Rover vs Wag vs TrustedHousesitters 2026: Full Comparison

When you travel without your dog, finding trusted care is the difference between a relaxing trip and a worry-filled one. The pet care app market has matured significantly — Rover and Wag dominate the paid sitter model, TrustedHousesitters has carved out a strong subscription-based niche, and newer platforms WoofConnect and PetBacker compete on specific use cases. We tested all five platforms over multiple bookings across different cities and compiled this comprehensive comparison to help you choose the right one.

Key Takeaway: Rover has the widest sitter network and is the best default choice for most pet owners. TrustedHousesitters is the best value for frequent travelers with well-socialized dogs. Wag has improved significantly and is better than its early reputation suggests.

---

The Core Problem: What You’re Actually Trying to Solve

Before comparing platforms, it’s worth being precise about what you need. Different situations call for different solutions:

• Short trip (1–3 nights): Dog boarding with a sitter is typically the best option
• Longer trip (4–14 nights): House sitting (TrustedHousesitters or equivalent) often works better
• Dog that struggles in new environments: In-home sitter coming to your house daily (Rover/Wag drop-in visits)
• Last-minute need: Wag has the best on-demand response times
• Budget constraint: TrustedHousesitters has no per-booking costs after the annual membership fee

---

Rover: Full Review (Updated 2026)

Overview

Rover is the largest dedicated pet care marketplace in the world. Founded in 2011, it has processed over 10 million bookings and operates in the U.S., Canada, and across most of Western Europe. The platform connects dog owners with independently reviewed sitters who offer boarding, house sitting, drop-in visits, doggy day care, and dog walking.

Services Available

Service	What It Includes
Boarding	Dog stays at sitter’s home overnight
House Sitting	Sitter stays at your home overnight
Drop-In Visits	Sitter comes to your home 20–30 min per visit
Doggy Day Care	Dog stays at sitter’s home during day hours
Dog Walking	20 or 30-minute leashed walks

Pricing (2026 averages)

Pricing varies significantly by city — major metros are 30–50% higher than smaller cities.

Service	U.S. National Average
Overnight Boarding	$35–$65/night
House Sitting	$40–$75/night
Drop-In Visit	$18–$28/visit
Doggy Day Care	$25–$50/day
Dog Walking (30 min)	$20–$32/walk

Rover charges a service fee of 5–7% on top of sitter rates. Sitters set their own prices.

Quality and Safety

Rover’s quality control has improved substantially since the platform’s early controversy years. Current safety protocols include:

• Background checks on all sitters (through Checkr)
• Two-way rating and review system
• “Rover Guarantee” — up to $25,000 in vet care coverage per incident if your pet is injured while in a Rover sitter’s care
• 24/7 Trust & Safety support phone line

The Rover Guarantee is an important differentiator. It covers vet costs for injuries that occur during a booking — but it comes with conditions (must use Rover’s booking system, cannot use side payments, must report within 24 hours). Read the full terms before assuming coverage.

Pro Tip: When booking a Rover sitter for the first time, schedule a free Meet & Greet before committing to the booking. Rover strongly recommends this and most good sitters offer it. A 20-minute visit at the sitter’s home tells you far more about the situation than photos and reviews.

App Features

• Real-time photo and update sharing from sitters (most sitters send 1–3 updates per day)
• GPS-tracked walks with map visible to owners
• In-app messaging and payment
• Repeat booking system (easy to rebook sitters you’ve used before)
• iOS and Android apps rated 4.8/5

Best For

• Most pet owners, most situations
• First-time users of pet care apps
• Dogs that are comfortable in new environments
• Owners who want to pre-screen sitters thoroughly before travel
• International travelers (Rover operates in 10+ countries)

---

Wag: Full Review (Updated 2026)

Overview

Wag launched in 2015 with a focus on on-demand dog walking and built its reputation on speed — a walker could arrive within the hour. The platform has evolved into a more full-service competitor to Rover, adding boarding, drop-in visits, and training. Wag has had a complicated history (a significant data breach in 2018, a SoftBank investment and subsequent pivot), but the 2025–2026 iteration of Wag is a genuinely improved product.

