Best Pet Sitting Apps in 2026 for Owners and Sitters

This roundup covers the pet sitting and dog walking apps that actually have sitters in the US in 2026, on the same columns for each: what the sitter pays, what the owner pays, where it operates, how booking works, how sitters are checked, what stands behind a booking, and the App Store rating. Each competitor row is dated and links to the page we took it from. We list ourselves first in the table because our sitter fee is the lowest; we also say plainly where we do not yet operate.

How we compared them

Fees come from each platform's published help or pricing page as of October 2026 where one exists. Where a platform does not publish a figure (Wag!'s caregiver share), the table says so and gives the figure caregivers and third-party fee calculators report. App ratings are the US App Store averages on the date shown. We do not use competitor logos, we do not accept paid placements, and the editorial standards on our About page apply to this page.

Best overall for most owners: Rover

Rover has more sitters in more places than any other app, which for most owners is the deciding factor. Booking is request-based: you choose a sitter, send your dates, and they accept. Owners pay an 11% booking fee on top of the sitter's rate per Rover's help page, with a $50 cap widely reported by owners; sitters pay Rover 20% of their rate in most of the US, or a 30%/15%/10% per-client tier in the pilot metros that include the Chicago suburbs. The Rover Guarantee reimburses eligible vet care for injuries during a booking, subject to its terms.

Best for owners who want choice and a guarantee, and for sitters who need demand today. Less good for sitters in the pilot metros doing walks and drop-ins, which stay in the 30% tier for months; the Rover fees guide shows why.

Best for same-day dog walks: Wag!

Wag! is the on-demand option: post a walk and the first available caregiver takes it, with GPS tracking and a report card. Owner fees are published ($2.99 per walk or drop-in, $14.99 per overnight, waived for Wag! Premium at $5.99 a month or $59.99 a year); what Wag! keeps from caregivers is not, and caregiver reports put it at about 40%.

Best for owners in dense cities who need a walk now. Less good for owners who want the same person every time, and for sitters who want a predictable cut.

Best for managing it yourself: Care.com

Care.com is a directory: families pay a membership to message caregivers, then arrange schedule and payment directly. There is no commission and no booking fee, and nothing in the booking is handled by the platform. Pet care sits alongside child and senior care.

Best for a long-term regular arrangement, and for sitters who already run their own business. Less good for occasional bookings or for anyone who wants the platform to handle a cancellation or a dispute.

Best for long trips: TrustedHousesitters

A membership exchange rather than a marketplace: traveling sitters stay in your home free in return for caring for your pets. Pet parent memberships are $149 to $299 a year per the TrustedHousesitters pricing page, with a $12 booking fee per confirmed sit on the Basic and Standard plans since late 2025; sitters pay $129 to $259 a year and are not paid for sits.

Best for owners who travel for weeks and are comfortable with a house guest. Less good for weekends, walks, or anyone who wants a local professional to rebook.

Best in the Chicago suburbs: SitterNation

Our sitters are in the Chicago suburbs today, and we are expanding to new metros. Sitters keep 100% of the rate they set; owners pay an 11% service fee capped at $50 per booking, the same 11% as Rover. Every sitter passes a government-ID check, the sitter safety course and a team review before going live; on a first booking the sitter usually proposes a meet-and-greet, and payment runs through Stripe. We do not yet offer instant booking or a vet-care guarantee program, and if a sitter cancels you are refunded in full.

Best for owners here who want their sitter to keep what they pay, and for sitters here who want the rate on their profile to be the amount they receive. Find sitters near you or become a sitter; the cost calculator shows typical totals by service and town.

Best dog walking apps for sitters and walkers

Sitters searching "dog walking apps" are asking which one pays best. Per booking, rank them by the platform's cut of the rate you set, as of October 2026:

Total earnings depend on bookings as much as on the cut, so most walkers keep more than one app and move regulars to the cheapest one. The earnings calculator runs your own bookings at 0%, 20% and 30%, and the how much do pet sitters make guide covers full-time and side-gig models.

Rover® and Wag!® are trademarks of their respective owners, as are Care.com and TrustedHousesitters; SitterNation is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any of them. Competitor fees and ratings are stated as of October 2026 per the sources linked in the table and may have changed; consult each platform directly for current terms.