How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- The best pet sitting apps in 2026 split into paid local marketplaces like Rover and Wag, and membership exchanges like TrustedHousesitters where sitters trade care for free lodging.
- Rover is the best overall paid pick, with the largest sitter and client network, free to join, and a fee stack around 31 percent combining a 20 percent sitter fee and an 11 percent owner booking fee.
- TrustedHousesitters is the best exchange pick, with owner plans from $149 to $299 per year and sitter plans from $129 to $259 per year, covering 140 plus countries.
- Pet safety comes first on every booking: check vetting and background checks, confirm what insurance actually covers, and always do a meet and greet before leaving your pet.
- Prices vary by sitter, city, and service, and exchange memberships renew annually, so confirm the total, including booking fees, on the platform page before booking.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Rover | Largest paid marketplace | Free to join | Yes |
 Wag | On demand walks | Free to join | Yes |
 TrustedHousesitters | Exchange house sitting | $149 per year | No |
 Care.com | Multi service household hiring | See website | No |
 PetBacker | International and low competition areas | Free to join | Yes |
 MindMyHouse | Budget exchange | $29 per year | No |
 HouseCarers | Longer remote sits | $50 per year | No |
 Nomador | Europe focused exchange | €89 per year | No |
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The best pet sitting apps
Starting priceFree to join
Free planYes
Rover has the largest sitter and client network of any paid pet sitting platform, which means more visibility and more choice for owners. You set up a profile, search sitters by service and price, and rebook favorites directly, which is where the real value comes from, since repeat sitters already know your pet. The Rover Guarantee and background checks add a layer of protection.
The trade is fees and vetting effort. The fee stack runs around 31 percent, and you still do most fit and skill vetting yourself, so reviews, references, and a meet and greet matter. For an owner who needs paid local sitting with maximum supply, Rover is the best overall pick.
What we like- Largest sitter and client network
- Free to join
- Rover Guarantee and background checks
- Repeat booking with favorite sitters
Watch out for- Fee stack around 31 percent (20 percent sitter fee plus 11 percent owner booking fee)
- You still do most fit and skill vetting yourself
- Prices vary by sitter and market
Starting priceFree to join
Free planYes
Wag suits last minute needs, with fast on demand dispatch for same day walks and quick visits. When your regular sitter cancels or your schedule changes suddenly, Wag can usually find a walker faster than a marketplace built around advance bookings.
The limits are cost and matching depth. The provider fee can reach about 40 percent, which squeezes walker pay, and Wag is less ideal for careful overnight sitter matching than Rover. For an owner who needs a walk today rather than a relationship, Wag is the best on demand pick.
What we like- Fast on demand dispatch
- Good for same day walks and quick visits
- Free to join
Watch out for- Provider fee can reach about 40 percent
- Less ideal for careful overnight sitter matching
- Walker quality varies by market
Starting price$149 per year
Free planNo
TrustedHousesitters is the best platform for exchange house sitting, where sitters care for pets and homes in return for free lodging rather than cash. It is the largest all around exchange ecosystem, covering 140 plus countries, with tiered memberships for owners, sitters, and combined plans.
The trade is model fit. It is not a paid local sitter marketplace and not built for urgent care, since sits are arranged in advance, and costs include annual membership plus a $12 per sit booking fee on Basic and Standard plans. For an owner planning a trip who wants in home care, TrustedHousesitters is the best exchange pick.
What we like- Largest exchange ecosystem at 140 plus countries
- In home care during trips
- Tiered plans with added protections on higher tiers
Watch out for- Not a paid local marketplace and not built for urgent care
- Owner plans $149 to $299 per year
- Sitter plans $129 to $259 per year
- Booking fee $12 per sit on lower tiers
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Care.com suits owners who want one household hiring platform, covering pet care alongside nannying and senior care. Its large caregiver pool and subscription access model work for families who hire across several categories through the year.
The limits are focus and screening. Pet care is one category inside a broader platform, background checks can cost extra, and you manage screening yourself. For a household that already hires through Care.com, adding pet care there is convenient, but pet only owners get more depth from Rover.
What we like- One platform for pet care plus nannying and senior care
- Large caregiver pool
- Subscription access model
Watch out for- Pet care is one category inside a broader platform
- Background checks can cost extra
- You manage screening yourself
Starting priceFree to join
Free planYes
PetBacker suits owners in international markets and lower competition areas, where Rover network is thinner. It is free to join, with sitter commissions from 15 to 35 percent depending on region, and it covers a wide range of pet services.
The trade is network size. In the US, its network is smaller than Rover, and vetting depth varies by market, so reviews and meet and greets matter more. For an owner outside Rover core markets, PetBacker is the best international pick.
