Terms of Service

Agreement to Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the LingSwap platform, including our website, mobile applications, and all related services (collectively, the "Service"). By accessing or using our Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not access or use our Service.

Description of Service

LingSwap is a language learning platform that connects learners with native speakers for practice through:

• 1-on-1 audio calls for language exchange
• Audio recording and feedback from native speakers
• Private messaging between users
• Instant matching with language partners
• Conversation prompts and discussion topics during calls
• Session links for inviting guests to calls (no account required, age-verified)
• Post-call 5-star ratings

Account Registration

To use our Service, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old (or the minimum age required in your jurisdiction)
• Provide accurate and complete registration information
• Keep your account credentials secure and confidential
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access to your account
• Not create accounts for others without permission
• Not create multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions

You may register using your email address or sign in via Google or Apple OAuth. When using OAuth, we receive your name and email address from the provider.

You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account.

Acceptable Use

When using our Service, you agree to:

Do

• Treat all users with respect and courtesy
• Use the platform for language learning purposes
• Provide constructive, honest feedback when giving reviews
• Report inappropriate behavior or content
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations

Don't

• Harass, threaten, or intimidate other users
• Share sexually explicit, violent, or offensive content
• Use the platform for dating, solicitation, or commercial purposes
• Impersonate others or provide false information
• Spam or send unsolicited promotional content
• Attempt to circumvent security measures or restrictions
• Share recordings of other users without their consent
• Infringe on intellectual property rights
• Use automated tools or bots to access the Service

User Content

Your Content

You retain ownership of content you create and upload, including audio recordings and written feedback. By uploading content, you grant LingSwap a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, store, and display your content as necessary to provide the Service.

Public Recordings

If you mark a recording as "public," it may be viewed by any user of the platform. You are solely responsible for the content of your public recordings.

Content Standards

All content must:

• Be relevant to language learning
• Not contain hate speech, discrimination, or harassment
• Not violate any third-party rights
• Not contain malware or harmful code

We reserve the right to remove any content that violates these standards.

Feedback Guidelines

When providing feedback to other users:

• Be constructive and helpful
• Focus on language learning aspects (pronunciation, grammar, fluency)
• Provide honest assessments
• Avoid personal attacks or unconstructive criticism
• Report any issues rather than engaging negatively

Call Session Conduct

During 1-on-1 language exchange calls:

• Calls last 30 minutes total, with a language switch at the 15-minute mark
• Be punctual and present during matched calls
• Stay on topic for language practice
• Do not record calls without the other party's consent
• End calls appropriately using the provided controls
• Block and report users who violate these guidelines
• Daily call limits apply: 2 calls per day for regular users, 10 for VIP members
• After each call, you are expected to rate your partner (5-star scale)

Call Behavior and Penalties

We monitor call conduct to ensure a fair experience for all users. Repeated selfish behavior — such as frequently disconnecting early, failing to connect, or leaving calls before the language switch — may result in temporary restrictions on your ability to join calls. These measures help maintain a respectful and balanced language exchange environment.

VIP Membership

Features

Subscription

VIP membership is a paid subscription billed monthly. Paddle is our primary payment processor for both web and mobile. Some existing mobile subscribers may still be billed via the App Store or Google Play during the transition period.

Cancellation

You may cancel your VIP subscription at any time. Upon cancellation:

• You retain VIP benefits until the end of your current billing period
• No refunds are provided for partial periods
• Your account reverts to free tier limits after expiration

Refunds

Refund requests are handled according to the policies of the respective payment provider (Paddle, Apple App Store, or Google Play Store). Please contact the relevant platform for refund inquiries.

Advertisements

Non-VIP users may see advertisements served by Google AdSense, including banner and interstitial ads (approximately every 5 interactions). VIP members enjoy an ad-free experience.

Advertisement content is provided by third parties. LingSwap does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of any advertisements displayed on the platform.

Session Links and Guest Access

Registered users can create shareable session links to invite others to a call. Guests can join a call via session link without creating an account, provided they:

• Provide a display name
• Confirm they are 18 years of age or older

Guest functionality is limited to the call session. Guests cannot send messages, create recordings, or submit feedback outside of the session.

Blocking and Reporting

We provide tools to help you maintain a safe learning environment:

• Blocking: You can block users from calling you, messaging you, or interacting with your recordings
• Reporting: You can report inappropriate content or behavior for review by our moderation team

We take reports seriously and may suspend or terminate accounts that violate our guidelines. However, we cannot guarantee action on every report and reserve discretion in moderation decisions.

Account Termination

By You

You may close your account at any time through the app settings or by contacting us. Upon closure:

• Your account is soft-deleted (deactivated) and your profile is hidden from other users
• Your data is retained for a limited reactivation window, after which it is permanently purged
• You may optionally provide a reason for closing your account
• Reactivation is possible within the reactivation window by contacting support
• Any active VIP subscription should be cancelled separately through your payment provider

By Us

We may suspend or terminate your account if you violate these Terms, engage in abusive behavior, or for any other reason at our discretion. We will attempt to provide notice when possible.

Intellectual Property

Our Property

The Service, including its design, features, and content (excluding user-generated content), is owned by LingSwap and protected by intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, or distribute our proprietary content without permission.

Third-Party Content

Images used in practice exercises are sourced from Pexels and subject to their license terms. Other third-party content may be subject to additional terms.

Disclaimers

Limitation of Liability

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold LingSwap harmless from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from:

• Your violation of these Terms
• Your content or activities on the platform
• Your interactions with other users
• Any third-party claims related to your use of the Service

Changes to Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated Terms on our website and updating the "Last updated" date. Your continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with applicable laws, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising under these Terms shall be resolved in accordance with our dispute resolution procedures.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us at: