RentAFriend Review
RentAFriend has been around since 2009 and is a website strictly for platonic friendships.
RENTAFRIEND REVIEW – IS IT A LEGIT AND SAFE SITE?
You may have already heard about RentAFriend, a site where people can make money by being friends online or meeting in person to do activities.
RentAFriend has been operating for many years and lets people make money by renting out their friendship to people looking for someone to hang out with.
The site is there to help people make new connections and find platonic friends with whom to do activities—nothing more!
Many ask if RentAFriend is safe and how much they can earn. Is it worth your time to join the site?
In this post, you can find out more about RentAFriend, whether you think this side gig is what you are looking for, and whether it is for you.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
RentAFriend is a social networking site where people can make money by being friends.
Friends can post a listing and meet up with clients
With RentAFriend, you can set your own rates, plus you get to keep 100% of your earnings
A perk about being a friend is that you can earn money and do lots of fun activities, ranging from movies to picnics
Your service is only for looking for a platonic relationship and nothing more!
IS RENTAFRIEND LEGIT?
- RentAFriend is a legitimate website that helps connect people who want platonic friendships. Please remember that it is doubtful that you will become rich renting out your friendship; rather, it is a way to make some extra cash on the side.
Renting out your friendship is just one weird way to make money, but it is a legitimate way for people to earn extra money on the side. RentAFriend is not a dating site but a site for platonic friendships.
According to the site, it has over 600,000 friends from all over the world.
WHAT IS RENTAFRIEND?
RentAFriend.com is one of the largest platonic friendship sites in the world. The website allows people to make money by renting out their friendship.
Meet up with friends in the city or town they are in for functions and more.
Grabbing coffee, going to a concert, walking around a park, and similar outings are examples of what Friends and RentAFriend members might do.
Remember: friendship is completely platonic, so this isn’t a dating site and is only for friendly companionship.
Currently RentAFriend has over 600,000 friends who can provide companionship. The company has been operating since 2009 and was inspired by similar agencies in Japan that offer companions for single parents to bring to events.
Its members pay $24.95 per month to access and message the library of friends. Overall, it’s a simple and effective way for people to find companions for events or to just hang out. And it’s very popular for people who move to new cities without knowing anyone.
How Does RentAFriend Work For Side Hustlers?
You can register as a Friend for free. All you have to do is enter your username, email, country, and create a password. After you verify your email, you also have a Friend Verification to complete, which involves a short Zoom call with RentAFriend’s team to see if you’re a good fit for the platform.
This interview lasts about 10 minutes. If you’re approved, the next step is to complete your profile.
Your profile includes photos, your background, height, build, and the languages you speak. You also write a short bio that describes a bit about you and the kinds of activities you like to do. Finally, you can list your phone number and email for people to contact you.
Your profile also has an “Activities I’m available for” section. Some popular examples of activities you can offer companionship for include:
- Attending events both indoor and out
- Baking and cooking or taking a related class
- Business functions and events
- Comedy shows and clubs
- Concerts
- Doing DIY projects
- Hanging out and being a companion
- Meeting friends, making introductions or being a wingman
- Museums, art galleries and other attractions
- Social events such as weddings, dances, parties and other events.
- Physical activities like walking, running, hiking, biking, skiing and more
- Visiting restaurants, bars or clubs
- Seeing the sites or taking tours of local attractions
- Social activities like playing pool or bowling
- Travel or tour guide for your city
- Tutoring sessions
- Virtual or phone friendships
- Watching or playing sports
- Wine and Beer Tastings
- Workout or gym buddy
As a RentAFriend Friend, you set your hourly rate and availability. Most Friends charge hourly for their time. However, some Friends accept free entry to events, like concerts or dinner parties, in exchange for their companionship.
Overall, RentAFriend is an effective way to make quick cash while meeting new people. But this is just a side gig, so don’t expect $5k a month or full-time income from this platform.
How Does RentAFriend Work For People Seeking Friends?
You can join as a RentAFriend Member to seek out Friends in your area. A Standard Membership costs $19.99 per month. A Premium Membership is also available for $99.99 for 6 months, so you can find some savings by paying more upfront.
Once you’re a Member, you can message Friends by email, SMS, or direct message on RentAFriend’s website. Users have verified phone numbers so you know you’re contacting real people.
In major cities, Friends are available for all kinds of activities, from grabbing coffee to catching a movie. In small towns, you might not find any Friends or just a couple of people.
Friends also list how much they charge per hour or event for their companionship. RentAFriend doesn’t facilitate payment, so you have to manage that with your Friend. In the event of a no-show, you can report the Friend to RentAFriend.
How Much Does RentAFriend Pay?
Most RentAFriend Friends charge between $10 to $50 per hour, with many activities paying $10 to $20 per hour. However, compensation can also include free meals, event tickets, and similar perks in exchange for your companionship.
You set your own rates as a Friend, and it’s a flexible side hustle. You can also rent out your friendship for a couple of hours or the entire day if you want.
How much you earn depends on where you live and how attractive your profile is. Some months, you might make a couple hundred bucks or even $1,000 or more. Other months, you might earn $0.
The goal is to have fun while meeting new people. Don’t expect to make $10k a month with this website.
Is RentAFriend Safe?
RentAFriend is safe and interviews Friends before approving them to the platform. However, it doesn’t run background checks on Friends. And like any sharing economy app, there’s an element of risk when you meet random people from the internet.
Thankfully, RentAFriend provides safety guidelines for both Friends and Members:
- Meet in a public place
- Do not go to a client’s home
- Bring your phone
- Share your location with friends before meeting clients and let others know where you will be
- Trust your instincts and leave uncomfortable situations
- Request a photo to identify your client that you are meeting so that you can identify them
- Protect your personal belongings
- Take your own transportation and do not get into a client’s vehicle
- Do not share your address, phone number, social media accounts or other personal info
RentAFriend also recommends using a pseudonym and not letting your clients know where you live or work. They also recommend discontinuing contact with a client who wants to pursue physical contact or who seems too aggressive and reporting these Members.
Remember: physical contact is against the terms of service for the RentAFriend website.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Lets Friends make money by being social
- Can get paid with free event tickets, meals, and more
- You set your own rate and keep 100% of what you make
- You set your own availability
- RentAFriend is available around the world
Cons:
- RentAFriend isn’t a full-time gig
- Many cities and towns don’t have many members
- Friends have to handle income reporting on their tax returns
- RentAFriend doesn’t help Friends and Members process payments
Who Can Sign Up?
RentAFriend is available worldwide, but you have to be 18 or older to sign up. In its Terms and Conditions, RentAFriend also explains how it doesn’t let you sign up if you’ve been a convicted felon or registered sex offender.
DOES RENT A FRIEND HAVE CUSTOMER SUPPORT?
RentAFriend has limited customer support available. Most of the support that they offer is in the limited amount of FAQ’s that is available on their website. If you need technical support for RentAFriend you can fill out the contact form on their website or email them directly at support@rentafriend.com with any questions.
CONCLUSION: RENT A FRIEND REVIEW.
I’ve written about dozens of various side hustles over the years and done a wide variety of online gigs myself. While some are good, some are bad, and some are somewhere in-between, RentAFriend is certainly on the unique side.
If you’re a social person, becoming a Friend could be a nice way to make some side cash on your own terms. And for Members, this platform can help you out if you feel lonely or just want to go to an event with someone.
Hopefully, our RentAFriend review helps you decide if this platform is right for you. Just follow the safety guidelines, and have some fun while meeting cool new people!
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