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There is mainstream porn, with its predictable scripts and its calibrated bodies. And then there is Ersties: a Berlin-based platform, conceived and produced 100% by women, filming female pleasure exactly as it really exists. Real people, real bodies, real moans, real consent, real orgasms. Since the early 2010s, Ersties has established itself as one of the benchmarks of amateur ethical porn, halfway between Homemade Porn and intimate documentary.
Key takeaway
Ersties is an amateur feminist porn platform founded in Berlin in the early 2010s by a team of women. Its DNA: the female gaze, consent filmed before every shoot, performers who direct themselves, and no male presence on set. The catalogue is mostly solo, lesbian and group content, with a sliding-scale subscription starting at a few euros a month.
What is Ersties?
Ersties is originally a German word evoking the “first semester”: something fresh, new and exciting, like a student’s first term. The name fits perfectly a site offering a new kind of content: authentic, fun, realistic and wildly exciting.
The story begins in a bedroom, in the early 2010s, in Berlin. Three women, frustrated at finding nowhere any porn that was exciting, real and fun and that looked like them, asked the question that would change everything: “What if we made our own production?” A pink bra, a friend who drops by, a first amateur film shot between girlfriends, and the Ersties adventure was launched. What was only a DIY project has become, more than ten years later, one of the most respected amateur ethical porn sites.
Since then, the production company has been shooting its films from a discreet red-brick building in Berlin, with one constant: capturing women’s sexuality with the simplest possible equipment, without imposed instructions, so that nothing rings false.
The Ersties method: consent at the heart of the set
This is probably what sets Ersties apart most from the rest of the industry. Here, consent is not a box to tick, it is the raw material of the shoot.
Before every scene, the performer has a genuine “consent talk” with the director: a long conversation about her desires, her limits, any apprehensions she may have and how the day will unfold. The director never arrives with a checklist of shots (“missionary, then doggy”) or a preset vision of the scene. Everything starts from a single question: what do you feel like doing, right here, right now, today?
The performers are self-directed: they do what they feel like doing, at their own pace, and can change their mind or stop everything at any moment. The camera and the director stay in the background so as not to disturb the moment. Another strong principle: no men on set, with all the attention turned towards women’s pleasure. The result is that you see on screen the things classic porn edits out: someone puts on a condom, someone says “no, actually I don’t feel like that”, people laugh, people hesitate. In short, real sex.
This approach has also made the brand go viral on social media, where its videos of pre-shoot consent conversations have been massively shared and praised.
The values of ethical porn according to Ersties
Porn for women, made by women, behind the camera as much as in front of it. The team sums up its approach in three pillars:
- Female Gaze: women and their desire regain a central place, they are everywhere.
- If it’s not a fuck yes, it’s a fuck no: enthusiastic consent as the non-negotiable foundation of every production.
- Real fun and authentic sex: authentic, real and joyful sex, the house promise.
The concept fits in those three lines: real sex, real orgasms, and plenty of shared pleasure.
A 100% female team (and community)
From management to directing and quality control, the Ersties team is made up 100% of women. Nina, one of the founders, still oversees the site’s production and editorial line today. It is this continuity that gives Ersties its coherence: the people who shape the site are also the ones who, in the beginning, were looking for porn that looked like them.
Director Paulita Pappel, an emblematic figure of Berlin feminist porn (and later founder of Lustery and Hardwerk), was among the Ersties directors in the mid-2010s. She still co-hosts the in-house podcast today.
The Ersties podcast
Ersties is not just a feminist porn platform, it is also a community that spreads its values around positive sexuality, body knowledge and pleasure. Since 2017, the Ersties podcast has released a new episode every first Friday of the month. Hosted by several voices from the sex industry, including Paulita Pappel, it tackles dating, sex work, sex toys, sexting and the behind-the-scenes of the industry without taboo. The tone? A session between friends: curious, open and contagiously positive. A real breath of fresh air, for curious women and curious men alike.
What do you watch there?
Ersties’ strength is variety within authenticity. You will mainly find:
- solo scenes, where a performer explores her pleasure on camera, without a script;
- plenty of lesbian and group scenes, between friends or performers who know each other well, often full of laughter and complicity;
- couple scenes and a few straight titles, always filmed in the same spirit of authenticity;
- more playful series and recurring formats (seduction games, dating-style formats, themed shoots) that keep bringing back a community of endearing performers.
The common thread: you are not following a script, you are witnessing a real moment of pleasure. That is what gives you the feeling of sharing the performers’ intimacy rather than watching a show.
How much does an Ersties subscription cost?
Ersties works on a monthly subscription, with a sliding-scale price depending on the duration chosen. As a guide, the pricing looks like this (rates and currency may vary with current promotions, so always check the offer displayed before signing up):
| Duration | Indicative price |
| 1 month | 15 € |
| 3 months | 35 € |
| 6 months | 60 € |
| One year | 100 € |
The longer the commitment, the lower the monthly cost: the annual plan remains, by far, the best value.
Our opinion on Ersties
Our opinion on Ersties is unanimous: it is one of our favourite ethical porn platforms, alongside Lustery. It is pure pleasure for a genuinely accessible price. Our favourite moments? The group scenes between women, where laughter and fun are everywhere: it feels like spending the evening with them.
What we love: the unapologetic authenticity, the diversity of bodies and practices, the female gaze genuinely applied, and that rare transparency about consent.
The limits to know about: the catalogue is very much centred on female pleasure, solo, lesbian and group content. If you are looking above all for straight or couple content in the style of Lustery, Ersties will not necessarily be your first choice. And since this is avowedly amateur, do not expect an ultra-polished studio aesthetic: that is precisely the point.
Would you like to audition for Ersties?
Does the concept speak to you and make you want to take part in the adventure? Ersties regularly recruits new performers. The process is simple: just write to the casting team at casting@ersties.com, and they will explain the steps to follow. There is no reason to feel self-conscious: Ersties is a true ode to the diversity of bodies, and no previous experience in the adult industry is required.
FAQ
Is Ersties really ethical porn?
Yes. Ersties concretely applies the principles of ethical porn: consent discussed and filmed before every shoot, self-directed performers who can stop at any moment, a 100% female team, and pay for the people being filmed. Ethics there is not a marketing argument but a production method.
Are there men at Ersties?
On set, no: shoots happen with no man in the crew, in order to create a space centred on women’s pleasure. On screen, the vast majority of the content is solo, lesbian or group scenes between women, even though you will also find a few couple scenes.
Who can shoot for Ersties?
Any woman of legal age, with no experience required in the adult industry. The site champions diversity of bodies, ages and backgrounds. Just contact the casting team at casting@ersties.com to find out the process.
Is Ersties really amateur?
Yes and no. The performers really are amateurs who direct themselves, but the shoots are supervised by a professional team (directing, camera work, quality control). So this is amateur porn in spirit and authenticity, but produced within a professional and safe framework.
How much does Ersties cost?
Ersties works on a sliding-scale monthly subscription: the longer the commitment, the lower the monthly price, with the annual plan being the most economical. Since rates change with promotions and currency, check the current offer on the platform before signing up.
