Webcam modeling (often referred to as ‘camming’) is a way of entertaining people online via webcam by creating unique shows (performing) or offering services (like sexting or custom content).
What is a cam model?
A webcam model (also referred to as cam-girls, cam-guys, or cam-models) is someone who performs (naked or in clothing) in front of a webcam on adult webcam/content sites. Cam models can do all kinds of things from simple sexting and erotic video sharing to more elaborate performances that can include dancing or taking special requests from customers.
Ultimately, cam models are in the business of fulfilling fantasies. Fans, followers, and customers will sign up or watch certain cam models, paying for their services or leaving (sometimes very generous) tips.
How exactly does cam modeling work?
In each room (which can be private with one or a few people or public with a large audience), models set certain ‘objectives’ (which are usually sex acts but not always). They put a “token price” on this objective. When viewers tip that amount, the model will perform that act.
Each digital “token” (which users can buy on the platform) has a real dollar amount. This can add up quickly for models who know how to put on a good show and engage their audience.
There are also “pay-per-minute” shows, where everyone who logs some of your time is paying a certain amount per minute for your services. Any money you make is usually divided between yourself and the platform you’re camming on.
Can you be an anonymous cam model?
While it’s difficult, it can be possible to maintain some forms of anonymity while camming…
While the platforms you sign up for most of the time require some form of government ID (for verification purposes), giving the platform your information doesn’t mean the customers will ever have access to that information. There are many ways you can protect yourself online.
What it takes to be successful as a cam model...
Dedication, a strong online presence and time. Those are the secrets to having a fulfilling cam model career (or side hustle, if that’s what you’re into). Talking to those who have this more than just a hobby, they all say the same thing: it won’t happen overnight. Building a dedicated fan base and a brand that people know and love can take time, but it’s well worth the wait.
Anyone can be a cam model. If there is one thing I’ve learned from my hours of research on this topic, it’s that anyone (any body size, gender, sexual orientation, etc) can be a cam model. That’s the beauty of the online sex worker industry - it’s accessible.
While this journey may be a bit more difficult for you in some circumstances, there is always a place for you to shine when it comes to online modeling and camming.
If you’re interested in learning more about camming, you can check out our other articles on this topic: here and here.
I didn’t want this to be “just another list” of top cam model websites, because those are everywhere. I wanted this to be a true account of what each website has to offer so that aspiring models can see it all laid out in one place and make the best decision for them.
So gearing up to dive into my research, I reached out to a friend of mine, Autumn Red, who has experience on one of the most popular cam sites out there - Chaturbate.
“My experience is a really true example of what starting from zero looks like. I was literally clueless and I had no idea what I was doing. I chose Chaturbate mainly because after doing some research (mainly reading, not even visiting the sites), I found it came highly recommended and it had some sort of a reputation.” Autumn explains.
Over time, Autumn explained that she’d become curious about other platforms and decided to see what the others had to offer. “I was very happy that I made a great decision. I even tried streaming on some other sites and absolutely hated it.”
Naturally, I was curious - what would make Chaturbate better than say LiveJasmin or CamSoda? Both of those sites have good reputations, too. Well, Autumn was curious too, and after trying out a few different platforms for her own use, she has a theory as to why certain websites may appear better than others…
“First of all, and most importantly, there is no such thing as "better" or "worse" sites. Not at all. Lately, I've been chatting with other models and reading a lot, and I've come to the conclusion that you just "click" with certain sites. It's all about your style, seeing if you "fit in" and feel comfortable in a certain place.”
When it comes to choosing a platform for your camming services, you shouldn’t be searching for “the best cam site”, you should be searching for “the best cam site for what you want.”
With that being said, let’s sort through what some of the most popular cam sites have to offer…
How it works:
This platform works on a “token” system as well as a “pay-per-minute” system - most models tend to use a mixture of both. With the token system, users will buy tokens which they can then use to tip you with, each token being worth a predetermined price. With the pay-per-minute system, users will pay for your services per-minute based on a predetermined fee that you have chosen.
Popularity Rating:
Chaturbate is considered one of the largest American adult camming sites with an estimated 4+ million unique visitors per month...that’s a lot of potential customers! The site has also been praised for its diversity, being available in 15 different languages and featuring male, female, couple, and trans content.
This site is known for its high earning potential and ability to get you a ton of monthly visitors. It’s also extremely up-to-date technology-wise, with many saying the customer support service is extremely helpful when needed.
ReadySetCam suggests using this platform if you’re interested in entertaining a room full of people versus more of a one-on-one experience.
One thing to note: because this platform is so popular, there is quite a lot of competition. Models using this platform really give it their all to become a top performer and get the kind of exposure and viewer based that makes all the hard work worth it.
