Amazon has a long list of content guidelines that restrict a large chunk of mainstream erotica. Itch.io, on the other hand, is more permissive as long as you stay within its consensual, fictional, legal boundaries.
Erotica Accepted on Itch.io but Often Rejected on Amazon KDP
1. Explicit BDSM and Fetish Content
- Amazon: Light romance or mild BDSM is tolerated, but detailed fetish, extreme kink, or lifestyle-focused erotica is often blocked, hidden from search, or outright rejected. Keywords like “bondage,” “fetish,” or “slave” often trigger filters.
- Itch.io: Explicit BDSM, fetish play, and kink erotica are allowed as long as it is consensual and between adults. You just need to mark the project as Adult Content.
2. Taboo Roleplay Themes
- Amazon: Stories with taboo setups (step-relationships, age-gap, teacher/student fantasies) are frequently rejected, delisted, or buried. Even “stepbrother romance” has been widely purged.
- Itch.io: Age-gap and power dynamics (such as boss/employee or teacher/student roleplay) are acceptable if all characters are clearly adults and consent is explicit. Incest and pseudo-incest are not allowed under Itch.io’s current rules.
3. Same-Sex, Queer, and Niche Subcultures
- Amazon: LGBTQ+ romance is technically allowed, but queer erotica has historically been flagged more often than hetero romance, especially when explicit. Certain fetish communities (like furry or transformation erotica) are also inconsistently treated.
- Itch.io: Queer erotica, transformation stories, furry/anthro romance, and niche community-focused works are fully welcome. The only limits are legality and consent.
4. Interactive and Multimedia Erotica
- Amazon: Interactive fiction, illustrated story packs, visual novels, or PDF galleries bundled with text often get flagged as “not meeting Kindle ebook guidelines.”
- Itch.io: Perfectly suited to interactive formats like Twine, Ren’Py, or even downloadable illustrated PDFs or ZIPs. Many creators combine prose with images, audio, or branching paths.
5. Erotica with Strong Visual Elements
- Amazon: Illustrated erotica or NSFW comics are difficult to get approved and often blocked if covers or sample pages contain nudity.
- Itch.io: NSFW comics, illustrated novels, or even audio-enhanced erotica are fine as long as the product is tagged correctly and hidden behind the adult content filter.
Side-by-Side Comparison Table
| Content Type | Amazon KDP | Itch.io |
|---|---|---|
| Explicit erotica (non-romance driven) | ❌ Often rejected, hidden from search, or shadow-banned | ✅ Allowed if consensual and legal |
| BDSM and fetish content | ⚠️ Only mild/romance-adjacent BDSM tolerated; detailed fetish or lifestyle kink often blocked | ✅ Fully allowed if all participants are adults and it is consensual |
| Age-gap or power dynamic roleplay | ❌ Frequently blocked or delisted | ✅ Allowed if all characters are adults and consent is explicit |
| Incest or pseudo-incest content | ❌ Banned | ❌ Banned |
| Queer, LGBTQ+, transformation, furry, niche subcultures | ⚠️ Permitted but inconsistently flagged, sometimes buried in search | ✅ Fully welcome, as long as marked as adult content |
| Illustrated erotica, NSFW comics, or prose with images | ❌ Difficult to approve; nudity in covers/samples often banned | ✅ Accepted, including comics, illustrated PDFs, and art packs |
| Interactive stories (Twine, Ren’Py, branching PDFs) | ❌ Not accepted under ebook format rules | ✅ Strong fit for Itch.io’s interactive and multimedia culture |
| Extreme or taboo content | ❌ Strictly banned | ❌ Strictly banned |
Prohibited Themes on Itch.io
- Underage sexual themes or “barely-legal” portrayals
- Incest or pseudo-incest content
- Non-consensual sexual content (real or implied)
- Bestiality or any animal-related sexual content
- Rape, coercion, or force-related sexual content
- Sex trafficking implications
- Revenge porn, voyeurism, hidden-cam sexual content
- Fetish involving bodily waste or extreme physical harm (for example scat or vomit)
👉 Many successful indie authors use both:
- Amazon KDP for “cleaner” romance and wide distribution
- Itch.io for more, including kinkier works, harder fantasies, and interactive titles