That’s the annoying part. You have to make an account before you find out what it costs.
Plans change by area and can change any time, so there’s no single sticker price. Here’s what is public: the free part, the add-ons and what caregivers pay.
What you get for free
Signing up as a Guest costs nothing. As a Guest you can search caregiver profiles (care businesses included), post a job, and get applications from caregivers.
What you can’t do is reply. Messaging caregivers and requesting background checks both need Premium.
So the free tier is really a preview. It’s good for seeing how many sitters, nannies or senior caregivers are near you before you pay a cent.
How much Care.com Premium costs
Care.com’s own plans and pricing page spells out what Premium includes and leaves the price off. To see it, make a free account and tap Upgrade, and you get the plans offered where you live.
The closest thing to a public price list is the in-app purchase list on Care.com’s iPhone app for families. It shows family memberships at $39.99, $54.99, $79.99, $109.99, $159.99 and $209.99. The listing doesn’t say which plan length each one is, so treat it as a range, not a quote.
A few things are clear, though:
- You can be billed monthly, quarterly or yearly, depending on the term you pick.
- Plans renew automatically until you cancel.
- Paid plans are typically non-refundable once the fee is paid.
- You can cancel any time in account settings, and depending on the plan your benefits run to the end of the billing period.
Bottom line: if you only need a sitter once, sign up, find your person, then cancel before it renews.
Extras that cost on top of Premium
These come with a price tag:
| Add-on | Price | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Featured job post | $4.00 a month | Puts your job higher in search results |
| Social Media Check | $29.99 one time | A report on a caregiver’s public online activity |
| Hiring Helper | $19.99 one time | Expert advice on caregiver pay and contracts |
| Extra criminal background checks | Price varies | A dedicated report on a caregiver |
| HomePay Essentials | $59 a month | Payroll, tax filing and direct deposit for a household employee |
| HomePay Plus | $75 a month | Essentials plus account management, an employee time app and a free Care.com membership |
Two more costs people forget. The caregiver’s pay is separate, since caregivers set their own rates. And if you book someone one time instead of hiring them, there are booking fees.
Hiring a nanny long term? Look at HomePay Plus before you buy Premium on its own, because the Plus plan includes a Care.com membership. The first month of Plus is free, too.
What Care.com costs if you’re the caregiver
This is the part most pricing pages skip. Caregivers pay too.
Every individual caregiver has to pass the Care.com Background Check before talking to families, and there’s an annual fee for it. Go Premium and the check is included. Premium also adds a badge on your profile and shows you who viewed it.
The price isn’t on Care.com’s caregiver pages either. The iPhone app listing shows caregiver memberships at $24.99, $54.99 and $69.99, and a Background Check Membership at $24.99. Premium is billed upfront and renews automatically.
Care.com
Best for: sitters, nannies, pet sitters and senior caregivers
- What it is
- A marketplace that connects families with caregivers for kids, seniors, pets and the house.
- What you do
- Families post jobs and browse profiles. Caregivers build a profile, apply to jobs and talk to families who have a paid plan.
- How much it pays
- Caregivers set their own rates, and the family pays the caregiver directly or through HomePay.
- The catch
- Both sides pay to really use it: families need Premium to message anyone, and caregivers need the paid background check or Premium before talking to families.
Worth it? Only if you’re hiring for regular care, or you’re a caregiver who wants steady local families. For a one-time sitter, sign up, hire, then cancel before it renews.
Want pet sitting gigs instead? Rover lets you set your own rates, but it takes 20% of each booking and charges a $49 to $79 profile review fee upfront. More ways to earn from the same skills are in the side gigs that actually pay list and the best weekend jobs.
Sites like Care.com
Shopping around? Sittercity and UrbanSitter are the two names families compare Care.com with most. Check what each charges in your area before you pay for two.
Looking at the other side of the gig economy? The gig economy apps that pay list covers what each app pays the worker, and more gigs sit under app-based gigs.
Care.com cost questions
Is Care.com free?
Joining as a Guest is free. You can browse profiles and post a job, but you need Premium to message caregivers or request background checks.
Why doesn’t Care.com show the Premium price?
Plans vary by area and can change at any time, so the options show up after you sign up and tap Upgrade. Its iPhone app lists family memberships from $39.99 to $209.99.
Can I get a refund on Care.com?
Usually not. Paid plans are typically non-refundable once the fee is paid. Cancel in account settings and your benefits run to the end of the billing period, depending on the plan.
Do caregivers pay for Care.com?
Yes. Caregivers have to complete the Care.com Background Check, which has an annual fee, or go Premium, which includes it.
Sources (6)
- Care.com. Plans and pricing.
- Care.com Help Center. How much does Care.com membership cost?
- Care.com Help Center. Is Care.com free? (caregivers)
- Care.com Help Center. Basic vs Premium for caregivers
- Care.com. HomePay product and pricing
- Apple App Store. Care.com: Hire Caregivers, in-app purchases
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