Built private, on purpose
FriendsWithTools is a trust-first product, and the engineering reflects it. Here's how we keep what you share between you and the people you trust, in plain language, no legalese.
Private groups, joined by invitation
There are no public listings and no marketplace. Groups are joined by invitation. Nearby discovery, which can connect you with people you have not met, is opt-in and off until you turn it on.
Your inventory is not browsable
The tools you list are visible to the groups you share them with. They are not listed publicly and are not in our sitemap. If you create a share link, treat it like a key: anyone who has the link can open it.
We don't sell your data
We don't sell your data or share it with third parties for advertising. Sharing tools is the product. Your data isn't.
Encrypted in transit
Every connection to FriendsWithTools is served over HTTPS, so your activity is encrypted between your device and our servers.
Row-level security in the database
Access is enforced at the database layer with Supabase row-level security, so a request only returns rows the policies allow.
You stay in control
You decide which groups see each tool, who joins your groups, and you can remove members from a group you administer.
Privacy is the default, not a setting
Most platforms make you opt out of being public. We do the opposite: nothing you add is public to begin with. Your tools, your groups, and your borrowing activity are visible only to the people in the groups you choose. There is no public profile, no global search of your inventory, and no algorithmic feed surfacing your stuff to strangers.
What we collect, and what we don't
We collect what's needed to run the service (your email, the tools you choose to list, and your borrowing activity within your groups) plus basic, non-identifying analytics to improve the app. We don't sell your data, and we don't profile you across the web. The full details live in our privacy policy, and you can review or delete your account whenever you like.
Share tools with people you trust
Anyone can sign up free and start a private group in minutes.
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