Urban Sitter Review: How to Access Childcare Gigs?

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UrbanSitter is an online platform that enables users to book and pay babysitters and nannies for their children on-demand. If you are fond of working with children and would like to earn some money as a babysitter, then this is one of the best platforms to look for gigs. UrbanSitter is has a mobile app as well, making it easy to find jobs on the go, plus you get to keep 100% of all earnings.

Pros

  • High earnings potential – top babysitters and nannies on the platform can earn $1000 per week or more, making it a great full time job option.
  • No fees – the platform does not charge a fee for babysitters and you can set your own hourly rate and keep 100% of all the money that you earn.
  • Flexible working schedule – you can take on gigs whenever you want and apply for jobs on the go with just 1 click using the platform’s mobile app.
  • 10+ job types available to choose from – you can be an after school sitter, a pet care sitter, a morning nanny, a virtual babysitter and many more.

Cons

  • Long sign up process – you will need to go through a background check before you can start applying to jobs, and this can take up to 2 weeks or more.
  • Stiff competition – with 30,000+ sitters on the app, it may be hard to get selected for gigs at the start when your profile is still relatively new.

Jump to: Full Review

Compare to Other Gig Economy Jobs

GoPuff

GoPuff logo

Experienced delivery drivers can earn up to $21 per hour ($13 on average)

Choose when you want to work based on your schedule in 1000 cities

Delivery snacks, drinks, grocery, quick meals, cleaning supplies and more

DoorDash

DoorDash logo

Earn $25 per hour plus keep 100% of your tips (4000 cities in USA)

You can use any mode of transportation: your car, bicycle or motorcycle

You have the freedom to pick and choose which orders you want to accept

Grubhub

Grubhub logo

Make around $12 per hour + tips and create your own flexible schedule

No resume, interview or delivery experience required, and no dress code

Cash your earnings out up to $500 a day (free for Chase Bank customers)

How Does UrbanSitter Work?


Founded in 2011, UrbanSitter is an app that connects background-checked caregivers with parents who are willing to pay these sitters for their services.

UrbanSitter allows you to;

  • Create a profile, set your schedule and rates, and complete a background check
  • Browse the Job Board to apply for positions, then accept jobs with a simple tap. 
  • Set your own hourly rate and keep 100% of what you earn.

UrbanSitter not only creates flexibility for busy parents, but also offers great earning potential for those looking for child care work. 

How Much You Can Make With UrbanSitter?


The average hourly pay for UrbanSitters in the U.S is $14.75. This is approximately the same as the national average for childminders and nannies.

How to Boost Your UrbanSitter Earning? 


Obtain CPR training

If you can document in your profile that you are CPR trained or have certification, you will be able to command a higher rate. CPR training highlights to parents that you have the knowledge to deal with emergencies, so they are more likely to feel reassured about hiring you.

Consider being a nanny

If you’re looking for full time work, consider becoming a nanny rather than a basic sitter. Nannies have a higher earning potential since parents often cover room and board in addition to paying wages. You can also offer night nanny services, which will further increase your earnings. 

Go above and beyond

Finally, you can increase your potential earnings by always aiming to go above and beyond your basic duties. Simple things like cleaning up the kitchen after preparing the children’s snacks, arriving early for your shift or preparing activities to keep the children entertained, will all be appreciated by parents. 

Bear in mind that you will need to pay for an UrbanSitter membership, which is currently $70 per year.  So, you will need to factor in the costs of your membership when calculating how much you can earn.

Don’t forget to factor the cost of your membership into your potential earnings.

Who is UrbanSitter Best for?


UrbanSitter is best for nannies, babysitters, and tutors who want to make extra money by providing their services. This app is also designed for parents looking for tutors, household services, pet care, and senior care.

UrbanSitter Benefits: What Does UrbanSitter Offer?


Flexible 

UrbanSitter allows you to create your own work schedule and specify the days of the week or even times when you are available. This is great if you are looking for a side hustle around other commitments. 

Showcase your skills

UrbanSitter allows you to showcase your qualifications and skills by completing your profile professionally. This way, you can easily land on-demand jobs and gigs. 

Set your preferred rates

With UrbanSitter, you can specify your preferred pay rate and minimize the risk of salary misunderstandings with your clients. 

