Eros.com Review: History, How It Works, Costs and Alternatives

Eros.com, long known as the Eros Guide, is one of the oldest and best-known adult advertising directories on the internet. This guide covers where Eros came from, how it works today, what advertising costs, what the community says about it, and how it fits alongside other platforms.

What is Eros.com?

Eros.com is an advertising directory. Providers pay to place ads, and visitors browse them for free. Its own disclaimer states: "We are not an escort agency, nor can we make referrals," and says the content of ads is "provided by independent advertisers who are solely responsible for such content." Eros does not handle bookings or payments between clients and advertisers.

The site's main menu covers categories such as escorts, trans, massage and a newer video "Reels" section. Its page title describes coverage of "the US, UK and Canada," with a location selector for other regions.

History: from Eros Guide to Eros.com

• Late 1990s. The Eros Guide launched in the San Francisco Bay Area. Its Canadian trademark record claims use of the "Eros Guide" name since August 1997. The eros-guide.com domain was created in April 1997, and the site's footer reads "© 1997 – 2026." In 2001, a co-founder told News24 the business was based in Oakland and covered about 30 US cities, with expansion to Toronto and London planned.
• Ownership changes. The Canadian trademark record shows the "Eros Guide" mark passing from a US company (Group Kaitu, LLC) to Indigo Netherlands B.V. in 2014, then to KUIL Limited in Cyprus in 2016, and to Shabel Services GmbH in Vienna in 2023.
• Today's operator. The site states that it is operated by Daslur Services AG of Lucerne, Switzerland. Its DMCA policy says the company is "not subject to the laws or jurisdiction of the United States" but complies with the DMCA voluntarily.

The 2017 federal raid

In early November 2017, US Homeland Security Investigations agents searched a call-center company in Youngsville, North Carolina. Local outlets ABC11, WRAL and CBS17 reported that, according to court documents, former employees and industry insiders, the company was linked to Eros. Agents removed computers, servers and documents. At the time, the US Attorney's Office said the case was sealed and under "active investigation," and no charges or arrests were announced. Eros.com stayed online.

In July 2018, ABC11 reported that a separate New York indictment against an escort business described that business advertising on Eros.com. The station said no one working directly for Eros had been charged.

FOSTA and Backpage (2018)

In April 2018, US authorities seized Backpage.com and Congress enacted FOSTA. That law narrowed online platforms' legal immunity for content connected to sex trafficking. A US Government Accountability Office report says these events led many platform operators to move overseas and fragmented the market.

Eros remained online through this period. In 2019, The Wall Street Journal reported that federal agencies were investigating Eros.com and two other adult websites, which it described as having grown after Backpage's closure. We found no public reports of charges against Eros.com or its current operator resulting from these investigations.

How Eros works today

• Advertiser accounts. Providers buy ads through a separate portal, ErosAds.com. The pricing page lists Standard, Visiting, VIP and Visiting VIP ad types. It describes a full-page ad with up to eight photos, direct contact details, and optional "Premier" upgrades for more visibility.
• Rules and review. Eros says all ads must meet its age and content standards. It says it uses database checks, photo reviews and, "in appropriate circumstances," review of government ID. It also says it bans explicit nudity in ads and has a "zero-tolerance policy" toward trafficking and illegal conduct.
• Verification badges. A "Verified" badge means "Identity and documentation fully verified." A higher "Gold Verified" tier is described as reflecting a "long-standing, reputable presence."
• For clients. Browsing is free. Contact happens directly through the details in each ad. Eros has no review system or client support for meetings.

Note the tension in the site's own wording. The same disclaimer that describes verification steps also says Eros does not "control, supervise, verify, investigate, authenticate or endorse" the content of ads.

How much does Eros advertising cost?

Eros shows prices only after you choose a market, and prices vary by city and tier. We could not confirm a current price list. Published reports (community sources, not official) include:

• A Chicago-focused provider blog quoting $135 per month for a basic ad.
• A provider's blog describing roughly $550 for a regular two-week New York ad, and about $1,500 for top-tier placements.
• A former provider writing for a competing directory recalling $200–$400 per listing, depending on city and duration.

Taken together, the reports describe Eros as one of the more expensive options, especially in large US cities.

Reputation: what providers and clients say

These are community opinions, not verified facts:

• Traffic is the main draw. Providers widely describe Eros as having strong search visibility and high traffic in major cities.
• Cost and return. Several providers say the price is hard to justify in crowded markets, where individual ads can get lost among hundreds of others.
• Photo rules. Some providers complain that photo approvals feel inconsistent and that rejections come without explanation.
• Fake ads and scams. Clients on Reddit (r/Scams and others) describe deposit scams, mismatched photos and "bait and switch" experiences linked to Eros ads. Like any large directory, Eros attracts bad actors. Some providers also report their photos being copied from Eros to other sites. See our article on SecretHostess.
• Agency listings. A former provider writing for a competing site claims that many big-city listings are run by agencies rather than independents. Treat this as an opinion from an interested party.

