House Sitting Fees: What You Actually Pay in 2026

Last Edited: February 16, 2026 Breadcrumbs: Home > House Sitting Guide > Platform Costs

📊 QUICK FACTS: House Sitting Platform Costs

Cheapest Platform: MindMyHouse ($29 USD/year)

Most Expensive: Trusted House Sitters Premium ($259 USD/year)

Best Value for International Travel: THS Premium: the higher cost pays for itself in 2–3 days of saved accommodation

What We Actually Use: Trusted House Sitters (Premium). We browse all other platforms for comparison but have never paid for more than one membership at a time.

Regional Specialists: Cheaper than global platforms when you know where you are going

Hidden Costs: Some platforms charge booking fees per sit on top of annual membership

Last Edited: February 16, 2026. All pricing verified directly on platform websites. Written from our current house sit in Athens, Greece.

Which House Sitting Platform Should You Choose?

House sitting platform fees range from $29 to $259 per year depending on coverage and features. The decision is cost per opportunity, not absolute cost. THS Premium at $259 gives you access to 5,400 US sits ($0.05 per listing). MindMyHouse at $29 gives you 81 US sits ($0.36 per listing). For serious international travel targeting multiple countries, THS delivers the highest listings-per-dollar value despite the higher price. For single-country focus or casual travel, regional platforms and budget options deliver better ratios in their specific markets. Match your platform spend to your travel frequency and target geography.

This is part of our complete international house sitting platforms guide.

What We Actually Use

Before breaking down every platform's pricing, here is our honest position: we pay for Trusted House Sitters Premium at $259 per year. We browse MindMyHouse, Nomador, HouseCarers, and the regional platforms regularly to compare listings and make sure we are not missing opportunities, but we have never paid for more than one platform membership at the same time.

Konrad used Aussie House Sitters 15 years ago when he was in Australia, before we met. Since we started travelling together, THS has delivered every sit we have taken: Bochum, Leysin, Athens, Lullin, and the upcoming Portugal farmhouse. The volume of THS listings and the verification features justify the cost for how we travel.

That said, cheaper platforms work for many sitters, particularly those starting out, targeting specific regions, or travelling less frequently. The table below compares current pricing across all major platforms as of February 16, 2026.

Platform Pricing Comparison: February 2026

All prices verified directly on platform websites February 16, 2026. Converted to USD where necessary using current exchange rates.

Key notes:

Trusted House Sitters: $129 / $169 / $259 (around 9636 listings Globally)

Basic ($129/year + $12 per sit): Access to all listings, unlimited applications, mandatory ID verification. You pay $12 every time you confirm a sit.

Standard ($169/year + $12 per sit): Adds sitter liability Cover and 24/7 vet advice line. Still charges $12 per confirmed sit.

Premium ($259/year, no booking fees): Everything in Standard plus no per-sit fees, cancellation protection, and airport lounge access.

The Standard tier Cover question: Standard is the most popular tier because it includes liability Cover. Even if you only plan to do two or three sits per year, the Cover coverage makes Standard worth the extra $40 over Basic.

If something goes wrong during a sit (a pet escapes, property damage, an accident), the liability protection is the difference between a manageable situation and a potentially serious financial exposure.

For two sits per year, Standard costs $193 total ($169 + $24 in booking fees). That is $64 more than Basic ($129 + $24), and the $64 buys you coverage for the entire year.

The Premium tipping point: If you complete four sits per year, Premium costs $259 total while Standard costs $169 + (4 × $12) = $217. The difference is $42 for cancellation protection and lounge access. If you complete five or more sits, Premium is cheaper than Standard in absolute terms before the extra features.

We use Premium. The breakdown: if you complete four sits per year, Premium costs $259 total while Standard costs $169 + (4 × $12) = $217. The difference is $42 for cancellation protection and lounge access. If you complete five or more sits, Premium is cheaper than Standard in absolute terms, before the extra features.

The 24/7 vet line is not a gimmick. On our very first sit in Bochum, we woke up one morning and I accidentally nudged Minak, the homeowner's cat, off the bed. She was more startled than hurt, but later that day we noticed her paw was noticeably swollen.

For a few moments I was convinced I had caused it and felt terrible. We contacted the homeowner immediately, sent photos, and also called the THS vet advice line. Between the homeowner and the vet line, we determined it looked like a bug bite rather than an injury from the fall. We monitored Minak closely, had the homeowner's regular vet contact ready if things got worse, and within a day the swelling went down. Minak was fine.