Target clients

UrbanSitter increases your chances of landing suitable jobs.

Apply for jobs on the go

UrbanSitter comes with a mobile app that allows you to apply for and accept jobs on the go. 

UrbanSitter Requirements


Since you will be in charge of children’s welfare and security, UrbanSitter does have some important requirements for all sitters. 

The requirements to join the platform include:

  • Age 18+: You need to provide your date of birth, so the company can confirm that you are over the age of 18.
  • ID Verification: This needs to be completed before anyone can hire you through UrbanSitter. This is crucial for trust between you and the parents. After all, the parents need to know exactly who they are leaving in charge of their child’s welfare. It can also help to showcase your reliability.
  • Pass a Background Check: UrbanSitter has a third party partner process background checks for all prospective UrbanSitters. You will need to provide your social security number and the company will check back for a period of 7 years to confirm that you are not on any federal databases or registries. 
  • Manual Profile Review: Before you can receive final approval, the UrbanSitter Member Services team manually reviews all sitter profiles to ensure that they meet the company standards. 

In theory, there are no other specific requirements, but you do need to set up a complete profile and meet the above requirements before you can book any jobs. Without an active membership, your profile will be hidden from anyone searching for a sitter or nanny. 

You will also find that there are different requirements for specific jobs. So, you’ll need to check each job before applying to ensure you meet the parent’s criteria. 

Each job has specific requirements, so check the criteria before applying.

UrbanSitter Costs to Consider


While UrbanSitter is free to download, sign up and use, you are required to pay a membership fee of up to $70 per year.

UrbanSitter Payout Terms and Options?


Your earnings from the job will be processed through the site. The parent’s credit card will be charged, and you’ll receive your payment via direct deposit.

UrbanSitter Reviews: is UrbanSitter Legit?


UrbanSitter is certainly a legit platform that pays nannies and pet sitters for their services. It has been operating for approximately 10 years and in this time, the company has established a solid reputation to reassure users who may be concerned whether its safe or not.

The company has a 2.4 on Trustpilot and a 4.8 on App Store with reviews from both sitters and parents. The UrbanSitter review comments praise the access to quality jobs and decent earning potential. Other users also described its customer support as quite responsive.

The only real complaint appears to be regarding the auto renewal of membership premiums. 

What Are the UrbanSitter Pros & Cons?


UrbanSitter Pros

  • The platform allows you to create your own work schedule. 
  •  UrbanSitter allows you to professionally showcase your qualifications and skills
  • You can set your preferred ate 
  • UrbanSitter increases your chances of landing suitable jobs 

UrbanSitter Cons

  • Membership fee of up to $70 per year
  • Not Easy to Join

How Good is UrbanSitter Support and Knowledge Base?


UrbanSitter has detailed support and knowledge base including frequently asked questions, articles and blogs on how it works for parents and nannies. You can also contact them by emailing them via [email protected]. Its support is, therefore, considered good.

UrbanSitter Review Verdict: is UrbanSitter Worth it?


UrbanSitter is a reputable platform offering some great opportunities to find work as a babysitter or nanny and make up to $14.75 an hour. However, you will need to pay an annual membership, which is approximately $70. So, whatever you earn will need to cover your membership costs. 

Additionally, you can’t access the job board until you sign up. You may find it frustrating to go through the sign up process only to find there are few jobs in your city. 

However, if you’re serious about childcare work, then you may find that UrbanSitter provides some great opportunities.

How to Start Earning With UrbanSitter?


You can sign up and become a sitter on UrbanSitter through the website or the UrbanSitter App. You can use your Facebook profile, Google account or a valid email address. The company only accesses your basic information including profile picture, name and email address. 

You will also need to enter your date of birth to confirm you are over the age of 18. UrbanSitter will require your permission to perform a background check and ID verification. 

After approval, you can then start to explore the sitter jobs. As an active UrbanSitter member, you can access the job board to view the current available UrbanSitter jobs. 

You can filter the job listings to suit your requirements including location, job type, schedule and rates. When you find a suitable posting, click “Express Interest” to submit an application. The client can then look through your profile and will get in touch directly if they decide you’re a good fit.

