If you love animals but are constantly on the road like us, house sitting might be the perfect solution for you! For my husband James and me, it has been a rewarding way to combine our love for pets with our passion for travel. We’ve been traveling the world since 2018, and house sitting has allowed us to explore new places while caring for adorable furry companions.

House sitting has been an incredible way for us to travel the world while enjoying the unconditional love of pets. If you’re an animal lover who loves to travel or a homeowner looking for vetted, responsible house sitters, you might want to explore the best house-sitting platforms available. And we hope that our blog will help you.

As full-time travelers, we’ve often found ourselves missing the companionship of animals. The idea of house sitting—caring for pets while exploring new locations—sounded too good to be true. But it is real, and it’s been an amazing experience. Not only do we get to cuddle and pamper pets, but we also discover neighborhoods we wouldn’t typically visit as tourists.

For pet lovers like us, house sitting is a win-win. It allows you to explore new destinations while caring for animals in their home environment. Over the years, we’ve stayed with countless furry friends, from cuddly cats to energetic dogs, and it’s been one of the most fulfilling ways to travel.

And, if you’re a homeowner, house sitting ensures your pets stay in their comfortable routine with vetted sitters who prioritize their well-being. No more kennels or boarding stress for your pets!

House sitting isn’t a free vacation. It’s a responsibility that requires you to prioritize the needs of the pets you’re looking after. You need to follow the pet’s routine, keep the house in order, and respect the homeowner’s preferences. Whether it’s maintaining their routines or simply providing companionship, house sitters must always put pets first.

Here are some key tips for being a responsible pet sitter:

• Stick to the pets’ routines
• Always respect the pet parents’ instructions—whether it’s about feeding, leash use, or where the pets should sleep
• Never leave pets alone for long periods to sightsee
• Keep the house clean and tidy as if it were your own
• Follow local leash laws and regulations

House sitting is about so much more than just saving on accommodation. It’s about building trust, forming connections with animals and people, and discovering places in a way that traditional tourists often miss. It has allowed us to live like locals, make lifelong friends, and enjoy the companionship of pets, all while traveling the world. Because of house sitting, we even had the opportunity to volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary while in Australia!

And for homeowners, knowing that trusted sitters will keep their pets safe and happy is invaluable.

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Before we jumped into house sitting full-time, I had some experience caring for cats in Germany and James volunteered at the Oregon Humane Society. When we arrived in Australia, we knew it was the perfect opportunity to dive deeper into house sitting. The pets we’ve cared for have become like family, and all the friendships we’ve formed with homeowners have been a huge bonus. We’ve met amazing people, made unforgettable memories, and enjoyed homes with beautiful surroundings.

Global Pet Sitter is one of the newest house sitting platforms, and Global Pet Sitter is quickly gaining attention for doing things differently—focusing on community, transparency, and affordability in a space that has recently become more expensive and competitive.

After TrustedHousesitters announced another price increase on top of an already costly membership, the house sitting world was shaken. Many sitters and homeowners started looking for alternatives, no longer wanting to support rising costs and limited flexibility. That’s exactly where Global Pet Sitter comes in.

Global Pet Sitter was founded by a former TrustedHousesitters member—someone who truly understands the platform from the inside. Together with his wife and another couple, they set out to create a fair, community-driven alternative.

The idea is simple: take everything that works well in house sitting and remove what doesn’t. That means no hidden fees, no extra charges for applying or accepting sits, and no need to upgrade to expensive premium memberships just to unlock basic features.

Instead, Global Pet Sitter focuses on transparency and collaboration. As a member, you’re not just using the platform—you can actively help shape it by sharing feedback, ideas, and suggestions. That’s something we personally love, because it feels like building something together rather than just paying for a platform.

Right now, Global Pet Sitter offers an incredible early-stage advantage:

• First year membership: FREE
• Future pricing: to be announced (expected to stay affordable and transparent)

There are no extra fees for:

• Applying for sits
• Accepting sits
• Overlapping sits

This is a huge difference compared to some other platforms currently on the market.

