It may be a tough choice between Sittercity vs UrbanSitter if you don’t know what makes these services different from each other. We hope this article can help shed some light on this matter.
Finding quality childcare is a challenging task. It’s easy to find a babysitter but a good one is hard to find. Hence, moms are usually on a lookout for a good one or at least, one who’s right for her kids.
These days, the one consolation is the fact that moms can find babysitters online. Childcare websites like Sittercity and UrbanSitter have helped a lot of parents find babysitters who can either lend a hand at the last minute or come in regularly.
🤔 What's The Real Scoop On Sittercity? This Is What We Found Out
Our site visitors have been asking us what we think of the two sitter services mentioned above. Hence, we have decided to look deeper into these services and make a comparative analysis to help you decide on which service suits you best.
So go ahead and read on to learn more about them.
Table Of Contents
A Quick Backgrounder
Sittercity was founded by Genevieve Thiers in 2001. Modeling it after a popular dating website, she went on to create Sittercity that could easily connect parents to sitters. It has since changed the way parents find and hire babysitters. 
With its latest innovation called Chime, parents are not only able to connect to sitters but are also able to book and to transact business with just a tap on their smart phones.
On December 1, 2010, another major player came into the scene. Modeling its business after pioneering peer-to-peer services like Uber and Airbnb, UrbanSitter was created.
Lynn Perkins launched UrbanSitter in the San Francisco Bay Area. It eventually expanded to other major cities in the United States. Since then, hiring a sitter is as easy as making dinner reservations with their app.
Here Are Their Similarities
There’s no doubt that both childcare services are both credible and reliable. Both services provide a smart and powerful platform that makes it easy for parents to find babysitters in their local neighborhood.
1. Easy Accessibility and Convenience.
Both childcare services are easy to access. Aside from their respective easy-to-navigate websites, they both have their own apps that you can easily download on your smartphone to help you search, screen and contact sitters.
Thanks to Sittercity and UrbanSitter, you can easily find a sitter without leaving home. You can book a sitter anytime and anywhere on both childcare services, thanks to the easy accessibility of their websites and apps.
It’s worth noting that both childcare services offer auto-renewing subscriptions, which can easily be turned off anytime.
There’s no doubt that both childcare services prioritize safety. As a matter of fact, background checks are available on both Sittercity and UrbanSitter. As a safety precaution, parents and sitters can take advantage of this service.
2. Safety Is Top Priority.
There’s no doubt that both childcare services prioritize safety. As a matter of fact, background checks are available on both Sittercity and UrbanSitter. As a safety precaution, parents and sitters can take advantage of this service.
3. Free Basic Access.
Both childcare websites offer free basic access. You can sign up for free but with limited access to the services. This is a great way to test drive each service to find out which one suits your needs better.
Find-Out For Yourself Which Provides Better Search Results For Your Area. Just click on the links below:
4. Babysitter Payment Mode.
Both websites have their own user-friendly apps where you can pay the sitter with just a click of a button.
Here’s How They Are Different
The two childcare services have their own unique features that make them stand out in their own special way. Knowing more about their unique features will put you in a better position to choose the service that suits you best.
Would you prefer hiring babysitters that parents within your social network are also using or would you rather hire babysitters who are not being used by people you know?
1. Harnessing The Power Of Your Social Network.
Would you prefer hiring babysitters that parents within your social network are also using or would you rather hire babysitters whom no one in your network knows about (so in other words are total strangers)?
UrbanSitter harnesses your Facebook social connections as well as information on your kid’s school, your local neighborhood, and local groups you are affiliated with in order to match you with babysitters that parents you may know are using regularly. Hence, you have a sense of familiarity and trust when it comes to finding and hiring a sitter that parents whom you know are already using.
The sitters that you will find in your personal search results are as close as you can get to word-of-mouth recommendations from parents who are or may be connected to you socially within your neighborhood.
