How Nearby builds trust
Sharing with strangers requires confidence. We have built multiple layers of trust into every part of Nearby, so you can lend and borrow with peace of mind.
Verification levels
Email verified
Level 1Every member must confirm their email address before they can use Nearby. This confirms you have a valid, accessible email and enables us to send booking confirmations and important updates.
Phone number
Level 2Members can add a phone number to their profile so lenders and borrowers can coordinate pickups and returns directly.
ID verification
Level 3Every borrower verifies their ID with Stripe Identity before their first booking: a government-issued photo ID (passport, driving licence or national ID card) and a live selfie. Lenders can verify too. Verified members show an "ID verified" badge on their profile and listings. Nearby never stores the document or the selfie.
The Nearby Guarantee
Included on every rental
FreeEvery booking includes the Nearby Guarantee at no extra cost - there are no paid tiers to choose. If the rented item is accidentally damaged or stolen during the rental period, Nearby may make a discretionary goodwill payment to the lender. It is not insurance.
View full Guarantee termsReview system
After every rental, both the lender and borrower leave a review. Reviews are public and cannot be edited or deleted. This two-way system ensures accountability and helps the community identify reliable users. Listings with more reviews and higher ratings appear higher in search results.
Secure payments
All payments on Nearby are processed through Stripe, a leading global payment provider. Your card details are never stored on our servers. You pay when the lender accepts your booking. If the lender cancels or does not hand the item over, you get a full refund, including the service fee.
Stripe is PCI DSS Level 1 certified, the highest level of security certification available in the payments industry.