How SwapFound Works

What is SwapFound?

SwapFound connects neighbors who trade skills, services and stuff instead of cash. Tell us what you have and what you need; AutoMatch helps find the connection.

Getting started in 4 steps

• Set up your profile — add your town so we can find people near you. Only your approximate town is shown, never your address.
• HAVE — post a skill, service or item, like lawn care, pet sitting, tools or furniture.
• NEED — post the help or item you're looking for.
• Check your matches — SwapFound finds people who need what you offer and offer what you need.

What each part of the app does

• Home / Matches — your best local matches, updated automatically whenever someone posts.
• Direct swaps — you help them, they help you.
• 3-way loops — A helps B, B helps C, and C helps A. AutoMatch can spot the connection; everyone still needs to agree on the details.
• Search — browse skills, needs and items near you by category.
• Post — add a skill, need or item; items can include a photo. Smart posting helps write it and pick a category.
• Messages — chat with members to work out details.
• Trades — send a trade offer, accept, decline or counter, and mark it done when finished.
• Reviews — after a trade, rate each other to build trust.
• Invite friends — share SwapFound so your area has more people to trade with.
• Membership & Billing — your plan, free periods and free membership codes.

SwapFound Credits, explained simply

Sometimes a swap isn't even. Maybe you mow my lawn, but I'm a painter and you don't need painting. Credits fix that: I pay you in Credits, and you spend them with anyone else on SwapFound.

Example: Mike needs a website. Sarah builds it and Mike pays her 30 Credits. Next week Sarah uses those 30 Credits to have Dave groom her dog.

• How you get Credits: help someone who pays in Credits. They land in your balance when you both tap "Mark trade done."
• Starter cushion: everyone starts at 0, but you can go down to −50 so you can get help before you've earned anything. You work it off later by helping others.
• Evening out a trade: when making a trade offer, add Credits to make it fair, like "2 hours of plumbing + 10 Credits for 3 hours of yard work."
• Safe: Credits never move up front. Nothing changes until both people confirm the job is done.
• Cancellation: cancelling an unfinished trade transfers no Credits. A completed trade has already settled.
• Expiry: earned Credits do not have an expiration date. They are not cash or a bank balance.
• Running low: earn more by helping someone who agrees to give you Credits, or arrange a direct swap using no Credits. Agree on the amount together; jobs have no fixed Credit price.
• Not money: Credits can't be bought, sold or cashed out. They're a community thank-you you can pass on.

The more Credits you bank, the bigger the jobs you can get done

Everyone starts at zero with a −50 starter cushion. The more Credits you earn, the bigger the favors you may be able to arrange. For example, saving 150 Credits from small tasks could help you arrange a larger job — but only if the other member agrees to that amount. Credits do not guarantee a particular service or job.

It works both ways:

• To earn big Credits: offer higher-value, harder skills people are willing to pay a lot of Credits for.
• To spend big Credits: save up your balance so you can get big, expensive jobs done for free without cash.

See your balance and history on the Trades page.

Staying safe

Meet in public when you can, check reviews, and read our Community Guidelines. You can report or block anyone.

Frequently asked questions

Can my teenager use SwapFound to mow lawns or do chores?

SwapFound accounts are for adults 18 and over. But parents are welcome to arrange jobs on behalf of their family. A parent can post "My son can mow your lawn," handle the messages and the trade, and stay in charge of the whole thing.

How do I get help or report a problem?

Email us at swapfound26@gmail.com and we'll get back to you.

Contact support

Questions, a bad trade, or trouble with your account? Email swapfound26@gmail.com.