The sitters that you will find in your personal search results are as close as you can get to word-of-mouth recommendations from parents who are or may be connected to you socially within your neighborhood. You will also get full access to feedback from these parents, which we think is really very helpful when making your decision.
And in case you have more questions about the sitters you are interested in, you can always contact parents directly via Facebook or Linked-In since you have a common local group or community affiliation. You will be surprised how parents are very open to helping out other parents, especially if you are part of a local group.
So if you do not mind hiring a sitter whom others you may know are using regularly, UrbanSitter might be a great choice for you.
So if you do not mind using a sitter whom others you may know are using regularly, then UrbanSitter might be a great choice for you.
Sittercity on the other hand provides a powerful platform that helps you search sitters based on specific requirements and credentials that you are looking for which are specific to your family’s needs.
Although the platform does not take into consideration your Facebook connections when it comes to matching you with sitters, you get full access to feedback from all people who have used or are currently using sitters who you are interested in hiring.
So if you prefer not sharing sitters with people you know and value your privacy, then Sittercity could potentially be an excellent option for you.
So if you prefer not sharing sitters with people you know and value your privacy, then Sittercity could potentially be an excellent option for you.
2. Repeat Hires Indicator.
One great feature that we love about UrbanSitter is their Repeat Hires Indicator for babysitters.
The more repeat hires a babysitter has, then the more you might like to consider hiring that person. This is a great indicator of the quality of a babysitter since obviously, the more repeat hires that a babysitter has with families, the better.
The more repeat hires a babysitter has, then the more you might like to consider hiring that person. This is a great indicator of the quality of a babysitter since obviously, the more repeat hires that a babysitter has with families, the better. This simply means that families are really happy with the service that the babysitter is providing.
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Sittercity does not have this feature.
3. Background Checks.
There are two main differences between Sittercity and UrbanSitter when it comes to background checks.
The first one has to do with the sitters on the platform. For UrbanSitter, as of November 1, 2019, all available childcare providers that you can search and hire on the platform will have been background checked (including sex offender and criminal history) and screened by UrbanSitter via its third party partner, Evident ID, which is one of the leading background checking services in the U.S.
In the case of Sittercity, although they do an initial identification authentication screening and sex offender history check, no criminal history check is done. Criminal history check is something you will have to request and this is part of the enhanced background check package.
Another difference between the two services has to do with the way background checks are processed, as well as the background check pricing.
For Sittercity, you can run an background check on the sitter yourself. It’s that easy. Background checks on Sittercity start at $14.99.
With UrbanSitter, it’s quite different. You would have to contact their Support team and they will have to run the background check on the sitter themselves. You will then have access to the report when it’s ready. Background check on UrbanSitter starts at $9.95.
It’s worth noting that you have less chances of running a background check on a last-minute sitter with UrbanSitter. Since you would have to email them first to request for a background check afterwhich, you would have to wait for some time for the results. You really can’t afford to wait if you’re hiring a last-minute sitter.
With Sittercity, you can run a background check right away. As a matter of fact, you can run a background check on a sitter anytime you want. You just have to click on the “Run A Background Check” on the sitter’s profile to get information when you need one. There is no need to contact a support person in order to run a background check.
This particular feature of Sittercity allows you to run background checks conveniently. Again, unlike UrbanSitter, there’s no need to email the support team and wait for the results.
This particular feature of Sittercity allows you to run background checks conveniently. Again, unlike UrbanSitter, there’s no need to email the support team and wait for the results.
On both UrbanSitter and Sittercity, if someone has already run an enhanced background check on a sitter, then you get access to the background check and it won’t cost you a thing.
