RentAFriend Review – Is This Gig Legit & Safe?
RentAFriend is a unique side gig that lets you make money by renting out your friendship to people in your city. And for members, it helps people make new connections and find platonic friends to do activities with.
But is RentAFriend legit and safe for Friends? And how much does this side hustle even pay?
Our Rent A Friend review is sharing how this gig works, what you need to get started, and how to decide if it's right for you.
Key Takeaways:
- RentAFriend is a social networking website where you can get paid to be a friend
- Friends can post a listing and meet up with clients
- You set your own rates and keep 100% of your earnings
- This side hustle may also include free admission to events and activities such as concerts, movies and more
- Your service is for companionship only and is completely platonic
Is RentAFriend Legit?
RentAFriend is legit and helps connect people who want platonic companions with Friends. It's an effective way to make extra cash as a Friend while meeting new people for activities in your city.
Out of all the ways to make money by renting things, RentAFriend is pretty unique. But it's a real side hustle that's also legal and safe. And this isn't a dating website; platonic friendships are the only service you can offer.
Finally, RentAFriend is also a massive platform. It has over 600,000 friends across the world and has been operating since 2009.
What Is RentAFriend?
RentAFriend.com is the largest platonic friendship website in the world. It lets Friends make money by meeting up with people in their city for various events or activities.
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.
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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.
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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.
Is There 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 [email protected] with any questions.
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Final Thoughts
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!
Want more ideas to make money? Checkout:
- The Best Money Making Apps Without Investment.
- Rent A Cyber Friend Review.
- How To Get Paid To Text.
- The Best Apps That Pay You To Drive.
RentAFriend Review
Name: Rent A Friend
Description: RentAFriend.com lets Friends make money by renting out their platonic friendship with people in their city.
Operating System: Desktop
Application Category: Gig Apps
Author: Kim Ritter
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Earning Potential
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Getting Paid
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Availability
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Ease-Of-Use