How Global Penfriends works: a visitor tour
Welcome to Global Penfriends, the friendship club for online penpals — and for letter writers too. Take the tour from the start, or jump to any topic below.
1 million+ members · 195+ countries · 30+ years connecting penpals
New here? Start with these three
- 1About the clubWho we are and who joins
- 2How it worksProfile, finding penpals, first letter
- 3Staying safeHow we protect members
All tour topics
About the club
About Global PenfriendsWhat the club is, how it works and how we keep members safe.
How our club worksFrom creating your profile to finding penpals and starting to write.
A safe penpal siteHow profiles are checked, how contact details are protected, and how to stay safe.
Pen pals for kidsHow children are kept apart from adults, and what parents and teachers should know.
This is not social mediaWhy real one-to-one letters feel so different from apps and group chats.
A socially responsible clubHow we try to make the club good for members and for the world.
Membership
Using the site for freeWhat free members can do, and how the free contact credit works.
Benefits of PremiumWhat upgrading adds, and how it keeps the club running.
Snail mail
Snail mail penpalsThe ways to swap postal addresses safely with a penpal.
Log your postRecord letters and parcels you send and receive, so you both know what’s on its way.
Help your letters arriveSimple checks that get your letters to your penpal safely.
Writing and hobbies
What is a pen pal?What penpalling is, what pen pals write about, and why it’s worth it.
Letters or online?The advantages of snail mail and of online penpals — and why many members do both.
Your first messageWhat to write to a new penpal, and the few things to avoid.
Make your letters shineSmall touches that make your letters a joy to receive.
Adding a wax sealHow to seal your letters with wax for a special finishing touch.
Penpalling tipsAdvice for starting and keeping a penpal friendship going.
Friendship books and swappersWhat these popular postal hobbies are, if you spot them on a profile.
💬 If the tour doesn’t answer your question, try our frequently asked questions.