4. Membership Rates.
The membership rates for both sitter services vary. See the comparison table below.
| Subscription Period | UrbanSitter Fees* | Sittercity Fees* |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| One-month access pass (pay as you go, no commitment) | $34.95 | none | |
| One-month premium membership | $19.95 a month (automatic billing every month). | $35 a month (automatic billing every month) | |
| Three-month premium membership | not applicable | $70, which comes out to $23.33/month | |
| One-year premium membership | $99.95, this is the best deal at $8.33/month | $140, this is the best deal at $11.67/month | |
| *Please note that the three-month and one-year memberships are billed upfront and not on a monthly basis. | |||
For Sittercity, the one-month premium membership is $35 a month, which is billed monthly. The 3-month premium membership is $70, which is paid upfront and billed quarterly thereafter, comes out to $23.33/month. The one-year premium membership is $140, which is also paid upfront and billed annually, comes out to $11.67 a month.
UrbanSitter has a no commitment Pay-As-You-Go Access Pass that goes for $34.95. This is good for one month and it does not renew. This is a great option that UrbanSitter offers. Sittercity does not have this option.
UrbanSitter has a no commitment Pay-As-You-Go Access Pass that goes for $34.95. This is good for one month and it does not renew. This is a great option that UrbanSitter offers. Sittercity does not have this option.
Should you decide to use UrbanSitter on a regular basis, you have a choice of either paying a monthly fee of $14.95 or an annual fee of $99.95.
If you compare the monthly billing plans of the two services, then UrbanSitter is hands down more affordable.
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If you compare the monthly billing plans of the two services, then UrbanSitter is hands down more affordable.
When it comes to the annual billling plans, UrbanSitter is also hands-down significantly more affordable: $99.95 for UrbanSitter versus $140 for Sittercity. That’s a difference of $40.
PLEASE NOTE: All the pricing information provided in this article may be subject to change as of this writing. We do not have any control with any pricing changes that both Sittercity or UrbanSitter may decide to implement. However, we will do our best to keep up-to-date with the pricing schedules for both of these excellent services.
Our Recommendation
So which of the two is best for you? The answer: It depends on two things … the hiring process time and availability of sitters in your area.
If you are looking to find sitters who have been vetted, screened, and are currently working with people you may know, then go with UrbanSitter. You can really cut down on the hiring process time in half if you go with this service.
If you are looking to find sitters who have been vetted, screened, and are currently working with people you may know, then go with UrbanSitter. You can really cut down on the hiring process time in half if you go with this service.
The added bonus is that UrbanSitter is also more affordable.
The only question is the availability of sitters in your area. So far, UrbanSitter is more popular in areas where major cities are located. Still, it does not hurt to test drive them to see if you have available sitters in your area.
Sittercity, on the other hand appears to have more presence in more cities and areas compared to UrbanSitter so that is a plus for them. However, you will definitely have to do your own vetting and screening as you won’t be able to leverage your social connections the way UrbanSitter does.
Sittercity, on the other hand appears to have more presence in more cities and areas compared to UrbanSitter so that is a plus for them. However, you will definitely have to do your own vetting and screening as you won’t be able to leverage your social connections the way UrbanSitter does.
Our recommendation is for you to try UrbanSitter first and see if this service can help you connect with sitters who already have been vetted and screened by people you may know.
Our recommendation is for you to try UrbanSitter first and see if this service can help you connect with sitters who already have been vetted and screened by people you may know. If you find sitters on UrbanSitter, then well and good. And again, UrbanSitter is also more affordable than Sittercity.
Now if you do not find any potential sitters through UrbanSitter, then we suggest that you then go and test drive Sittercity and see if you may be able to connect with sitters through them.
Remember, both these services provide FREE basic access, which is an awesome way for you to test drive and experience firsthand how their platforms work. This way you can actually see for yourself how these two websites can connect you to sitters.
Both childcare websites offer quality service. However, only you can tell which one suits you and your family’s needs best.
Related read: Sittercity vs Care.com a side by side comparison
Disclosure: Compensated Affiliate. Click here for details.
