The Best Au-Pair Platforms 2026 Compared
Photo: Zen Chung / Pexels
For au-pairs, all major platforms are free — the difference lies with the families and the range of features. AuPairWorld and AuPair.com are the largest and cost families about €50 per month. nina.care also offers full placement services. AuPairMatch is the smallest and newest — and the only one where au-pairs can find each other locally.
We operate one of these platforms ourselves. Therefore, below is what the others do better and where we fall short. All prices are taken from the providers' pricing pages, as of September 2026 — check them before making a decision, as they may change.
The Overview
| AuPairWorld | AuPair.com | nina.care | AuPairMatch | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Au-Pair pays | 0 € | 0 € | 0 € | 0 € |
| Family pays | 49.90 € / 1 mo. 89.90 € / 3 mo. 149.90 € / 6 mo. | €49.70 / 1 month €69.70 / 3 months €88.70 / 6 months | 48 €/month or 980 € full placement | currently €0 (founding phase) |
| Since | 1999 | 1999 | younger | 2026 |
| Size (self-reported) | 25,000+ searching Au-Pairs | 52,000+ active users | no comparable figure | small — we’re starting. |
| Mobile App | no | Okay. | Okay. | no (mobile website) |
| Connect au-pairs with each other | (no translation provided) | only language tandem | only events in NL | yes — depending on location |
AuPairWorld — the largest in the German‑speaking region
On the market since 1999, with over 25,000 searching au-pairs according to its own figures. If you want the biggest selection, this is the right place. Free for au-pairs, families need Premium to make contact — without automatic renewal, which is fair.
Strengths: Reach, an extensive country lexicon, a team that is reachable.
Weaknesses: No app. And the safety check is largely up to you: the platform checks profiles for plausibility and recommends requesting ID, a criminal record check, and references yourself.
AuPair.com — the second major one, with an app
Also since 1999, with over 52,000 active users according to its own figures, and an app for iOS and Android. The advice section is the most comprehensive on the market — also covering topics like homesickness and culture shock, which few others write about.
Strengths: large pool, modern app, very good content.
Weaknesses: One side must have Premium for a conversation to continue. “Free for Au-Pairs” is only true as long as the family pays — otherwise the contact ends after the first message.
nina.care — with comprehensive service
Two models: self‑search for €48 per month, or full placement for a one‑time €980, where a person proposes three candidates. Visa and paperwork are handled — that’s the strongest relief promise in the field.
Strengths: thorough screening, visa support, state‑of‑the‑art interface, Au-Pair events in the Netherlands.
Weaknesses: significantly more expensive if you choose the full placement. The events are only in the Netherlands — Au‑Pairs in Germany, Austria or Spain get none of that.
AuPairMatch — new, free, and with a feature that no one else has
Honestly first: AuPairMatch launched in 2026 and is therefore the newest platform in this comparison — the major providers have been collecting profiles since 1999. AuPairMatch is the only one here that is free for host families and au-pairs, including contact: permanently for au-pairs, for families in the startup phase. No subscription is planned afterwards either. Messages and profile texts are automatically translated into your own language, and video calls run directly in the app.
Many families and au-pairs already search on multiple platforms in parallel. Adding an extra profile on AuPairMatch costs nothing and expands the search.
The difference lies elsewhere: We are the only ones where au-pairs can find each other at the destination. After the placement you see other au-pairs near your host family — and everyone who will be moving to the same area in the coming weeks. The location is never shown as an address, only as a distance range, and visibility can be turned off.
The point that no other comparison addresses
All platforms sell the arrival — “find a family.” What comes after that isn’t sold: a foreign country, no acquaintances, a host family a generation older. AuPairWorld even publishes a guide on this and points to Facebook, Meetup, and Bumble For Friends. AuPair.com offers a language tandem, but it’s sorted by language rather than location. With us it’s part of the product—and usable even if you found your host family through another platform.
What you won’t find anywhere else
To make the comparison complete: None of the self‑search platforms provide any guarantee. No refund, no replacement au‑pair if it falls through after three months. Trust is marketed everywhere as fraud protection before the match — video call, profile verification, “don’t send anyone money in advance.” Anyone looking for real security in case of failure ends up with a traditional agency that charges a placement fee (in Germany usually €450–€840).
And: Self‑search is not legally possible for the USA. Au‑pair stays in the United States are conducted exclusively through J‑1 agencies accredited by the U.S. Department of State. This applies to all platforms in this comparison equally.
Which one fits you?
Largest selection: AuPairWorld or AuPair.com.
Least bureaucracy: nina.care, if full placement is worth the price.
You are an au pair and don’t want to be alone at the destination: AuPairMatch — and in addition, not instead. A profile with us is free and excludes nothing.
The most honest advice: As an au pair, none of these platforms cost you anything. Sign up with two, see where more happens, and decide afterwards.
Try for free
For Au-Pairs permanently free — including the community, even if you have found your family elsewhere.
