4 Best Babysitting Apps and Websites, Tested and Reviewed by a Mom

Care.com makes finding childcare a breeze. The app is user-friendly and has a straightforward account set-up process, instantly giving me a sense of ease and trust. From the start, I was glad the app reminded me that all applicants undergo background checks. I found this reassuring, especially since this was my first time seeking a babysitter outside my family. I particularly appreciated the customizable search options, allowing me to specify preferences, such as someone with CPR certification who was a non-smoker. I could even request light house cleaning or for the sitter to structure activities for my boys, which was an unexpected perk.

Care’s app was easy to navigate, featuring tabs for messaging, searching, my profile and job listings. I appreciated how seamlessly it worked across the app and the website; both platforms were intuitive, and I couldn't say one was more user-friendly than the other. This compatibility made life so much easier while I searched for candidates. The layout was simple and easy to read and the design was clean and current. There was also a “help” tab, which I found convenient as it had answers to frequently asked questions and a chat bubble for additional assistance.

The pool of available sitters on Care was impressive, especially in suburban New York and Los Angeles. There were hundreds of babysitters in LA, many with years of experience and glowing reviews. Some even had 20+ five-star ratings, which made me confident in their qualifications. I felt an extra layer of comfort with the option to review sitters who had worked with multiple families in my area. For instance, the app noted that one candidate was “hired by six families in your neighborhood.” This feature made me feel comfortable reaching out to these local families and getting an idea of the quality of the sitter. All in all, I could easily search for applicants, and in under 10 minutes, my inbox was pinging with potential sitters.

Safety is my top priority when choosing a sitter, and I love that the service offers basic background checks. For $59, parents can purchase more detailed safety reports, like motor vehicle reports or criminal background checks, which further reassured me. The easy, in-app communication features and quick responses from interested sitters improved my peace of mind. While families are responsible for acquiring references, Care has articles about what to ask for and provides guidance with follow-up conversations. I felt comfortable and confident with multiple candidates and felt that I had options with whom I could choose to take care of my boys. While not every sitter who messaged in response to the job listing was appropriate for our needs, there were still plenty of options.

Although Care's membership cost is higher than other options, I found the service worth it due to the availability of high-quality sitters and the ease of use. Canceling my membership was straightforward (I simply clicked “delete your account” in the app), and I could still use the service until the end of the billing cycle. Needless to say, I had a great experience with Care and felt confident finding a trustworthy sitter for my children.

Membership rates: Free basic membership; standard paid membership is $38.95 per month or $155.40 annually ($12.95 monthly if paid annually in full) | Availability: 50 states; 20 countries

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I had a positive experience using the Bambino app for finding childcare and thought the quality was outstanding, even with a free membership. Setting up my account was quick and easy—I simply entered my basic information and began adding my children's details. I was cautious about listing the name and location of my son's Pre-K without first vetting applicants, so I didn't include that information in the app and was glad it wasn’t a required field for setup. The identity verification process was more challenging, as the app froze during the selfie confirmation step. However, after closing and reopening the app, the glitch was resolved. Overall, the setup took about 10 minutes. This was a bit longer than Care, but still reasonable.

Once you’re set up, Bambino's user-friendly interface is impressive, especially since you can filter sitters by hourly rate and easily view their profiles. These profiles were up-to-date and active, and I loved how many there were to choose from. Plus, references were already sourced and ready to view, which was such a time-saver. Every sitter on the app has positive feedback from at least one parent within the community for added peace of mind. My favorite feature was how Bambino syncs with your phone contacts to connect with other local parents who have used the app. It was reassuring to have that extra layer of confidence when choosing someone to care for my boys.

When researching candidates in Los Angeles, I found 200 sitters available for my desired time (an upcoming Saturday date night, from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.), many with excellent reviews and experience. The number of available sitters in the suburban New York area I researched was lower, but I could still find several good options within my preferred radius. The app's “elite” sitters, who have undergone extensive background checks, made me feel more secure about the quality of caregivers I was finding. I also appreciated how easy it was to contact customer support, though some frustrating pop-up windows were directing me to the app store, which disrupted my experience at times.

When it comes time to cancel your Bambino membership, it’s straightforward. You can do so via the app, and you’ll still have access to all features until the end of your billing cycle. If you need to cancel a babysitter you’ve hired, Bambino requests that you give them as much notice as possible and if you cancel within 24 hours of your booking, there’s a $2.95 fee. That being said, I liked the flexibility of their premium membership, which waives booking fees and allows unlimited communication with sitters. The app is so affordable, making it completely worth investing in for waiving booking fees alone.

Exclusive Bump offer: for a $5 discount, use code THEBUMP5 when signing up.

