Terms of Service

By accessing or using FriendsWithTools (the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

You must be at least 18 years old and able to form a legally binding contract to use the Service. The Service lets users create binding borrowing agreements and, on the Commercial tier, digital waivers (see Section 9). By using the Service, you represent that you are at least 18 years old and have the legal capacity to enter into these agreements.

FriendsWithTools is a private coordination platform that allows users to share information about tools and coordinate exchanges with people they already know. The Service also includes neighborhood discovery features that allow you to find and share tools with nearby users who have opted in.

• The Service does not facilitate payments between users
• The Service does not verify tools, ownership, condition, or safety
• The Service does not mediate disputes
• All physical exchanges occur offline and at your own risk

FriendsWithTools is not a party to any agreements or exchanges between users. Borrowing agreements and waivers created through the Service are between the participating users; we do not enforce, guarantee, or arbitrate their terms.

Free Tier

The free tier is available to all users and includes core tool-sharing functionality for personal, non-commercial use. This includes sharing tools with friends, family, and neighbors, coordinating informal exchanges within trusted groups, and personal projects and home improvement.

Premium Tier

The Premium tier is a paid subscription that unlocks additional features, including SMS notifications, enhanced tool management, data export, calendar sync, vacation mode, and custom categories. Premium pricing is displayed on our pricing page and within the app.

Commercial Tier

The Commercial tier is designed for makerspaces, contractors, tool libraries, and equipment-sharing organizations. It includes everything in Premium plus photo documentation, digital waivers, calibration tracking, and trade-specific categories. Commercial pricing is displayed on our pricing page and within the app.

Community Subscriptions

Groups and organizations may purchase community-level subscriptions that provide Premium features to all group members. Community subscriptions are billed to a group administrator and include nonprofit discount options.

Billing and Cancellation

• Subscriptions are billed monthly or annually through Stripe (web), Apple App Store (iOS), or Google Play (Android), depending on where you subscribe.
• Subscriptions renew automatically. Each subscription renews at the end of its billing period (monthly or annually) and your payment method is charged for the next period unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the period ends. You can manage or turn off auto-renewal in your App Store or Google Play account settings (mobile) or through Stripe (web).
• You may cancel your subscription at any time. Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period — you retain access to paid features until then.
• We do not offer refunds for partial billing periods. Refund requests for App Store or Google Play purchases are handled by Apple or Google, respectively.
• If your payment fails, your subscription may be downgraded to the free tier after a grace period.

Personal Use (Free Tier)

The free tier is for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not use the free tier for business or professional purposes, advertise or promote paid services, act as a contractor, landlord, or commercial operator, or generate income from others through the free tier. Commercial misuse of the free tier may result in immediate suspension or termination.

Commercial Use (Commercial Tier)

If you operate a makerspace, tool library, contracting business, or similar organization, you must subscribe to the Commercial tier. The Commercial tier permits use of the Service for business purposes, subject to these Terms.

You agree not to:

• Use the Service for illegal activities
• Harass, threaten, or abuse others
• Misrepresent tools, ownership, or availability
• Engage in unsafe or deceptive behavior
• Circumvent access controls or restrictions
• Send unsolicited messages or spam through any Service communication channel
• Attempt to access another user's account or data

If you subscribe to a Premium or Commercial plan, you may opt into receiving SMS text messages from FriendsWithTools. By verifying your phone number and enabling SMS notifications, you expressly consent to receive text messages from us at the phone number you provide.

• Message types. You may receive: phone verification codes, borrow request alerts, loan status updates, and due-date or overdue reminders.
• Message frequency. Message frequency varies based on your activity. You will not receive more than a reasonable number of messages per day related to your borrowing and lending activity.
• Message and data rates may apply. Your wireless carrier's standard messaging and data rates apply to all SMS messages sent and received.
• Opt-out. You may opt out of SMS notifications at any time by replying STOP to any message, disabling SMS in your account settings, or removing your phone number from your profile. Opting out of SMS does not affect your subscription or access to other features.
• Help. For help with SMS, reply HELP to any message or contact us at [email protected].
• Carrier disclaimer. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.

Marketing Newsletter

Separately from SMS and from your account's transactional email, you may opt into our marketing newsletter by entering your email address in a signup form on our public website. The newsletter is voluntary, sent no more than once per month under normal operations, and contains an unsubscribe link in every message. Unsubscribing from the newsletter does not affect your account or any transactional emails (security, billing, magic-link sign-in). See our Privacy Policy for more on how newsletter signup data is stored and used.

FriendsWithTools offers optional neighborhood discovery features that allow you to find and share tools with nearby users:

• Opt-in only. Neighborhood features require you to explicitly share your location and enable discoverability in your settings. They are disabled by default.
• Location privacy. Your precise location is never shared with other users. Other users see only that you are within a general proximity (e.g., within 1 mile).
• Neighborhood requests. You may post requests for tools to nearby users who have opted into neighborhood discovery. Responses are voluntary, and you choose whether to proceed with any offer.
• One-off shares. You may lend tools to users discovered through neighborhoods without adding them to a group. These one-off shares may include borrowing agreements with terms, return dates, and replacement values that both parties acknowledge within the app.
• Opt-out. You may disable neighborhood discovery and remove your location at any time in your settings.

Borrowing Agreements

When lending or borrowing tools (particularly through one-off shares), users may create borrowing agreements within the app. These agreements may include the tool being shared, a return-by date, and a stated replacement value.

