There’s a lot of porn out there, and it can be hard to parse which sites meet ethical standards, pay their staff fairly, treat everyone with respect, and provide a safe, inclusive working environment. While you can never know the exact inner-workings of a set, there are certain criteria to look out for, and some ethical porn sites that vet for you. ‍

What is ethical porn? 

Porn is ethical when it offers healthy working conditions for performers. Kelly Ghweinem, LCSW, tells O.school that the conditions should include “performers who engage in consensual acts, are paid fair wages for their work, have access to medical care, such as STI testing and emergency care, and [companies] that set a culture of respect and dignity.” Ghweinem explains that the porn should be realistic and inclusive of all different body types, ethnicities, sexualities, and genders. ‍

Ethical porn prioritizes the process over the final product. ‍

Writer and sex worker Arielle Egozi tells O.school: “Porn is performance. What’s ethical is how that performance is brought to life, and how it is consumed.” Egozi explains that watching porn is like watching a movie: “How do we know when a film is ethical? Do we base that off of the story being told, or the way the production was handled?” In both cases, we’re witnessing actors perform, and all actors should be treated fairly and equally — regardless of the type of performance or genre of the film. ‍

7 best ethical porn sites ‍

Mainstream porn dominates the adult industry, but there are plenty of places that offer more ethically-produced content. Here are seven ethical porn sites to explore. 

‍1. Dipsea, $4.99-$12.99/month‍

Dipsea is an app filled with audio erotica that takes a “mind-first approach to sexuality.” The steamy stories range from 10-25 minutes in length and include various themes like BDSM, romance, threesomes, and more. On their FAQ page, you can learn more about how the company ensures inclusive representation of voice actors and story contributors. 

‍2. CrashPadSeries, $9.99-$25/month‍

CrashPadSeries works to create an inclusive, professional space for queer adult film performers. It features over 340 episodes and offers Behind the Scenes post-shoot interviews with performers. On its website, you can find policy information around sexual health, equal pay, casting, and performer agency and content. 

‍3. MakeLoveNotPorn, $10-50/month‍

MakeLoveNotPorn is a user-generated video platform that works to promote authenticity and positive sexual values in its content. In 2009, Cindy Gallop founded the platform to fight against mainstream porn and the way it can shape viewers’ perceptions around sex. MakeLoveNotPorn is a great resource to turn to for realistic and hot sexual content. 

‍4. AORTA, $8.00-$18.99/month‍

AORTA Films feature experimental, inclusive queer porn. Along with its online library of 70+ films, the production company offers workshops, talks, and screenings around body liberation. AORTA Films collaborates with performers on shoot schedule, crediting, expectations, and scene negotiations. For more about company guidelines, you can explore the Consent & Safety page. 

‍5. Four Chambers, $9/month‍

Four Chambers offers artistic, conceptual cinema porn. In addition to thematic film, you can find a range of erotic stories and still images. Four Chambers offers transparent information about performer pay, shoot requirements, and financial accessibility for supporters. 

‍6. Sssh.com, $20/month‍

Sssh is the longest-running “for women, by women” porn sites. Founded by Angie Rowntree in 1999, sssh.com focuses on mutual pleasure, and its content is inspired by member-submitted fantasies. Rowntree founded the site because when she began exploring different porn sites, she “didn’t see much which would appeal to women.” Now the site features a range of content, from audio porn, to cinema porn, to even virtual reality porn. 

‍7. Bellesa Films, $10/month‍

Bellesa Films — which are written, directed, and shot by women — are focused on real sexual chemistry and authentic pleasure. In fact, fake orgasms are not even allowed on set. Performers choose their co-stars, scene preferences, and “dos and don’ts,” and writers use their preferences to write scripts tailored to their desires and fantasies. Bellesa also sells pleasure products and offers articles on sex education.‍

5 signs your porn was made ethically ‍

‍1. It costs money. ‍

Ethical porn is generally not free — though there are exceptions. It can be quite costly to make, and paid subscriptions fund and ensure fair wages and safety measures. While there are some sites that offer ethical porn for free, free porn often indicates that performers aren’t being paid enough for their work. Look out for subscription-based websites, or specific videos that cost money to support the safety and financial security of performers.

‍2. There is pleasure for all performers. ‍

Mainstream porn tends to be focused on the male gaze, depicting women as sexual objects and prioritizing male pleasure. This can send the wrong message to viewers. Men may believe sex to be self-serving and place their partners’ pleasure on the backburner. That said, porn is intended to be a fantasy — not something that’s representative of reality. It can be a way for people to explore sexual fantasies that excite them but that they may not be interested in exploring in real life (i.e., themes of dominance and submission, humiliation, threesomes, gangbangs, orgies, and sex involving pain). 

Given how blurry the lines can be, there is porn that may look degrading, but still follows ethical working standards. While it might be difficult to accurately assess which porn focuses on pleasure for all parties, it might help to look at the connection between performers: Do they seem to be enjoying it? Does it look like it feels good for everyone involved? When in doubt, trust your intuition.

‍3. It provides transparent policy information. ‍

Ethical porn websites often have About or FAQ pages about their policies, workplace conditions, performer pay, and more. While many sites hail themselves as “ethical” or “feminist,” they lack specificity on how proper performer treatment is ensured. When reviewing policy pages, look out for information on how the content is made, how performers are supported before and during filming, and how representation is promoted.‍

4. There is performer representation.‍

Equal representation in porn can have a major impact in the way viewers relate to performers and perceive sex — diverse representation shows them that sex doesn’t revolve around a specific body type, race, or gender. 

To detect representation in porn, Egozi encourages viewers to ask questions like, “Are [the videos] continuing to center the cis-straight-white-male gaze or are other lenses and gazes being included? Are bodies being celebrated for their size, shape, color, ability? Are the identities and desires of those on screen taken into context?” Find content that normalizes and promotes inclusion.‍

5. The company has a positive reputation. ‍

Because many porn sites lack transparency, it can be difficult to know how companies’ actually treat their performers. To get a better sense on how companies operate, research their reputation amongst sex workers and sex positive viewers. Because mainstream porn often includes the names of their performers, you can find information — through social media, websites, interviews — on how performers feel about their work environment. You can also find the reputation of a site on forums like Reddit. Pages like /chixxflixxx have plenty of dialogue around certain companies’ regulations and policies.‍

The bottom line‍

While it can be difficult to find, there are plenty of sites that feature a diversity of sex workers, treat them fairly, and still offer sexy content. It can be empowering to watch high-quality, inclusive porn, and it can have a lasting impact on viewers. If you’re looking for more creative ways to pleasure yourself outside or along with watching porn, learn how to enhance solo sex.