That vet line call removed the panic from a situation where we were responsible for someone else's animal and had no local veterinary knowledge. It is worth the membership tier difference on its own.

What THS Coverage Actually Includes (All Tiers)

THS offers two separate protection plans. Understanding which one applies to you prevents expensive misunderstandings.

For Sitters: Accident & 3rd Party Liability Plan

This is a discretionary plan available to all THS sitter members (Basic, Standard, and Premium). It covers incidents where the homeowner's pet causes injury to a person or damage to someone else's property while in your care.

What this covers:

What this does NOT cover:

Coverage details: $1,000,000 maximum per incident. $50 sitter contribution toward any claim. Claims are discretionary (not guaranteed). Must notify THS within 24 hours of a serious incident. Excludes gross negligence.

For Homeowners: Home & Contents Plan

This plan is underwritten by GUARDHOG and available to Standard and Premium Pet Parent (homeowner) members. It covers the homeowner's property if a sitter accidentally damages it during the sit.

This is what protects homeowners when sitters break things. Sitters do not purchase this plan and cannot file claims under it. The homeowner files the claim if something breaks.

The Coverage Gap for Sitters

If you break the homeowner's coffee machine, scratch their hardwood floor, or cause water damage to their bathroom: the sitter's Accident & 3rd Party Liability Plan does not cover it. You are relying on either (a) the homeowner's own insurance or Home & Contents Plan, or (b) your personal liability insurance from your home country.

For complete details on how this works in practice, read our insurance subscriptions guide. The takeaway: THS membership alone does not insure you against breaking the homeowner's belongings. Many sitters wrongly assume it does.

The Standard vs. Premium Decision

The difference between Standard ($169) and Premium ($259) is $90 per year. Both include the same Accident & 3rd Party Liability Plan for sitters. The additional $90 for Premium buys:

The liability coverage is identical across all three tiers. The choice between Basic, Standard, and Premium is about booking fees, listing volume, and cancellation protection, not insurance.

The Booking Fee Break-Even Table

THS Basic ($129) and Standard ($169) both charge a $12 booking fee per confirmed sit. Premium ($259) has no booking fees. Here is the math:

The verdict: If you plan to complete 8 or more sits per year, Premium becomes mathematically cheaper than Standard before accounting for cancellation protection and lounge access. At 11 or more sits, Premium is cheaper than Basic in absolute cost.

However, most sitters choosing Standard over Basic are doing it for listing volume and verification features, not insurance. The $40 difference (Basic $129 vs Standard $169) buys access to more listings and video call verification, which matters more for getting sits than the liability plan that most sitters will never use.

The decision is listing volume and convenience, not insurance protection.

For our full breakdown of THS tiers and whether Premium is worth it, read our TrustedHouseSitters review. Use our 25% discount code to reduce the cost.

Nomador: $99 / $165 / $209 (around 900 listings Globally)

Discovery ($99/year): Unlimited applications, basic Trust Index verification, access to stopovers.

Standard ($165/year): Adds direct exchange offers, standard cancellation protection, Home Protection coverage.

Unlimited ($209/year): All features, Premium Cancellation Protection, Priority Placement on Listings, Premium Badge, Priority Support, Home Protection coverage.

What "Home Protection" Actually Means

Nomador's Home Protection plan is included in Standard and Unlimited tiers, but it is a homeowner-facing protection plan, not sitter insurance. It covers the homeowner's property (up to €50,000 per stay) if a sitter accidentally damages it, along with unexpected cleaning costs and damage to valuables.

This does not protect sitters from liability. If you break something as a sitter, the homeowner files the claim under their Home Protection plan. Nomador directs sitters to obtain their own personal liability insurance from their home country (often called "Responsabilité Civile Villégiature" in France or similar worldwide liability coverage).

The benefit for sitters is that homeowners with this coverage may be more willing to accept applications, knowing their property is protected. However, sitters should not assume Nomador membership provides them with insurance coverage for damage they cause.

For complete details on how platform protection actually works, read our insurance subscriptions guide.

