Breadcrumbs: Home > House Sitting Guide > TrustedHouseSitters Review
📊 QUICK FACTS:
Our membership: TrustedHouseSitters Premium (top tier)
Sits completed via THS: 15+ across 9 countries
Documented savings: €32,400+ at a conservative €100/night
Standard plan: $129 USD/year + $12 USD booking fee per sit
Premium plan: $259 USD/year, no booking fees
Discount code: Drops Standard under $100 — claim it here
Verdict: The best global platform for sitters. Not the only one worth using.
It was our first sit as a couple. Bochum, Germany. Two cats, a weekend, Caro's first long weekend from work. On the second day one of the cats started limping, paw visibly swollen. The owner was travelling and unreachable. We had no idea if this was serious.
We used the THS 24/7 vet line. Within minutes an actual vet called us back, asked for photos, assessed the paw remotely, and walked us through what to watch for. Bee sting. Monitor it. Go in person if it worsened. It did not worsen.
Two things happened in that moment. The cat was fine. And by the time the owner replied to our message, we were already able to tell her we had spoken with a vet, sent photos, received a diagnosis, and had a plan. That is the kind of professionalism that turns a nervous first sit into a five-star review.
That was three years ago. Since then we have completed 15+ sits across 9 countries, documented over €32,400 in accommodation savings, and never seriously considered leaving the platform.
Here is the full picture, honest about the costs, the new pricing structure, and where THS is not the right answer.
Why We Use a Paid Platform at All
When we were house sitting in Australia we were also part of Facebook groups and kept an eye on the free listings. Some of them sounded genuinely lovely. But there is no way to verify whether anything in a free listing is accurate, and more importantly no way to verify whether the person posting it is who they say they are. On a paid platform you still encounter listings that misrepresent the situation, as we covered in our unpaid labour article. On a free group, with no vetting, no review system, and no accountability, it happens more and there is nothing to protect you when it does.
The fee filters out people who are not serious. The ID verification confirms the person you are talking to is real. The review system means both sides have a public track record to protect. These three things together change the nature of the exchange from a leap of faith into something with actual structure behind it.
The Actual Costs in 2026
THS introduced a per-sit booking fee in late 2025, which changed the value calculation depending on which plan you are on.
The Standard plan is $129 USD per year with a $12 USD booking fee charged for each confirmed sit. With our discount code the Standard plan drops under $100. For someone doing one or two sits a year, Standard plus a handful of booking fees is still extraordinary value.
The Premium plan is $259 USD per year with no booking fees. For anyone doing this regularly, especially full-time, Premium pays for itself quickly. We sat for three weeks in February 2026 alone. At $12 per confirmed sit, those fees add up fast. No booking fees on Premium is one reason we are on it.
In February 2026 THS also released an updated app that is noticeably more responsive and cleaner to navigate. Whether the booking fee funded the improvement or not, the timing is interesting.
Which plan is right for you? Choose Standard ($129 + $12 per sit) if you are doing fewer than 10 sits per year. Even with 5 or 6 booking fees on top, you stay under the $259 Premium price point. Choose Premium ($259, no booking fees) if you are a full-time nomad or planning one sit per month or more. At that frequency the maths are straightforward: unlimited confirmed sits with no extra charges, better cancellation cover, and higher liability cover for $130 more per year.
How We Ended Up on Premium
We started on Standard. During a Black Friday sale we saw the Premium upgrade for an extra €40. For that price, no booking fees, better cancellation cover, and the higher-tier cover made it a straightforward decision, particularly since we travel full time and planned to use the platform heavily.
Since then, referrals from people who have signed up using our code have kept our membership costs covered. The economics end up working in our favour the more we use it.
On the insurance: we are on Premium specifically for the liability coverage and the cancellation sit guarantee. We also carry N26 travel insurance alongside it. The THS coverage handles liability for the home and pets. N26 handles everything else. Together they give us complete coverage for the kind of homes we sit in, which have included an AUD $3.4 million Sydney property 500 metres from the Harbour Bridge. You cannot rely on goodwill when something goes wrong in a home like that.
What €32,400 Actually Looks Like
We calculate our savings conservatively, at €100 per night, which is below the market rate for most of what we have stayed in. The real number is higher.
