The top 5 online platforms for hiring a nanny - and what you need to think about before you commit

Online platforms connect you with a wealth of caregivers, but is it too much?

If you are a parent, odds are you have heard of at least one online platform for household employees like nannies and housekeepers. Care.com, for instance, is an absolute giant in the industry. As part of our ongoing series diving deep into various ways to find and hire a nanny for your family, today we will be taking a closer look at these online platforms, how they may help in your search, and things you should be aware of before setting off on this journey. What are the pros and cons of using an online platform to find childcare, and what’s the most effective way to approach a search in this method?

Things to keep in mind when using an online platform to hire a nanny

In our comprehensive guide to finding childcare, we listed some of the biggest pros and cons of using childcare platforms. Here are a few of the main takeaways. 

  • Pros include that the sites are often easy to navigate, convenient to use, and - especially for parents in larger cities - can connect you with a large pool of candidates for your job. Many of the sites are free or low cost, even though additional screening like background checks often come with an additional fee.

  • The largest con that we’ve heard parents express throughout the years is that posting a job means getting dozens, sometimes hundreds of applicants who do not actually fit the description of the listing, don’t have the experience required, live too far away, or are in some other way not right for the role. For you as a parent, this means spending hours and hours sorting through profiles before actually - hopefully - finding a few candidates worth interviewing. With no community connection, like there may be when finding a nanny through social media, and no prior vetting, the parent also has to make sure the candidate has the experience and trustworthiness required for the role.

  • Families in smaller cities may find a limited number of candidates on the platform. It also means there may be higher competition for top-tier candidates.

The 5 most popular platforms for childare

  • Care.com
    Care.com is one of the largest and most well-known online platforms for finding childcare providers. The platform offers a range of services, including full-time and part-time nannies, babysitters, and newborn caregivers.
    Through care.com, you can access background checks, reference checks, and online reviews to help you make an informed decision, and there is a free basic membership. However, as soon as you want to see more of a candidate’s application, message candidates directly, or get access to more reviews and references, you have to join a paid membership subscription. Current rates are $37/month or $147/year, with additional fees if you hire a sitter directly through the site. Background checks are also an additional cost, and care.com charges caregivers for their membership as well. 

  • Sittercity.com
    Sittercity.com is another popular online platform for finding childcare providers. The platform offers a range of services, including full-time and part-time nannies, babysitters, and pet sitters. Sittercity.com provides background checks, reference checks, and online reviews to help families make informed decisions.
    Like Care.com, the platform charges a fee for access to most of its features. You can post a job for free, but full use of the platform through a premium membership costs $42/month or $192 annually. If you get corporate childcare benefits through Bright Horizons, you may be eligible for a free premium membership with Sittercity. For caregivers, membership is free but a background check to give parents peace of mind costs extra. 

  • UrbanSitter
    UrbanSitter is a platform that connects parents with local babysitters and nannies. While smaller than the first two platforms, it has definitely gotten more popular in recent years, particularly in larger cities like New York. Some parents find that the quality of the candidate pool is higher, even though it may be smaller.
    UrbanSitter provides background checks, reference checks, and online reviews, and it is free to create a profile, post a job, and browse caregiver profiles. However, the platform charges a fee as soon as you want to move forward to book a job. Monthly plans range from $24.95-42.95, depending on if you will let it renew automatically, or you can pay up front for a year, costing $124.95. For parents wanting to pay by credit card, this can be done directly through UrbanSitter’s app.

Many large childcare platforms also have an app, to make finding a caregiver easier or to book a sitter directly through the app. Take a look at our rundown of the top 5 babysitting apps in 2023! 

  • Sitter.com
    CareGuide’s Sitter is a platform that connects parents with pre-screened and background-checked babysitters in several, mostly urban, areas. The candidate pool is smaller, but overall the platform functions as the larger ones: it is free to create a profile, browse caregivers, and start an initial conversation. For anything else, membership is $45/month or $180/year. 

  • Bambino
    Bambino is a platform that connects parents with local babysitters who have been recommended by their friends and neighbors, essentially combining the benefits of a platform with the main positive of using social media.
    The platform offers a range of services, and you book and pay your sitter directly in their app. A booking fee of $4.95 accompanies each booking, or you can sign up for a premium membership starting at around $9/month which gives you access to more features and removes the booking fee. The platform is currently available in select cities and may not have as large a pool of candidates as some of the other platforms.

As always, keep in mind…

Remember, reviews from other parents and background checks do give you some sense of security and trust in vetting candidates, but it is only a part of the work to hire a nanny or sitter. Once you have narrowed your search down to a few candidates, always remember to: 

  1. Interview each candidate directly (in person or on phone)

  2. Speak with references (preferably directly, although some may prefer email/text)

  3. Create a solid nanny contract before starting to work with a nanny

What’s been your experience with online platforms? Drop us a line on Facebook or Instagram and let us know. And as always, keep up with all the latest advice on hiring a childcare provider (along with tips in parenting) from our nanny agency through our newsletter. 

Cajsa Landin