Platform Strengths

Nomador also offers quarterly memberships if you want to test the platform before committing to a full year. We have browsed Nomador extensively for research but have not paid for membership. THS has consistently delivered the sits we need. That said, Nomador's European coverage is excellent, particularly for France (627 listings as of February 2026) and central Europe, and the quarterly option makes it a low-risk entry point.

For Europe-heavy travel or a THS alternative, Nomador is the strongest competitor in the $99–$209 range.

Budget Global Platforms: $29–$50

MindMyHouse: $29/year (178 listings Globally)

The cheapest unlimited global platform. Listing volume is lower than THS or Nomador, which means you need more patience and flexibility, but for $29 you get a full year of international access with no per-sit fees.

The community is solid and the price is unbeatable. If you can handle a less-polished website, the $29 entry fee is the best value for casual travellers or as a secondary platform to THS.

HouseCarers: $50/year (61 house sits globally)

Established since 2000. Single-tier membership, no booking fees, solid global coverage. The longevity means a loyal user base and repeat-relationship sits where homeowners return to the platform year after year. Not flashy, not expensive, reliable.

Regional Specialists: When You Know Where You Are Going

Regional platforms are the best value when your travel is concentrated in a single country or region.

HouseSittersAmerica: $49/year 130 US listings as of February 2026. Excellent for US-only travel. If you are combining the US with other countries, THS's 5,400 US listings make more sense despite the higher cost.

AussieHouseSitters: $69/year (AUD $89) Strong Australia and New Zealand coverage. Konrad used this platform 15 years ago and it worked well for Australian sits. For Australia-specific travel, the regional specialist makes sense. For global travel that includes Australia, THS is the better investment.

HouseSittersUK: $36/year (£29) UK and some European coverage. Cheapest UK-focused option.

KiwiHouseSitters: $55/year (NZD $89) New Zealand specialist. Part of the same network as Aussie House Sitters.

Niche Platform: LuxuryHouseSitting ($45/year) (17 house sits)

Focus on high-end properties. Low listing volume (10 US listings as of February 2026), but the properties that do appear are vetted for luxury. At $45 per year it is cheap enough to use as an add-on to THS if you are specifically targeting the luxury tier. Read our luxury house sits guide for the full strategy on landing high-end properties, which goes well beyond platform choice.

HouseSitMatch: $112 / $162 / $213 (25 house sits)

Standard (£89 = $112/year): Unlimited applications, free police and ID checks for all members.

Plus (£129 = $162/year): Adds enhanced profile visibility.

Premium (£169 = $213/year): All features, priority customer support.

The standout feature is free police and ID verification included for all members. On other platforms this is often a paid add-on or optional extra. If background checks are important to your target market, HouseSitMatch delivers them at no additional cost. Listing volume is lower than THS but growing, particularly in the UK and Europe.

Best Platform For... (By Sitter Profile)

The "One-Off" Sitter (1–2 sits per year, testing the model)

Best Choice: MindMyHouse ($29/year)

At $29 for unlimited global access, MindMyHouse is the lowest-risk entry point. The interface is dated but the community is solid. Use it to complete your first sit or two, build reviews, and decide if house sitting works for your travel style before committing to a more expensive platform.

Runner-Up: THS Basic ($129 + $12 per sit)

If you want access to the largest listing volume immediately, THS Basic gives you the full 9636+ global sits with minimal upfront cost. For one sit, total cost is $141. For two sits, $153.

The "Regional Nomad" (Focused on one country or region)

For Australia/NZ: AussieHouseSitters ($69/year AUD $89) (1200 + listings)

For UK: Trusted House Sitters ($129/year +$12 booking fee)  (3400+ listings)

For US: Trusted House Sitters ($129/year +$12 booking fee) (5400+ listings)

For New Zealand: KiwiHouseSitters ($55/year NZD $89) (400+ listings)

In some cases the Regional platforms make sense, but if you are looking for the most listings, make sure to check out Trusted House Sitters before applying for other platforms. Or at least use the other platforms for free browsing before committing. 
I always thought that American House Sitters and UK House Sitters had the most listings, but when I researched the number THS was almost 10x more listings, which give you more options for homes and less competition overall. Aussie and NZ house sitters are definitely the best value for those regions.

The "Career Traveler" (5+ sits per year, multiple countries)

Best Choice: THS Premium ($259/year, or $194 with 25% discount)

At 8+ sits per year, Premium is mathematically cheaper than Standard due to eliminated booking fees. The Cover, vet line, cancellation protection, and 9636+ global listings make it the clear choice for serious international travel. Use our 25% discount code to reduce the cost to $194.

