Frequently Asked Questions

SkillSwap is a free community platform that connects neighbours who want to exchange skills and knowledge. Instead of paying for lessons or services, you swap what you know — teach guitar, learn web design; share a recipe, pick up some woodworking. It's neighbourly, practical, and completely free to join.

Anyone is welcome. You don't need to be an expert — if you can bake a decent loaf of bread or know your way around a spreadsheet, you have something worth sharing. The platform is for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Yes, completely. There are no subscription fees, no transaction charges, and no hidden costs. The whole idea is a direct skill-for-skill exchange between neighbours.

The platform is designed around local communities, so most swaps work best when you're nearby. That said, some skills — like language practice, coding help, or tutoring — can be swapped remotely over video call.

Once you've created an account, head to "Post a Skill" from the navigation menu. Choose whether you're offering a skill or looking for one, pick a category, write a short description, and you're done. Your listing will appear in the browse directory immediately.

Absolutely. You can create as many listings as you like — both "I'm offering" and "I'm looking for" types. Having a wanted listing makes it easy for others to find you if they have a matching skill.

Almost anything! Popular categories include cooking & food, music, languages, technology, gardening, arts & crafts, fitness, and home & DIY. If you're unsure, have a look at what others have posted — you might be surprised what's out there.

Levels help set expectations for everyone involved. Beginner: just starting out, learning the fundamentals. Intermediate: comfortable with the basics and some hands-on experience. Advanced: highly proficient, able to handle complex tasks independently. Expert: deep mastery — could comfortably teach or mentor others. Choose the level that honestly reflects where you are; there's no judgment either way.

Yes. Go to "My Listings" in your account and you can edit the details or delete any listing at any time.

Find a listing that interests you and send a message to the person. Once you've agreed on what you'll each teach and when, a swap is created. After both sessions are done you can leave each other a review. The whole thing is flexible — you decide the details between yourselves.

Not at all. You might swap one guitar lesson for two hours of garden help, or agree to do a few sessions each way. It's entirely up to you and the other person. The platform records the swap and lets you both confirm it's complete.

If something comes up — a cancellation, a misunderstanding, or a disagreement — try to resolve it directly with the other person first. If things escalate, you can report the issue through the platform and we'll look into it.

Of course. If you get on well with someone and enjoy the exchange, there's nothing stopping you from swapping again. You'll already have an open message thread to arrange it.

A Verified Neighbour badge is awarded to members who have completed at least 5 swaps and hold a perfect 5.0 average review rating. It's a signal from the community that this person is reliable, friendly, and follows through on what they offer.

After a swap is marked complete by both parties, you can leave a star rating and a short written review. Reviews are public and help other members make informed decisions. You can only review someone after a completed swap — not before.

Your safety is the priority. If you ever feel uncomfortable, you can end or cancel a swap at any time with no obligation. You should meet in public places for first swaps, let someone know where you're going, and trust your instincts. If something happens, please report it immediately using the report button on the relevant profile or listing.

We review reports from the community and take action against listings, messages, or accounts that violate our community guidelines. Serious or repeated violations result in account suspension.

Other users can see your display name, profile photo, bio, skill listings, and public reviews. Your email address is never shown publicly and is only used to send you notifications and account-related emails.

Yes. Go to Settings → Account to update your email address or change your password at any time.

You can request account deletion from Settings → Account. Your profile and listings will be removed. Please note that messages within completed swaps may be retained for a short period as part of our record-keeping obligations.

We don't sell your personal data. We use a small number of trusted services to keep the platform running — see our Privacy Policy for the full breakdown.