Which site is best? Reviews of WWOOF, Workaway, Worldpackers, HelpX, HippoHelp, Volunteers Base

It’s a community built on the two-way relationship between hosts and volunteers so that each one can leave feedback. It’s an active community with many projects and volunteers, so almost all the projects have feedback from people who already helped the projects. That’s an awesome way to check someone’s reliability before deciding on having the adventure of your life. Sometimes you get extra lucky and find a real travel job that wants to swipe you a few extra dollars under the desk out of the goodness of their hearts. (EU travellers – check out in-EU hosts for more chances to find legally but minimally paying work.) I’d say 90% of these gigs are true and tried volunteer work, though.

• One issue I have had myself is not getting a response from potential Workaway hosts who never reply to messages.
• I’ve brought together the six best work exchange sites to compare so you can choose the best one for you.
• Thankfully #2 – I didn’t have a lot of money, so I didn’t want to leave at first, but my dad convinced me to leave sooner by buying my bus ticket to get back to Athens.
• We always check which other websites are registered by the same company the website is using.
• If you find a hosting opportunity you’re interested in, as a member you can send the host a message directly with some information about you and why you think you’d be a good fit.

How To Find A Host On HelpStay

Have you had any experience volunteering with work exchange sites like Workaway, Worldpackers or HelpX? Would you do volunteer work in exchange for free accommodation? I’d love to hear what you think, please leave your comments below. Working Traveller is another work exchange website I came across online but haven’t used myself, or spoken to any people who have used it. Working Traveller is free for Travellers to use on standard membership if you only want to contact 3 hosts a week, or you can upgrade to full membership which costs just $10 per year to contact unlimited hosts. All Tales of a Backpacker readers can get a $10 discount saving you 20%, which means you only need to pay $39 USD for a full year’s verified membership.

Free Work Exchange Websites

Once you are a verified member you can apply to and message all the hosts on Worldpackers and volunteer all over the world without paying for accommodation. As of 1st January 2025, the fee to join Workaway costs from $59 USD per year for a solo membership, or $69 USD for a couple/joint membership. If you use this link to sign up you’ll also get three months extra free on your membership.

• If a hostel job is more appealing to you, you’ll find plenty of hostel volunteer opportunities on HelpStay.
• HelpStay offers different types of volunteering projects, from homestays to farm stays, from teaching jobs to internships.
• For me, the best work exchange programs are Worldpackers and Workaway as I’ve explained above.
• Well, it’s definitely its simplicity, number of options and diversity in available projects.

Helpstay – A Lesser-Known Alternative to Workaway

I used to introduce myself, and give details such as the dates I’m planning to be around and for how long I’m planning to stay. I had a project in the Australian Outback which was pretty limited in terms of signal. That said, it’s important to note that some of these listings may not be available anymore.

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This volunteering program covered accommodation, food, and a few activities. In terms of housing, it wasn’t the most amazing experience, but still, it was decent. Below, you’ll find some of the reasons why I think Worldpackers is the safest platform for volunteering overseas. Of course, some destinations are more popular than others, but yes, you can find volunteer positions worldwide. Some of my volunteer experiences were including meals and some others, not.

I was working less than one hour per day and I had free housing as well as free breakfast. I stayed there for a couple of weeks during a long trip to Europe. I wasn’t working at the reception, but I had a few different tasks to do such as helping with the breakfast and decorating the hostel. I learned how to live without hot water and how to manage a pretty minimalist lifestyle.

One major concern I have about HelpStay is the lack of reviews for hosts, and I personally would be wary about applying for a placement that doesn’t have a review, especially if it is a paid placement. Some placements are free to do once you have become a member, whereas others have a participation fee. Hosts don’t pay anything to advertise a volunteer placement. Those five work exchange websites are by far the most popular and well-known. There are other work exchange websites out there, but I haven’t had any experience with these, or spoken personally to anyone who has so I can’t vouch for them.

If you are wondering how to travel on a low budget you should consider signing up for a volunteering program. I last talked to the founder of HelpStay, Shay Gleeson, three years ago when this labor for lodging swap website was just getting started. HelpStay has grown dramatically in the past three years and I was excited to have the chance to catch up with Shay and learn about the new developments. Within a few hours my inquiry was replied to and a Skype date was set so we could put faces to one another and see if we really were a match for each other, volunteer-wise.

In exchange for working part-time for their hosts, volunteers get free accommodation (sometimes in dorms, private rooms or tents), and usually some meals too. Volunteers may also get other benefits like free tours or language lessons, as well as a cultural exchange by spending time helping local people with their projects. We know that volunteering abroad takes getting out of your comfort zone and at times might seem risky. We’re here to help you get out there to help global causes and enjoy authentic, local experiences abroad. Our community of fellow helpers and hosts has put together a great list of resources that can be found in our journal.

It’s perfect for students, digital nomads, backpackers, or anyone else who wants to see as much of the world as possible. In this section, we’ll discuss some advantages and disadvantages of using this work-exchange platform. You can find all the details on what’s included in the position in the listing. Once you find a place you’re interested in, make sure to sign up to be able to contact the host. Create your account and connect with a world of communities.

In exchange for your help, hosts typically provide free accommodation and, in some cases, meals. The platform is designed to foster cultural exchange and mutual benefit, making it a popular choice for travelers seeking affordable and immersive experiences. HelpStay is a community of people who travel with a purpose. That’s why we found a way to make travelling and volunteering easy, safe, affordable, and accessible to everyone.

HelpStay didn’t exist back then, but I did several work-exchange experiences on farms, hostels, and more. When confirming your volunteering position, be sure you have the documents needed (for example, do you need a visa? If so, head to iVisa and apply for it.) Purchase your flights and travel insurance. We suggest you browse the work-exchange positions on HelpStay to see if your dream destination has some exciting projects you could apply for.

Now, let’s compare quickly the most popular websites to find free accommodation around the world. These days, the two most popular platforms are Workaway and Worldpackers. These programs require you to work for a few hours every day, so you can get free housing and free meals. That being said I had to volunteer a few times when I was traveling in order to stay helpstay reviews on the road. If you wish to learn how to work and stay for free in different destinations, you can read my personal stories too. Yes – you read it right – it is possible to get a free bed in exchange for your skills and for your time.

The amount of work varies depending on the place and type of work. On average, hosts ask for about 5 hours of work 5 days a week, and the rest of the time you’re as free as a birdie. However, some countries do require a specific visa for volunteering, so check the host listing to see if they mention needing specific paperwork, and check iVisa to see if you do need a travel visa. Remember, it is your responsibility to make sure you have all of the required paperwork to travel.