Is Sidora free?
Yes, for everything it actually does — listing books, borrowing, browsing the map. There's no subscription and nothing here is for sale.
How does Sidora work?
Sidora connects neighbours to lend and borrow physical books. Simply check the map for a book nearby and send a request. When the owner agrees, we'll connect you both to arrange a quick handover — either in person or by post. Once you’re done reading, just pass it back. Want to borrow more? Share a few books from your own shelf to earn the credits you need to borrow!
How do credits work?
Sidora runs on a small credit system instead of money. Lending a book earns you credit; borrowing spends it — listing your own books is really the only way to earn more, you take a book out, you put one in. Every new account starts with enough credit to borrow a book right away, so you don't need anything to lend before you can borrow your first one. To keep books actually circulating, everyone can hold up to three books at a time.
How long can I keep a borrowed book?
About four weeks is the gentle default. There's no penalty and nothing returns automatically — we just send a friendly reminder as the date approaches. Need longer? You can ask the owner for two more weeks at a time, up to eight weeks in total.
Do I need to download an app?
No. Sidora runs entirely in your browser. On most phones you can add it to your home screen for something close to a normal app experience, but there's nothing to install from an app store. How to add Sidora to your home screen →
Is my exact address visible to anyone?
Sidora never asks for or knows your exact address, for you or for anyone else — the only location information anywhere in the system is a general postcode area.
Is my data safe?
We collect as little as we can — your email, a rough postcode area, and the books you list — never your exact address, and nothing for advertising. Sidora uses no tracking cookies and no third-party analytics, which is why you'll never see a 'cookie consent' banner here. Your data is encrypted, and you can ask us to export or delete it at any time.
Can I message people through Sidora?
Not directly. Once you're matched with someone, you connect through whatever app you'd normally use to talk to people — Sidora just makes the introduction.
Sidora only works because people show up for each other. This isn't really a rulebook — it's more a shared understanding of what that looks like.
What we ask of everyone
If an exchange doesn't go the way it should, there's no need to sort it out yourself — report it directly from your dashboard, and every report gets reviewed.
Repeated or serious problems can lead to an account being suspended. We hope never to need that — just treat people the way you'd want to be treated.
This Code of Conduct is part of Sidora's Terms of Service.
Questions, feedback, or a problem with an exchange? We'd love to hear from you.
Sidora isn't a company and it's not trying to become one — it's a side project built because sharing books with your neighbours is a nice idea that didn't quite exist yet. It'll stay free for everyone, always.
If you've enjoyed using it and want to help keep it running, you're welcome to buy me a coffee. It's entirely optional, and it goes toward keeping the lights on, not toward anything you'd need to pay for otherwise.