Community Guidelines
PenPal Community Guidelines
Build real connections with new friends across the world - one postcard at a time with PenPal.
These Community Guidelines help keep us pen pals happy and respectful to each other. Ignoring the guidelines or our Terms of Service could result in your account being deactivated.
Being an upstanding pen pal... 😌
Send your postcard

Once you’re matched, make sure to actually send a postcard as soon as you can. Your pen pal is waiting.

Personalize with photos 🤳

A picture speaks a thousand words - and it’s also a great conversation starter! So go ahead and use one of your own photos - a scene from your daily nature walk, your beloved pet, a smiley selfie - whatever shows off a bit of your wonderful self.

However, please do NOT:

  • Include photos of kids on their own - make sure an adult is also there, and that any kids are fully clothed.
  • Use photos of people in their underwear, or wearing swimwear indoors. The same goes for shirtless selfies.
  • Graphic hunting photos.
  • Photos including guns.
  • Use photos that don’t belong to you.
Write your postcard

Fun postcard topics include... you! Where you’re from and what you do; your dreams, your kids, your hopes and so on. Also fun: anything mentioned in your pen pal’s profile.

Less fun postcard topics include politics, religion and money. Please avoid them.

Choose your language

Your safest bet is English. But if you’re matched with someone who speaks your language or a language you know, go for it!

Be nice

Be respectful of other cultures, beliefs, ways of thinking, opinions, ages, backgrounds and everything else.

Don’t be TOO nice

Noticed a pen pal who is ignoring our community guidelines and being unkind, rude or disrespectful? Report it ASAP.

Make the most of your profile

Fill out everything you’d like a pen pal to know about you before they send you a postcard.

Don’t do anything illegal (duh!)

If we notice illegal behavior on our site, your account could be banned, and / or you could be reported to the authorities.

Don’t be annoying

Please don’t solicit, advertise or try to use PenPal as a marketplace. We’re here to connect pals, not sell.

Get involved

Join or make communities to immerse yourself in the PenPal world.

Receiving your postcard
Your postcard arrived!

Yay! Now make sure to mark it as received and react to the card, so your pen pal knows what you thought!

Enjoy it...

And feel free to share the experience with friends! 💌

Using your account
It’s personal

Use your account for personal and non-corporate use only. Exceptions apply.

There’s only one of you

So please only make one account. Er, and make sure it is actually you (don’t pretend you're someone you’re not).

You’re a teen (or a teen at heart)

Please only make an account if you are 13 or older.

We like teaching!

If you want to set up profiles for your school class, then save yourself the hassle. Just come straight to us with the request, and we’ll sort you out.

The post
Your postal expectations

The postal system in each country is very different. While in some countries, postcards will come within just a couple of days, others could take weeks. The key takeaway being - don’t stress if your postcard has not been received as quickly as you hoped

But if it takes longer than 30 days, get in contact with us at help@penpal.me to have the postcard resent (for free).

Rules to keep our community safe

Community is our highest priority
Your postcards should be appropriate for your recipient.
Don't send anything illegal. Don't spam people or send offensive or sexual messages.
Do not spam users with unwanted messages.
Do not send or post advertising of any kind.
Do not ask for gifts, money, donations or compensation of any kind.
Prison Mail is currently not allowed and any such accounts are subject to removal.

Still got questions? Take a look at our FAQ.