Services Available

Service	What It Includes
Boarding	Dog stays at walker/sitter’s home
Drop-In Visits	Sitter comes to your home
Dog Walking	20 or 30-minute walks
Day Care	Dog at sitter’s home during day
Training	Virtual and in-home training sessions
Vet Chat	Telehealth vet consultations

The inclusion of Vet Chat (telehealth veterinary consultations available 24/7 through the app) is a meaningful differentiator from Rover. For traveling pet owners who want peace of mind that a sitter can quickly consult a vet, this is a real feature.

Pricing (2026 averages)

Service	U.S. National Average
Overnight Boarding	$33–$60/night
Drop-In Visit	$17–$26/visit
Dog Walking (30 min)	$18–$30/walk
Vet Chat	$0 for Premium members; $5/consult basic

Wag’s service fee structure is similar to Rover’s (around 6–8%). The Wag Premium subscription ($9.99/month or $89.99/year) waives service fees, adds unlimited vet chats, and offers priority booking — useful for frequent bookers.

Quality and Safety

Wag’s background check process (also through Checkr) is comparable to Rover’s. The platform’s “Wag! Protection” covers up to $1,000,000 in liability per occurrence and up to $250,000 in medical care for vet bills — a higher stated coverage ceiling than Rover, though the conditions and exclusions should be read carefully.

Vet Tip: Wag’s 24/7 Vet Chat feature, available through Wag Premium, connects you with a licensed veterinarian via text or video. While this is not a substitute for in-person care, having a vet available at 2am to assess whether your dog’s behavior is concerning is genuinely valuable when you’re far from home. The ASPCA notes that early intervention in health emergencies dramatically improves outcomes.

App Features

• Live GPS tracking during walks
• In-app lock box code sharing (for keyless entry during drop-ins)
• Automated wellness reports after walks
• iOS and Android apps rated 4.6/5

Best For

• On-demand and last-minute bookings
• Owners who prioritize telehealth vet access
• Urban dog owners who use the service frequently (Wag Premium pays off quickly)
• Travelers who need a reliable in-home drop-in service

---

TrustedHousesitters: Full Review (Updated 2026)

Overview

TrustedHousesitters operates on a fundamentally different model from Rover and Wag. Rather than paying per booking, you pay an annual membership fee. House sitters — often travelers themselves — stay in your home and care for your pets while you travel, at no additional cost per booking. The sitter gets free accommodation; you get free pet care.

How It Works

1. You join as a “pet owner” and pay the annual membership
2. You list your home and pet sit needs on the platform
3. Sitters apply to house sit for you
4. You interview applicants and select one
5. Sitter stays in your home and cares for your pets for free

Membership Costs

Plan	Annual Cost	Features
Basic (owner)	$129/year	1 active listing at a time
Standard (owner)	$169/year	Up to 3 active listings
Premium (owner + sitter)	$259/year	Unlimited listings + you can also house sit elsewhere

After the membership fee, there are zero per-booking costs. One sit covers the cost of membership for a mid-range hotel night.

Quality and Safety

TrustedHousesitters has a rigorous verification process:

• ID verification for all members
• Background checks available (required for sitters in some regions)
• Two-way reference system
• Video calls standard in the application process
• 24/7 member support

The model’s accountability mechanism is reviews — sitters who want access to good pet sits need strong reviews, which creates strong alignment between sitter incentives and owner expectations.

Pro Tip: The most attractive house sits on TrustedHousesitters receive 30–60+ applications. To compete effectively as a pet owner, invest in your listing. Professional-quality photos of your home, detailed and honest pet descriptions, and a clear indication of what the sitter will have access to (car, Netflix, garden) significantly increase application quality and quantity.

The Traveler Perspective

Many TrustedHousesitters users also list themselves as sitters — the Premium plan allows this. Traveling sitters who care for other people’s pets in exchange for accommodation is one of the most interesting micro-economies in modern travel. For frequent travelers with well-socialized pets, this model can effectively make pet care free over time.

