SwapYardAbout SwapYard
A free neighbourhood trade board for Canada. Trade what you're good at for what you need. No cash, no fees between neighbours.
Browse the boardSee all open trades
How it works
- Post a trade. Say what you can offer and what you'd take in return, with optional details and up to four photos.
- Get proposals. Neighbours propose their side of the deal. You can message each other privately on SwapYard to sort out details.
- Match. Accept the proposal that fits. You both get each other's email address; other proposals are declined politely.
- Swap, then rate and vouch. Do the swap in person, then give each other a 1–5 star rating and a vouch. These only unlock after a real match.
What people trade
Six categories: Trades & repair, Home & yard, Food & farm, Tech & web, Lessons & care, and Hauling & rides. For example: snow clearing for a cord of firewood, a small business website for fresh eggs every week, guitar lessons for help drywalling two rooms.
Where
Across Canada, one community at a time. Choose your province or territory and your city or community, or let your phone find the nearest one. The board shows trades in your community, your province, or all of Canada. When a community has no real trades yet, the board shows clearly labelled examples until the first real one is posted.
Cost
Free to post, propose, message, rate and vouch. The only paid option is featuring a trade: $10.00 CAD for 7 days at the top of the board, paid by card through Square on the site.
Privacy and safety
- Your email stays private until you both accept a swap.
- Messages are private between the two people; administrators can review a conversation to keep people safe, for example after a report.
- Visitors are counted anonymously; SwapYard does not track your location. "Use my location" runs on your phone and only picks your nearest community.
- A quick math question on sign-up and sign-in keeps bots out. Passwords are stored hashed.
- Meet in public, never send money or passwords, and use Report if anything feels wrong.
Frequently asked questions
What is SwapYard?
SwapYard (swapyard.ca) is a free neighbourhood trade board for Canada. People post a skill or item they can offer, say what they would take for it, and swap with someone nearby. No money changes hands between traders.
How does a swap work?
1) Post a trade: what you offer and what you want in return. 2) Neighbours send proposals and you can message each other on SwapYard. 3) Accept the proposal that fits; you both get each other's email address to arrange it. 4) Do the swap in person, then rate and vouch for each other.
Does it cost anything?
Posting, proposing, messaging, rating and vouching are all free. The only paid option is featuring a trade: $10.00 CAD pins it to the top of the board for 7 days. Card payments are processed on-site by Square; SwapYard never sees or stores card numbers.
Where does SwapYard work?
Anywhere in Canada. You pick your province or territory and your city or community (about 19,000 are listed, and you can type one that isn't). The board shows trades in your community, your whole province, or all of Canada.
What can I trade?
Skills and goods in six categories: Trades & repair, Home & yard, Food & farm, Tech & web, Lessons & care, and Hauling & rides. Examples: snow clearing for firewood, a website for fresh eggs, guitar lessons for drywall work.
Do I need an account?
You can browse without one. To post a trade, send a proposal, message someone, rate or vouch, you need a free account with your name, community and email. Sign-up and sign-in include a quick math question to keep bots out.
Is my email address shared?
No, not until you both agree to a swap. Before that you talk through SwapYard's private messages. When a proposal is accepted, the two people see each other's email address so they can arrange the swap.
Are messages private?
Messages are only visible to the two people in the conversation. SwapYard administrators can review a conversation to keep people safe, for example when it is reported. Every conversation has a Report button.
What are vouches and ratings?
After a matched swap, each person can rate the other from 1 to 5 stars with an optional comment, and can vouch for them. Both only unlock after a real matched swap, so they reflect actual trades. They show on every trade the person posts.
What emails will I get?
A welcome email, an alert when someone proposes on your trade or messages you, notices when a proposal is accepted or declined, a reminder if a proposal waits 24 hours, a prompt to rate after a swap, and optionally one daily summary of new trades in your community (easy to switch off). All come from hello@swapyard.ca.
Is it safe?
Meet in public or with someone you trust, never send money or passwords, and use the Report button if anything feels wrong. Administrators can edit or remove trades, remove ratings and suspend accounts.
Are there tax rules for bartering in Canada?
The Canada Revenue Agency can treat bartered goods and services as having value, especially for businesses. Talk to an accountant about your own situation.
How do I contact SwapYard?
Email hello@swapyard.ca.
Contact
Email hello@swapyard.ca. Add it to your contacts so our emails reach your inbox.