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Best Au Pair Agencies of 2026

We evaluated 12 Department of State-designated au pair agencies on candidate quality, matching process, family support, and overall value.

Editorially reviewedUpdated January 2026
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Showing 5 of 5 results

  1. 1
    Au Pair in America

    Au Pair in America

    9.2

    $19,500–$23,500/yearBest Overall

    • First US Department of State-approved au pair program (founded 1986)
    • 100,000+ au pairs successfully placed — unmatched track record
    Get Free Quote
  2. 2
    InterExchange Au Pair USA

    InterExchange Au Pair USA

    InterExchange

    9.0

    $17,500–$21,500/yearBest Value

    • Nonprofit organization — fees are meaningfully lower than for-profit agencies
    • Cultural exchange mission attracts highly motivated candidates
    Get Free Quote
  3. 3
    AuPairCare

    AuPairCare

    8.7

    $19,000–$23,000/yearBest Matching Platform

    • Best online matching platform — filter by 20+ criteria
    • Strong EduCare program for families needing full-time care from mature au pairs
    Get Free Quote
  4. 4
    GoAuPair

    GoAuPair

    8.5

    $18,500–$22,500/yearBest Flexibility

    • Flexible program options including part-time and EduCare arrangements
    • Generous rematch guarantee policy for family peace of mind
    Get Free Quote
  5. 5
    C

    Cultural Care Au Pair

    8.1

    $20,000–$24,000/yearLargest Network

    • Largest au pair network — 60,000+ au pairs from 80+ countries
    • Broad geographic coverage across the US
    Get Free Quote

Au Pair Agencies Buying Guide

Why consider an au pair?

An au pair is live-in childcare through a U.S. State Department cultural-exchange program: a screened young adult from abroad joins your household for a year, providing up to 45 hours a week of flexible care while sharing their language and culture with your kids. For families with multiple children or non-standard schedules, the math and the flexibility routinely beat daycare — and the cultural exchange is a genuine gift to everyone involved.

What to look for

  • State Department designation

    Only agencies designated by the U.S. Department of State may sponsor au pairs — it’s a regulated J-1 visa program with rules on hours, stipends, education, and oversight. Every agency we rank is designated; verify designation for any agency we don’t.

  • Screening and matching depth

    Ask how candidates are vetted — background checks, childcare experience verification, interviews, driving assessment — and how matching works. Agencies differ most in how well they match families and au pairs, and mismatches are the program’s main failure mode.

  • Rematch policy

    Even good matches sometimes don’t work in practice. The rematch process — how fast, how supported, what it costs — is the single most important fine print in the contract. Read it before signing, not during a crisis.

  • All-in annual cost

    Budget the agency program fee plus the federally set weekly stipend, room and board, the education allowance, and extras like car insurance. Compare agencies on the complete annual number, not the headline fee.

  • Local support

    Agencies assign local coordinators who check in, run events, and mediate problems. Ask how many families the coordinator covers in your area and how reachable they are — this person matters when something goes sideways.

  • Honest fit assessment

    An au pair is a young adult joining your household, not staff — they need a private bedroom, inclusion in family life, and patience in month one. Agencies that screen FAMILIES honestly, not just au pairs, run healthier programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an au pair actually cost?

Plan on the agency program fee plus the federally required weekly stipend, the education allowance, and real household costs — an extra person’s food, a car arrangement in most suburbs, and insurance. Our ranked agencies’ all-in annual estimates run roughly $17,500–$24,000, which for two or more children often undercuts center care while adding schedule flexibility.

What can an au pair do — and not do?

Au pairs provide up to 45 hours per week of childcare (no more than 10 hours a day) under State Department rules: school runs, meals for the kids, play, homework help, kids’ laundry. They are not housekeepers, and infant care has restrictions — au pairs may not be solely responsible for a baby under three months. Respecting the limits is both the law and the foundation of a good year.

What happens if the match doesn’t work out?

Every designated agency has a rematch process: the au pair typically stays elsewhere or in your home per the agency’s policy while you’re matched with a new candidate, either locally or from the incoming pool. Ask each agency for its rematch rate, average rematch timeline, and fee treatment before you sign — this is where agencies differ most when it counts.

Our Ranking Methodology

Agencies were ranked on au pair vetting and screening quality, matching process and timeline, ongoing family and au pair support, training programs, and total cost transparency.

Learn more about how we test and score →