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What is Pornhub?

Pornhub is a free adult video-sharing website based in Montreal, Canada. It launched on May 25, 2007, and is operated by Aylo, a company formerly known as MindGeek. You can watch videos on the site without registering. An account is optional and unlocks things like playlists, comments, and uploads.

This site is an independent informational guide. You'll find the company history, how the platform works, safety and privacy facts, and answers to common questions here — nothing more, nothing less.

Quick facts

• Launched: May 25, 2007, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• Founder: Matt Keezer, a web developer, under the company Interhub
• Owner: Aylo (formerly MindGeek / Manwin)
• Headquarters: Montreal, Canada
• Registration: optional
• Cost: free with ads, plus a paid Premium tier
• Current status: online and operating

A short history of Pornhub

2007: The launch

Matt Keezer built Pornhub as a side project under his company Interhub. The idea was simple: a video site built for adult content, where anyone could watch for free. Within months it was pulling serious traffic.

2010: The Manwin acquisition

In March 2010, entrepreneur Fabian Thylmann bought Interhub as part of his Manwin conglomerate. Manwin later renamed itself to MindGeek. That purchase put Pornhub inside the largest adult entertainment group on the web, with resources to scale far beyond its startup days.

The 2010s: Growth years

Pornhub added a Premium subscription, rolled out high-definition streaming, and started its annual Pornhub Awards. Free access stayed the core of the model — the site made money from advertising and premium subscriptions instead of charging for individual videos.

2020: The reckoning

A December 2020 exposé in The New York Times drew attention to non-consensual content on the platform. Mastercard and Visa cut their payment services to the site days later. In response, Pornhub removed every video uploaded by unverified users — its library shrank from roughly 13 million videos to about 4 million almost overnight. The company also tightened upload rules so that only identity-verified users could post content.

2023: New ownership

In March 2023, Canadian private equity firm Ethical Capital Partners acquired the company. Five months later the company rebranded from MindGeek to Aylo, pitching itself as a compliance-first operator. The Montreal headquarters stayed where it was.

How the platform works

The basic model hasn't changed since day one: a large library of streamed video, free to watch, supported by advertising. Registration is optional. If you make an account, you get playlists, likes, comments, and the ability to upload.

Uploaders today have to verify their identity before posting. The site runs automated screening plus human review, and users can flag videos that break the terms of service. Professional studios and independent creators both publish there, and Premium subscribers get HD quality, exclusive content, and no ads.

Mobile is where most of the traffic comes from. The site has never required a download or an app — it runs entirely in the browser. Our about page explains what this guide covers and what it doesn't.

Safety and privacy facts

Adult sites carry real privacy risks, and Pornhub is no exception. A few things worth knowing:

• Your ISP and network admin can see your visits. The connection itself is encrypted, but the destination domain shows up in DNS records unless you use private DNS. Anyone monitoring your network can tell you visited.
• Browsing leaks via tracking. Like most ad-supported sites, it sets cookies and loads third-party trackers. A private browsing window or a tracking blocker cuts down on the trail.
• Upload verification cuts one way. Since 2020, uploaders must verify their identity. That's a trust measure for the library, but it also means creators are tied to their accounts — and flagged content can lead to bans.
• Scams use the brand name. Fake login pages and "premium activation" messages that trade on Pornhub's name are common phishing bait. Real accounts never need a credit card for a free account.

If you ever spot something on the platform that looks non-consensual or illegal, report it to the site's moderators and, where appropriate, to law enforcement. Details on how we run this guide are in our privacy policy.

Legal and age-verification notes

Adult content law is shifting fast, and the rules depend on where you live. A quick snapshot:

• Age gates are mandatory. The site asks visitors to confirm they're of legal age. What's enforced behind that varies by jurisdiction.
• Several US states now require real ID checks. Texas and Virginia are among the states that passed age-verification laws for adult sites. In response, Pornhub has blocked access outright in some of those states rather than collect ID documents.
• The EU has its own framework. The Digital Services Act sets strict content-moderation and transparency duties for very large online platforms operating in Europe.
• Non-consensual content is illegal. Posting intimate content of someone without consent is a crime in many jurisdictions, independent of any site's terms of service.

Laws change quickly. This page is a general overview, not legal advice — check your local rules if you're unsure. We stay neutral on all of this; our disclaimer explains the limits of this site's role.

Frequently asked questions

Is Pornhub free?

Yes, the main library is free with ads. A paid Premium tier removes ads and adds HD and exclusive content.

Do I need an account to watch?

No. Registration is optional and only needed for uploads, comments, and playlists.

Who owns Pornhub?

It's operated by Aylo (formerly MindGeek), which is owned by the private equity firm Ethical Capital Partners.

When was Pornhub founded?

May 25, 2007, in Montreal, Canada, by web developer Matt Keezer.

Why did credit card companies stop working with Pornhub?

In December 2020, Mastercard and Visa ended services to the site after reporting on non-consensual content. Pornhub responded by removing all unverified uploads and requiring identity verification for new uploaders.

Is the site legal?

It's a legal business in Canada operating within adult-content law. Access rules, age verification, and advertising restrictions vary by country — some regions block it entirely.

Is this site affiliated with Pornhub?

No. This is an independent informational guide. Questions about the community and reporting are covered on our contact page.

The bottom line

Pornhub has been one of the internet's most-visited websites for nearly two decades. It started as a small Montreal startup in 2007, grew into an industry giant, and spent the 2020s rebuilding under new ownership with stricter verification rules. Love the model or hate it, the facts are what they are — and that's what this guide is here for.