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A nerd at heart (haha), I have been following and analyzing the world of online sitters for a couple of years now and have seen a lot of innovations and changes in this market. In between taking care of my loving (and demanding 😜) family and writing, I also do a lot of “traveling” on the Travel Channel and Discovery Channel. Read More
The fact that most of my friends are signed up with Urbansitter says a lot about the service. They wouldn’t stick to a service that sucks. Who would really, right? So, I just had to give it a try as well and I’m glad I did. If it’s mom-recommended, then it should be good to go.
Yes, you’re quite right. It was tough to choose between Sittercity and Urbansitter especially since I was so used to the former. I didn’t want to make that change but having other parents vet a potential sitter really makes finding a new sitter a lot easier. It’s a big time saver plus I personally feel more comfortable hiring someone that other parents are also currently hiring.
I had a good run with Sittercity. I used their service for almost seven years and that was when I had my first kid. I didn’t bother looking out for another service since I was very happy with them. I thought I would stick to it when my second baby came along but when a friend told me to try Urbansitter, I couldn’t help but make a switch. To start with, most of my friends were on it and just didn’t want to be left out. 🙂
I tried Urbansitter over the holidays and it was a life-saver. In spite of the hectic season, the sitters were easy to get with. They responded right away. It was pretty easy for me to find one right away. I’m definitely sticking to this service.
Now that the sitters on Urbansitter undergo mandatory comprehensive background checks, it’s really a no-brainer. I’d go for Urbansitter.
Over the years, the only babysitting service I was on was Sittercity. I just felt safe with them because of the way they set out their selection process. I have to admit, I learned a lot from them. I was one of those moms who just hired a sitter. Then Sittercity showed me a safer way to hire and I just picked it up. It was safer and easier. But just like anything else in life, nothing lasts forever and in my opinion, Urbansitter is a lot safer because of their creative way of vetting babysitters. It’s pretty obvious that I’m with Urbansitter now. Even if my kids are in middle school, I still need that extra help. These days, I get it from Urbansitter. 🙂
I love UrbanSitter. They really make hiring sitters (even last minute emergency sitters!) so convenient. I use them and would recommend them over Sittersity anytime. I’ve used Sittercity before but really prefer UrbanSitter cause it’s a lot easier to find highly rated sitters who are trusted and in demand in my community.
I gotta admit … I made that switch as well and I’m pretty happy with it. With Urbansitter, it takes me a shorter time to hire someone whom I can trust.
It’ll be a lot easier now with Urbansitter. Effective Nov. 1, they require all sitters and nannies to undergo an extensive background check. That can save us a lot of time to find someone we feel comfortable with.
Yes and that’s good news for us parents. The sitters on Urbansitter now have to undergo a COMPREHENSIVE background check. Without it, they can’t be on Urbansitter. That just makes them the safer platform for sitters and parents.
Urbansittter and Sittercity are pretty similar. However, there’s a big difference in their price points. Urbansitter is a lot more affordable plus the sitters I get to hire are not necessarily total strangers compared to Sittercity.
Considering Urbansitter is new, compared to Sittercity … it is, I didn’t think it would have a lot of available sitters in my area. I was proven wrong when I gave it a try. They have an amazing network of sitters. These sitters aren’t total strangers since a lot of my friends have hired them already.
At first, I wasn’t comfortable with hiring someone who had already worked for an acquaintance of mine. I’m such a private person and I’m just not comfortable with sharing sitters. Still, I gave Urbansitter a shot. I just couldn’t resist trying it. So when a friend of mine recommended Barbara, I was impressed with how she avoided talking about the people we know. For me, that matters a lot.
Yes, privacy is one of the most important things for me as well. I take it up during the briefing with the sitter. One of my rules is no photo taking of my kids and my home. I am very strict when it comes to photo taking. So far, the sitters I’ve hired abide by my rules. I appreciate that very much.
I usually get in touch with the sitters on Urbansitter thru their app and I love it. I can also pay my sitters via the app, which really comes very handy when I’m short on cash.