Membership rates: Free to download and create a profile; premium membership is $9 per month; there is a $2.95 booking fee for junior sitters and a $4.95 booking fee for standard, advanced and elite-level sitters | Availability: 50 states

UrbanSitter is a user-friendly app designed to help parents easily find and book babysitters, particularly in urban areas. While the setup took slightly longer than other apps, it was still quick and straightforward. Completing a profile is simple, and I loved how I wasn’t required to provide excessive family details upfront. This is a bonus for those who prefer to share information once they've established rapport with a sitter. Unlike some platforms, you don't need a parent background check to create an account, but all sitters undergo annual background checks, which I appreciate.

The app offers precise search filters that make it easy to find sitters based on location, availability, experience, languages spoken and special skills. When researching candidates in Los Angeles, I was impressed by the large pool of available sitters. It seems UrbanSitter lives up to its name; it’s perfectly tailored for childcare in the city! You can see that the sitters are active on their profiles, and I love that the app shows how often families have hired the same candidate. I feel incredibly at ease knowing families use these sitters repeatedly, which bolstered my confidence in the service. Researching potential caregivers in suburban New York was a similar story but with fewer results. I did notice that, in general, babysitters on this app seemed younger than those on other platforms I tested. However, I’m not necessarily biased against younger sitters as long as they have some experience and can take good care of my boys.

That said, UrbanSitter's search results were inconsistent at times. For instance, the app initially stated there were only 22 sitters in the suburban area I researched but actually showed over 100 within a 25-mile radius. Despite these discrepancies, the interface is mostly intuitive—though UrbanSitter might consider moving the search bar closer to the top of the screen and enlarging it for easier access. One notable feature is the ability to browse frequently asked questions or contact support easily through the app's “help” section.

UrbanSitter operates on a subscription model at $19.95 per month (or $8.33 per month if paid annually in full) which is on par with competitors like Care. While it's free to download, create a profile and post a job, paid membership allows you to message, interview and book sitters without limits, making it essential for full use. Canceling is straightforward and can be done right in the app via the settings menu. Like other babysitting apps and websites in this roundup, you can continue using premium features until the end of your billing cycle. The bottom line: Urban Sitter provides a solid, reliable option for parents seeking vetted, experienced sitters in urban areas.

Membership rates: Free to download; $19.95 per month or $99.95 annually ($8.33 per month if paid annually in full) | Availability: 50 states

Signing up for Sittercity was quick and simple. No background check or detailed profile is required to start browsing sitters. The app is user-friendly, with a well-organized layout. What stood out to me were the helpful resources at the bottom of each page, including tips like “recommended interview questions” and “10 things to know before hiring a sitter.” Most babysitting apps have extra resources on their websites, but Sittercity made it so convenient with these articles available in the app. The app and website feature the same intuitive interface, making it easy to switch between the two. I was really impressed with how fast I was connected with potential babysitters; I had 21 applicants overnight! Compared to UrbanSitter, where three candidates applied to my job listing, this was a significant number of caregivers to consider.

When looking for sitters on the app, I appreciated that Sittercity’s filters are robust, allowing for fine-tuned searches based on proximity, availability and experience. In the Los Angeles area, I could filter sitters by how long they’ve been a childcare professional, with many candidates having 4 to 27 years of experience, which was reassuring. I also was a fan of the option to filter specifically for sitters versus nannies, which made it easier to find what I needed. With a premium membership, you can access references directly on sitter profiles without requesting them from individual caregivers.

While I was pleased with the number of candidates, some applicants were from far beyond my preferred distance, which could be an issue for those looking for local sitters. For instance, when seeking babysitters within 15 miles of the suburban location, the results populated 50+ candidates right away. The applicants were from a much wider radius, with some candidates nearly an hour away from my house, which would be too far for my liking. However, I did appreciate how all of the profiles look up-to-date, and the range of experience candidates had was impressive.

Sittercity offers basic criminal background checks on all applicants. If you upgrade to premium, you can request more extensive safety reports (like enhanced criminal and motor vehicle checks). Canceling a premium membership is simple and can be done in-app or on their website, but your subscription will auto-renew unless canceled. There's no specific notice period for canceling a sitter. However, the platform asks you to give ample time, and if you cancel frequently, the app might review your account and impose limitations on your services. The membership pricing for Sittercity is higher than the others I tested. Still, Sittercity’s streamlined process, responsive sitters and comprehensive search filters make it a strong choice for parents looking for quality babysitters.

Membership rates: Free basic membership; premium membership is $94.99 for 3 months or $196.99 annually ($16.42 monthly if paid annually in full) | Availability: 50 states

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