Exchanging postal addresses

Love writing real letters? To keep everyone safe, postal addresses are never shown on profiles. There are three ways to swap addresses on Global Penfriends — here is how each one works.

1 Ask in a message

Free · all members

The simplest way. Send a message to a penpal, get to know each other, then ask if they would like to exchange postal addresses. If they say yes, you simply share addresses in your conversation.

It is good penpal etiquette for whoever started the conversation to post the first letter. This option is available to everyone, free of charge.

2 Receive surprise mail

Free · add your own address

Your profile form has an optional section where you can add your own postal address. If you complete it, you can start receiving lovely surprise letters in the post from penpals all over the world.

Your address is never shown publicly. It can only be accessed by a member who holds snail mail credits and chooses to spend one to add you — so you stay in control of who can write to you by post.

The optional postal address fields on the profile form
Screenshot: the optional postal address section on your profile form.
Add your address in the optional section of your profile to receive surprise mail.

3 Collect addresses with snail mail credits

Snail mail credits · separate add-on

Want to write first, without waiting for a reply? Snail mail credits let you collect the postal address of any member who has chosen to share one. They are a separate add-on and are not included in Premium membership.

  1. Get snail mail credits from the upgrade page. They are usually sold in packs (for example, 10 at a time) — one credit collects one address.
  2. Search for penpals who have registered a postal address. Tick the With postal address filter so your results only show members you can write to by post.
    The 'With postal address' search filter checkbox, ticked
    Screenshot: the “With postal address” filter checkbox.
    Tick “With postal address” to find members you can write to by post.
  3. Open a profile and click the Get Snail mail button. Their full mailing address is added to your Snail Mail Contacts and one credit is deducted.
    The 'Get Snail mail' button on a member profile
    Screenshot: the “Get Snail mail” button on a profile.
    The button on a member's profile — one click adds their address.
  4. That is it — you can start writing straight away, with no wait for a reply.

No "Get Snail mail" button on a profile? That member has not added a postal address to share. Some members mention snail mail in their bio but have not filled in the optional address field, so there is nothing to send to — try another penpal, or ask them by message (option 1 above).

Premium is not the same as snail mail credits. Premium improves your messaging experience; collecting postal addresses needs credits. Many members use both.

Write safely. Only share a postal address once you are comfortable, and never share addresses belonging to anyone else. If a penpal ever makes you uncomfortable, you can block or report them at any time.
Get snail mail credits Add your postal address