AuPairMatch vs. AuPairWorld: The Honest Comparison 2026
AuPairWorld is the larger and older platform: since 1999, around 22 au-pair countries worldwide, more profiles. AuPairMatch launched in 2026, smaller, currently free for everyone and the only one of the two where au-pairs can find other au-pairs nearby after arrival. For au-pairs both are free — using both costs nothing.
This is our own comparison, and we say that up front. To make it still useful, three rules apply: All numbers for AuPairWorld come from its own website and were checked on September 10 2026. We do not call them user numbers for anyone, because they cannot be verified. And our own shortcomings are listed just as those of the other platform.
At a glance
| AuPairWorld | AuPairMatch | |
|---|---|---|
| Since | 1999 | 2026 |
| Seat | Kassel, Germany | Germany |
| Countries | about 22 classic au-pair countries worldwide (Europe, USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand) | Core market Germany and Europe, 14 country pages with rules and pocket money; no placements to the USA |
| Costs for Au-Pairs | 0 € | 0 € |
| Costs for Host Families | Premium required to contact: €49.90 (1 month), €89.90 (3 months), €149.90 (6 months); no automatic renewal. | currently €0 (founding phase) |
| Country check without login | Sure, I'm ready to translate the text when you provide it. | yes (country pages) |
| Match Score | no verified information | yes (languages, availability, experience, lifestyle) |
| Visa assessment | Country information | yes, in the profile |
| Video call in the app | no verified information | Sure, I'm ready to translate the text when you provide it. |
| Au-pairs find other au-pairs nearby | No — the own advice page refers to Facebook, Bumble For Friends, Meetup, Spontacts, Tandem and InterNations. | yes — who lives nearby and who is arriving soon; also for Au-Pairs who have found their family elsewhere |
| Selection of profiles | large (one of the most well‑known platforms) | small — we are new |
Where AuPairWorld is ahead
When it comes to selection, reach, and experience. AuPairWorld has been around since 1999, it is one of the best‑known au‑pair platforms overall, and you can see that in the number of profiles: whether you are a family wanting to see many candidates or an au‑pair looking to go to a country outside Europe, you simply find more there.
AuPairWorld also does three things particularly well: the country check (“In which countries can I become an au‑pair?”) works without logging in. Prices are transparently listed on the website. And Premium does not renew automatically — families pay for one, three or six months and are then out, without a subscription trap.
If you are planning an au‑pair year in the USA, Canada, Australia or Japan, AuPairWorld is the better address — with one caveat that applies to all self‑search platforms: going to the USA is legally possible only through an accredited J‑1 agency, no matter where you met.
Where AuPairMatch excels
On price, on matching, and on what happens after arrival. AuPairMatch is free during the launch phase for host families and au-pairs, including contact initiation. This won’t stay that way forever, but it is so today, and we will give you timely notice before anything changes.
The match score sorts profiles by what truly needs to align: languages, availability, experience with children, lifestyle. The visa assessment already shows you in the profile whether a country is realistic for you. Video calls run directly in the app, without exchanging phone numbers.
And then there’s the difference no other placement platform has: the au-pair community. After arrival you can see which au-pairs live near your host family and who will be coming to the same area in the coming weeks. The location is shown only as a distance range, never as an address. AuPairWorld has nothing of its own for this — its advice page for finding friends points to Facebook, Meetup, and Bumble For Friends. That’s exactly why we built the community.
What we lack — to be honest
We are small and new. We have fewer profiles than AuPairWorld, in some cities there isn’t a single au-pair in the community, and there is no country diversity outside Europe. If you mainly need a selection today, you’ll find it at AuPairWorld. If you don’t want to be alone after arrival, you’ll find that with us — and both together cost you nothing.
Which platform for whom?
Host family in Germany with little time: Both. On AuPairWorld the wide selection, on AuPairMatch the free contact initiation and the match score that takes care of the pre‑selection.
Au‑pair with desired country outside Europe: AuPairWorld. For the USA, in any case also a J‑1 agency.
Au‑pair going to Germany or another European country: Both, and AuPairMatch at the latest when the family is fixed — because the community also works then, even if you found your family on AuPairWorld.
Family that already has an au‑pair: AuPairMatch for the community. Register the placement, confirm, done — your au‑pair sees who lives in your area.
Can I use both together?
Yes, and for au-pairs that’s the obvious solution. Both platforms are free for au-pairs. You can search on AuPairWorld and still create a profile on AuPairMatch — for the match score, the visa assessment and especially for the community, once you know where you’ll end up. Families pay on AuPairWorld for contacting; with us currently not. What you ultimately use depends on where you find each other.
Try for free
Free forever for au-pairs — including the community, even if you found your family on AuPairWorld.