Care.com
Marketplace for finding babysitters, nannies, senior carers, pet sitters, tutors and housekeepers.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Web, iOS, Android
Is Care.com free?
Free plan, plus paid plans
Switch from Care.com to
All 3
Wag!Starting price: Walks from $18
NextdoorFree
TaskrabbitFree
- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 3
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Care.com
Care.com is the largest US marketplace for hiring family caregivers. Families post a job or search local profiles for babysitters, nannies, senior and dementia carers, pet sitters, tutors and housekeepers, then read reviews, message and video-interview candidates without sharing personal contact details. It also lists daycares, camps and senior living communities. Caregivers create profiles and apply to jobs, and Care.com runs background and identity checks through its CareProtect programme, though it does not employ any caregiver and leaves the final vetting to families. Families pay for a monthly or longer membership to unlock the full hiring tools; the company also sells HomePay, a nanny payroll and tax service, and care benefits through employers. Care.com started in 2006 and runs local sites in the UK, Canada, Australia and much of Europe. It works on the web and through iPhone and Android apps.
Best for: Families who need ongoing child, senior or home care and want the biggest pool of local caregivers.
Pros and cons
What works
- Covers child, senior, pet and home care in one account
- Very large pool of caregivers across the US and many other countries
- Messaging and video interviews without sharing personal contact details
- HomePay helps with nanny payroll and taxes
Why people leave
- Full hiring tools need a paid membership
- Profiles are written by users and not verified by Care.com
- Background checks are limited and families still have to vet caregivers themselves
Care.com vs Wag!, Nextdoor and Taskrabbit
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Care.com | Wag! | Nextdoor | Taskrabbit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Paid | Free | Free |
| Verified price | — | Walks from $18 | — | — |
| Free plan | Yes | No | Free app | Free app |
| Open source | No | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android | Web, Android, iOS |
Top Care.com alternatives
See all 3- 1Wag!56.8
On-demand dog walks and pet sitting booked from an app, covering the pet-care side of Care.com.
- 2Nextdoor54.4
Ask neighbours for babysitter and caregiver recommendations from people who live nearby, without a paid membership.
- 3Taskrabbit52.6
For the housekeeping and errand jobs people also post on Care.com, Taskrabbit books vetted helpers by the hour.
Why people left Care.com
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
No switching stories yet. If you moved away from Care.com, review the app you switched to and tell us why.
Reviews
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Care.com: common questions
What is Care.com?
Care.com: Marketplace for finding babysitters, nannies, senior carers, pet sitters, tutors and housekeepers. Best for families who need ongoing child, senior or home care and want the biggest pool of local caregivers. Available for Web, iOS and Android.
Is Care.com free?
Care.com has a free plan and paid plans.
Is Care.com open source?
No, Care.com is not open source.
What platforms does Care.com run on?
Care.com is available for Web, iOS and Android.
What are the best alternatives to Care.com?
The highest-ranked Care.com alternatives right now are Wag!, Nextdoor and Taskrabbit. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Care.com vs Wag!: what's the difference?
Care.com is free with paid plans; Wag! is a paid product. Both run on Web, iOS and Android.