Frequently asked Questions (FAQs)

  • Is Global Penfriends Safe
    • Global Penfriends has been connecting penpals for almost 30 years and we believe Global Penfriends is the safest penpal club in the world. All member profiles are reviewed by a human and any non genuine profiles are removed. Our site is administered to ensure we provide a safe place to meet your new international friends.

  • Where is Global Penfriends?
    • We are a family based club based in Western Australia.

  • Is this site for snail mail penpals or internet penpals?
    • Both, We have structured the site to allow snail mail penpals to connect and also provided a messaging tool to allow internet friends to connect.

  • Is this site free?
    • Yes! The site has a great free/basic offering which allows everyone to find penpals. If you want an enhanced experience, there are also options to upgrade.

  • Is my data safe?
    • Any information provided to Global Penfriends will never be distributed to any other third party.

  • Are the reviews on Global Penfriends real?
    • Yes — every review on Global Penfriends is submitted by a verified member after using our service. We do not use third-party platforms or paid testimonials. The reviews you see reflect genuine experiences from real people in our global community. Many of the reviewers still have active profiles, so you can even message them directly. It’s transparent, authentic, and shows exactly what real members think of our platform.

  • Is Global Penfriends for dating?
    • NO - We are an international friendship club. If you get reported for being flirtatious or suggestive - your profile will be removed immediately.

  • Can Prison inmates join?
    • No, convicted criminals or inmates are not allowed to join.

  • What ages is the club for?
    • Global Penfriends is designed with safety as the top priority. There is complete separation between adults and children on the platform. Children can only connect with other children who are close to their own age (within a few years), and cannot view or interact with adult members. This structure is possible thanks to the large, diverse membership base and ensures a safe, age-appropriate penpal experience for everyone.

  • Do i need a profile in order to contact other penpals?
    • Yes.

  • Do children under 13 see ads?
    • No.

  • Can children under 13 upload a photo of themself?
    • No, for safety reasons we do not allow children under 13 years of age to post pictures of themselves. If any children under 13 would like to add a profile photo, we ask that they upload a picture of an animal or pet instead.

  • What is a Candy Swap?
    • This refers to exchanging candy / lollies / sweets via post. Candy is often small and travels well, so it makes for an ideal item to exchange with penpals overseas. Many countries have candy that is specific to their country - so this is a good form of cultural exchange.

  • Why am I seeing Ads?
    • Free / basic members over the age of 13 are shown ads. These ads help sustain the club so people can continue to find penpals from around the world. Premium members will not see ads.

  • Can you share images / video or other media on the site?
    • No, to keep the site safe, we have removed sharing of images and video. If you wish to share an image with your penpal without giving away your private contact details - please use https://postimages.org/
    Just upload your image, Then send your penpal the link that the site gives you.. its very simple to use and will keep you safe.

  • My profile photo gets distorted when uploading
    • Try a different image or run your photo through a resizer such as https://picresize.com/. Try to upload a square image if possible.

  • I need help finding penpals - where to start?
    • Start by creating a free profile, search for penpals and send messages and virtual smiles on our website. If you have time, check out our visitor tour.

  • I forgot my email and password
    • Visit the contact us page, send us an email and we will run a manual security check.

  • I forgot my password
    • Please go to the sign-in page and click on the "forgot password" link. You will be asked for your registered email address. You will be sent a link to reset your password.

  • What is the Send a Smile button for?
    • This is used to send an expression of interest to contact a penpal. Your penpal will receive a message saying you are interested in contacting them.

  • Can school classes or students register?
    • Yes students are welcome to join, we suggest that each student within a class creates a profile to ensure a customised experience. Each profile will require its own email address.

  • I have too many penpals - Can i pause my profile?
    • If you have too many penpals, just sign in, click on my profile and suspend your profile. This will remove it from search results, but still allow you to message your existing penpals.

  • I upgraded but my account has not updated
    • Upgrades usually happen straight away, but occasionally you must wait a couple of minutes for it to activate.

  • How do I delete my profile and all my data
    • Sign in, click my profile and then delete profile >> Then click to confirm deletion. Once deleted - your data cannot be restored..

  • Why are some profiles removed from the club?
    • Safety is our primary focus. Profiles can be removed if they are found or suspected of being non genuine or displaying suspicious behaviour.

  • How do i cancel a subscription payment
    • Please sign into your profile, click on the payments link. Then click on the active subscription and cancel it. Alternatively, send an email to support and we will be cancel it within 24 hours.

  • Does Global Penfriends have an App?
    • Sorry but we have not yet developed an app.