Once you’ve signed up and fully completed your profile, you can start applying for sits and also invite others to join. A complete profile is essential to be visible to homeowners and sitters and to really benefit from the platform.

For every new member you refer, you’ll receive a 5% lifetime discount on your future membership.

This is especially interesting right now because:

• The offer is only valid until the platform reaches 3,000 members
• As of now, there are still spots available

So if you’re early, you benefit long term—which is pretty rare in this space.

Pros

• Free first year, making it risk-free to try
• No hidden costs or extra fees for sits or features
• Community-driven platform where members can shape development
• Founded by experienced house sitters who understand real needs
• Clean, modern website with an app currently in development

Cons

• Still a new platform with fewer listings (for now)
• Needs time to grow its global network of homeowners and sitters
• Some features may still evolve as the platform develops

Global Pet Sitter feels like a fresh and much-needed alternative in the house sitting world. It’s built by people who actually live this lifestyle, which already makes a big difference.

Of course, being new means there are currently fewer sits available—but that’s also what makes this such a great opportunity. Getting in early can give you a strong profile advantage before the platform grows.

We’re genuinely excited about this one. The founders answered all our questions, they’re transparent, experienced, and clearly passionate about creating something better. For us, that’s a solid foundation for a platform that could become a major player in the future.

If you want to try it yourself, you can sign up here:

If you complete your profile through our link, you’re also supporting us by granting us that 5% lifetime discount—and who knows, maybe in a year this will be one of the top house sitting platforms out there. Read our exclusive interview with the founders, where we’ll dive deeper into questions like future pricing, safety, and how the platform plans to grow—so stay tuned for that!

MindMyHouse is one of the oldest online house-sitting platforms, offering a simple and budget-friendly way for travelers and homeowners to connect for house and pet sitting opportunities. Its biggest advantage is the low annual fee, making it appealing for travelers who want to keep costs down while accessing house sits worldwide.

MindMyHouse started in 2005 and allows homeowners to post house-sitting opportunities while sitters pay a small yearly fee to browse listings and contact homeowners directly. The platform is straightforward and user-friendly: you create a profile, set your availability, browse house sits, save favorites, and receive email alerts for new listings. Most arrangements are negotiated directly between the sitter and homeowner after initial contact.

While the platform is smaller than some global competitors, this simplicity can be a benefit for those who prefer a no-frills approach to house sitting. MindMyHouse doesn’t include mandatory background checks, verification, or insurance, so sitters and homeowners are responsible for arranging agreements and safety on their own.

Pricing:

• Sitter membership: ~US$29 per year
• Dual account (sitter + homeowner): ~US$29 for the sitter membership plus lifetime access as a homeowner

Discount Code: **50%** via email to: hello@putteringaroundtheworld.com

Pros:

• Affordable membership, ideal for budget-conscious travelers
• Simple, easy-to-use platform with direct communication between sitters and homeowners
• Long-established platform with over 15 years of experience

Cons:

• Smaller user base and fewer listings than larger platforms
• No mandatory vetting or insurance, so sitters and homeowners must handle safety themselves
• Basic interface with limited features compared to modern platforms

MindMyHouse is perfect for travelers who want a low-cost way to start house sitting and enjoy direct communication with homeowners. For those looking for a larger network or additional support and verification, it can be combined with other house-sitting platforms.

Trusted Housesitters is probably the largest and most recognized international house-sitting platform. It offers a wide variety of house sits all over the world, from city apartments to countryside retreats.

Trusted Housesitters was the first website that we found when we started our research, and it’s arguably the largest house-sitting platform. With its global reach, it’s perfect for travelers who want access to house sits worldwide. The platform is user-friendly, with filters for dates, pets, countries, and amenities like Wi-Fi or access to a vehicle.

While its size is an advantage, it also means there is more competition. You need to act quickly to secure that perfect sit. The membership fee starts at $169 USD per year, which is slightly higher than some other platforms, but the sheer number of options makes it worthwhile. Plus, **you can save 25% on membership** using our exclusive discount code!

