Free to read. No paid listings. How this site works
Your pet can stay at a sitter's home or a sitter can stay in yours. Either way: who is this person, and what happens if something goes wrong?
ASPCA and Rover, read Oct 2, 2026. See source
| If you are asking | Start with | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Social dog, short trip? | Boarding at a sitter's home | Compare |
| Cat, older or anxious pet? | House sitting keeps the routine | Compare |
| Puppy under four months? | Consider 24/7 care or house sitting | Read more |
| Worried about who the sitter is? | Read what each check covers | Screening |
Rover lists independent sitters who set their own rates; you search by address, read profiles and reviews, and pay through Rover's platform1. Rover says every sitter passes an enhanced background check and recommends a free in-person Meet & Greet before booking2.
Care.com is a directory of caregivers with posted starting rates. Searching is free; Care.com says you upgrade to its Premium membership when you are ready to hire3. Individual caregivers start with a required background check, more checks can be bought, and Care.com itself notes that background checks are not always complete4.
What it costs. Sitters on both platforms set their own prices, and Rover notes higher rates for holidays and add-ons such as extra pets or pickup1. The ASPCA's cost table puts kennel or boarding at about $25 a day for a dog or a cat (2021 figures)5; check current local rates on the platform.
If something goes wrong. Rover backs bookings made and paid on its platform with the Rover Guarantee: up to $25,000 in vet care for eligible claims, reimbursed after the first $250, for up to 30 days of care, if you tell Rover within 48 hours of the booking ending. Rover says plainly that it is not an insurance plan6.
| Question | Boarding (sitter's home) | House sitting (your home) |
|---|---|---|
| Where your pet stays | The sitter's home, sometimes with other dogs | Your home, on its usual routine |
| Suits | Social dogs; short trips | Cats, anxious or older pets, multiple pets |
| Ask the sitter | Other dogs present, yard fencing, 24/7 supervision | Hours away from the home, overnight presence |
| Source | Rover dog boarding pageRead Oct 2, 2026 | Rover house sitting pageRead Oct 2, 2026 |
General comparison. Rover suggests a trial day or short stay first for sensitive pets2.
How these links work: each button opens the partner's own site. We are not paid for these links today; we may earn a referral fee in the future.
Good for browsing caregivers' posted starting rates for free
Also on Care.com's site
Good for booking and paying a local sitter in one place
Also on Rover's site
Are other dogs in the home, and how are they separated?
Is the yard fenced, and where does your pet sleep?
How many hours a day is someone home with your pet?
Which vet, and how will they reach you? The Guarantee needs notice within 48 hours6.
Rover says boarding is generally fine for puppies four months and older, and suggests 24/7 care or house sitting for puppies with health or training needs2.
See our sitter screening guide for what each check searches and its limits.
No. Rover says it is not an insurance plan. It reimburses eligible vet care after the first $250, for up to 30 days6.
We do not earn anything from your quotes or sign-ups today. Every partner link is a plain link to the partner's own site, without a referral code. We may join partners' referral programs in the future, and this notice will say so before that changes.
Prices, plan terms and service areas belong to each company and can change. The company's own page is the final word on price, availability and terms.
PawPlan Guide is not a pet care provider, insurer, insurance agent or broker. We do not sell policies, book care or pass your details to anyone. Nothing here is veterinary advice.
