Timeshare Exchange Companies

A timeshare exchange lets you trade the week or points you own for a stay at a different affiliated resort, so you are not locked into the same destination every year. RCI and Interval International run the two largest networks, and several independent companies run their own. You pay a per-trade fee for each exchange, plus an annual membership with some networks.

What is a timeshare exchange?

An exchange is a service that connects owners at thousands of resorts so they can swap their usage. Instead of returning to your home resort, you deposit the time you own into the network and book a stay somewhere else within it. The exchange company does not own your timeshare or change your contract; it simply runs the marketplace that makes the trade possible. If your ownership is measured in points rather than a fixed week, the mechanics differ slightly, which our guide to timeshare points versus weeks explains.

How does an exchange work?

The basic process is similar across networks. You join as a member, deposit the week you own into the network's pool, often called a space bank, or make your points available, and then request a stay at another affiliated resort, subject to availability. You pay a separate exchange fee for each confirmed trade.

What you can book depends on your deposited week's trading power, the value the network assigns it. A week at a high-demand resort, in a popular season, in a larger unit, deposited well in advance, carries more trading power than a low-season studio deposited at the last minute. The more trading power your deposit holds, the wider the choice of resorts and dates you can exchange into.

Networks differ in one practical way worth knowing. Some use a deposit-first model: you commit your week to the pool, then search what is available. Others let you request first and deposit last, so you can see what you might get before you give up your week. Deposited weeks also expire, commonly two to three years from the original date, so a banked week is not something you can hold indefinitely.

Who are the main timeshare exchange companies?

Two networks dominate. The largest is RCI, the largest timeshare exchange network, with roughly 4,000 to 4,300 affiliated resorts in about 100 countries. The other major network is Interval International, the other major timeshare exchange network alongside RCI, with about 3,200 affiliated resorts in about 90 countries. Many resorts are affiliated with one network or the other, and the network your home resort uses usually determines which you can join. For the detail on each, see our guides to the RCI timeshare exchange and the Interval International timeshare exchange, or compare them directly in RCI versus Interval International.

Are there other timeshare exchange companies besides RCI and Interval International?

Yes. Alongside the two large networks, several independent exchange companies operate, and some work differently on fees. They tend to be smaller, but a few charge no annual membership at all, so you pay only when you actually exchange. If your home resort is not tied exclusively to RCI or Interval International, an independent network can be a lower-cost way to trade, or a second membership that widens your options.

• 7Across. Formerly Dial An Exchange, 7Across is free to join with no annual fee and offers a paid Gold Advantage tier for lower exchange rates. It runs a straightforward week-for-week model rather than points, markets access to more than 5,000 resorts, and lets you bank a deposited week for up to three years. It is owned by Travel and Leisure Co.
• SFX Preferred Resorts. Operating since 1992, SFX (the San Francisco Exchange Company) positions itself on the quality of its resorts rather than raw count, with Gold and Diamond membership tiers. You pay only when an exchange is confirmed, and the company advertises an average exchange cost of about $179. It suggests requesting a trade eight to twelve months ahead.
• Trading Places International. A long-running exchange company now part of the Capital Vacations family, Trading Places uses a like-value exchange and offers an upgraded paid tier, Trading Places Prime, for more availability and lower fees. Club Wyndham owners, among others, can use it as one external exchange option.
• Platinum Interchange. An independent exchange running since 1979, Platinum Interchange charges no membership dues and uses a request-first, deposit-last approach, so you can see availability before committing your week. Its published exchange fees are about $129 for a domestic week and $149 for an international one, across more than 1,300 resorts worldwide.

Figures change and some networks show exact fees only to members, so confirm current terms directly with any company before you join. Because several independents cost nothing to join, some owners keep more than one membership to widen the resorts and dates they can reach.

Timeshare exchange networks compared

The table below sets the main and independent networks side by side on the facts that decide cost and access. Figures are approximate and change often, so confirm current terms with each company; the two large networks are covered in depth on their own pages.

What does an exchange cost?

With the two large networks there are two costs to plan for: an annual membership and a fee for each exchange you complete. Some independent networks skip the annual membership and charge only per exchange. All of these vary by network and change often, so treat any figure as approximate and confirm current rates with the company directly. These fees are separate from, and on top of, the annual maintenance fee you already pay your home resort, so factor them into the full cost of owning a timeshare before you join.

Is an exchange worth it?

It depends entirely on how you use it. If you would genuinely travel to different affiliated resorts each year and can book early, an exchange adds real flexibility for a modest fee. If you tend to return to the same place, or rarely travel, the membership and exchange fees may add cost without adding value. As with the timeshare itself, the honest test is whether you will use it enough to justify what it costs.

Common questions about timeshare exchange companies

Are there timeshare exchange companies other than RCI and Interval International?

Yes. Independent networks including 7Across, SFX Preferred Resorts, Trading Places International, and Platinum Interchange run their own exchange programs. Several charge no annual membership, so you pay only for each exchange you complete.

Is there a free timeshare exchange company?

Some independents charge no annual dues. 7Across and Platinum Interchange both let you join for free and pay only when you exchange, while RCI and Interval International charge an annual membership on top of any per-trade fee.

What is trading power in a timeshare exchange?

Trading power is the value a network assigns to the week you deposit. It rises with the resort's demand, a popular season, a larger unit, and depositing well in advance, and it determines the range of resorts and dates you can book in return.

How long do you have to use a deposited week?

Deposited weeks expire. The window is commonly two to three years from the original week's date, depending on the network, so a banked week cannot be held indefinitely. Confirm the exact deposit window with your exchange company.

Sources

Reviewed by Reid Calloway. RCI (rci.com) and Interval International (intervalworld.com), official network and fee information. Independent networks: 7Across (7across.com), SFX Preferred Resorts (sfxresorts.com), Trading Places International (tradingplaces.com), and Platinum Interchange (platinuminterchange.com), official program and fee pages. ARDA, State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry (2026 ed.), for industry context. All figures are approximate and change frequently, so confirm current rates with each company. Last reviewed July 2026.