Great For GiftingSale prices
Price history
Checking this product's price history…
At a glance
- Best for
- Families hiring local sitters and caregivers
- Standout
- Members in 95% of US zip codes; free Basic plan
- Subscription
- Premium monthly, quarterly or annual; auto-renews
- Payment options
- Employer-sponsored memberships available
- Returns
- Membership fees non-refundable
- Customer rating
- 4.7 on App Store (60,000); 3.2 on Trustpilot (61)
Pros
- Reach Across the Country: Sittercity has members in 95% of US zip codes and has been connecting families with sitters since 2001.
- Backed by Bright Horizons: The service belongs to NYSE-listed childcare provider Bright Horizons, and employer-sponsored members get unlimited basic background checks at no charge.
- Screening on Your Terms: Premium members can order Checkr background checks — basic criminal, enhanced criminal or motor vehicle records — and contact a sitter's references directly.
Cons
- Background checks aren't run automatically and Sittercity doesn't vet members itself, so treat checks, references and a video call as your own interview process before anyone starts.
- Premium renews automatically, fees aren't refunded, and cancelling is done on the website rather than the app, so pick the shortest plan that covers your search and set a reminder to switch back to Basic.
The Verdict
What sets Sittercity apart is two decades of matching families with local care, now backed by a major childcare company: Sittercity has been connecting parents with babysitters, nannies, pet sitters and senior caregivers since 2001, and since 2020 it has been part of Bright Horizons, the NYSE-listed childcare provider. Members are spread across 95% of US zip codes, the app holds 4.7 on the App Store across 60,000 ratings, and many employers offer sponsored memberships that include unlimited basic background checks. Families can search and post jobs on the free Basic plan, then move to Premium to message sitters, contact references and order background checks through Checkr — basic criminal, enhanced criminal or motor vehicle records. Premium is sold monthly, quarterly and annually, with longer terms costing less per month; in the iOS app the quarterly plan is $94.99 and the annual $196.99, and web prices are shown at sign-up. Background-check badges stay on a profile for 90 days, and the report itself goes to the person checked rather than the family. Sittercity doesn't handle payments between families and caregivers, so pay rates and schedules are agreed directly. Help is on hand by phone on 888-748-2489 as well as through the online help centre, and parents can leave reviews of caregivers they've hired. The reservations come down to screening and billing. Sittercity's terms state plainly that it does not screen members or verify their identities itself, so the background check, references and an interview are yours to arrange. Premium renews automatically at the end of each term, fees and renewals aren't refunded, and cancelling is done on the website — or through Apple for iOS purchases. BBB rates the operating company A+, with most of its 23 complaints over three years about renewals, and Trustpilot shows 3.2 across 61 reviews. Made for families who want a broad local pool of sitters and caregivers and are ready to run their own vetting. Basic is free, so start there, check whether your employer sponsors Premium, and explore now.
Babysitters, Nannies, Pet Sitters and Senior Care
Sittercity is operated by Choice Sitter Solutions, LLC, 2 Wells Avenue, Newton, Massachusetts, and has been part of Bright Horizons Family Solutions (NYSE: BFAM) since the acquisition announced on 6 August 2020. Founded in 2001, it connects families with babysitters, nannies, pet sitters, tutors and senior caregivers, with members in 95% of US zip codes, and offers employer-sponsored memberships through workplace benefits programmes.
Families can search caregivers and post jobs on the free Basic plan; Premium adds direct messaging, access to sitter references and the ability to purchase background checks. Premium is available monthly, quarterly or annually, with iOS in-app prices of $94.99 for a quarter and $196.99 for a year; web prices are shown at sign-up. Employer-sponsored members receive unlimited basic background checks at no charge.
Background checks are run through Checkr and come in Basic Criminal, Enhanced Criminal and Motor Vehicle Records versions; they are not run automatically and must be ordered by a family or caregiver. Badges expire after 90 days, and families see the badge rather than the report. Sittercity does not take part in hiring or payments between families and caregivers, and its terms state that it does not screen users or verify identities itself.
Premium memberships renew automatically at the then-current rate unless cancelled in advance through account settings on the web, by phone on 888-748-2489 or by email; iOS subscriptions are cancelled through Apple. Membership and renewal fees are non-refundable, with no partial-period credits, and cancelled accounts move to Basic at the end of the billing period. Independently, the App Store rates Sittercity 4.7 across 60,000 ratings, BBB rates Choice Sitter Solutions A+ with 23 complaints over three years, and Trustpilot shows 3.2 across 61 reviews. It suits families who want a wide local pool and are happy to run their own checks; start on the free Basic plan, see whether your employer sponsors Premium, and explore now.
More in Home & Garden
View all
Why you can trust these picks
- 1 productReviewed, not repostedEach one written up by someone who used it — never rewritten from a manufacturer’s page.How we test
- Never paidNo bought placementsNo brand can buy a spot, a score or a ranking. Not for any price, on any page.Editorial policy
- Live pricingDeals checked before listingCodes are tested and offers verified, so nothing here sends you to an expired page.See live deals
- Free to readYou never pay moreWe may earn a commission when you buy. It comes out of the merchant’s margin, not your price.How we make money
About this review
How this was written, who paid for what, and how the verdict stays independent.
Is this Sittercity review sponsored?
No. Sittercity did not pay for this write-up, see it before publication, or have any say in the verdict. If we earn anything it is a commission after you buy, and it comes out of the merchant’s margin rather than your price.
How was the Sittercity assessed?
By using it and by checking the claims made about it against what it actually does. Where our time with something has been limited, the review says so rather than implying more testing than happened.
What else have you reviewed in Home & Garden?
Everything in Home & Garden sits in the review library, where you can filter by budget and sort by rating, price or how recently it landed.
Do you update reviews after publishing?
Yes — when a product changes, when a price moves for good, or when we get something wrong. Corrections are made on the piece itself with a note saying what changed.
Still unsure about something?Ask us directly — we answer every message.
In-Right Insider
Never miss a smart buy
Get our latest reviews, top picks and real price drops — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Ready for Sittercity?
Sittercity
Explore Now