Limitations

• Requires advance planning — last-minute sits are possible but competitive
• Not available on-demand (no same-day bookings in most cases)
• Works best for social, adaptable dogs (sitters are strangers in a new environment)
• Less suitable for dogs with severe separation anxiety or medical complexity

Best For

• Frequent travelers (multiple trips per year)
• Owners with sociable, adaptable dogs
• Those who want their dog to stay home rather than board elsewhere
• Budget-conscious owners after the first year’s membership pays off

---

WoofConnect: Community Dog Boarding

Overview

WoofConnect is a newer, app-first platform focused on community-based boarding. The model is similar to TrustedHousesitters in spirit — connecting local dog owners to exchange boarding services — but with more structure around payments and verification.

How It Works

• Dogs are matched with local dog owners (not professional sitters) who have compatible dogs
• The boarding host gets paid a flat rate determined by WoofConnect (typically below Rover prices)
• Emphasis on dog-to-dog compatibility and play-based care

Pricing

Rates are generally 20–30% lower than Rover for comparable services. WoofConnect handles payment and basic insurance.

Best For

• Social, dog-friendly dogs that thrive with a canine companion
• Budget-conscious owners in cities with strong WoofConnect networks
• Short-notice local bookings

Limitations

• Smaller network than Rover (primarily major U.S. cities)
• Host are dog owners, not trained sitters
• Quality consistency varies significantly

---

PetBacker: Best for Southeast Asia and International

Overview

PetBacker is the dominant pet care marketplace in Southeast Asia but has also built a substantial presence in Australia, the UK, and parts of the U.S. For Pawventures readers who travel internationally with dogs or need pet care while traveling abroad, PetBacker is worth knowing.

Coverage

Strong in: Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong, Australia, UK Growing in: Canada, parts of the U.S.

Pricing

Rates reflect local markets — pet care in Southeast Asian cities through PetBacker costs 50–70% less than equivalent services in the U.S.

Best For

• Finding trusted pet care in Southeast Asia or Australia while you travel
• Expats living abroad who need ongoing pet care connections
• Travelers heading to cities not well-served by Rover or Wag

---

Full Comparison Table

Feature	Rover	Wag	TrustedHousesitters	WoofConnect	PetBacker
Business model	Per-booking marketplace	Per-booking marketplace	Annual subscription	Per-booking marketplace	Per-booking marketplace
Cost structure	$35–$75/night + fees	$33–$60/night + fees	$129–$259/year	Below-Rover pricing	Local market rates
Background checks	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Varies by region
Insurance/coverage	$25K vet guarantee	$250K+ coverage	THS guarantee	Basic coverage	Varies
Telehealth vet	No	Yes (Premium)	No	No	No
GPS-tracked walks	Yes	Yes	N/A	No	No
International	10+ countries	US/Canada	Worldwide	US/Canada	Asia, Australia, UK
Last-minute booking	Good	Best	Poor	Fair	Fair
App rating (iOS)	4.8/5	4.6/5	4.5/5	4.4/5	4.3/5
Best for	Most users	On-demand + telehealth	Frequent travelers	Social dogs	International stays

---

Choosing the Right Platform for Travel

If you travel 1–3 times per year: Rover is the default choice. Wide network, strong reviews, good coverage.

If you travel 4+ times per year: Run the math on TrustedHousesitters. At $169/year, three sits that would have cost $50/night each (3 nights each) saves you $270 in boarding costs — breaking even in year one.

If you need same-day or last-minute care: Wag outperforms Rover on response time for on-demand bookings.

If your dog prefers home: House Sitting (Rover, TrustedHousesitters, or Wag) is better than boarding. Your dog stays in their own environment with a familiar routine.

If traveling to Asia or Australia: PetBacker is likely to have the strongest local sitter network.

For comprehensive pet travel planning, Pawventures also recommends reviewing our pet travel insurance guide — some policies cover emergency boarding costs if you’re unable to return as planned, which pairs well with any of the platforms above. And if you’re bringing your dog on the trip, our road tripping with your dog guide covers vehicle safety and logistics in full.

---

Last updated: February 2026. Pricing and features subject to change — always verify current rates and policies directly with each platform before booking.