Joining a global community of millions takes about five minutes. Here's everything you need to get your account up and running.
How Do I Create an Account?
Sign up on the website or the mobile platform (aka our App) whichever works for you. There's three ways to get in:
- Facebook, Apple, or Google: one tap and you're in
- Email: drop your address and we'll send a magic link
- Phone: enter your number and we'll text you a code
No password needed. Verify and you're straight into onboarding.
What Information Do I Need to Provide?
Quick and painless. During onboarding you'll share:
- Your name
- A handle (this is the username people see in Communities and Events)
- Your date of birth
- Your gender
- At least 3 interests: these help us personalise your experience across the platform
That's the minimum. You can fill in the rest whenever you're ready.
What Happens After Onboarding?
You'll choose a membership plan. Pick one to unlock the full platform and start connecting.
How Do I Complete My Profile?
A strong profile is everything here. It's how members decide whether to connect with you, accept a Stay request, or invite you to something. It’s well worth the effort.
Your profile page has a completeness banner, tap it to see where you're at and what to add next. Things like photos, an About Me, travel history, prompts, and ID verification all help.
A heads up: some features like sending Stay requests or chatting with members you haven't connected with yet need at least 2 completed profile steps. The more you put in, the more you get back.
What Should I Do Next?
Profile's set. Now the good part. A few ways to dive in:
- Find an event near you: Head to your city's page and see what's on. Most places have regular meetups where you can meet other Couchsurfers in person.
- Plan a Trip: Create a Trip to find members, Events, and Stays at your destination. Add up to 15 destinations in one go.
- Browse Communities: Join conversations around shared interests or locations. A low-pressure way to get a feel for the community before you go anywhere.
- Explore: Use the Explore page to find members where you're headed, or see who's coming to your city.
- Finish your profile: Seriously. A complete profile makes a real difference when you're sending or receiving Stay requests.
Coming Back After a Break?
Had an account before? Good news, your data is still there. You'll go through a short onboarding flow to confirm your info and refresh your photos. Think of it as a quick profile glow-up.
One Thing to Know: Your first name, last name, and date of birth can't be updated directly in the platform. Need to change any of those? Reach out to our support team and they'll sort it.
Need more help? Get in touch. You can also reach us anytime through Settings → Contact Support.