I have signed up in Couchsurfing years ago but never used it so I don't have any tips to share. I think I would be able to use it in the near future. It's great that you get to experience being a host and a couchsurfer. I'm a bit hesitant though since as with a lot of apps, references or reviews are not 100% reliable so I would be spending a lot of time reading reviews of places I stay in even if these are just hostels/ airbnb.