Your Guide to the Best Ethical Porn Sites on the Internet

If you've ever wondered why some porn sites require you to have a paid membership and other porn sites are completely free, it's because not all porn is created equal. Though the saying "sex sells" is absolutely true, there's a big difference between how mainstream porn is created and distributed versus how ethical porn is.

Think about it: the porn you see on free, mainstream websites tends to appeal more to the male gaze, and you may find yourself questioning whether the person in the clip is actually enjoying themselves. Ethical porn, however, is likely to show sex workers of all body types, ethnicities, and ages experiencing pleasure that, well, actually appears to be pleasure.

This is because ethical porn is exactly that: ethical. The people in the video likely have a say in what happens in the scene, are treated fairly, and are also being compensated properly for their work. By paying for porn, you're not only making sure the performers are fairly compensated for their work, but you're also setting the standard that they deserve to be paid and treated well.

While there's no shortage of porn on the internet, there is a lesser amount of ethical porn, and sifting through Google searches to find it might be enough to kill the mood. So to help you out, we've uncovered some of the best ethical porn sites on the web. But before we dive in, let's start with the basics, such as how you can tell whether a porn site is ethical in the first place.

Ethical porn is not necessarily a type of porn, but it is a way of doing business in the porn industry, says Angie Rowntree, founder of the sex-positive and ethical porn site Sssh.com. "Ethical porn is composed of certain 'best practices' that ensure everyone's well-being and fair treatment throughout production," she says. Adhering to this protocol ultimately benefits not only the performers and studio, "but also the fans who will be able to enjoy content knowing it was truly made with affirmative consent and contains real pleasure."

For starters, ethical porn is "always made with open communication, honesty, respect, and transparency," says Rowntree. This means "everything you see in the scene has been negotiated and consented to by all parties before the cameras are ever rolling." Some other basic principles include:

Keep in mind that "some mainstream sites and studios also follow these same 'best practices' even if they don't necessarily market their content as 'feminist,' 'porn for women,' or 'ethical,'" says Rowntree. It's also important to note that not all free porn is necessarily unethical, and not all paid porn is ethical; however, paying for porn is more likely to mean that performers are being paid and treated fairly.

To find out if your favorite site is ethical or not, you can check out the list below. Alternately, many sites will have a list of core values or consent agreements on their "About" page. If they don't, a quick Google search may inform you if there have been any lawsuits or allegations against the website by its performers, which, for obvious reasons, would be a red flag.

Ethical porn and feminist porn can be one of the same, depending on who you ask. To Rowntree, feminist porn is "porn in which women's pleasure is equally valued and the sex is realistic and authentic. There is a focus on consent, female agency, transparency, and it's ethically produced."

Most often, feminist porn offers perspectives that appeal to the female gaze, as opposed to more mainstream porn sites which target the male gaze. "Feminist porn tends to be more inclusive, have strong female characters, and the sex has a much more natural flow to it," she says.

Plus, feminist porn is likely more ethical in and of itself. "Feminist filmmakers typically negotiate everything with the actors in advance, so everyone is fully and enthusiastically consenting to all planned sex acts, feels safe, in control, and respected throughout the process, and paid a fair rate for their work."

Sssh.com: Directed and produced by Rowntree herself, Sssh.com ($20/month) offers adult content that will stimulate your body and mind. According to the website, the female-focused films are inspired and crowd-sourced by their members' fantasies and desires — so, what the viewers want, the viewers get. Oh, and if you are someone who enjoys watching porn with your partner — no matter if you're physically together or not — check out their new feature "Sssh Soirée." It allows you to watch any content on Sssh.com while seeing and hearing your partner in real-time.

XConfessions: The concept behind XConfessions ($17/month) is simple: Viewers submit their anonymous sex confessions, and award-winning film director Erika Lust (or a guest director) will choose the juiciest stories to inspire their next film. You'll get anything from roleplay fantasies and BDSM to romantic and threesomes, truly catering all your masturbation needs and wants. The best part? The porn site stands by its seven core values when filming and producing content: equal pleasure, diversity, fair pay, transparency, a safe-sex environment, no surprises, and worker standards.

Lust Cinema: An adult online movie theater, Lust Cinema($17/month) offers a unique range of modern films shot from a woman's perspective. Viewers can expect to see various body types and fantasies, and enjoy feature-length films made by female directors.

Dipsea: Female-founded audio-erotica website and app Dipsea ($5/month) lets you listen to steamy audio clips, all of which focus on female pleasure. With over 300 clips, you can find exactly what you want to listen to, from sexual escapades to soothing sounds and wellness guides. Consider Dipsea as your very own Audible, but for erotica.

Make Love Not Porn: Just as the name implies, Make Love Not Porn ($5/video) is all about consent, love, and "real-life" sex. "Of the people, by the people, for the people, makelovenotporn.tv is you in all your #realworldglory," the site touts. You can join the site for free and rent videos for $5 each. If a subscription is more your style, you can enroll in one for $10, $30, or $50/month which allows you access five, 30, or 50 videos per month, respectively.

— Additional Reporting By Taylor Andrews