If you are here, you are probably interested in beginning your housesitting journey. I started travelling full-time in 2018 and housesitting has been one of my favourite ways to see the world.
Housesitting is one of the best ways to explore new places like a local while saving on rising accommodation costs. It often involves staying in someone’s home and looking after their pets. For the homeowners, it gives them peace of mind that their home and pets are being cared for while away.
During my travels, I have tested a few housesitting platforms. But the one I’ve kept on using throughout the years is TrustedHousesitters (but more on that below).
In this guide, I’ll take you through some of the best housesitting websites. While there are also excellent country-specific platforms, I have only included websites with global opportunities, since these also happen to have the largest quantity of experiences available.
My top picks
- Best overall: TrustedHousesitters | Skip to review
- Best cultural exchange: Workaway | Skip to review
- Best paid opportunities: Rover | Skip to review
- Best house swapping: Swaphouse | Skip to review
- Best free browsing: Nomador | Skip to review
TrustedHousesitters
- Membership cost: $129+ per year
- Active members: 200,000+
TrustedHousesitters is the very platform I use to arrange housesits all across the world. There are over 200,000 members actively using the website, which means there are always tonnes of great opportunities to apply for. You’ll even find a few in some remote far-flung locations.
As with most platforms, TrustedHousesitters works on a membership basis where you pay a monthly fee and get free access to unlimited sitting opportunities (as long as they don’t overlap). Neither the homeowner nor the sitter pays and takes any money from each other. However, the sitter will be allowed to use the homeowner’s home throughout the length of the stay.
Through TrustedHousesitters I have been to some amazing places and experienced things only locals would. My favourite destinations that I’ve been to through the platform so far include San Miguel de Allende in Mexico and Berlin.
The yearly membership fee is a little more than some of the other websites here, but you get the best variety of sitting opportunities on TrustedHousesitters. Moreover, the membership fee is still only around the price of one night in a hotel. Find out more about why I love using this platform in my TrustedHousesitters review.
Workaway
- Membership cost: $59 per year
- Active members: 500+
Workaway is another fantastic platform for travellers, especially if you are keen to combine cultural exchange with meaningful work. Workaway focuses on volunteer opportunities, where you help out with tasks like farming, teaching, or hostel management in exchange for free accommodation (and sometimes meals).
But on top of this, they also have an active housesitting section on their website. There are around 500 hosts and organisations seeking people to look after their properties. With it being part of Workaway, there may also sometimes be extra asks involved. For example, you may need to help out with some gardening.
The platform boasts worldwide opportunities, including in some of the most remote and off-the-beaten-path destinations. Workaway also works on a membership basis, with an affordable yearly fee giving you access to unlimited opportunities. While there’s no direct payment for the work, the value you get from cultural immersion and unique experiences is unmatched.
Rover
- Membership cost: $49 one-off fee
- Active members: Thousands
If you are keen to turn housesitting into a paid gig, Rover might be the platform for you. Unlike other housesitting websites, Rover allows you to earn money for pet care services. You can find opportunities for house sitting, pet boarding, dog walking, and more.
One of Rover’s biggest advantages is that you get paid for your work. However, this also means there’s more competition, especially for higher-paying gigs. Building a strong profile with great reviews takes time, and it can be a challenge to stand out if you’re just starting.
It’s also worth noting that Rover doesn’t focus exclusively on housesitting. While there are some house-sitting gigs available, the majority of opportunities involve shorter visits, boarding pets in your own home, or providing other pet care services. This might not be ideal if you’re hoping for extended stays in one place, or to travel as you sit. For longer stays in more countries, you’d be better off using TrustedHousesitters and finding alternative ways to make money.
Swaphouse
- Membership cost: Free
- Active members: 1000+
If you’re a homeowner and want to travel without spending a fortune on accommodation, Swaphouse offers a somewhat different solution. Rather than traditional house sitting, Swaphouse is based on the concept of home swapping (something you may be familiar with if you’ve ever watched The Holiday) – you stay in someone else’s house while they stay in yours.
One key difference with Swaphouse is that you must have a property to participate. This makes it a bit more exclusive compared to platforms like TrustedHousesitters, which don’t require you to offer a place to stay in return. However, the mutual exchange means there’s no membership fee or money exchanged between parties, making it an affordable way to travel.
Swaphouse is particularly well-suited for people looking for a slower, more community-focused style of travel. Since both parties are opening their homes, there’s often a built-in sense of trust and a chance to connect with like-minded travellers.
Nomador
- Membership cost: €79+ per year
- Active members: 12,000+
If you’re curious about house sitting but not quite ready to commit to a paid membership, Nomador is a great platform to explore. It works similarly to TrustedHousesitters, connecting homeowners with sitters worldwide, but it has fewer opportunities overall.
What sets Nomador apart is its free account option, which lets you browse available sits without committing to a membership. This feature is perfect for those who want to get a feel for the kinds of opportunities out there before taking the plunge.
While Nomador’s range of listings isn’t as extensive as some other platforms, it’s still a solid choice, especially for beginners or those looking for house sits in specific locations. If you decide to upgrade to a full membership, you’ll gain access to apply for unlimited sits and unlock additional features.
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