Can you be anonymous?
One of the positive things about Chaturbate is that it’s email-optional upon creating an account and no credit card is needed to sign up, meaning there is that added layer of protection. This is also one of many platforms that allows you to block out entire geographical regions from seeing your profile, meaning you can keep your city, state or even entire country blocked off.
Payout options:
On Chaturbate, you keep 60% of your earnings, which is in the mid-high range of commission for most camming platforms. Payouts typically happen every week.
How it works:
This platform works on a “token” system, where users will buy tokens and tip you with them, each token valued at a predetermined price.
Popularity Rating:
CamSoda is praised for its ability to sell not only live shows but other types of content, such as photos and videos, too. Instead of focusing on performing for shows, you can create various types of content here and see what works the best for you.
ReadySetCam explains that this cam site is most frequently visited by users hoping to get a free showing. Many of those users will tip, of course, but it’s not a sure thing which can make it harder to earn on this platform than others.
One of the great things about this platform is that it’s fairly customizable - you can sell erotic movies, images, record shows, or perform live and you set the price for all of it. CamSoda also actually offers you eligibility for health insurance support, explaining on their signup page that they care about your health and wellbeing.
Can you be anonymous?
CamSoda, like many other platforms, has an option for you to block out entire countries or specific geological areas from seeing your content, allowing an extra level of anonymity. Along with that, they claim that your content is DCMA protected, which means you will be secured from copyright infringement and piracy.
Payout options:
The payout options for CamSoda start at 55% profit, with some earning as much as 65% - and these payouts typically happen every week. They have a really helpful Wiki page that they keep updated with all their current payout options.
How it works:
This platform usually works on a “pay-per-minute” system, where users will pay for your services per-minute based on a predetermined fee that you have chosen.
Popularity Rating:
LiveJasmin may not still be number one (having been replaced in the ‘most popular’ section with Chaturbate, but this is a site that’s been around for over 20 years (WHAT!?) and is dedicated to keeping up their stellar reputation.
ReadySetCams has suggested using LiveJasmin if you’re interested in making the most of your time and earnings. LiveJasmin gives you the opportunity to “broadcast” from their platform at the same time that you’re broadcasting on other sites, potentially allowing you to earn more money with the same amount of effort.
LiveJasmin is known for treating their models well. In fact, they offer awards for the top 100 models every week and offer 24/7 live customer support.
Can you be anonymous?
LiveJasmin also has an option for you to block out entire countries or specific geological areas from seeing your content, allowing an extra level of anonymity. They also offer their models something called “chargeback protection”, which is essentially a program the models can join (like having insurance) that helps you keep your earnings safe.
Payout options:
The payout on LiveJasmin is bi-weekly with models taking home anywhere from 30% - 80% of their earnings, depending on various factors like your rates and your history on the platform.
How it works:
This platform works on a “pay-per-minute” system, where users will pay for your services per-minute based on a predetermined fee that you have chosen.
Popularity Rating:
This platform is best known for people who want to create rather “authentic connections” with their clients. It’s a very popular site (having been around a long time, similar to LiveJasmin), so the people you are most likely to see come into your rooms are “regulars” who will likely tip well or often (or both).
The site is very user friendly and has actually been given quite a few awards for having high-quality videos and streams.
A note: this is not exactly something that you will use, but the site does have some interesting user-friendly features for your clients, which can benefit you. In fact, something that gave me a good chuckle was the fact that there is a “kill screen” button (a red button on any page in the site) that will automatically close the tab for you. Talk about giving the people what they want - a way to browse undetected.
Can you be anonymous?
ImLive also offers geo-blocking features so you can block out certain regions from seeing your profile, which can be very helpful in staying hidden from people you may know.
WebcamStartUp has a great article on getting started with this platform if you’re interested.
Payout options:
Models can take home over 30% of their earnings and are typically paid on a bi-weekly schedule. Chargebacks are totally covered and there’s also an affiliate program you can take advantage of.
How it works:
This platform works on a “token” system as well as a “pay-per-minute” system. For the token system, users can buy tokens which they can then use to tip you with, each token being worth a predetermined price. With the pay-per-minute system, users will pay for your services per-minute based on a predetermined fee that you have chosen.
Popularity Rating:
This platform is most often used for beginners and professionals alike. More experienced models will enjoy this platform because of the monthly contests that happen on the site, allowing for more earning potential if you enter and win.
ReadySetCams has praised Stripchat for being the platform to use if you’re interested in instant earnings rather than a slow build of a long-term brand. One of the reasons for this is that new models get “boosted” into higher placement on the site for 2 weeks after signing up to get established and earning quickly.
Can you be anonymous?
