Care.com is a real, long-established platform that connects families with nannies, sitters, senior carers, tutors and pet carers, and it runs a background check on individual caregivers. The catch: Care.com doesn't employ caregivers or verify what users write, and in 2024 it agreed to pay 8.5 million US dollars to settle FTC allegations about job and wage claims and hard-to-cancel memberships.
Care.com sits in a different category from most apps people ask me about, because the stakes are higher. You're not risking a few points on a survey; you're either inviting someone into your home or looking for work in someone else's. So I've looked at both sides, families and caregivers, using Care.com's own safety pages, the FTC's case and the public record.
What Care.com is and who owns it
According to Wikipedia, Care.com was founded by Sheila Lirio Marcelo and matches families with caregivers for childcare, senior care, special-needs care, home care, tutoring and pet care. It's two-sided: families search for help, and caregivers use it to find jobs.
Ownership has changed hands. IAC completed its purchase of Care.com in 2020, and Wikipedia reports that IAC sold it in 2026 to an affiliate of Pacific Avenue Capital Partners. A change of owner doesn't change how the site works for you overnight, but it's worth knowing who's behind it.
Care.com's background check, and its limits
This is the part families care about most. Care.com's background check pages say individual caregivers must complete the Care.com Background Check, formerly called CareCheck, before families can contact them, and active caregivers are rechecked every year. A caregiver who passes gets a badge on their profile.
Here's what that badge doesn't tell you. Care.com says the results aren't shared with families. Its pages also say the multi-jurisdictional database may hold no information for some jurisdictions, that in some states only convictions are typically reported, and that not all criminal history disqualifies someone from the platform. Families who want to see a full report can buy an Enhanced or Premium check.
Care.com is also blunt in its own small print. Its site states that it doesn't employ any caregiver, isn't responsible for any user's conduct, and doesn't verify the information in profiles, job posts and messages. It tells families to do their own diligence. I'd take that at face value: the badge is a starting point, not a recommendation.
Hiring safely through Care.com as a family
- Interview every candidate, ideally by video first and then in person.
- Call references yourself and ask specific questions about reliability and how they handled problems.
- Consider an Enhanced or Premium check if you want to read the report rather than rely on a badge.
- Check any licence or certification claims directly with the body that issues them.
- Agree pay, hours and duties in writing before the first day.
That fourth point comes from history. Wikipedia notes that in 2019 the Wall Street Journal reported Care.com had listed day care providers as licensed when they weren't. Care.com responded by removing unverified, unclaimed childcare listings and strengthening its screening. It's a good reminder to check claims at the source.
What the FTC said about Care.com
In 2024 the FTC announced that Care.com had agreed to pay 8.5 million US dollars to settle a case filed in the US District Court for the Western District of Texas. The FTC alleged that Care.com deceived caregivers about the wages they could make and the number of jobs available, and used deceptive design to trap people in subscriptions. The order requires a simple way to cancel.
The FTC also said Care.com had received a Notice of Penalty Offenses about earnings claims in 2021 and kept making the challenged claims afterwards. In 2025 the FTC said it was sending more than 8.1 million US dollars to people harmed. Wikipedia records that Care.com said the settlement doesn't validate the FTC's claims.
Finding work on Care.com as a caregiver
Care.com's help centre says caregivers can pick a free Basic plan, build a profile, and search and apply for jobs. Families need a paid plan, such as Premium, to message caregivers. So the people contacting you have usually paid to be there, which is a mild filter in itself.
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Given the FTC case, I'd go in with realistic expectations. Care.com doesn't promise you a set number of jobs or a wage, and the FTC's complaint was precisely about claims like that. Set your own rate, be clear about your availability, and treat the platform as one route to clients alongside word of mouth and local groups.
Staying safe as a caregiver
Safety runs both ways. Meet new families somewhere sensible first, tell someone where you're going, and keep payment agreements in writing. If a so-called family sends you a cheque for more than the agreed amount and asks you to send the difference back, stop: that's a classic overpayment scam, and it has nothing to do with Care.com's real process.
Care.com at a glance
| What I checked | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| The service | A platform matching families with caregivers, per Wikipedia |
| Employer? | No, Care.com says it doesn't employ any caregiver |
| Background check | Required for individual caregivers; results not shared with families; annual rechecks |
| FTC case | Agreed to pay 8.5 million US dollars in 2024; refunds sent in 2025 |
| Caregiver plan | Free Basic plan to build a profile and apply for jobs |
Is Care.com worth using?
For many families and carers, yes, with your eyes open. It's a real company with a huge reach and a mandatory screening step, which beats a random social media post. But its own small print says the checking is up to you, and the FTC case shows why you should treat any wage or job-volume promise with caution.
If you're a caregiver who also looks after pets, it's worth comparing with dedicated pet apps: I've covered what Rover pays sitters and walkers and how Wag pays dog walkers. And if you're paying a carer regularly, check with an accountant or your tax office about any employer duties in your country.
Frequently asked questions
Is Care.com legit?
Yes, it's a long-established platform connecting families with caregivers. It doesn't employ caregivers or verify what users post, so families and carers need to do their own checks.
Does Care.com background check caregivers?
Its pages say individual caregivers must complete the Care.com Background Check before families can contact them, with annual rechecks. Results aren't shared with families unless they buy an Enhanced or Premium check.
What did the FTC say about Care.com?
In 2024 the FTC said Care.com agreed to pay 8.5 million US dollars to settle allegations that it misled caregivers about wages and jobs and made memberships hard to cancel.
Is Care.com free for caregivers?
The help centre says caregivers can choose a free Basic plan to build a profile and apply for jobs. Families need a paid plan to message caregivers.
Does Care.com employ the caregivers?
No. Care.com states that it doesn't employ any caregiver and isn't responsible for users' conduct.
