Swella Terms & Conditions
Last updated: February 2026Welcome to Swella 🩵These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Swella mobile application and website (swella.app), together referred to as the “Service”.By creating an account, accessing, or using Swella, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service.1. Who we areSwella (“Swella”, “we”, “us”, “our”) is a community platform created for women who surf, designed to help users connect, travel, and surf together around the world.Swella is established in Portugal and operates under Portuguese and European Union law.2. Other policies that applyYour use of Swella is also governed by our:- Privacy Policy- Community Guidelines- Safety tips and in-app rulesThese documents form part of these Terms. If there is a conflict, these Terms apply to the extent permitted by law.3. EligibilityTo use Swella, you must:- be at least 18 years old- have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement- comply with applicable laws- You may only create one account unless we give you permission otherwise.4. Your account and securityYou are responsible for all activity under your account and for keeping your login credentials secure.If you believe your account has been accessed without authorization, contact us immediately at [email protected].You agree to provide accurate information and keep your profile up to date. You may not impersonate another person or misrepresent your identity.5. What Swella offersDepending on availability and region, Swella may allow you to:- create a personal profile- discover and connect with other users- send and receive messages- share posts, photos, and experiences- discover surf trips, meetups, or community events- explore partner offers, surf camps, or travel-related services- Some features may be in beta, limited, or changed over time.6. Community conduct and safetySwella is built on respect, encouragement, and responsibility. You agree to:- treat other users with kindness and respect- use the Service lawfully- communicate responsibly and respectfully- respect boundaries and consentYou agree not to:harass, threaten, bully, or discriminate- scam, spam, or engage in fraudulent behavior- solicit money, gifts, or payment details from other users- share private or confidential information without consent- use Swella primarily for commercial purposes without our permission- interfere with or misuse the Service, including through automated toolsOffline meetupsSwella may help you connect with others, but we do not conduct background checks and do not guarantee any user’s identity, intentions, or behavior.You are solely responsible for your interactions, both online and offline. Always use good judgment, meet in public places, inform someone you trust, and prioritize your safety.7. Prohibited contentYou may not post, upload, or share content that:- is abusive, hateful, threatening, or discriminatory- is sexually explicit or pornographic- depicts violence or promotes self-harm or illegal activity- exploits or endangers minors, with zero tolerance- infringes intellectual property or privacy rights- is deceptive, defamatory, or intentionally misleading- contains malware or attempts to compromise security- is inconsistent with the purpose of the ServiceWe may remove content and take account action if we believe it violates these Terms, our guidelines, or the law.8. Reporting, moderation, and enforcementWe may use user reports, automated systems, and human review to enforce safety and integrity.Private messages are not routinely monitored, but may be reviewed if reported, flagged for safety reasons, or required by law.We may warn, restrict, suspend, or terminate accounts and remove content when necessary to protect users and the community.9. User-generated content and license
Your ownershipYou retain ownership of the content you share on Swella. You are responsible for ensuring you have the right to post it.License to SwellaTo operate the Service, you grant Swella a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, store, display, reproduce, and distribute your content within the Service, in accordance with your visibility settings.For promotional use outside the Service, Swella will request your consent unless the content is clearly intended for public sharing or you have already granted permission.Deleting contentIf you delete content, we will remove it from user-facing areas within a reasonable time. Copies may remain in backups or logs for legal, safety, or operational reasons.10. Partner offers, affiliate links, and sponsored listingsSwella may display third-party offers, links, or listings from surf camps, schools, or travel providers. Some may be sponsored or generate a commission for Swella.Third-party services are not operated by us. We are not responsible for their availability, pricing, safety standards, or conduct. Always review partner terms before booking.11. Paid features and subscriptionsSwella offers a freemium model. Core features are available for free, while certain advanced features require a paid subscription (“Swella Plus”). The specific features included may vary and evolve over time.If you choose to purchase a subscription:- pricing, features, and trial availability (if applicable) will be clearly shown before purchase- subscriptions may include a free trial period; unless canceled before the end of the trial, the subscription will automatically convert into a paid plan- subscriptions renew automatically unless canceledBilling and payments are handled by Apple App Store, depending on your device.- your subscription is charged through your app store account- you can manage or cancel your subscription at any time through your app store settings- Swella does not process or store full payment detailsRefunds are handled exclusively by Apple or Google in accordance with their policies. Swella does not issue refunds directly.We may update pricing, features, or subscription benefits over time. Any changes will not affect your current billing period and will be communicated where required by law.Access to paid features may change, be limited, or temporarily unavailable, particularly during early versions of the Service.12. Intellectual propertyAll Swella trademarks, logos, designs, and Service content excluding user content are owned by Swella or its licensors and protected by law.You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works without written permission.13. Privacy and locationYour privacy is important to us. Our Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect personal data.Swella may use approximate location information, such as city or surf destination, to enable community features. Precise location tracking is not required, and location permissions can be controlled through your device settings.14. DisclaimerSwella is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. We do not guarantee uninterrupted access, error-free operation, or successful connections.Surfing, ocean activities, and travel involve inherent risks, including injury or accidents. Swella does not organize or supervise any activities and is not responsible for any incidents that may occur as a result of users meeting, surfing, or interacting through the Service.You are responsible for your decisions and actions when using the Service.15. Limitation of liabilityTo the fullest extent permitted by law, Swella is not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from:- interactions between users- reliance on user-shared information- third-party services or partner bookings- events beyond our reasonable controlWhere liability cannot be excluded, it is limited to the minimum required by law.16. IndemnityTo the extent permitted by law, you agree to indemnify and hold Swella harmless from claims arising out of your use of the Service, your content, or your violation of these Terms.17. TerminationYou may stop using Swella at any time and delete your account when the feature is available.We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms, harm the community, or pose legal or safety risks.Termination does not affect rights or obligations that by their nature should survive termination.18. Changes to these TermsWe may update these Terms as the Service evolves or legal requirements change. Updates will be posted with a revised “Last updated” date.If changes affect paid features or subscriptions, we will provide additional notice where required by law.19. Governing law and jurisdictionThese Terms are governed by the laws of Portugal.If you are a consumer residing in the European Union, you benefit from any mandatory consumer protection provisions of your country of residence.Any disputes shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the competent courts of Portugal, unless mandatory EU law provides otherwise.20. ContactQuestions, concerns, or reports can be sent to:
📩 [email protected]21. Entire agreementThese Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and Community Guidelines, constitute the entire agreement between you and Swella regarding your use of the Service.🌊 In short
Be kind, stay safe, surf responsibly, and help keep Swella a supportive space for women who surf.