HouseCarers Review: Is This House Sitting Platform Still Relevant?

Choosing a trustworthy and reliable house-sitting site is essential now that this activity has become popular, with many sitters willing to find opportunities. While you can go for country-specific websites, in this article, we discuss platforms with a global presence, particularly HouseCarers. It is a platform with a straightforward and transparent internal communication system and a substantial user base worldwide. 

With so many competitors, is HouseCarers a relevant option in 2025? This article provides an in-depth HouseCarers review and discusses whether this site is worth your attention. We are going to dive into the pros and cons of this website and compare it to other popular platforms. In this article, we are also going to examine its key features and membership cost. 

What is HouseCarers?

HouseCarers is a platform that connects homeowners and house sitters worldwide. This site was founded more than 20 years ago and has gained trust for its longevity. When looking for a house sitting site, a long-lasting presence in the market is one of the key factors for trustworthiness. 

Being one of the earliest platforms in Australia and New Zealand, it holds an especially strong presence in these areas. This factor makes this platform unique, as there are generally fewer sitting offers in these locations. Here, users can find unique listings in less common sitting areas. The number of global sitting jobs is also growing on this platform. It also boasts a niche community of experienced homeowners and sitters. 

Membership Fees and Sign-Up Process

Now let’s break down the cost of joining a HouseCarers sitting platform in 2025. Unlike many newer platforms in the market, this site charges only house sitters. They need to pay a $50 annual membership fee, which is cheaper than the average cost of house sitting platform memberships in 2025. Creating a listing is free for the homeowners, and they can post more than one.

This is what a sign-up process looks like for a house sitter and a homeowner.

1. As a sitter, you need to create a profile, add your experience, skills, references, or even possibly a police check. Write an appealing and detailed personal introduction and optionally upload photos. Get a paid membership and start browsing the listings, reaching out to the owners of houses you are interested in.
2. As a homeowner, you create an account and a listing for free. Provide details, such as images, location, pets, sit duration, etc. Add your preferences for sitters, such as experience with pets. Once you’ve completed your listing, potential sitters can contact you directly via the internal HouseCarers messaging platform. 

Features and User Experience

Now let’s have a closer look at the functionality of this platform. HouseCarers is a simple yet highly functional website. It is not overwhelmed with sleek design elements and offers a relatively straightforward user experience, which may seem less relevant for some users. The platform is reliable, usable, and easy to navigate for both sitters and homeowners, which is a significant advantage we noted in our HouseCarers review. 

Let’s dive into the key functionality of this HouseCarers sitting platform:

• Listing search filters. Users can filter listings by location, pet requirements, and stay duration. 
• Internal messaging system. A secure private messaging system where users can communicate without exposing their personal information.
• Alerts for new house sits. Sitters receive notifications once the listing that matches their requirements appears on the website. 
• House sitter profiles. Sitters create detailed profiles, adding their photos, sitting and pet experience, references, availability calendar, etc. 
• Comprehensive listings. Listings include details like dates, pet care, sitter responsibilities, and house description. 
• Verification. An optional feature for verifying your profile via an ID or references. 

Overall, this house sitting site stands out for its simplicity and unlimited applications, which means that multiple sitters can apply for one listing. This contrasts with the newer platforms’ common restrictions due to high competition. Although the design may not be top-notch, HouseCarers helps connect users without overwhelming them. When it comes to potential site improvements, adding a mandatory ID verification and more robust security checks for new users would benefit this site a lot. 

Community Size and Activity in 2025

HouseCarers has an active community and remains relevant in 2025. However, this community is rather small compared to larger platforms, such as TrustedHousesitters. Having been active for over 20 years, this website has gained its loyal pool of sitters and homeowners. Long-term users are the key part of this community, which has thousands of active users around the globe. 

This creates a substantial advantage for sitters who look for unique and high-quality listings with little competition for a sitting job. The listings on this platform may not receive as many applications as on the other larger platforms, which makes it easier to stand out among other candidates. 

