How much does it cost to find an au pair? Platforms and agencies price comparison 2026

Finding an au pair costs a host family between €0 and roughly €1,000. On the major self‑search platforms families usually pay around €50 per month for contact, and for full‑service placements almost €1,000 as a one‑time fee. AuPairMatch is free for host families during the launch phase, including contact. For au pairs all of the mentioned platforms are free.

Important upfront: these are only the costs for the search. Pocket money, board and lodging, insurance and language‑course subsidy are paid by you regardless of how you find your au pair — the full breakdown is in our guide to the costs of an au‑pair year.

Prices according to the providers' websites, checked in September 2026. They may change — check the current pricing page before purchasing.

On a self‑search platform you create a family profile, browse Au‑Pair profiles, contact candidates and get to know them via video. The selection and verification of the other party are up to you. This approach is inexpensive and fast.

An agency proposes pre‑selected candidates, conducts preliminary interviews, assists with contracts and visas, and is available for issues throughout the year. Fees vary widely from agency to agency—ask for a written quote and find out what happens if the arrangement ends prematurely. In some countries an agency is mandatory: in the Netherlands the Au‑Pair application always goes through an agency recognized by the IND.

Many families combine both: they search themselves on a platform and use an agency or government advisory service for the paperwork.

AuPairMatch launched in 2026 and is free for both sides during the founding phase. That means, concretely: create a profile, view au-pairs, send messages, meet via video — all without any paywall. Later only one step will be paid: sending free messages to profiles, offered as a one‑time payment per period without a subscription. Those who join now will later receive a permanently reduced founding price.

What you get:

• Match-Score: Profiles are sorted by what truly needs to match — languages, dates, experience with children, lifestyle.
• Automatic translation: Messages and profile texts appear in your language, with the original just one click away. You can also write to an au‑pair whose language you don’t speak.
• Video call in the app: Meet without exchanging phone numbers.
• Au‑pair community: Your au‑pair can find other au‑pairs nearby at the destination — helping to combat loneliness in the first weeks.

Honestly: as a young platform we have fewer profiles than providers that have been on the market since 1999. Many families therefore search on multiple platforms in parallel — a free additional profile on AuPairMatch expands your search at no cost.