and collaborator. Vex is both performer and filmmaker, infusing each video with her genre-defying conceptual exploration of art, pornography and cinema. She also curates some aesthetically pleasing content on Instagram at @ohsurrender.
Dipsea
If you enjoy hearing people have sex more (or just as much) as seeing them, then Dipsea is the kind of ethical porn site you need. Think of this app as a well-produced erotic bedtime story that you can snuggle up with (I’ve also found it super hot to listen to Dipsea with lovers). There’s a vast range of options, many with ongoing chapters involving the same characters and storylines. That means if you find a specific tale you enjoy, you can indulge in the fantasy even more.
When you use the app, it’s apparent that Dipsea was created with a specific audience in mind. The founders felt that women are underserved when it comes to erotic content. They also discovered that research supports the need for these mentally stimulating stories missing from our visually-saturated porn market. Dipsea has also since added written erotica to the app for those who prefer to read rather than listen.
Dipsea can feel a little heteronormative, with many HER + HIM stories. However, there is some non-binary content and a few HIM + HIM stories, plus the site claims that more than 30% of their content is queer (I suspect this is predominantly threesome stories). However, as a genderqueer person, I still find a lot of the content entertaining, and if (like me) you’re aroused by specific voices or accents, then you will love this porn site.
Current subscription price: USD $4.99 a month when billed annually (plus get a 30-day free trial with my link).
Who created Dipsea?
Gina Gutierrez and Faye Keegan worked for tech startups when they met in their early twenties. Bringing different skillsets to the project (Faye leads engineering and product; Gina heads up brand, content and marketing), this pair founded Dipsea in 2018, writing the app’s first stories together.
Erika Lust
Erika Lust is the OG of ethical porn. Since the mid-noughties, this site has blossomed into a feminist porn empire with four different channels. It can be a little confusing to work out the difference between each collection at first, so here’s my understanding of each one:
- LustCinema: feature-length and serial porn films made by Erika Lust herself, plus curated content from other filmmakers.
- XConfessions: short films inspired by anonymous confessions.
- ElseCinema: sensual, cinematic movies. It’s ideal if you’re looking for ‘something else.’
- The Store by Erika Lust: purchase stand-alone films by Erika Lust and content created by the performers.
As you can tell from having a quick look around these sites, this is a pretty prolific porn brand. So, if you have a voracious appetite (or enjoy having a lot of options), a few of these channels could be a good option for you. Despite the variety, these videos aren’t what you’re used to seeing in mainstream porn. Perhaps that’s because of Lust’s feminist principles or the general quality of the filmmaking. Either way, you will find something that will pique your interest here.
Current subscription price:
- LustCinema: USD $11.50 a month when billed annually.
- XConfessions: USD $11.95 a month when billed annually.
- ElseCinema: USD $8.99 a month when billed annually.
If you’re interested, you can combine subscriptions for LustCinema and XConfessions for a total of USD $14.45.
Who created Erika Lust?
Unsurprisingly, it was Erika Lust herself. Hailing from Sweden, Erika studied filmmaking in Barcelona, where the company is now based. When her free short film went viral in 2004, she was prompted to create LustCinema the following year. That means she’s been in the business of pleasure for nearly 20 years.
Other ethical porn sites
Here are some other sites that people consider to be ethical. I can’t vouch for them regarding who and how this content is created, but they are widely credited as being ethical porn sites.
Visual
- Afterglow
- Bellesa
- Bright Desire
- Collective Corruption
- Dreams of Spanking
- Ersties
- ForPlay Films
- Frolic Me
- I Feel Myself
- Joy Bear
- Lightsouthern
- Make Love, Not Porn
- PinkLabel
- Royal Fetish
- Spit
- Sssh
Audio
Literary
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