UrbanSitter Review from a Real Sitter: Is UrbanSitter Any Good?

UrbanSitter is a gig app and website that allows babysitters and other care providers to find jobs in their area.

There are two ways you can get hired on UrbanSitter:

• Clients request you: After you create your profile and set your availability, you’ll become searchable to clients looking for babysitters or caregivers. If you meet their search criteria, your profile will show up in the search results, and they’ll be able to request you for a job.
• You apply for jobs: Clients also have the option to post jobs on the UrbanSitter job board. You can browse these listings, and once you find one you want, click “I’m interested.” The client will then review your profile and get in touch if they want to hire you.

How high your profile is ranked in the search results will depend on several factors, including your reviews and how complete your profile is.

Jobs you can do

UrbanSitter is primarily geared toward babysitters, but that’s not the only type of job you can do. The platform can help you find a wide range of caregiving gigs:

• Babysitting
• Nannying
• Pet sitting
• Dog walking
• Tutoring
• Senior caregiving
• Housekeeping
• Personal assistant work

One UrbanSitter babysitter we spoke to, Sarah Matisse, said that while UrbanSitter does offer all these services, she’s mainly just seen childcare, household cleaning, pet care, and very occasionally senior care—she’s never seen any of the other categories posted.

Costs and fees

You need to pay a membership fee to use UrbanSitter. Strangely, UrbanSitter is very secretive about what their membership fees actually are. Matisse told us that her membership fee is $34.95 per year, and she thinks it’s the same for all sitters. This fee is nonrefundable, and it automatically renews at the end of each year.

Notably, UrbanSitter doesn’t take a cut of your pay, and there are no other mandatory fees you need to pay to use the platform. This makes it a very affordable option, and it may enable you to earn more than you would on similar apps.

If you choose to use the platform’s instant payout option (which allows you to get paid in minutes), you need to pay $2 per transaction.

Eligibility requirements

To create a profile and begin accepting jobs on UrbanSitter, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be eligible to work legally in the United States
• Have a government-issued ID or Social Security number (SSN)
• Have an active membership
• Have a completed profile
• Pass a background check

Background check

UrbanSitter requires that you complete a background check to get approved and start accepting jobs. The background check is free with your UrbanSitter membership, and it’s run by a third-party service, Checkr.

The UrbanSitter background check goes back 7 years and includes the following searches:

• County criminal search
• National criminal search
• Sex offender search
• SSN trace
• Global Watchlist search

Clients have the option to purchase an upgraded background check on your behalf. Background checks are typically processed within 3–7 business days. Matisse said it took 3 days for her background check to be processed after she’d signed up, paid her yearly fee, and submitted her SSN and a picture of the front and back of her driver’s license.

Caregivers and sitters set their own hourly rates on UrbanSitter. While UrbanSitter claims that top babysitters can earn $1,000 per week, your actual earning potential depends on a variety of factors.

It’s a good idea to check out the average babysitting rates in your area to ensure your rates line up with what your competitors are charging. Below is a snapshot of typical rates for UrbanSitter workers in major US cities, according to Matisse.

Typical UrbanSitter Rates by City

Beyond national averages, real users report that they make in the range of $15–$25 per hour on UrbanSitter. The rates listed above are a bit higher because they’re estimates for major cities, but you may see lower figures if you live outside the city.

Factors that influence your earning potential

While you do get to set your own rates on UrbanSitter, that doesn’t mean you have unlimited earning potential. Setting your rates too high could deter potential employers.

How much you’re able to charge will depend on several factors:

• Location
• Job responsibilities
• Education
• Experience level
• Number of children (for childcare roles)
• Local demand
• Special skills

You’ll also want to factor in additional expenses when working out how much you can earn on UrbanSitter. For examples, fuel and transportation costs can really add up.

