This research examines the position of home exchange within the sharing economy. Drawing on in-depth qualitative research, we adopt the lens of authoritative performances to explore how home exchangers resolve contradictions between competing endeavours. Taking a pluralistic view, our findings have revealed that home exchangers are entrepreneurial in the meanings they attach to their homes. However, this is softened by authoritative performances of care that replace impersonal exchange with interpersonal relationships of reciprocity and mutual trust. Our findings also offer further contributions by exploring how home exchangers experience the dichotomies of familiar and unfamiliar in tourism and the absent and present host.