Discount Code: **RAF294666** or Discount Link: click here

Pros:

• Largest global network of sitters and homeowners.
• Easy-to-use platform with filters based on pets, location, duration, and amenities like WiFi or vehicle use.
• Allows homeowners to connect with thoroughly vetted sitters.

Cons:

• Competition is high, so you need to act fast when applying for desirable house sits.

Pricing: Trusted Housesitters offers three membership tiers:

• Basic plan: $169 USD/year (This is the plan that we use.)
• Standard plan: $259 USD/year
• Premium plan: $319 USD/year

If you’re considering joining, **use our 25% discount code** to save on your membership!

Click here to read our reviews on Trusted Housesitters

Aussie House Sitters focuses on Australia and offers fantastic opportunities to explore the country while looking after pets and homes.

We didn’t sign up for Aussie House Sitters until after a month in Australia, but it quickly became our favorite. This platform is focused on Australia and offers a large selection of house sits, making it easy to find opportunities that fit your schedule and location.

The straightforward website allows you to upload multiple photos and even videos to create a standout profile. You can set up alerts to get notified when a house sit matches your preferences, which increases your chances of securing great opportunities. One thing we love about Aussie House Sitters is that homeowners sometimes contact you directly before they even post their ad, a huge compliment that led to some wonderful experiences for us!

Click here to read our reviews on Aussie House Sitters

The membership fee is AUD 84 per year, which quickly pays for itself when you consider the amazing homes (many with pools or stunning gardens) that you get to stay in. If you’re planning to travel in Australia, this platform is a must-try.

Pros:

• High availability of house sits across Australia.
• User-friendly platform with options to upload multiple photos and videos to your profile.
• Homeowners often reach out directly to popular sitters before even posting their ad.

Cons:

• Limited to Australia, so it’s not an option for international travelers.

Pricing: Membership is $84 AUD/year (around $55 USD), making it an affordable and worthwhile investment for pet lovers traveling in Australia.

10% Discount Code: **PATW10** and Link: click here

Aussie House Sitters has a number of associated sister sites: House Sitters America, House Sitters Canada, House Sitters UK, and Kiwi House Sitters. We’ve just signed up for House Sitters UK and are looking forward to exploring new house sits in the UK!

Here are the links and membership fees for each of these associated platforms:

• House Sitters America : $49/year
• House Sitters Canada: $59/year
• House Sitters UK: £29/year
• Kiwi House Sitters: NZ$84/year

10% Discount Code for all associated sites: **PATW10** and Link: click here

Happy House Sitters was the first platform we used when we arrived in Australia, and although it doesn’t have as many bells and whistles as the others, it’s still a reliable option. The website is simple and easy to navigate, with multiple filters and the ability to save favorites.

The downside? Some homeowners don’t include photos or respond as quickly as you’d hope. Still, we found several wonderful house sits through this platform that will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Pros:

• Affordable membership with a decent range of house sits.
• Simple and intuitive platform, similar to Aussie Housesitters.
• Free for Homeowners

Cons:

• Not as large or comprehensive as some of the bigger platforms.

Pricing: Membership options include 4 months for AUD 59 (USD 40), 12 months for AUD 69 (USD 47), or 18 months for AUD 79 (USD 54), making it an affordable option for travelers who want to test the waters before committing to a longer membership.

In addition to the platforms above, we’re also looking into other house-sitting websites for our future travels. These include:

• Nomador: Great for international house sits, especially in Europe.
• Luxury House Sitting: Focuses on high-end homes.
• Mind My House: Known for a mix of budget-friendly and luxury sits across the globe.
• Mindahome: Offers a more budget-friendly option for those looking to house sit in Australia.

House sitting has been an amazing way for us to blend our love for travel and pets. Whether you’re a traveler looking for new opportunities or a homeowner seeking a trusted sitter, house sitting offers incredible experiences for everyone involved. If you’re ready to dive into this lifestyle, check out the platforms we’ve recommended, and don’t forget to use our discount codes to get started!

If you’re interested in house sitting, we encourage you to give it a try! Whether you’re looking for your next adventure or just missing a little pet love in your life, there’s a house sit out there waiting for you.

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