The "Dual-Continent" Sitter (Europe + Another Region)

Best Combination: THS + Nomador

THS for global coverage (5,400 US sits, 435 Australia sits, 80 France sits). Nomador for Europe-heavy travel (627 France sits, strong central European coverage). Combined annual cost: $259 + $99 = $358, or $293 with THS discount. This combination covers virtually every free-exchange sit in both markets.

Alternative for Budget: THS Premium alone ($259 or $194 with discount) covers both markets adequately if you are willing to accept lower European listing density.

The "Luxury Specialist" (Targeting high-end properties)

Primary Platform: THS Premium (volume and verification)

Secondary Add-On: LuxuryHouseSitting ($45/year)

LuxuryHouseSitting's 10 US listings are a small absolute number, but the niche focus means lower competition for the properties that do appear. At $45 I would say it's not worth the investment and you should personally stick to another platform.

Read our luxury house sits guide for the full strategy beyond platform choice.

Refund & Cancellation Policies

Platform membership fees are generally non-refundable. You are paying for access to listings, not a guaranteed sit. However, several platforms offer protection for specific scenarios.

THS Premium Cancellation Protection

If a homeowner cancels a confirmed sit within 7 days of the start date, THS Premium may provide a hotel allowance of up to $1,500 to cover alternative accommodation. This protection does not apply to Basic or Standard tiers.

Please be mindful that this is not guaranteed. We have heard of stories where the house sitters or house owners had to wait upwards of 8 months to receive partial pay out. This is not Insurance but a cover that Trusted House Sitters Provides on a case by case basis.

For sits cancelled with more than 7 days notice, no compensation applies on any tier. This is why confirming backup sits or having flexible travel plans matters for long-term travel.

The 14-Day Sit Guarantee (THS Only)

THS offers a guarantee: if you do not secure a sit within 14 days of joining, you can request a refund of your membership fee. This applies to all tiers. The conditions are that you must have:

In practice, this guarantee is rarely claimed because THS's volume means most sitters with complete profiles secure sits quickly. But it exists as a safeguard for new members concerned about paying upfront without results.

Other Platforms

Most other platforms (Nomador, HouseCarers, MindMyHouse, regional specialists) have standard non-refundable annual fees with no sit guarantees or cancellation protection. You pay for the year of access regardless of whether you book sits.

The exception is platforms offering monthly or quarterly memberships (Nomador has quarterly options), which reduce financial commitment if you are unsure about annual use.

Currency Conversion and Foreign Transaction Fees

If you are paying for a UK-based platform (HouseSitMatch, HouseSittersUK) in USD, your credit card may charge foreign transaction fees of 2–3% on top of the membership cost.

Solution: Use N26 or Revolut for platform purchases. Both offer real exchange rates with no foreign transaction fees, which saves $3–$10 per membership depending on the platform and your card's fee structure.

Profile Enhancement Fees

Some platforms offer paid profile upgrades for increased visibility:

Most platforms do not charge for profile visibility, but it is worth checking the specific platform's terms before paying the annual fee.

The Referral Credit Strategy

Several platforms offer referral credits that can reduce or eliminate membership costs. If you plan to house sit long-term, the referral strategy can generate free years of membership.

THS Referral Program

THS offers a 25% discount for the new member and 2 months membership extension for the referrer when someone signs up using your referral link. If you refer 6 people in a year, that is an extra year of a the membership level you have signed up with. Meaning if you have premium and 6 referrals, you end up with 2 years of premium Membership

How it works:

Regional Platforms

Most regional platforms (HouseSittersAmerica, AussieHouseSitters, etc.) have referral programs with smaller credit amounts (up to 15% of the referral price).

Is the Referral Strategy Worth It?

Only if you have an existing audience or active social presence in travel communities. Creating content purely to generate referral credits is unlikely to succeed unless you genuinely use house sitting and can speak authentically about the experience. For most sitters, referral credits are a nice bonus but not a primary cost reduction strategy.

The exception: if you are already blogging, vlogging, or posting regularly about travel and house sitting, adding referral links to your existing content is zero additional effort for meaningful credit flow over time.

