Care.com is one of the largest online marketplaces for finding, vetting, and managing family care services. Founded in 2006, Care.com connects families with a wide range of care providers, including child care (babysitters, nannies, tutors), eldercare providers, pet care, and housekeepers.
| Care.com Membership Levels | Membership Plan | Membership Levels Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Membership | Free, limited access | Free |
| Premium Membership | Paid, with monthly, quarterly, or annual payment options | |
| Annual membership in 2025 | $12.95 per month | |
| Quarterly membership in 2025 | $24.95 per month | |
| Monthly membership in 2025 | $38.95 per month |
**Additional background checks and driving history reports are available for an additional cost with a Premium membership.
The platform is a public company with millions of members across more than 17 countries. Care.com has become a go-to resource for families seeking trusted and reliable care solutions.
Care.com provides an annual “Cost of Care Report,” which provides up-to-date transparency for caregivers and families regarding the cost of care services in the USA.
The 2024 Cost of Care Report notes that parents responding to their annual survey spent a whopping 24% of their yearly household income on childcare! This data highlights a significant financial challenge for parents trying to raise their families and still have enough money left for food, school, etc.
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Care.com’s Mission
Care.com’s mission is to improve the lives of families and caregivers by helping them connect safely, securely, and effectively using technology and innovation.
The company strives to help families find the right childcare, eldercare, and pet care for their loved ones while also providing caregivers with opportunities to find meaningful, direct caregiving work.
The platform emphasizes safety and trust, ensuring families and caregivers connect confidently.
Our Experience Signing Up with Care.com
Our team went through the signup process to evaluate the ease of use and thoroughness of hiring a caregiver. As we have hired caregivers in the past for aging loved ones, we were looking forward to seeing how the process worked in comparison to previous experiences.
“I found the registration and sign-up process much easier than I thought it would be. Other than providing some detailed information about my family member (who needed caregiving), sign-up was quick, intuitive, and straightforward.
Immediately after registration, I received several local caregiving candidates to consider, and throughout the rest of the initial week, I received even more candidates to consider for my loved one.”
We found the sign-up process quick and straightforward, requiring only basic details about a family member needing care. After registering, we were promptly provided several local caregiver options and continued receiving more candidates throughout the week.
Safety Resources
Care.com offers several safety features to help families make informed hiring decisions when selecting a caregiver. The platform provides access to background checks, preliminary screenings, and a Safety Center with resources on secure hiring practices.
Families can review interview tips, a hiring guide, and information on relevant regulations to support safe hiring decisions. Care.com also verifies Social Security numbers and offers consumer protections such as unemployment and disability insurance options for caregivers.
These measures help create a safer environment for families and caregivers using the platform.
How Care.com Makes Money
Care.com operates a multifaceted revenue model, generating income from various streams. Below are the primary ways the company makes money:
Membership Fees
One of the core revenue streams is its membership fees. Families seeking to connect with caregivers must subscribe to one of the platform’s membership plans.
While there is a free basic membership option that allows users to browse caregiver profiles, users must upgrade to a paid membership to access premium features such as background checks, contact information, and the ability to post jobs.
Membership plans include:
| Basic Membership | Free, limited access | Free |
| Premium Membership | Paid, with monthly, quarterly, or annual payment options | |
| Annual membership in 2024 | $12.95 per month | |
| Quarterly membership in 2024 | $24.95 per month | |
| Monthly membership in 2024 | $38.95 per month |
Service Provider Fees
Care.com also generates revenue from service providers—caregivers who wish to list their services on the platform. Although signing up is free for caregivers, the platform offers premium features that caregivers can purchase to increase their visibility and enhance their profiles.
Caregivers can access features such as promoted listings, profile enhancements, and access to additional resources that can help them attract more clients.
Background Check Fees
Another significant revenue stream comes from background checks. Care.com offers various levels of background checks, which are crucial to ensuring trust and safety on the platform. Families can purchase these checks for an additional fee, giving them peace of mind when hiring a caregiver.
In some cases, caregivers may also choose to pay for background checks to make their complete profiles more attractive to potential clients.
Advertising Revenue
Care.com also earns money through advertising. The platform allows third-party advertisers to reach its large user base by displaying targeted ads. These ads can appear in various parts of the site, including search results and caregiver profiles, and ads may be included in content aimed at families and caregivers.
The advertising model provides an additional income stream for Care.com without charging users directly.
Corporate Partnerships
Like other successful businesses online, Care.com partners with organizations to offer corporate senior care solutions and caregiving benefits. Employers can purchase Care.com memberships for employees as a benefit, which allows them to access the platform’s services for their employees family care needs.
This B2B (business-to-business) approach is an integral part of Care.com’s revenue model, especially as employers increasingly recognize the value of supporting their employees’ work-life balance.
In Summary
Care.com has established itself as a leading platform in the family care industry by connecting millions of families and caregivers.
Through a diversified revenue model that includes membership fees, service provider fees, background check services, advertising, and corporate partnerships, Care.com has successfully monetized its platform while continuing to fulfill its mission of improving the lives of families and caregivers alike.
As the demand for family care services grows, Care.com is well-positioned to remain a key player in this essential market.
What is Care.com? Frequently Asked Questions
How does Care.com ensure the safety and trustworthiness of caregivers?
Care.com offers background checks and other vetting tools to ensure that families can hire caregivers with confidence. Families can purchase background checks for added security, and caregivers may also pay for checks to enhance their profiles.
What are the costs associated with using Care.com?
Care.com offers a range of membership plans, including a free basic membership and paid premium plans. Premium memberships provide access to features like background checks, contact information, and job posting. Monthly ($38.95/mo), quarterly ($24.95/mo), and annual ($12.95/mo) memberships vary in price.
Can caregivers use Care.com for free?
Yes, caregivers can sign up for free and create profiles on Care.com. However, to increase their visibility and attract more potential clients, they can purchase premium features like promoted listings and profile enhancements.
Does Care.com offer services for eldercare in addition to childcare?
Yes, Care.com connects families with a wide range of caregivers, including those specializing in senior care, as well as childcare, pet care, and housekeeping services. Families can find caregivers for all their care needs on the platform.
An expert in senior care, Amie has professional and personal experience in senior housing, caregiving, end-of-life care, and more from her 24 years of working with older adults.