Yes, I love that I can pay my sitters directly via the app. I don’t have to worry about stopping by an ATM just so I can withdraw some cash to pay them.
Yes, I agree with you guys. Urbansitter really makes it very easy for us to pay the sitters, most especially since we can use our credit card. FYI, to make sure the credit card transaction is seamless, check that the mode of payment in the settings of the app is on credit card.
You can even add a tip if you like. The sitter just has to confirm the number of hours worked and the total amount to be paid will be computed for you. Once that’s done, you can add a tip. Since I always end up with great sitters, I have made it a habit to add a tip.
The average cost of hiring a sitter in our area is pretty steep. We live in one of the top five cities where sitter service is pretty expensive. There’s nothing much that I can do about the standard sitter rate but at least Urbansitter makes it more affordable for us to connect to great sitters.
Urbansitter is great especially if you’re in need of a last-minute sitter. I had in fact used Sittercity prior to UrbanSitter. The reason I switched is because I feel more comfortable working with sitters who have been vetted by people within my community. It’s just that UrbanSitter suits me more.
Same here. The fact that the sitter has been vetted by people I know gives me a sense of security.
I tried both but definitely prefer UrbanSitter. The repeat hire indicator in combination with the ratings and reviews make for a powerful screening combination on UrbanSitter. That really helped me find a sitter fast. UrbanSitter is 2 thumbs up for me!
Since both services offer free access, I went on to try both. What I learned was that I could actually make good use of both services. I have a wider range of options when I’m signed up with both.
I’ve been with Sittercity for years. There was never a time when I thought I needed to try another service until I heard about Urbansitter. Urbansitter’s Pay-As-You-Go Pass is pretty reasonable. I gave it a try and I was impressed with their services as well. It’s good to know that there two credible childcare serviecs out there that we can always rely on.
You’re right. It’s a tough choice but the only way to really know which one suits you is by trying both. That’s what I did.
I would feel a lot better if a friend of mine already knows the babysitter I’ve hired. At least, I can always get honest-to-goodness feedback. I wouldn’t have to rely so much on the references of the babysitter.
Thanks for recommending the test drive. In fact, I tried both. Found UrbanSitter more to my liking as I felt more comfortable contacting parents who I had some common associations with as opposed to people I do not know on Sittercity. Found a couple of awesome sitters on UrbanSitter too so THANK YOU!
I am actually signed up with both but I prefer UrbanSitter since the sitters I hire were recommended by people I know. Their platform is no doubt a BIG time-saver so I highly recommend them especially if you are in a hurry to find someone to watch over your kids.
I love UrbanSitter’s app. It’s really very convenient to use. I had used Sittercity previously but decided to switch to UrbanSitter instead since I love the concept of hiring sitters who are highly-rated and are frequently being hired by people I know. It really makes the hiring process a lot easier. If you are still on the fence with UrbanSitter, use the basic access. It’s free anyway. I tried it and really found their service more to my liking than Sittercity.
LOVE UrbanSitter! I found a couple of great people to watch over my kids there. I felt more comfortable hiring sitters who frequently babysit for people within my network. Plus they are more affordable than Sittercity. I highly recommend them! 🙂
I definitely rely a lot on the indicators. I usually go for a sitter who has a lot of reviews (definitely more than 30) and repeat families. I would also appreciate one who could reply right away. That’s why I decided to use Urbansitter.
I’m not sure about the coverage of Urbansitter but it seems that I have a wider selection in Sittercity. Maybe they have more sitters signed up with them? I really don’t know but that is the reason why I decided on Sittercity.
UrbanSitter can work for parents who don’t really look into the background of the sitters. They’re contented with just the reviews of other parents who have hired the sitter previously.
I’m already signed up with Sittercity. I have been with them for years but I got curious about UrbanSitter. So I signed up (for free) just to see what it’s about. Basically, the sitters are shared by families who live in the same area. I’m not too crazy about that. I still feel safer with Sittercity. 🙂