StripChat, like many other platforms, has an option for you to block out entire countries from seeing your content, allowing an extra level of anonymity.
Payout options:
The payout on this platform is up to 60% of the revenue you earn and payout can happen either weekly or bi-weekly.
How it works:
This platform works on a “token” system only. Users will buy tokens and tip you with them, each token valued at a predetermined price.
Popularity Rating:
This platform is known for it’s kind of “sliding scale” earning system where the harder you work and the more effort you put in, the more money you can earn. Unlike other platforms that provide models with a fixed percentage, there’s always an opportunity to earn more on BongaCams.
WebCamStartUp has a really informational article (here) if you’re interested in becoming a model there. ReadySetCam suggests this platform is the best for the highest percentage paid to the model. While other platforms may give you 50% - 70%, you can earn up to 90% of your revenue on BongaCams.
Can you be anonymous?
While you can limit what is on your BongaCams profile, many people have stated that the more information you provide about yourself, the better your profile does. BongaCams is a better choice for someone who isn’t that concerned with staying anonymous, as their private and exclusive chat features aren’t as good as other camming sites.
Payout options:
Models are paid bi-weekly and can take home anywhere from 60% - 90% of their earnings. Being able to keep up to 90% of your earnings is a bit “unheard of” with other camming sites, which is a huge draw for this platform.
How it works:
This platform works on a “token” system only. Users will buy tokens and tip you with them, each token valued at a predetermined price.
Popularity Rating:
This platform is popular amongst beginners in the cam modeling world due to their high privacy concerns (you’re able to cam without showing your face) and you also have access to free coaching from professionals to help you get started.
One of the fun things about this platform is that they have a dedicated space for couples and they also allow interactive toys (meaning your customers can control your toys) with Kiiroo and Lovense products.
WebCamStartUp has a great article on signing up for this platform if you’re interested.
Can you be anonymous?
Cam4, like many other platforms, allows you to block out certain geographical regions from seeing your profile, which can help you stay anonymous. The only downfall here (compared to other platforms) is that they only allow you to block out up to three different countries, states or provinces.
Payout options:
The payout for Cam4 can happen weekly or bi-weekly, and you can take home anywhere from 40% - 70% of your commission. Chargebacks aren’t covered on this platform and there is no affiliate program.
How it works:
This platform works on a “pay-per-minute” system and does not allow the use of tokens. Users will pay for your services per-minute based on a predetermined fee that you have chosen.
ReadySetCam thinks Xmodels is the place to be for one simple reason: it seems to have the highest average model earnings of any other platform right now. One of the reasons I’ve specified this site would be good for more experienced cam models is the fact that you must cam on the site for 100 hours before you can set your own price for private and exclusive chats. Before this, it’s set at a default price. This can be tricky when you’re just starting out and need to make money fast.
This is also a platform that allows you to work as a couple, which can be a great way to get started in amateur porn.
Can you be anonymous?
Xmodels offers a privacy guaranteed stamp by confirming that all of your billing and account information will be encrypted via SSL on secure servers, meaning no clients will ever gain access to it. Payments are also made through secure SSL servers. They also offer a country/radius block feature to ensure people close to you can’t find your profile.
Payout options:
Models get 45% payouts and are eligible for referral bonuses, and over time can be eligible for up to 75% payouts.
How it works:
OnlyFans is a one-of-a-kind platform that is a relatively new addition to the camming world. Although it’s not specifically a cam website, I do feel like it has a place on this list, as they are well-known for their adult content.
OnlyFans came onto the scene in a big way and, despite some issues adult content creators have been having with the platform, is one of the most common and uncensored social media platforms for sex workers and cam models. They offer their content creators DMCA and chargeback security as well as privacy protection.
Can you be anonymous?
OnlyFans has quite a complicated process of signing up and does claim in their privacy policy that some data may be shared with third-party verification providers. These things include your full name, date of birth, ID number, address, and/or selfie photos that are required to sign up.
This can be quite daunting for people who are new to camming or providing adult content. That being said, the information you choose to put on your profile is the only information that will be available to your fans.
Payout options:
They work on a subscription-based system, where you set a monthly subscription rate and users can subscribe to your content per month, similar to how they would subscribe to a streaming service like Netflix. The money you make on OnlyFans can be processed daily, meaning you get paid as soon as you earn.
It’s not about finding the “best” platform, it’s about finding the right platform for you.
If you’re someone who is interested in building a brand instead of just earning some quick cash, that will heavily impact which platform you choose to set up with. Of course, you could take some time and try a few different platforms to see what the best fit is, but I highly suggest reaching out on social media to models who have experience or searching for articles like this that can help you make the best decision for you.
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Create Your Sexy Shop In Under 2 Minutes
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