Softwr

Parenting · head to head

Care.com vs Peanut

Care.com logo

Care.com

Parenting

Find the care your family deserves

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Peanut logo

Peanut

Parenting

Connect with moms who get it

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Care.com website blocks automated access with HTTP 403 Forbidden response; Peanut peanut Plus prices are not published and are shown only inside the app, varying by country
  • They diverge on capability: Care.com covers Caregiver search, Peanut covers Mom matching.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Care.com and Peanut actually diverge.

Attributes where Care.com and Peanut differ
AttributeCare.comPeanut
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidIos, Android
Founded20062017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Parenting).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Care.com

  • Caregiver search
  • Background checks
  • Secure messaging
  • Job posting
  • Payroll services
  • Tax assistance
  • Reviews and ratings
  • Identity verification

Only in Peanut

  • Mom matching
  • Group discussions
  • Direct messaging
  • Event planning
  • Expert Q&As
  • Fertility support
  • Pregnancy groups
  • Menopause community

Both cover

  • Cloud deployment
  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • English language support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Care.com

  • Finding babysittersnot Peanut
  • Hiring nanniesnot Peanut
  • Senior carenot Peanut
  • Pet sittingnot Peanut
  • Housekeepingnot Peanut

Peanut

  • Meeting other mothers at a similar stage nearbynot Care.com
  • Joining support groups for newborn care, toddlers and related topicsnot Care.com
  • Asking parenting questions anonymously through incognito modenot Care.com

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Care.com

  • Website blocks automated access with HTTP 403 Forbidden response
  • Alternative pricing URLs also return 403 Forbidden

Peanut

  • Peanut Plus prices are not published and are shown only inside the app, varying by country
  • Faster friend-finding requires the paid Peanut Plus subscription rather than the free swipe flow
  • All profiles must pass selfie verification before use

Pricing, plan by plan

Care.com

Free
  • BasicFree
    • Create profile
    • Browse caregivers
    • Post jobs
  • Premium$39/month
    • Unlimited messaging
    • Background checks
    • Priority listing

Peanut

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Profile creation
    • Matching with moms
    • Group access
  • Peanut Plus$19.99/month
    • All Free features
    • Unlimited messaging
    • Advanced filters

Which should you pick?

Choose Care.com if

  • You need caregiver search.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want background checks.
Care.com review

Choose Peanut if

  • You need mom matching.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android.
  • You also want group discussions.
Peanut review

Questions people ask

Is Care.com or Peanut better?
Neither clearly leads. Care.com starts at Free and Peanut at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Care.com or Peanut?
Care.com starts at Free and Peanut at Free.
Does Care.com or Peanut run on more platforms?
Care.com runs on Web, Ios, Android. Peanut runs on Ios, Android.
Can I use Care.com for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Care.com best used for?
Care.com is most often used for finding babysitters, hiring nannies, senior care, pet sitting. Of those, finding babysitters and hiring nannies are not what Peanut is typically brought in for.
What can Care.com do that Peanut cannot?
Care.com covers Caregiver search, Background checks, Secure messaging, Job posting. Peanut covers Mom matching, Group discussions, Direct messaging, Event planning. Both handle Cloud deployment, Ios support, Android support, English language support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Care.com: What is included in different Care.com membership levels?

Care.com membership details and feature comparisons are not available via automated research. Prospective members must visit the Care.com website directly to review membership options.

Source
Care.com: Are there separate pricing structures for employers versus job seekers on Care.com?

Care.com serves both caregiver job seekers and families seeking caregivers, but pricing structures for each audience are not publicly accessible via automated methods.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Care.com

More on Peanut

Keep looking

Other head to heads