Which one suits you
Pawshake, if
- you need someone for a night or two, or at short notice
- you want walks, visits or day care while you're at home too
- you want vet cover on the booking, and support at any hour
HouseSit, if
- you're away for a week or more and would rather not pay for care
- you want someone living in your home for the whole trip
- you can plan a few weeks ahead: sitters travel to you
What your trip would cost
Pick your trip and type your sitter's price.
Your trip
Pawshake
£560for the trip
£40 a night × 14 nights, plus a service fee
HouseSit
Free
A sitter stays in your home and looks after your pets in return.
£40 is the average starting price of the first 20 house sitters on Pawshake's London and Southampton pages in October 2026; most ask £25–55. Its service fee comes on top.
Sources: Pawshake London, Oct 2026 · Pawshake Southampton, Oct 2026
Side by side
- Cost
- Free
- About £40 a night in the UK: each sitter sets a price Plus a service fee: a percentage, capped on big bookings
- Who comes
- A traveller who stays in your home, for free, in return for the stay
- A local sitter you pay, who stays overnight in your home
- Booking
- Sitters apply, you choose, and you agree on the details together
- Meet the sitter for free, then book and pay through Pawshake
- Checks
- Optional ID check: €29 once, and the badge stays
- Its team reviews every house sitter's profile, and says it accepts 15% of those who apply
- Vet cover
- Not yet
- Free vet cover with every booking paid through Pawshake
- Support
- A feedback button we answer ourselves
- 24/7
- Updates
- Up to you and your sitter: messages, photos, calls
- Daily text and photo updates, included
- Walks and visits
- No: HouseSit is for when you're away
- Yes: dog walking, day care, visits and boarding too
Pawshake facts come from its own website, checked in October 2026. £40 is the average starting price of the first 20 house sitters on its London and Southampton pages; the service fee shows before you pay.
What Pawshake does better
Worth knowing before you choose.
Local sitters, any dates
Pawshake's sitters live near you, so a night or two, or a booking at short notice, is easier to find. On HouseSit, sitters travel to you, so post early.
Vet cover on the booking
Every booking paid through Pawshake comes with free vet cover. We don't offer cover yet.
Sitters picked by its team
It reviews every house sitter's profile, and says it accepts 15% of those who apply. On HouseSit, the ID check is optional.
Meet first, then daily updates
A free meet and greet before you book, and text and photo updates every day of the stay.
Walks, visits and day care
For the days you're at home too. HouseSit is only for when you're away.
So why try HouseSit?
On Pawshake you pay for every night, plus a fee. Here a sitter stays for free, and you can still book Pawshake for walks.
What’s different on HouseSit
Free for the whole trip
No price per night and no service fee. The sitter stays for free and looks after your pets in return.
You choose who comes
Sitters apply to your listing. Read their profiles and reviews, have a video call, and say yes to one.
Their record comes with them
Sitters can bring their review count from Pawshake, Rover and house sitting platforms, so a new member here still shows their record.
How it works, in four steps
- 1
List your home free
Add your pets, your home and your dates. No card needed.
- 2
Sitters apply
Sitters who'd like to come send you a message. Read their profiles and reviews.
- 3
Talk, then choose
Have a video call and ask what matters to you. Then say yes to one sitter.
- 4
Hand over, and travel
Put the details in writing with our free house sit agreement, and leave your pets at home with someone you chose.
Other ways to have your pets looked after
Pawshake isn't the only other choice. Here is how the others work, with our page on each.
- HouseSit vs RoverPaid sitters near you: £30 to £40 a night on average in the UK, plus an 11% booking fee, its site says.
- HouseSit vs pet boardingAbout €30 a night for one dog, often more for each pet, and your pets stay away from home.
- HouseSit vs TrustedHousesittersHouse sitting with a yearly plan: $129 to $399 a year in the US, plus $12 a sit on two plans.
Questions people ask
Is HouseSit really free for pet owners?
Yes. Listing your home, reading applications, messaging and choosing a sitter cost nothing. The sitter stays for free and looks after your pets in return. We charge only for optional extras, like a €29 ID check for members who want the badge.
How much does Pawshake cost?
About £40 a night in the UK, plus a service fee. In October 2026, that was the average starting price of the first 20 house sitters on its London and Southampton pages, and most asked £25–55. Each sitter sets their own price, and owners pay a service fee on top, a percentage of the booking with a cap on big bookings. Pawshake shows the full cost before you pay.
Can I use both?
Yes. Book walks or day care on Pawshake while you're home, and find a house sitter here when you travel.
How far ahead should I post?
As soon as your dates are set. Sitters travel to you, so they plan ahead too, and a last-minute sit is harder to fill.
Is HouseSit safe?
Members can verify their ID with Stripe, and hosts and sitters review each other after every sit. Before you agree, have a video call, and if they aren't verified, ask to see their ID. Put the details in writing with our free house sit agreement, and read our safety tips. HouseSit doesn't guarantee a sit, and doesn't run background checks yet, so the final check is yours.
Does HouseSit include vet cover?
Not yet. Pawshake includes vet cover with every booking paid through it. Before you leave, give the sitter your vet's details, and ask your home insurer whether a house sitter is covered.