What we like- Free to join
- Strong in international markets and lower competition areas
- Commission 15 to 35 percent by region
Watch out for- Smaller network than Rover in the US
- Commission varies by region
- Vetting depth varies by market
Starting price$29 per year
Free planNo
MindMyHouse is the budget exchange pick, with owner access at $29 for lifetime access in some listings and sitter access at $29 for 12 months, making it far cheaper than TrustedHousesitters. Its simple model suits budget conscious owners and sitters.
The limits are support and screening. It needs more self managed screening and contingency planning, and its network is smaller with fewer bundled protections. For a budget owner comfortable managing vetting yourself, MindMyHouse is the cheapest exchange route.
What we like- Cheapest exchange membership at $29 per year
- Global listings
- Simple model
Watch out for- More self managed screening and contingency planning
- Smaller network than TrustedHousesitters
- Fewer bundled protections
Starting price$50 per year
Free planNo
HouseCarers suits owners and sitters looking for longer remote sits with less competition than TrustedHousesitters. Its global directory model has run for years, and full membership costs $50 per year, with a free limited tier to browse.
The trade is model age and volume. It is an older directory model with fewer bundled protections, and sit volume is lower than TrustedHousesitters. For a longer sit in a remote area where competition on bigger platforms is fierce, HouseCarers is a useful pick.
What we like- Good for longer remote sits
- Less competition than TrustedHousesitters
- Global directory
Watch out for- $50 per year for full membership
- Older directory model with fewer bundled protections
- Lower volume than TrustedHousesitters
Starting price€89 per year
Free planNo
Nomador is the Europe focused exchange pick, with community style matching and plans from €89 per year for Discovery, €149 for Standard, and €189 for Premium. It suits owners and sitters focused on France and Europe, where its community is strongest.
The limits are geography and protection tiers. Coverage is thinner outside Europe, and cancellation and home protection begin on higher plans, so read the tier terms before buying. For a Europe focused sit, Nomador is the best regional pick.
What we like- Europe focused community matching
- Discovery from €89 per year
- Standard €149 and Premium €189 per year
Watch out for- Europe focused, so thinner elsewhere
- Cancellation and home protection begin on higher plans
- Euro pricing for US owners
How we chose
We ranked apps by network size, price model, vetting, and insurance. We favored platforms with background checks and clear fee structures, since hidden fees and weak vetting are the two biggest risks in pet sitting. We gave extra weight to insurance clarity, because a platform guarantee is only useful if you know what it actually covers.
We also weighed pet safety above price. A cheaper sitter without vetting, insurance, or a meet and greet is a worse deal than a pricier sitter with all three, and exchange platforms need the same scrutiny as paid ones. Prices that varied by plan or region were written with ranges or as "See website", so readers check the platform page rather than trusting an estimate.
Buying guide
Start by naming the care you need. For paid local sitting, shortlist Rover and Wag. For exchange care during a trip, shortlist TrustedHousesitters, MindMyHouse, or Nomador. For multi service hiring, shortlist Care.com. The model decides the shortlist faster than any feature table.
Next, vet the sitter, not just the platform. Check reviews and references, confirm background check status, ask about experience with your pet breed, age, and medical needs, and confirm what insurance covers, including vet bills, property damage, and cancellation. A platform badge is a starting point, not a full vetting.
Finally, always do a meet and greet before the booking. Watch how the sitter handles your pet, share feeding, medication, and emergency vet details in writing, and leave a backup contact. A good meet and greet catches most problems before they become emergencies.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best pet sitting app overall?
Rover is the best overall paid pick with the largest network, while TrustedHousesitters is the best exchange pick for trip based care. The best pick depends on whether you want paid local sitting or exchange sitting.
How much does Rover cost?
Rover is free to join, and sitters set their own prices by service and market, with typical boarding around $35 to $90 per night. The fee stack runs around 31 percent, combining a 20 percent sitter fee and an 11 percent owner booking fee.
Is TrustedHousesitters free?
No. TrustedHousesitters charges annual memberships, with owner plans from $149 to $299 per year and sitter plans from $129 to $259 per year, plus a $12 per sit booking fee on Basic and Standard plans.
How do I vet a pet sitter?
Check reviews and references, confirm background check status, ask about breed and medical experience, confirm insurance coverage, and always do a meet and greet before leaving your pet.
Does pet sitting insurance cover vet bills?
It depends on the platform and plan, so confirm what the guarantee or insurance actually covers, including vet bills, property damage, and cancellation, before booking. Do not assume full coverage from a platform badge.
Can I use Rover and TrustedHousesitters together?
Yes. Many owners use Rover for paid local care and TrustedHousesitters for trip based exchange care, since the two models solve different problems and complement each other well.
Sources we checked (0)
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.