Last updated: October 8, 2026
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?
You can create an account from the Couchsurfing website or the mobile app. Sign up using any of the following methods:
- Social sign-in: continue with Facebook, Apple, or Google
- Email: enter your email address, and we'll send you a magic link to confirm it
- Phone: enter your phone number, and we'll send you an SMS code
No password needed. Once you verify your email or phone, you'll be taken through a short onboarding flow to get your account set up.
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 personalize your experience across the platform
That's the minimum. You can fill in the rest whenever you're ready.
What Happens After Onboarding?
Once you've completed onboarding, you'll be prompted to choose a membership plan. You'll need to select a plan to unlock the full platform and start connecting.
How Do I Complete My Profile?
A strong profile is everything here. A complete profile helps other members get to know you and makes it much easier to connect, send stay requests, and get accepted as a guest or host. It’s well worth the effort.
You'll see a profile completeness banner on your profile page. Tap or click it to see your progress and next steps. The platform will guide you through adding things like photos, an About Me section, travel history, prompts, and ID verification.
Some features, like sending stay requests and chatting with members you haven't friended, require you to have completed at least 2 profile steps. The more you fill out, the better your experience will be.
What Should I Do Next?
Profile's set. Now the good part. Here are some great ways to start exploring the platform:
- Find an event near you: Head to your city's location page and see happening in your area. Most cities have regular meetups where you can connect with other Couchsurfers in person.
- Plan a Trip: Create a Trip to discover Hosts, other travelers, Events, and Stays at your destination. Add up to 15 destinations in one go.
- Browse Communities: Join conversations around shared interests, hobbies, or locations. It's an easy, low-pressure way to get a feel for the community and get great tips before you go anywhere.
- Explore (Search for Hosts or Travelers): 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 big 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.