If you're in Pakistan and searching "rent a friend app", you're probably asking one thing: does it actually pay? Here's the straight answer.
Two different things#
| "Rent a cyber friend" sites | Roavi (in person) | |
|---|---|---|
| What you do | Chat online with strangers | Meet visitors in your city, show them around |
| Who pays | The site, if at all | The visitor, directly, at your rate |
| Cost to join | Often a "registration" or "activation" fee | Free |
| Commission | Varies | None |
A platform that pays you never asks you to pay first. Fees to register, activate or withdraw are the scam.
Where in-person work pays#
- Lahore: the old city, the food streets, overseas Pakistanis visiting family, a growing stream of tourists.
- Islamabad: business travellers, diplomats' families, the gateway to the north.
- Karachi: business travellers and the diaspora.
- The north (Hunza, Skardu) in season, for visitors who want a local who knows the roads.
How it works#
- Sign up free on Roavi as a Local Friend: real photos, a short bio in English.
- Set your hourly rate and when you're free.
- Visitors message you in the app; you agree a plan and meet in a public place.
- You keep 100%. Roavi takes no commission.
Roavi is companionship only: the city, the food, the language. Paid friend jobs explains what the work is like, and the same honest answer for Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa covers the "cyber friend" question in more detail.
Live in Lahore, Islamabad or Karachi? Get paid to show visitors your city.
Become a Local FriendThe same question for East Africa: Kenya, Uganda.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does rent a friend pay in Pakistan?
In person, in cities with visitors, yes: Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, and the northern areas in season. Online 'cyber friend' sites mostly don't, and any site asking a registration or withdrawal fee is a scam.Who visits Pakistan and wants a local friend?
Overseas Pakistanis visiting family, business travellers, and a growing number of tourists heading to Lahore's old city and the north (Hunza, Skardu). Many want a local for the food, the language and getting around.How much can I charge?
You set your own hourly rate. Worldwide most Local Friends charge $15 to $50; set what fits your city. Roavi takes no commission.Is it safe and appropriate?
Roavi is companionship only: showing people your city, eating together, the language. Meet in public places, keep the conversation in the app until you meet, and never send or accept money in advance outside the platform.
This article was written with the help of AI and reviewed by the Roavi team.