Welcoming an au pair to your home is a fantastic way of getting help when you’re a busy parent. You simply don’t have the time to juggle work and childcare while remaining sane. Something has to budge – and it’s usually your sanity.
You can locate suitable au pairs by finding an au pair agency, and then it’s a case of filtering through candidates and picking the right fit for your family. You’ll feel a new sense of freedom (plus a massive release of tension) when there’s an au pair picking up some of your main childcare duties.
Of course, some au pair agencies are better than others, so here’s a list of the current top-rated au pair companies for families to get in touch with:
1. AuPairCare
The top-rated au pair agency at this current moment is AuPairCare. If you want an experienced agency that’s worked with thousands of au pairs and families over the years, then you couldn’t find a better place.
AuPairCare focuses on creating long-lasting friendships between au pairs and the families they live with. It also uses a very stringent system for matching and vetting au pairs, so you only end up with the best options. The overall service is excellent – and it has some of the lowest fees out there, working out at just over $10,500 for the entire au pair program.
Better still, if you like the service and want to either renew the au pair contract or find another one, returning families can get a $700 discount – neat!
2. EurAupair
In second place, we have EurAupair, an agency with over 30 years of experience and an excellent track record. The pricing options are actually very decent, offering a modest program fee of just under $10,000.
However, there’s a slight catch to this, which is why it doesn’t get into the top spot.
That price is available for the “Regular” au pair family package – you have to spend extra for the “Par Experience” package, which helps you find more experienced au pairs. It’s a bit strange to separate the two, particularly as most families will want the experienced au pairs. This package costs over $10,800, which is still good, but it feels weird to have to pay more for it.
3. Agent Au Pair
It calls itself the world’s most innovative au pair program, and there are plenty of things to like about Agent Au Pair. The fact that it recruits from over 51 countries makes it one of the more diverse platforms available, and it serves 300+ cities in the US, meaning it’s likely to cater to you.
They’re very upfront about their pricing and offer multiple tiers that all cost just over $10,000, so it’s highly competitive. You can get different discounts as well – such as returning family discounts, summer family discounts, or military discounts. It’s a wonderful package, but with just 150 or so active au pairs, it might be hard to match with a suitable person.
4. Au Pair USA
Au Pair USA has matched families with great au pairs for over 35 years, putting it at one of the most experienced agencies on the list. Something to note about this platform is that it lets you search based on the childcare required. E.g. you can look for infant care, school-age care, or even special needs care.
Cost-wise, you’re looking at $10,390 for the program, plus a $400 match processing fee. That puts it at the slightly higher end of the price scale, but at least there’s no application fee.
5. GreatAuPair USA
All au pairs are carefully screened and given valid visas at GreatAuPair USA. You also have a local childcare coordinator who’ll meet with you and the au pair upon their arrival, offering a sort of orientation procedure. This coordinator becomes your point of contact throughout the program and can organize fun events for the au pair to do with your kids or the entire family.
You get a lot from this service, but the program costs are quite frustrating. You either pay $10,250 upfront, or you have to pay $10,920 if you want to pay in installments. To be honest, that’s really pricey (and a bit cheeky), but it could be worth it if you want a local childcare coordinator.
6. Nina Care
Nina Care is an app and agency that helps you look after your little ones. It’s a very modern platform, which means it attracts a lot of young au pairs for you to find. They also provide weekly schedules for au pairs to follow, bringing some structure to your childcare.
There’s definitely potential in this platform, but it’s a bit unique. Pricing starts at around $500 a month for 30 hours a week of work from your au pair. You’re not paying for a program so much as you’re basically paying directly for child support.
7. AuPairWorld
With over 25,000 active au pairs on its platform, AuPairWorld is a valid choice at number seven. The service is always available for families and au pairs, meaning you can search for and find your ideal au pair whenever you want.
Personalised matching makes this even easier, but we can’t shift this any higher up the list due to the pricing. There are no details on fees or program costs on the website, which is a bit of a bummer. You also have to pay for a premium monthly membership to access the full suite of features – and this can cost anywhere between $49.90 and $149.90 a month!
Conclusion – What Is The Best Au Pair Agency?
Based on the research, AuPairCare is the best au pair agency based on overall features, flexibility, and reasonable pricing. That’s not to say the other agencies aren’t worth looking at – each family is different, so you may discover things on one platform that you prefer over the others.
Taking all of this into account, this list should help you research and find the best childcare solutions for your family. Get ready to welcome someone into your home, and prepare for a new life where you’re not juggling one million and one things at once.
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