Updated September 28, 2026 · FlingCue Editorial Team
FetLife vs JOYclub
FetLife vs JOYclub: the differences
| Compare |  FetLife |  JOYclub |
|---|---|---|
| What is free | 99.9% free; paid support for nice-to-have extras | Free base profile; free Plus for verified women |
| Profile verification | Optional badge via government ID or profile photo | Two-step authenticity check, white/green badge |
| Audience focus | Kink and fetish social network, not a dating site | Adults: women, men, couples, trans, any orientation |
| Members | 13,071,441 members as of 2026-09-26 | 7,408,959 members claimed, read 2026-09-26 |
| Renewal and cancelling | Refunds within 7 days; no auto-renewal | Cancel anytime, no notice period |
| Privacy and data | No data sales; deletion erases all your data | TUV-audited data protection; data stays in Germany |
| Categories | Fetish, Swinger | Casual, Discreet, Fetish, Swinger, Trans, LGBTQCovers more |
| Monthly price from | Not confirmed | €9.50 |
| Plans | Not confirmed | Base, Plus, Premium-Light, Premium; 1 to 12 months |
| Credit system | Not confirmed | Coins for virtual gifts; 500 coins 4.99 EUR |
| App store rating | Not confirmed | App Store 4.5/5, 38,575 ratings, DE, 2026-09-26 |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- JOYclub scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Founded is lower at JOYclub: 2005 vs 2008.
- Categories: only JOYclub offers Casual, Discreet, Trans.
Our verdict on each
FetLife
FetLife suits adults who want a kink and fetish community rather than a dating site, and it has 13,071,441 members as of 2026-09-26 members. It is nearly free, with paid support for nice-to-have extras, and privacy is stated plainly.
JOYclub
JOYclub suits adults who want a free base profile, data that stays in Germany and a badge for checked profiles, and who accept paying €9.50 a month for the paid tiers. It is not the cheapest option, with free Plus for verified women as the reason to try it.
Score breakdown
| Area | FetLife | JOYclub |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 9.2Fees run €9.50 a month, while the site median is €14. |
| Offer | 9.5 | 9.5 |
| Trust | 8.9 | 9.2Higher |
What each covers
| Categories | FetLife | JOYclub |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | No | Yes |
| Discreet | No | Yes |
| LGBTQ | No | Yes |
| Fetish | Yes | Yes |
| Swinger | Yes | Yes |
| Trans | No | Yes |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | FetLife | JOYclub |
|---|---|---|
| Hookup sites and apps | 168 of 478 | 158 of 478 |
| Fetish and BDSM dating | 24 of 47 | 22 of 47 |
| Swinger and couples sites | 15 of 52 | 13 of 52 |
| Free hookup sites | 134 of 358 | 124 of 358 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | FetLife | JOYclub |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Features | App, Verified profiles | App, Verified profiles |
| Legal entity | BitLove Inc. & BitLove Ltd. | F&P GmbH |
| Headquarters | Canada | Germany |
| Founded | 2008 | 2005Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Community | Email, Help centre, Community |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | FetLife | JOYclub | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price from | Not confirmed | €9.50below the median | €14 |
Median across 31 listed casual dating sites.
Pros and cons
FetLife
Pros
- 99.9% free; paid support for nice-to-have extras, so the core service stays free and payment covers nice-to-have extras
- Privacy is stated clearly: No data sales; deletion erases all your data
- Refunds within 7 days; no auto-renewal, so paid support does not renew on its own
Cons
- Kink and fetish social network, not a dating site means you are joining a social network, not a matching service
- Verification is opt in, so most profiles carry no checked badge
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, with no phone line listed
JOYclub
Pros
- The base profile is free, and verified women get Plus free, so browsing and messaging cost nothing at the start.
- Data protection is audited by TUV and the data stays in Germany.
- You can cancel at any time with no notice period, which is short notice for a subscription.
Cons
- Fees run €9.50 a month while the site median is €14.
- EroFantasie charges €0.67 to €1.50 a month, so the lowest priced option sits elsewhere.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, with no phone line among the listed channels.
Who each suits
FetLife
Who it suits
- Adults who want a kink and fetish community rather than a dating site, as Kink and fetish social network, not a dating site makes clear
- Adults who would rather not pay for the core service, since it is 99.9% free; paid support for nice-to-have extras
- Adults who put data deletion high on their list, given No data sales; deletion erases all your data
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers shopping for a paid subscription with a fixed monthly price and a single market of members
- Anyone wanting conventional matching, since Kink and fetish social network, not a dating site
- People who need phone support, with email, help centre and community offered instead
JOYclub
Who it suits
- Adults who want to browse without paying, since the base profile is free and Plus is free for verified women.
- Readers who put hosting location and a formal audit first, which TUV auditing and German data storage answer.
- People looking for women, men, couples and trans members in a single pool rather than separate areas.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want the lowest fee: EroFantasie charges €0.67 to €1.50 a month.
- Anyone who prefers a single interest focus can compare BDSM-baari at €0.83 to €2.50 a month.
- Readers shopping on entry price alone can also weigh Senior.dk Dating at DKK 2.30 a month.
Current offers
FetLife
Current offer
Discount code
KinkyTease
Linked in site footer with utm tracking; no public terms read
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | FetLife | JOYclub |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | No | Yes |
Questions about each
FetLife
What does FetLife cost?+
Access is 99.9% free; paid support for nice-to-have extras, with paid support kept for nice-to-have extras. The core of the network stays free, so the budget only matters if you want the optional extras. That makes FetLife an easy first step for readers weighing price before anything else.
Is FetLife free to join?+
Yes. The model is listed as free and the service describes itself as 99.9% free; paid support for nice-to-have extras. Paying is optional rather than required, which is unusual in this category and keeps the cost of testing a kink community low.
JOYclub
How much does JOYclub cost a month?+
Paid membership runs through Base, Plus, Premium-Light and Premium, sold over different terms as Base, Plus, Premium-Light, Premium; 1 to 12 months. The lowest tier is €9.50 a month, while the base profile is free, so a reader can use the service and decide later whether a tier is worth the cost.
What does JOYclub charge for extras?+
Virtual gifts are paid for with coins, Coins for virtual gifts; 500 coins 4.99 EUR, a separate charge from the membership tiers. A reader who never sends a gift never buys coins, which keeps the entry cost at €9.50 a month for the paid tier and free on the base profile.