How you’ll get paid

There are two ways you can get paid for jobs on UrbanSitter:

• In person: The client pays you in person using cash, a check, or a payment transfer app (e.g., PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle) once you’ve completed a booking.
• Through the app: The client makes a payment through the UrbanSitter platform, and then UrbanSitter transfers you a direct deposit after the booking is completed and you confirm your number of hours worked. The client is asked to confirm as well and add a tip, if desired.

UrbanSitter’s cash payment option makes it stand out from similar platforms, some of which require that all payments are processed through the app. You also have the option to choose whether you want to accept credit card payments.

With the standard payout option, you get the money in 3–5 business days. You can also pay an extra $2 for an instant payout and get the money in as little as a few minutes.

Should you use UrbanSitter? To make a decision, it’ll help to get an inside look at what it’s actually like using the UrbanSitter app. Here’s everything you need to know, according to a real UrbanSitter user.

Big cities have the most jobs

While the app isn’t popular in every town and city across the US, Maatisse said that if you’re in a big city, there’s a good chance you can make decent money on UrbanSitter. However, she added that it’s generally better developed and has more job availability on the West Coast than on the East Coast. In the South, even fewer cities have active UrbanSitter users.

By contrast, if you live in a rural or particularly remote area, the job pool may be pretty limited. The number of job opportunities you have really comes down to how popular the UrbanSitter app is with parents where you live.

In addition to the US, UrbanSitter is available in more than 60 countries. When you sign up, you’ll be able to see if UrbanSitter is active in your area.

It’s a good way to gain work experience

One big advantage of using UrbanSitter over some other apps is that your profile is visible to the public. This means prospective employers can see your profile, even if they’re not registered on the app.

Matisse says your UrbanSitter profile can serve as a resume, and your reviews can serve as references. Even for other types of work, a strong profile can demonstrate that you’re responsible, caring, and professional.

You need to respond quickly to requests

If you don’t respond to booking requests within 5 hours, your booking response rate will drop. This is a big pain point for Matisse, who was in France when we spoke to her. Since France is 9 hours ahead of Seattle, it’s been difficult for her to maintain timely responses. “I often get booking requests while I sleep,” she said.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to turn off booking requests on UrbanSitter. This means that as soon as you sign up, you need to be on the ball and ready to confirm or reject any requests that come your way.

You won’t be penalized if you reject booking requests. However, if you fail to respond altogether, UrbanSitter will remove the “responds fast to bookings” badge from your profile, which could make you a little less appealing to potential clients and employers.

Clients also get reviews

One feature that makes UrbanSitter stand out from competitors is that it’s not just sitters and care providers who get rated—workers have the ability to rate clients as well. Once you’ve worked for a family, you can rate them based on the following categories:

• Respect for your time
• Accuracy of the job description
• Honoring of the payment agreement

This adds a level of protection for workers and may make the UrbanSitter app feel more safe to use. It can also give you some confidence in the families you choose to accept work from.

You need to keep updating your availability

You have to update your availability every 2 weeks on UrbanSitter, otherwise the “calendar update” section on your profile will appear as “problematic.” If this happens, you’ll drop down in the search results for parents and care seekers, which will make them less likely to contact you about a job.

UrbanSitter is a favorite gig app for some babysitters and care workers, but others may find that it doesn’t have enough job options. Whether it’s worth it for you largely depends on where you live, since its popularity among parents in your area will determine the number and quality of job options available.

One big reason many sitters feel that UrbanSitter is worth it is how little they charge. You only need to pay one flat fee each year, and it covers the cost of your background check.

After that, you don’t need to pay any booking fees, service fees, or commission fees on your earnings. Seeing as you would need to pay for a background check with many other companies anyway, this seems like a small price to pay.

Pros and cons of working for UrbanSitter

People have both good and bad things to say about UrbanSitter. Here’s a summary of the most common praises and complaints from babysitters and caregivers on UrbanSitter.