On that note also, the referral links may get you a coffee or 2 a month. For this website so far, it has generated a few extra months of Trusted House Sitters Memberships and $7. Considering the amount of work I put into this blog, I would say that It's more a hobby than anything else. 

I write this blog because I like helping others discover this amazing way of traveling.

Should You Pay for Multiple Platforms?

We do not. We use THS Premium and browse other platforms for comparison, but we have never held multiple paid memberships simultaneously. The sits we want have consistently appeared on THS, and paying for additional platforms would be spending money without a clear return.

Some sitters do use multiple platforms, particularly when combining a global platform with a regional specialist. The most common combination is THS for international coverage plus a regional platform for a country where you plan to spend significant time. For example, THS + HouseSittersAmerica for a US-heavy year, or THS + Nomador for a Europe-heavy route.

The key question: are you seeing sits on the secondary platform that justify the additional cost? If yes, pay for it. If no, stick with one.

If/Then Framework

If you are doing serious international travel (5+ sits per year): THS Premium at $259 is cheaper than Standard after the fifth sit and includes cancellation protection. Use our 25% discount code to reduce the cost to $194.

If you are starting out or travelling casually (1–3 sits per year): THS Basic at $129 + $12 per sit is the lowest-cost entry to the largest global platform. Alternatively, MindMyHouse at $29 gives you a full year to build your first reviews with minimal financial commitment.

If you are focusing on one country: Use the regional specialist. $49 for the US, $69 for Australia, $36 for the UK, $55 for New Zealand. You get better community engagement and lower competition than on the global platforms.

If you are Europe-heavy: Nomador at $99–$209 competes directly with THS in Europe and offers quarterly memberships for flexibility. Strong for France specifically (627 listings vs. THS's 80).

If you want the best Bang for your buck: Trusted House Sitters Basic ($129) For UK, USA, Europe, Worldwide. For Australia, Aussie House sitters ($89 AUD) For New Zealand, Kiwi House sitters ($89 NZD)

Bottom Line

Platform fees range from $29 to $259 per year. The cost-per-listing ratio favors THS for international multi-country travel ($0.05 per US listing), regional platforms for single-country focus, and budget platforms for entry-level testing.

The tier decision within THS comes down to three variables: sits per year, cover need, and cancellation risk. At 8+ sits annually, Premium is cheaper than Standard in absolute cost. At any frequency, Standard's liability cover justifies the $40 premium over Basic for the financial protection it provides.

The right platform is the one that delivers sits where you want to go, when you want to go there. For us, that is THS Premium at $259 per year (or $194 with discount). For someone targeting France specifically, it is Nomador at $99–$209. For someone spending a year in the Australia, it is AussieHousesitters at $89AUD. For someone testing house sitting with one sit, it is MindMyHouse at $29.

Match your spend to your travel pattern. The fees are real. The access is what you are paying for.

Konrad & Caro 🐾🚐

DM us @housesittersguide and we answer everyone.

FAQ

• Which house sitting platform is the cheapest?

  MindMyHouse at $29 USD per year is the cheapest unlimited global platform. HouseSittersUK is cheaper at £29 ($36 USD) but is UK-focused with limited international coverage. For serious international travel, the cheapest platform is not necessarily the best value. THS Premium at $259 delivers significantly more opportunities and recoups its cost in 2–3 days of saved accommodation.

• Do platform fees include travel costs like flights? 

  No. Platform fees give you access to listings and the ability to apply for sits. You are responsible for all travel costs including flights, ground transport, visas, and any incidental expenses during the sit. The value is in free accommodation, not free transport.

• Can I get a refund if I do not find a sit? 

   Most platforms have non-refundable memberships because you are paying for access to listings, not a guaranteed sit. Some premium tiers (like THS Premium) offer cancellation protection for confirmed sits if your plans change, but not for the membership fee itself. Always check the specific terms before purchasing.

• Should I pay for multiple platforms? 

  We do not. We use THS and browse other platforms for free, but we have only ever paid for one membership at a time. Multiple platforms make sense if you are combining a global platform with a regional specialist for a country where you will spend significant time (e.g., THS + HouseSittersAmerica for a US-heavy year). Otherwise, the cost rarely justifies the additional listings.

• Are couples or family memberships available?

  Yes. Most platforms offer a single membership that covers an individual, a couple, or a family living at the same address. You create one shared profile that represents everyone travelling together. This is standard across THS, Nomador, and the regional platforms.

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