Alternatives · Childcare & senior careSittercity alternatives in NYC
A subscription fits families who need childcare constantly. For the occasional sitter it can cost more than the care itself. This page sets it against paying only per booking.
Pricing sourced July 2026 · Pre-launch comparison
In short
Families go looking for a Sittercity alternative because messaging and booking sitters needs a $16 to $42 a month membership that bills whether or not care is booked. Paying per booking is the alternative: a fee only when you book.
Should you switch from Sittercity?
A flat $1 a booking usually comes out ahead when:
- You book a sitter occasionally rather than every week.
- You do not want a subscription that bills in months you book no one.
- Your bookings in a month cost less at $1 each than the membership would, which holds until you are booking well past a dozen times a month.
- You would rather pay only when a booking actually happens.
- You are in New York City, where Bobby is being built to launch.
A family that needs a sitter every so often can end up paying a membership for months to cover just a handful of bookings. Charge only when someone books, and the cost stays tied to actual use.
That is the model Bobby is bringing to New York: no membership, a flat $1 per booking, so an occasional booking is an occasional dollar.