For those seeking explicit fantasies or sensuous literature, LushStories is the place to be. This totally free site has a huge library of user-submitted, high-quality adult stories, as well as a porn tube section, a forum, interactive components, chat and cams, a store, and a free pass, all of which are available to users. Lushstories has been around for well over a decade and treats erotica as a social network: you come for the stories and end up staying for the people.

The library on Lushstories is sorted into more than fifty genres, from BDSM, lesbian and gay fiction to cheating, group sex, fantasy, roleplay between adults, love poems and flash fiction. Audio stories let authors read their own work aloud. Curated shelves highlight Legendary, Famous, Editors’ Picks and competition Winners, and tag browsing takes you straight to oral, anal, masturbation or whatever you are in the mood for. Each story carries a rating, a view count and comments. The community side is deep: member profiles with friends lists, groups, a live chatroom, galleries, a busy forum and private messaging, which is why Lushstories ranks among the best porn forums as well as the best story sites. Writers can earn badges, publish e-books through the site and enter regular competitions with cash prizes. Readers can follow authors to get notified of new chapters, and recommended reads on each story page make it easy to fall down a rabbit hole.

Writing quality is above average for user-generated erotica because stories are moderated by an editorial team before publication, which keeps spelling, formatting and consent standards consistent, and because the community rates ruthlessly. Private messaging and the chatroom are where members get to know each other, and the site has a reputation for a welcoming, flirty but respectful atmosphere. The core of Lushstories is free: reading, writing, forum, chat and profiles cost nothing. A premium membership exists and adds extras such as integrated webcams and additional features; prices are shown on the site and we will not quote them. Registration requires confirming you are over eighteen, and an acceptable use policy keeps the content between consenting adults. The design is modern, works well on mobile and avoids aggressive advertising.

Verdict: Lushstories is the best choice if you want erotica with a social life attached, where you can comment, chat and flirt with the authors as well as read them. The free tier is complete, the forum is active and the stories are properly edited. Open it through our link, create a profile and see where the chatroom takes you.