Six months in Portugal this summer: cats, chickens, a home to live in. For most people that trip would cost tens of thousands in accommodation alone. For us it is covered by a $259 annual membership we are already on. That is the value proposition in its simplest form.
Our membership paid for itself in the first two nights of our very first sit. Every sit since has been compounding returns on that original investment.
What THS Is Good At
The volume of listings is the main advantage. At any given time there can be over 9,000 (9657 as of 19 feb 2026) sits available globally, which means genuine choice of location, pet type, sit length, and timing. For full-time nomads or people with flexible schedules, that breadth is irreplaceable.
The review system is genuinely useful. Both sides review each other after every sit, and the reviews are verified. You can read a homeowner's history before applying, and they can read yours. Early on, before we had many reviews, this was a disadvantage. After 15+ sits it is one of our strongest assets. We cover how to build that record from zero in our house sitting profile guide.
One feature we appreciate in the 2026 app update is the new Arrival and Departure Times field on listings. It removes the awkward "when should I actually show up?" conversation that used to happen across multiple DMs. Both sides confirm the times upfront, which means you arrive knowing exactly what is expected rather than guessing from a vague message sent three days before.
The 24/7 vet line is real and it works. We have used it. When a cat's paw swells at 9am and you are responsible for that animal, having a qualified vet on the phone within minutes is not a marketing feature. It is the reason you don't have to stress.
What THS Is Not Good At
THS is the dominant global platform, but dominant does not mean best everywhere. France is the clearest example. When we checked on February 13th, Nomador had over 600 active sits in France compared to roughly 80 on THS. If you are heading to France specifically, Nomador is not an alternative to consider. It is the first platform to open.
Our approach is not platform loyalty. It is going where the sits are. Globally, THS. Australia, Aussie House Sitters. France, Nomador. We use Nomador's free tier to scan listings and apply when something fits our route. We will rely on it heavily when we get to France later this year.
We cover the full landscape in our international platforms comparison.
The Honest Verdict
Three years, 15+ sits, nine countries, €32,400 in documented savings. THS is the platform we would recommend to anyone starting out because the volume, the verification, and the support infrastructure are better than anything else available globally. The new booking fee changes the maths slightly depending on how often you sit, but Premium at $259 with no booking fees is still exceptional value for regular sitters.
It is not the only platform worth using. Use THS as your base and supplement with whichever regional platform dominates where you are going. That combination gets you the most sits with the least friction.
If you are ready to join, our discount code brings the Standard plan under $100. For what you get in return on the first sit alone, it is not a close decision.
Konrad & Caro 🐾🚐
DM us @housesittersguide if you have questions — we answer everyone!
FAQ
Is TrustedHouseSitters worth it in 2026 with the new booking fee?
Yes, with the right plan. On Standard at $129/year plus $12 per confirmed sit, it remains excellent value for anyone doing a few sits a year. On Premium at $259/year with no booking fees, it pays for itself quickly if you sit regularly. Use our discount code to bring Standard under $100 and decide from there.
What does the THS 24/7 vet line actually do?
A qualified vet calls you back, assesses the situation remotely via photos or description, and advises whether you need to visit a vet in person. We used it on our first sit when a cat's paw swelled from a bee sting. It was professional, calm, and fast. It also let us give the homeowner an informed update before she had even fully read our message.
Do I need to be on Premium to get insurance?
No, but the level of coverage varies by plan. We are on Premium for the higher liability coverage and the cancellation sit guarantee. Our full breakdown of what each tier covers is in our house sitting insurance guide.
Is THS the best platform for France?
No. Nomador has over 600 active sits in France compared to roughly 80 on THS. If France is your primary destination, open a Nomador account first. THS remains the stronger global platform, but regional dominance matters more than global volume when you are travelling a specific route.
How quickly does a THS membership pay for itself?
On our first sit we saved more in the first two nights than the annual fee costs. Over three years and 15+ sits, we have documented €32,400 in accommodation savings against a platform cost that has effectively been covered by referrals. Even at full price, the membership pays for itself on the first sit of any length.
Should I start with free platforms before paying for THS?
We do not recommend it. Free Facebook groups and listing sites have no ID verification, no review accountability, and no support if something goes wrong. The fee on THS is what creates a community where both sides have something to lose if they behave badly. That structure is the point, not an obstacle to get around.