The environment is focused on building trust, not competition. Even though the site doesn’t share any official statistics regarding its user count, new opportunities are posted daily. 

HouseCarers remains a functional and reliable house sitting website in 2025, and it’s worth attention even though its user base is smaller than that of other prevalent platforms in the market.

Pros and Cons of HouseCarers

Now that we’ve found out about the key features and activity levels, let’s discuss the key advantages and disadvantages of using HouseCarers in 2025. 

Pros:

• A relatively low annual fee for sitters.
• Free to use for homeowners.
• A long-standing reputation of more than two decades.
• Less competition for a listing.
• Focus on specific areas with fewer sits, like Australia and New Zealand.
• No requirements for sharing personal information.

HouseCarers is best for experienced sitters who value a niche community of users and seek opportunities in specific areas. 

Cons:

• Fewer listings in key regions.
• Smaller user base compared to larger platforms, which may lead to limited offers.
• Somewhat outdated and plain website design.
• Limited support options.
• Basic UX with the platform.
• Less well-known than other house sitting sites. 
• No mobile app.

To wrap it up, HouseCarers has substantial benefits for both homeowners and sitters and is a suitable choice for a sitting platform. However, it may not be the best option for those who look for instant matches or plenty of sits in locations like Europe or Asia.

How HouseCarers Compares to Other House Sitting Sites

Now let’s see where HouseCarers stands in the landscape of other platforms, such as TrustedHousesitters, MindMyHouse, Nomador, etc. We are going to compare these sites based on:

• cost to join;
• areas of focus;
• security and privacy;
• popularity;
• user experience.

HouseCarers vs TrustedHousesitters

TrustedHousesitters is a leading house sitting site with high user volumes. It has been active for over 15 years, offering plenty of listings worldwide, focusing on the US, UK, and Europe. Their state-of-the-art mobile app with a sleek user experience and high verification standards is the key advantage of this sitting service. 

Other highlights include 24/7 vet support for sitters, app alerts and notifications, mandatory ID checks, and comprehensive reviews. TrustedHousesitters is best for pet sitters and those who travel often. It is a high-trust, popular sitting service worth considering. 

However, it is highly competitive, especially for sitters, so they may not find a sit as fast as expected. Besides, this site offers a higher-than-average membership fee ($130 per year). Since the platform is extremely popular, homeowners may also be overwhelmed by the number of candidates applying for their listings. 

When compared to TrustedHousesitters, HouseCarers is a more niche and budget-friendly option. Yet, it has a considerably lower number of offers and doesn’t provide such a sleek experience as the TrustedHousesitters app. The latter is more suitable for finding sits worldwide, while HouseCarers has most offers in areas like Australia and New Zealand. 

HouseCarers vs Flat4Pet

Flat4Petr is a house- and pet-sitting platform in the same league as TrustedHousesitters, but it carries a few extra perks when stacked against HouseSitters. Homeowners pay nothing, while sitters shell out a modest €69 per year – a fee that’s often lower than comparable sites. Because Flat4Pet’s community is still niche, you won’t be fighting through pages of competing applications; your chances of landing a sit jump noticeably compared with larger or strictly “house-only” services.

Beyond easy bookings, the platform keeps its members engaged through regular meet-ups, fun giveaways, and even house-swap options for travelers who want to trade homes instead of simply sitting. Most listings are full pet-sits rather than empty-home checks, so animal lovers get exactly what they’re after – something HouseSitters doesn’t always guarantee. All told, Flat4Pet offers more opportunities, a livelier network, and better value for money than the average house-sitting site.

HouseCarers vs Nomador

Nomador is another strong competitor of HouseCarers that has been active on the market since 2005. It is a popular house sitting site, geographically focused on Europe, especially France. This platform is similar to TrustedHousesitters, connecting homeowners and travellers worldwide. 

Nomador offers a sleek and well-designed platform and a free trial for users. This makes it suitable for users who don’t want to commit to a paid membership. Users can browse limited sits and find opportunities during the free trial. After a free trial, you can get a full annual membership for €89. 