Lookalike domains

The official site is www.eros.com. The legacy domain eros-guide.com redirects to it, and advertiser accounts use erosads.com. Other "eros" domains (such as eros.co or eros.net) are not part of the service. Check the address bar before logging in or paying, and never pay a "verification fee" or a deposit in gift cards.

Alternatives and complements to Eros

Most providers today spread their presence across several platforms rather than relying on one. We have covered several other options, including Tryst Agency, PornCompanions and Private Delights. Velvet22 is an independent directory that providers can use alongside Eros or any other platform.

Frequently asked questions

Is Eros.com legit? Eros.com is a real, long-running advertising directory, online in some form since the late 1990s. Individual ads vary in reliability, so verify any advertiser before sharing personal details or money.

Is Eros an escort agency? No. Eros says it is an advertising directory, not an agency, and that it does not make referrals or handle bookings.

How much does it cost to advertise on Eros? Prices depend on city and ad tier and are shown after choosing a market on ErosAds.com. Reported figures range from about $135 per month for a basic ad to well over $1,000 for top placements in major cities.

What happened to Eros in 2017? In November 2017, federal agents searched a North Carolina company that news reports linked to Eros. No charges against Eros were publicly announced, and the site stayed online.

Is Velvet22 connected to Eros? No. Velvet22 is an independent directory and is not affiliated with Eros.com.

This article is for informational purposes only and is intended for adults (18+). It reflects public information and reports as of October 31, 2026. Community opinions are attributed and not independently verified. Velvet22 is not affiliated with Eros, Eros.com or Daslur Services AG. Nothing here is legal advice.

Sources

1. Eros.com homepage and footer: https://www.eros.com/ (accessed Oct 31, 2026)
2. Eros.com, About Eros/Ads (disclaimer): https://www.eros.com/disclaimer/disclaimer
3. Eros.com, Verified badges: https://www.eros.com/disclaimer/verified
4. Eros.com, DMCA policy: https://www.eros.com/disclaimer/dmca
5. Eros.com, Terms & Conditions: https://www.eros.com/disclaimer/terms
6. ErosAds, Advertising Pricing: https://www.erosads.com/pricing
7. Verisign RDAP record for eros.com: https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/eros.com
8. Canadian Intellectual Property Office, "EROS GUIDE" trademark 1392497: https://ised-isde.canada.ca/cipo/trademark-search/1392497
9. News24, "Making hay in cyberspace" (2001): https://www.news24.com/making-hay-in-cyberspace-20010717
10. ABC11, "Adult entertainment industry abuzz after federal raid" (Nov 10, 2017): https://abc11.com/post/adult-entertainment-industry-abuzz-after-federal-raid/2625072/
11. WRAL, "Youngsville raid possibly linked to online escort service" (Nov 2017): https://www.wral.com/archive/17103183/
12. CBS17, "Franklin County company raided by feds may be connected to escort website": https://www.cbs17.com/news/franklin-county-company-raided-by-feds-may-be-connected-to-escort-website/
13. Reason, "Eros.com Still Lives, But Homeland Security Raid Has Sex Workers Worried" (Nov 13, 2017): https://reason.com/2017/11/13/eroscom-still-lives-but-homeland-securit/
14. ABC11, "New indictment reveals possible Triangle ties…" (Jul 26, 2018): https://abc11.com/post/new-indictment-reveals-possible-triangle-ties-in-escort-scheme-money-laundering/3829242/
15. US GAO, "Sex Trafficking: Online Platforms and Federal Prosecutions" (GAO-21-385): https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-21-385
16. Gizmodo summary of The Wall Street Journal report (2019): https://gizmodo.com/dhs-doj-now-looking-into-escort-and-massage-sites-that-1838131975
17. Business Insider, "Eros: One of the Biggest Platforms for Escorts…" (Nov 2021): https://www.businessinsider.com/eros-escorts-sex-work-listings-posts-2021-11
18. Chicago Area Escorts blog, "Chicago escorts and Eros Chicago advertising": https://www.chicagoareaescorts.com/chicago-escorts-and-eros-chicago-advertising/
19. Meet Rose blog, "ROI: Which esc0rt/kink ad site has the best return on investment?": https://www.meetrose.net/post/roi-which-esc0rt-kink-ad-site-has-the-best-return-on-investment
20. EscortCrush blog, "Is Eros Legit?" (Oct 2026, competitor): https://escortcrush.com/blog/is-eros-legit
21. Reddit r/Scams, client report about an Eros ad: https://www.reddit.com/r/Scams/comments/1kerz0y/us_ny_got_scammed_for_1000_on_eroscom_details/