Sites Like UrbanSitter


UrbanSitter vs. DoorDash


DoorDash Summary

  • Choose your own flexible working hours
  • Earn up to $25 per hour + tips
  • Get $150 when you refer a friend to join
  • You get to keep 100% of all tips

DoorDash is a food delivery app that lets you make money delivering restaurant food. While both platforms are free to sign up for, DoorDash charges nothing compared to UrbanSitter, which charges up to $70 membership fees. 

DoorDash also allows you to make up to $20 per hour compared to UrbanSitter’s potential earnings of $14.75. DoorDash enables you to withdraw every week in terms of the payment schedule. Compared to UrbanSitter, which pays instantly. Otherwise, both platforms offer some of the best on-demand jobs and gigs.

UrbanSitter vs. Grubhub


GrubHub Summary

  • High average earnings of $12 per hour
  • Instant cash out for your earnings
  • Earn more from tips and peak periods
  • Deliver with car, bike, scooter, motorcycle

Grubhub is a work for yourself job that lets you make money by delivering food. Like UrbanSitter, Grubhub is free to sign up. However, compared to Grubhub, you need to pay up to a $70 membership fee per year to sue UrbanSitter compared to Grubhub, which charges nothing. 

Grubhub also allows you to make $12 to $13 compared to UrbanSitter’s expected earnings of $14.75 per hour. Moreover, Grubhub pays every Thursday compared to UrbanSitter, which offers instant payments.

UrbanSitter vs. GoPuff


GoPuff Summary

  • Potential to earn up to $21 per hour
  • Additional ways to earn extra cash
  • Good side hustle even with a full-time job
  • Work as much or as little as you want

GoPuff is a gig workers website that lets you make money by delivering food and other groceries. Although both platforms are free to sign up for, UrbanSitter charges a membership fee of up to $70 every year. 

GoPuff also lets you earn up to $13 per hour compared to UrbanSitter’s expected earnings of $14.75. As for the payment schedule, GoPuff pays every Wednesday compared to UrbanSitter, which pays instantly. 

UrbanSitter vs. Care


Care Summary

  • Earn $15 to $20 per hour on average
  • Payments processed quickly within 2 days
  • Get up to $500 in benefits each year
  • All caregivers get 4 different benefits

Care is a job board offering a variety of job opportunities in the caring field. This includes babysitting and childminding. Like UrbanSitter, nannies need to be 18 or older and create a complete profile on the site. However, this platform does have a free membership option. So, while the average earnings is lower at $11 per hour, you don’t need to consider membership costs.

UrbanSitter vs. GreatAupair


Like UrbanSitter, GreatAupair does have an upfront investment, but you can pay for a 30 day or 90 day membership. This costs $60 or $120 respectively. GreatAupair screens potential families and sets the minimum stipend for au pairs at $195, so you can earn over $10,000 per year.

UrbanSitter vs. Nannylane


Nannylane is another platform offering flexible work opportunities. You’ll need to complete a profile, but the platform will handle background checks and payroll. The average hourly rate on the platform is $13. Like UrbanSitter, you can explore the job boards for opportunities, but you don’t need to pay a membership fee.

Other Sites Like UrbanSitter


UrbanSitter FAQ


What is UrbanSitter?

This platform operates in 60 cities across the US, but it continues to grow and offer access to babysitters in other areas of the country. The aim of UrbanSitter is to take the guesswork out of hiring a sitter or nanny. 

Parents can search through the UrbanSitter database of babysitters and nannies, book, pay and review their chosen sitter all through their mobile devices. 

The company’s mission is to support families and caregivers so they can focus on other important things such as careers and studies. 

Is UrbanSitter legit?

UrbanSitter is a legit platform that pays; hence not a scam.

Do you have to pay for UrbanSitter?

To become an approved sitter on the platform, you need to have cleared a background check and pay a membership fee of $70 per year. 

Does UrbanSitter do background checks?

UrbanSitter uses a third-party safety partner to perform background checks on all sitter applicants.

What’s the difference between a nanny and a babysitter?

The key difference between the two roles is that nannies typically complete household chores, including taking care of the children. 

Is your information safe with UrbanSitter?

UrbanSitter promises not to share your personal information unless required by law or with your consent. Your information can therefore be considered safe.

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