In 2018, the U.S department of justice seized and shutdown Backpage.com, as well as it's affiliates. In an instant, thousands of escorts, massage therapists, and BDSM providers had no way of finding clients. Since the shut down, a large array of "backpage alternatives" have popped up across the globe, some reliable and some not. We're here to put these so-called alternatives to rest, so you can find workers without the hassle of trawling through scams and fake ads. We came up with the list below by consulting sex worker peer groups as well as sex workers on Switter (RIP) and Twitter to understand where they actually post ads. We have not received payment for listing any of the sites below. We want to help both clients and workers find ad platforms which are reputable, reliable and work for them. We've also added a few links to a handful of other adult blogs who have created their own recommendation lists.
Want to fight back against this type of censorship?
Unfortunately for sex workers, clients of sex workers and marginalised people globally censorship and discrimination has only worsened since 2018. While politicians and anti sex/choice groups are hellbent on erasing sexual expression from the internet, it is important to remember there are easy ways you can fight back including:
- Understand that decriminalisation, not legalisation is what sex workers want. Hundreds of researchers and scientists also advocate for the decriminalisation of sex work as the most effective way to reduce violence against sex workers and victims of exploitation. Legalisation, such as the nordic model, the swedish model and the entrapment model, has only been found to increase harm against not just sex workers but their clients as well.
- Understand the difference between human trafficking and sex work and countering misinformation such as that which lead to the seizure of Backpage.
- Advocate for the decriminalisation and destigmatisation of sex work, sex workers and their clients. Hold politicians to account when they pass harmful legislation. Call your friends out when they use stigmatising slurs like the P word. Counter misinformation about sex work and sex workers online.
1. Tryst.link
Workers ranging from: approx. $200 - $1100 per hour
Voted #1 on Pleasure Seeker
Pros:
- Second largest escort directory globally
- Ability to search by price, location etc.
- Ability to favorite and save providers
- All workers are verified and matched to the pictures in their profile
- Built by sex workers and professional software engineers
- International user base
- Available now function
- Excellent support
- Sex worker community blog
- TLC donation matching program
- Promotes workers on social media
- In-platform messaging system
- Cheap or free to have a live verified ad
Cons:
- Does not have reviews
- Small team (but very nice!)
- Member dashboard a little busy, but we’re on working on it
2. Slixa
Workers ranging from: approx $500 - $2000 per hour
Pros:
- Has excellent support
- Promotes workers on Twitter
- Modern layout
- Has community blog
Cons:
- Is expensive for providers to post ads
- Only really caters to "high end providers"
- Does not have reviews
- Only has traffic in some cities
3. P411
Workers ranging from: approx. $400 - $1100 per hour
Pros:
- All of the users are verified with ID
- Has an established user base of escorts and clients
- Operates on an "okay" system
Cons:
- Can be a lengthy process to sign up for
- Prioritises paid links in header and menu over provider ads
4. Private Delights
Workers ranging from: approx $400 - $1000 per hour
Pros:
- You can post reviews
- Sometimes promotes workers on Twitter
Cons:
- Hard to find workers
- Not designed well
- Rumoured to not be run by sex workers
- Does not verify all of it's users
- Has been reported for fake profiles
- Is expensive to keep an ad active
- Hosted on Amazon Web Services
5. Eros
Workers ranging from: approx. $500 - $1100 per hour
Pros:
- Is the oldest and most well-known platform
Cons:
- Reported terrible customer service
- Is very expensive
- Only really caters to "high end providers"
- Not run by sex workers
- Prioritises paid ads above provider ads
- Hosted behind Cloudflare, who have actively harmed sex workers with the deplatforming of Switter.
6. Leolist
Workers ranging from: approx. $300 - $1100 per hour
Pros:
- Ability to search by price and location
- Is one of the oldest and most well-known platforms in Canada
Cons:
- Is expensive for providers to post ads
- Has been reported for having fake ads and scams
- Not run by sex workers
- Hosted behind Cloudflare, who have actively harmed sex workers with the deplatforming of Switter.
Sites to avoid as an escort or a client
Finally we come to the worst of the worst. Below is a list of sites which have been reported by the community for either straight up scamming people, having many fake ads or using bots to drive revenue to their platform. We recommend you do your homework before engaging these sites and reach out to your peers!
Doublelist
Does not allow sex workers on the platform. Is reported to be full of fake ads and scammers.
Bedpage
Reported to have fake ads and low traffic.
Yesbackpage/ibackpage/probackpage/backpage.li
Backpagecredits has a new website, YesBackpage. They were reported to be notorious for scamming and offending escorts and posting fake ads, seems things haven't changed.
Adult Friend Finder
Adult Friend Finder is in a similar boat to Bedpage. Known for fake ads and the use of bots.
For more in depth reviews of each platform plus more:
More alternatives and reviews:
- https://spicedupaffairs.com/backpage-alternatives/
- https://thevalleyscottblog.com/website-reviews/
- https://pleasure-seeker.com/best-hookup-sites/sites-like-backpage/
- https://www.mssiennacharles.com/blog/backpage-is-dead-need-help
Resources:
Update: On June 19th 2020, Backapge alternative Cityxguide was also seized by the Department of Homeland Security, along with it's affiliate sites. We have done a short write up about the take down in this article: What happened to Cityxguide. As both are so similar in their functionality, the above list is full of great alternatives to Cityxguide as well as Backpage.