These 4 HD Cam Sites Use Proprietary Credits as Currency
Have you ever been overseas and found yourself struggling with the local currency? When the conversion is something like "13.75 whatevers to the dollar" you start getting that sick feeling you got during elementary school math class. Well, some cam sites also use their own currencies and the conversions can leave you scratching your head. So, let's discuss the four sites that use "credits" and what your money is actually worth on each of them.
Note: Throughout this article I will base the conversion rates on the largest bulk package available. For example, if the site sells 100 credits for $12, but 500 credits for $50, I'll buy the 500-credit package. The conversions I'm giving you, therefore, are usually the best-case scenario in terms of value for money.
LiveJasmin
When you look into cam sites you're going to hear a lot of good things about LiveJasmin. This is a site that takes very good care of its members. The models are absolutely stunning, whether they're female, male, or trans. These days you can even find couples performing for the camera. The quality of the streaming is top-tier, with the vast majority of rooms running at 720p. LiveJasmin is one of my favorite premium sites for live video chat.
You'll need to purchase credits to enjoy any real action on LiveJasmin. The models don't do anything explicit in the public chat. When you first validate your credit card details you'll receive a free one-time bonus of 9.99 credits (worth $12.00). You'll also see a prompt to purchase credits. The site has several offers and the larger the package you purchase the more value you get for your money.
On average, a single LiveJasmin credit is worth $1.13, with the average private session costing about 2.5 credits per minute. In other words, you're going to pay around $2.80 a minute for a private chat, though some models charge less than one credit per minute. When you make your first purchase you'll have a chance to Spin the Wheel for up to 99% off, and throughout the year you'll find promotional offers and discounts of one kind or another.
That sounds expensive. Is it worth the price?
LiveJasmin's prices are as attractive as their models! These are premium cam rooms where the model knows how to perform. The platform provides a top-tier user experience by requiring the models to use a 720p camera, and encouraging them to use 1080p or better. The site has several categories of performers, including Newbies, Amateurs, Lesbians, Couples, and even a Fetish section, for when you're thinking outside the box. It also provides cam-to-cam and 2-way audio functions available for computer and mobile devices.
LiveJasmin is one of very few sites that accept payment by gift cards. If you thought that gift card you got last holiday season was useless, check out the list of gift cards LiveJasmin accepts. You might be pleasantly surprised. You probably won't get full value, but it's better to spend a Starbucks gift card on a cam girl than another mocha latte, right?
Flirt4Free
Boasting a generous VIP program, model profiles with glam pics and detailed bios, cam-to-cam features for computer and mobile, and a top-20 list that helps you locate the best the site has to offer, Flirt4Free has become one of the premier destinations for serious webcam connoisseurs. Users even have the option to join certain models' Fan Clubs and save on exclusive content.
Flirt4Free does aim for a certain level of free entertainment. You can register for an account and Basic membership without giving them any payment information. Adding your payment info automatically makes you a Premium member even if you don't purchase anything; and you'll automatically get 120 credits (worth $10.00) to start your webcam journey. From that point on you'll pay approximately $0.11 per credit. A Private session with a cam model averages 35 credits per minute, which means you'll be paying approximately $3.90 a minute for the session. I can't deny that's a touch pricey.
Is there any way to lower my costs?
If you're looking to save money on Flirt4Free your first option is to look for a cheaper model. Fortunately, Flirt4Free has the option to sort models by the Lowest Price or the Highest Price. There are models working for as little as $0.55 a minute, so you can just look for a model charging 5 credits per minute.
If you really want to save money without diminishing the quality of the experience, consider signing up for the VIPprogram. It's one of the best VIP programs of any cam site, offering 5% discounts on shows, access to hundreds of hours of exclusive videos, and 150 credits per month to spend as you wish. At $0.11 each, the 150-credit bonus is worth $16.50, which means if you spend more than 6 minutes a month on the site you've covered the $39.95 they charge for the program.
ImLive
Affordability is reason enough to use a particular site, and that's where ImLive come in. The site offers decent HD streaming at some of the most attractive prices around. It's also the only site with a multi-player system, and the only site that allows you to define a fantasy and advertise it to the models.
ImLive is the place to go when you're looking for inexpensive webcam shows. The average price of a private chat is only $2.25 a minute, with some models offering private sessions for as little as a $1.00 a minute. Tracking your spending on the site is also fairly easy because credits cost $1.00 each, which means there's no converting values in your head. But I don't want you to get the wrong impression. There's a difference between inexpensive and cheap. ImLive doesn't cost much, but the site has a few standout features.
First, ImLive is the only site that offers you the opportunity to post your fantasy for the models to see. Whatever you're into, whatever you're looking for, just post it and a model will get back to you with an offer. The negotiation is between you and the model, and you are in a position to make your desires perfectly clear. It's called Fulfill Your Fantasy, and I strongly recommend it.
ImLive is also the only site with a Multi-Viewer you can use to scroll through models' rooms as a group. Sure, there are sites where the home page has many pages running at once, but this is more sophisticated. The player simultaneously streams up to 6 models, so you don't have to miss anything. Nor do you have to have 6 separate browsers open.
My only real criticism of the site is the quality of the streaming. There are simply too many rooms streaming below 720p, and I really do hope the site changes that.
SecretFriends
As small sites go, SecretFriends is impressively rich. Some of the bigger sites could learn a thing or two from SecretFriends' array of features and options. The site has scheduled events, a collection of studio porn, a date planner, and even some casino games on which you can gamble your credits. It also has one standout feature that will have you feeling like a major player.
SecretFriends is a lively site with a color scheme that feels modern and playful. This is a site on which you can enjoy quite a bit for free, but the real fun starts when you tip these truly beautiful ladies. Don't worry about conversions, either, because one SecretFriends credit equals one dollar. It's as simple as that. You can purchase credits using a credit card, PayPal, or even a wire transfer, and if you purchase more than 150 you get some bonus credits (150+5, 250+25, and even 500+60). Also, keep an eye out for the promotions message near the bottom of the screen. Some of the offers are really good (75+25, and the like).
By the way, you don't always have to "tip" in the classic sense. On SecretFriends there are models who post items to a wish list. If you want to help a pretty girl buy an item that means a lot to her, consider donating directly to her wish list. You'll find it under the media player.
If you're a big spender and you want to enjoy a sense of magnanimity and control simultaneously, try the Make It Rain! feature. Select five models you really like and tip them all simultaneously. These are models currently using interactive sex toys, which means you're going to get a reaction, or five reactions, actually. There's just no way to described how powerful you feel when you please 5 women at once. You have to try it to understand.
Conclusion
Each of these sites uses credits as currency, and since the values change it can be a bit confusing at first. There's no question it's easier to track your spending on ImLive and SecretFriends because their credits are worth $1.00 each. There's also no question Flirt4Free is a great site with stunning models. But I still recommend LiveJasmin above the rest due to the quality of the HD streaming, the various payment options, and the promotional offers. Yes, the conversion is a touch more complicated, but the overall user experience on LiveJasmin is second to none.