Borrowing agreements are between the participating users. FriendsWithTools does not enforce, guarantee, or adjudicate the terms of any borrowing agreement. We provide the digital tool for creating these agreements as a convenience — they do not create any obligation on the part of FriendsWithTools.

Digital Waivers (Commercial Tier)

Commercial-tier users may create and require digital waivers for tool usage. Waiver signatures are recorded with a timestamp, the signer's IP address, and browser or device identifier for verification purposes. Waivers are between the participating users or organizations; FriendsWithTools does not review, validate, or enforce waiver content.

You are solely responsible for the content you post and the interactions you engage in.

FriendsWithTools does not guarantee the accuracy, safety, or reliability of any user-provided content, including tool listings, borrowing agreements, waivers, or messages between users.

Trademark Disclaimer

All brand names, product names, and trademarks displayed on FriendsWithTools, including but not limited to DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, Ryobi, and Bosch, are the property of their respective owners. These trademark holders are not affiliated with FriendsWithTools, our services, or our website. Reference to any products, services, or other information by brand name, trade name, or trademark does not constitute or imply endorsement, sponsorship, or recommendation by FriendsWithTools or by the respective trademark owners. Brand names are used solely for the purpose of identifying tools listed for sharing by our users.

User Representations and Warranties

By listing a tool on FriendsWithTools, you represent and warrant that: (a) you are the lawful owner of, or otherwise authorized to share, the tool listed; (b) the tool is authentic and accurately described, including its brand, model, and condition; (c) your listing content, including any photos you upload, does not infringe, misappropriate, or violate any third party's intellectual property rights; (d) all photos you upload are your own original images and are not stock photos, manufacturer images, or images downloaded from any other source; and (e) all information you provide is accurate, current, and complete.

Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless FriendsWithTools, its officers, directors, employees, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from: (i) your use of the Service; (ii) your violation of these Terms; (iii) your violation of any third-party right, including any intellectual property right; or (iv) any claim that your listing content infringes the intellectual property rights of any third party. This indemnification obligation survives termination of these Terms.

Intellectual Property Takedown Procedure

FriendsWithTools respects intellectual property rights and will respond promptly to valid notices of claimed infringement. If you believe content on the Service infringes your copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights, please submit a written notice to [email protected]. Notices must include: (1) identification of the right claimed to be infringed; (2) identification of the allegedly infringing material with sufficient detail to locate it; (3) your contact information; (4) a statement that you have a good faith belief that use of the material is not authorized by the rights owner, its agent, or the law; and (5) a statement under penalty of perjury that the information in the notice is accurate and that you are authorized to act on behalf of the rights owner. FriendsWithTools may remove allegedly infringing content and may terminate accounts of repeat infringers.

Platform Role

FriendsWithTools is an online platform enabling users to share tools with one another. FriendsWithTools does not manufacture, own, inspect, or endorse any tools listed on the Service. FriendsWithTools is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any tool manufacturer. All tools are listed by individual users, and FriendsWithTools makes no representations about the condition, safety, or fitness for purpose of any listed tool.

We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to:

• Issue warnings
• Suspend access
• Permanently terminate accounts
• Remove content

We are not required to investigate disputes or provide explanations for enforcement actions.

If your account is terminated, your subscription (if any) will be canceled and no further charges will be made. You will not receive a refund for any remaining time in your billing period.

The Service is provided "as is" and "as available."

We disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including warranties of safety, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

We do not guarantee the delivery, timeliness, or accuracy of SMS messages or push notifications. Message delivery depends on third-party carriers and services outside our control.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, FriendsWithTools shall not be liable for:

• Injury, loss, or damage arising from tool use
• Theft, damage, or disputes between users
• Indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
• Damages arising from failed or delayed SMS or push notification delivery
• Damages arising from the terms, breach, or enforcement of borrowing agreements or waivers between users

Your use of the Service is at your own risk.

FriendsWithTools shall not be liable for any damages arising from third-party intellectual property claims related to user-generated content or tool listings.

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Colorado, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

Arbitration Agreement

ANY DISPUTE, CLAIM, OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICE SHALL BE RESOLVED BY BINDING ARBITRATION ADMINISTERED BY JAMS OR AAA, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR RULES. NEITHER YOU NOR FRIENDSWITHTOOLS SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO LITIGATE IN COURT OR HAVE A JURY TRIAL.

Class Action Waiver

YOU AND FRIENDSWITHTOOLS AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING.

We may update these Terms from time to time. The "Last Updated" date at the top indicates when changes were made. If we make material changes, we will notify you through the Service or by email before the changes take effect. Continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

Questions about these Terms may be directed to:

[email protected]

Our tool comparison and review pages contain affiliate links to third-party retailers including Amazon, Home Depot, and Lowe's. When you click these links and make a purchase:

• We earn a commission at no additional cost to you. This is disclosed on every page containing affiliate links.
• We are not the seller. Your purchase contract is between you and the retailer. We do not handle payments, shipping, returns, or warranties for products purchased through affiliate links.
• Prices may change. Prices shown on our pages are verified periodically but may differ from current retailer pricing at the time of your purchase. We are not liable for price discrepancies.
• Product information. Specifications and ratings on our pages are sourced from manufacturers and aggregated user reviews. We do not test products ourselves. While we make reasonable efforts to ensure accuracy, we cannot guarantee that all information is current or error-free. See our Corrections Policy for how we handle errors.
• No endorsement. Inclusion of a product on our site does not constitute an endorsement. Our comparison criteria are based on publicly available specifications and aggregated reviews, not personal testing or recommendation.