A Gloucestershire-founded app that enables people to exchange skills and services without using money has passed the 250-user milestone, with its makers encouraging more people to join and discover what is available.
TradeOff had more than 255 people signed up by November 2026 and had recorded more than 55 successful trades since launching. The app is free to join and is designed to connect people who need help with others who have a skill or service to offer.
The project was founded by Cheltenham businesswoman Marie King. It is aimed at a broad range of users, including students, parents, tradespeople, beauty therapists, professionals and retired people, as well as anyone with a few hours to spare. King said: “there’s a place for you”.
Services available through the app
The range of skills listed on TradeOff covers household help, practical trades, personal services and professional support. Domestic listings have included babysitting, dog walking, elderly care and cleaning.
People looking for help with their homes can find services including carpentry, decorating, tiling, gardening, and window, roof and gutter cleaning. The source also lists kitchen fitting among the skills being offered.
Beauty-related exchanges include nails, lash lifts, massage and facials. Users can also offer seamstress services, including clothing alterations and sewing lessons.
Food skills on the platform include baking, baking lessons, homemade desserts, and food and drink hampers. Tutoring is available in English, German, French and Spanish.
TradeOff also includes business and creative services. Listings have ranged from administration and human resources advice to finance coaching, accounting, taxation and social media marketing. Photography, graphic design and website design are among the creative skills available.
Other examples include children’s parties, a photo booth for hire, hotel accommodation, golf lessons, guided woodland walks and forest bathing, covering sport, leisure and lifestyle activities as well as more conventional services.
How TradeOff works
The app matches people with potential trade partners in a way its makers compare with a dating app. After being connected, users negotiate the details of their exchange on their own terms instead of paying money for the service.
King said the idea came from considering how people could make life easier by helping one another use skills they already possess. She said the app was intended to do more than reduce costs.
TradeOff isn’t just about saving money. It’s about bringing communities together, building confidence, creating opportunities and helping people make connections they might never have made otherwise.
The app has been built and tested, and its team is now seeking more users across Gloucestershire to sign up and share their skills. The makers say that increasing the number of people offering services will create more potential opportunities for everyone using the platform.
TradeOff can be downloaded free from the Google and Apple stores by searching for “TradeOff”. The service is also available through tradeoff.uk.
The announcement was published by SoGlos Stroud Events on Tuesday 3 November 2026. Although the story is about a Gloucestershire-wide service, it does not identify a specific launch, user total or completed trade in Stroud.