At Nomador, you can find unique listings you may not come across on other sitting platforms. When compared to HouseCarers, Nomador wins in platform design and number of sits in Europe. However, there are limited features for free version users, and the membership fee is higher than on HouseCarers. 

HouseCarers vs MindMyHouse

MindMyHouse is a global house sitting platform established in 2005. The membership fee is only $29 for the sitters, the lowest of all the sites discussed in this article. The homeowners use this platform for free. The website offers a basic experience, offering an internal messaging system and detailed and straightforward listings. 

There are no mandatory ID checks or references to be able to join this platform. The sitters and homeowners leave testimonials for each other when the sit is completed. 

MindMyHouse and HouseCarers are similar in simple platform design and basic user experience, while HouseCarers wins in the number of listings. MindMyHouse has a global coverage, whereas HouseCarers focuses on house sitting jobs in Australia, New Zealand, or North America. 

HouseCarers vs HouseSitMatch

HouseSitMatch is a UK-based sitting site established in 2013. It has a strong presence in the UK and Europe, with a growing number of listings worldwide. Sitters pay £69 for a standard plan and £99 for a premium one. Homeowners have a similar-tiered pricing. Also, users need to complete an ID check and a background check to join a premium tier. 

While HouseSitMatch doesn’t have a mobile app, the website is user-friendly and responsive. This platform focuses on secure matches, verified sitting opportunities, personalized customer service and onboarding for new or inexperienced sitters. 

HouseCarers and HouseSitMatch cover different areas. HouseCarers is best for experienced sitters and those on a budget, while HouseSitMatch is excellent for first-time sitters with its comprehensive support.

To wrap it up, HouseCarers is an affordable and practical option to search house sitting jobs. It has its substantial advantages when compared to other platforms. If you are looking for a more popular site, TrustedHousesitters will suit you better. Nomador and HouseSitMatch have more listings in Europe, while HouseCarers covers Australia and New Zealand.

MindMyHouse is another fairly priced sitting platform. However, we think that one can find the best sitting opportunities at a reasonable cost at Flat4Pet. 

Conclusion: Is HouseCarers Still Worth It in 2025?

HouseCarers remains a reliable and relevant sitting platform in 2025. It is best for users who prefer a low-cost and seamless experience, especially in locations like Australia and New Zealand. It has a long-standing presence in the house sitting market and offers a niche community and less competitive environment than other well-known websites with a broader user base. 

However, the website’s outdated interface may hinder user experience, which is less sleek and app-like than with most sites. Besides, a lack of global visibility leads to fewer listings. No mandatory verification may also not suit many users who look for verified sitting jobs only. HouseCarers is best for experienced travelers who value privacy and don’t want to apply for sitting jobs with high competition. 

This platform has its own niche in the market, and before choosing it, make sure that it aligns with your sitting goals. 

FAQ

How much does it cost to join HouseCarers in 2025?

Homeowners can join the HouseCarers platform and post multiple sitting job opportunities for free. On the other hand, sitters need to pay an annual membership fee of $50, which is below average for popular sitting sites. It is a common practice for such platforms, as there generally is a limited number of listings, and they need to encourage homeowners to create listings. 

Does HouseCarers have as many house sit listings as TrustedHousesitters?

TrustedHousesitters has a considerably stronger online presence and larger user base worldwide than HouseCarers. It offers substantially more sit listings in various locations when HouseCarers is focused on areas like Australia and New Zealand. 

Is HouseCarers mainly for Australia, or are there global sits?

While HouseCarers primarily focuses on specific areas like Australia, New Zealand, and North America, it is still a global sitting platform. You can find listings in Europe and other areas as well. However, there are not as many sitting opportunities in these locations as on other popular sitting platforms. 

What security checks or verifications does HouseCarers offer?

Verification or background checks are not required to join the HouseCarers platform. They offer other optional ways to increase the trustworthiness of your profile. You can write a detailed bio, upload references, add links to your social media, and verify your profile.