Help

What is Penpal-Gate?

Penpal-Gate is an exciting volunteer project that brings people together from every corner of the world in a vibrant online community. We're all about cultural exchange, language practice, and building lasting friendships across diverse backgrounds. The platform is entirely free and always will be, with just enough limited advertising to handle hosting expenses—we don't earn a dime otherwise. It's available in multiple languages, including English, French, Dutch, Spanish, Korean, Italian, Polish, German, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Finnish, and Greek, making it accessible to users everywhere.

Is Penpal-Gate really free, and are there any hidden costs?

Absolutely! Signing up and using all our features is 100% free. We rely on minimal ads to cover server costs, but active members who engage regularly get perks like reduced advertising as a thank-you. No paywalls here—everything from messaging to forums is open to everyone.

What's the minimum age to join, and how do I sign up?

You can join for free starting at age 13. Signing up is a breeze: just create an account with your email, or use X (formerly Twitter) or Google for quick login. We require real details like your age, country, and gender to keep things authentic—fake profiles aren't allowed, as they go against our community spirit.

How can I customize my profile?

Your profile is your personal showcase! Fill it out with details about yourself to let others know who you are.

Upload a profile picture (it can be anything non-offensive, but if it's a person, it should be you) and add a custom banner.

Specify the languages you speak or are learning to attract like-minded penpals.

Populate a world map with places you've visited or lived in, create a photo gallery, and answer predefined questions to spark fun icebreakers.

Pick a colored theme to make it uniquely yours, and track how many times your profile has been visited.

Collect badges for achievements, which display proudly—mostly cosmetic, but super motivating!

What privacy and safety features does Penpal-Gate offer?

Safety and data protection are our top priorities. We don't ask for or store anything more than we need to keep the service running smoothly. All connections are secure, passwords are heavily encrypted, and your information is stored safely in the European Union.

In your account settings, tweak privacy options to limit interactions or profile visibility based on age differences—perfect for minors, where strict settings are enabled by default.

Block people from specific countries or individual members entirely.

Our community stays safe thanks to anti-spam filters, an anti-fraud/scam system that monitors accounts 24/7, a hidden reputation system that auto-suspends repeat offenders, and quick reporting for any inappropriate behavior.

Human moderation ensures a positive vibe, making Penpal-Gate a welcoming space for all.

How do I connect and interact with other members?

There are so many ways to build connections on Penpal-Gate!

Send friend requests, like profiles, or post public comments on others' pages.

Use our intuitive messaging interface for private chats—send unlimited messages, share pictures, or even voice clips.

Post in forums for community discussions (with auto-translation for non-English posts if needed).

Engage in our trivia game with daily sessions. At week's end, check the leaderboard—the winner gets a badge! It's a fantastic way to learn while having fun.

How does the messaging quota work?

Conversations are unlimited once started, but there's a daily quota for starting new ones (based on a rolling 24-hour period) to curb spam. For example, if you hit your limit at 3 PM, your quota will refresh after 3 PM the next day.

Supporters of the site enjoy a higher daily quota.

What is the XP system and how does it work?

We love rewarding engagement with our optional XP system!

Gain XP by using the site regularly—it's based on a rolling 15-day period, so consistent activity fills your bar faster.

Pauses might reset progress, but when it's full, you earn the active member badge and unlock free perks like less advertising, seen message indicators, and the ability to start more new conversations.

It's all about celebrating your involvement without any pressure.

Does Penpal-Gate have a mobile app?

Yes! Download our app for Android or iOS (login required). It mirrors the website perfectly but adds instant push notifications instead of emails for real-time updates. Whether you're chatting or browsing profiles, it works flawlessly on the go.

How do I search for penpals?

Our powerful search engine makes finding matches easy. Filter by gender, location, age range, spoken or learning languages, and more. Sort results in various ways—the default smart algorithm combines seven parameters for the best fits. It's designed to help you discover amazing connections quickly!

How long are messages and conversations retained?

Conversations auto-expire and delete after 3 years of inactivity, but you can download them anytime.

Use the archive conversation feature to hide conversations; history remains accessible if they message again.

If you're inactive for years, we might remove pictures or conversations to save storage, but your account stays unless you request permanent deletion.

I forgot my password or can't log in—what now?

No worries! Reset it easily here. We encrypt all passwords, so we can't retrieve yours—only reset. If you forgot your username, try your email.

Why is my uploaded photo rotated wrong?

If your photo appears rotated, it's likely due to embedded instructions in the file. Simply edit it in any image software to remove that, then re-upload. Problem solved!

Why did I stop receiving email notifications?

To keep your inbox tidy, if you're receiving tons of emails, we switch to summarized digests after a few hours of inactivity. These recap what's new without overwhelming you. Push notifications on the app remain instant and unaffected.

Why can I not see when the messages I sent were read?

Only users with the active member badge can see when their messages have been read. You can earn this badge by filling up the XP bar on your homepage through regular activity on the site.

How do I report abuse?

If you encounter disrespectful content, spam, or any inappropriate behavior, use the report button available on every profile page, conversation, or forum post. Provide as much detail as possible to help us investigate quickly.

You can also block individuals you don't want to interact with, preventing them from messaging you or viewing your profile.

We actively monitor reports and blocks to maintain a safe, positive environment for everyone at Penpal-Gate.

How do I delete my account?

You can deactivate your account anytime from your profile's Account settings page.

Once deactivated, no one can access it, and it won't appear in search results—but you can reactivate it whenever you're ready.

If you want a permanent deletion of all your data (including messages and conversations), you can do so from your account's settings page.

How can I support Penpal-Gate if I love it?

We're thrilled you enjoy it! Consider a one-time donation—100% goes to server expenses. In return, you'll get lifelong perks like an ad-free experience, unlimited conversations, last activity dates on profiles, seen message indicators, improved search ranking, and message retention up to 10 years. It's a great way to give back to this volunteer-driven community!

I have a question not covered here—how do I get help?

You can get help in the forum. Whether it's about features, issues, or ideas, your feedback helps us improve.