UrbanSitter is best for one-time gigs

According to Matisse, “UrbanSitter is great for one-off gigs because of how easy it is to use and how many jobs are available, and especially for how quickly parents view and reply/accept your booking interest.” This distinguishes it from job boards and apps geared toward connecting sitters with parents for long-term or full-time gigs.

Most of the time, parents will view Matisse’s application within 30 minutes after she’s submitted it and immediately hire her if they’re interested. “This means that you can quickly fill up your calendar on days you want to work,” she added.

It’s worth it for the safety features

One of the biggest reasons UrbanSitter has garnered such a loyal user base is that babysitters feel safer using UrbanSitter than other platforms—especially job boards like Care.com that don’t have much involvement in the interactions between job seekers and employers. This is a big deal for care-related jobs, which can be prone to scams and safety concerns.

For example, Matisse used to also use Sittercity, which she described as “more like the Craigslist of babysitting jobs.” In comparison, she feels UrbanSitter offers better protections for sitters and parents alike when it comes to screening users, running background checks, and publishing reviews.

UrbanSitter also has the benefits of dedicated member support, an optional payment processing system, and a required identity verification process for parents. All these features can help protect you from scams and ensure you’re compensated fairly for the work you do.

How UrbanSitter compares to other apps

UrbanSitter is just one of several major babysitting apps used in the US. Each app has its pros and cons, but it’s worth exploring all your options before you start shelling out money on membership fees.

Matisse currently only uses UrbanSitter, but she used to also use Sittercity before she decided to fully commit to UrbanSitter. Why did she make the switch? For starters, she said UrbanSitter offers much better pay. She also noted that UrbanSitter offers better protections for sitters and parents.

With all that said, some platforms have more job listings in certain regions, and it’s worth doing research into the most popular babysitting apps where you live so you’re maximizing your employment options.

Alternative job apps for care workers

Not set on using UrbanSitter and want to compare your options? A good place to start is reading our reviews of alternative care-related apps:

• Care.com
• Sittercity
• Rover
• Wag!

You can sign up and start working as a babysitter or caregiver on UrbanSitter by applying online or via the UrbanSitter mobile app, which is available in both the App Store and Google Play Store.

Follow these steps to become a sitter for UrbanSitter:

1. Go to UrbanSitter.com.
2. Click “Get Started” and then “Apply to Jobs” under the section “For babysitters, nannies and caregivers.”
3. Provide your date of birth and phone number.
4. Create a profile using your Facebook account, Google account, or email address.
5. Purchase your membership.
6. Wait for profile approval and verification.

You should get confirmation within 3–7 business days. After that, you’ll be able to start applying for jobs on UrbanSitter.

Where to download the UrbanSitter mobile app

App Store Google Play

Matisse has gotten over a dozen repeat bookings from families on UrbanSitter, and she’s managed to maintain a high 5-star rating. We asked her what the secret was to her success, and she told us her top tips for getting work on UrbanSitter:

• Don’t be picky with your first few jobs: Once you set up your account, start off with rates on the lower end of the spectrum and take the first couple of jobs you’re offered. Once you’ve gotten some reviews and experience, you’ll be able to charge more.
• Stay active on the app: Your profile will appear higher up in the search results for nearby parents if you’re actively using the app and have accepted a job in the past few days. Matisse gets “bombarded with requests” when she’s active on the app and gets much fewer requests when she hasn’t recently been on the app.
• Go above and beyond: Be respectful and responsible when working in other people’s homes, and don’t just do the bare minimum asked of you. “I find that if I leave their home spotless, clean their dishes and am just overall very respectful of their space, I tend to get tips and more repeat families,” Matisse said.
• Expand your service area: If you’re willing to commute, you may be able to get a lot more job offers from families living in less central locations. Many are even willing to pay extra to cover your fuel costs if you ask.

Like the case with many gig apps, it can take time to establish yourself on UrbanSitter. But as long as you follow these tips, you’ll maximize the number of job opportunities you get and start off on the right foot.