The start of a new year is always a great time to think about trying something new, expanding your horizons, and planning adventures. Go Au Pair offers a cultural exchange program that offers benefits for au pairs and host families in the US. If you’re considering a new challenge for 2026, or you’re looking for childcare that goes above and beyond the conventional for your kids this year, here’s our honest review of Go Au Pair.
The Basics: What is Go Au Pair?
Before we delve deep into the pros and cons of Go Au Pair and what it offers aspiring au pairs, it’s important to establish exactly what Go Au Pair is. Go Au Pair is an agency that specializes in connecting international au pairs with US families. It prides itself on delivering unique cultural experiences that are enriching for both individuals and their hosts.
Go Au Pair launched over 30 years ago. The goal was to create a safe, simple, and effective way to help au pairs find jobs while ensuring host families benefited from the experience of having live-in au pairs.
The Go Au Pair Program: How Does it Work?
Go Au Pair offers services for au pairs searching for host families in the US and families looking for international au pairs. Go Au Pair is not your regular babysitting or nannying agency. It is a comprehensive program that offers individuals golden opportunities to travel, become part of a new family, share cultural experiences and expand their knowledge base and horizons. The goal is for every individual involved to benefit from this unique childcare arrangement.
Here’s an insight into how the program works for au pairs and host families:
For au pairs
If you’re an au pair looking to use Go Au Pair, there’s a 3-step process:
- Apply online via the Go Au Pair website
- Choose your host family
- Start your au pair experience
For host families
If you’re looking for childcare solutions, you can use Go Au Pair to find an au pair. The steps are as follows:
- Outline your requirements
- Find your au pair via screening and interviews
- Make an offer to your chosen au pair
- Welcome your new family member
The Benefits of Using Go Au Pair
There are benefits for au pairs and US families looking for au pairs. These include:
Benefits for au pairs
- Take advantage of a simple, tried-and-tested process to find a host family in the US
- Discover the real US behind newspaper headlines, travel magazines and social media accounts
- Explore, travel and learn about a new culture
- Become part of a new family
- Develop relationships, learn new skills and get paid for doing a job you love (the minimum stipend is $195.75 per week)
- Enjoy personal growth and learning experiences, including educational experiences (host families pay a $500 contribution to education)
- Meet new people
Benefits for host families
- Use a trustworthy agency to find the perfect match for your family
- Learn about new cultures and encourage your children to learn new languages
- Access affordable, flexible live-in childcare services
- Welcome a new family member
- Enjoy the experience of showing your au pair new places and enjoying adventures together as a family unit
The Pros and Cons of Go Au Pair
Go Au Pair is a recognized au pair agency, which has connected hundreds of international au pairs with US families. No service is perfect, but there’s a lot to like about this cultural exchange program. Here are the pros and cons:
Pros: What sets Go Au Pair apart
- A trusted name in the industry with over 30 years of experience
Go Au Pair has been up and running for over three decades. It is a leading name in the industry, with high review scores and many positive testimonials from both hosts and au pairs.
- Cultural, educational, life-changing experiences for au pairs
Go Au Pair doesn’t just help au pairs find jobs or hosts solve childcare problems. The agency is founded on values that go far beyond traditional babysitting. There is a strong focus on cultural exchange and the mutual benefits of living with people from a different country. The program actively champions and supports education and personal growth through host contributions and support related to finding and making the most of opportunities.
- Simple, safe and effective processes to connect au pairs with host families
Go Au Pair offers protection for both au pairs and hosts via vetting, screening and matching services. The aim is to help au pairs and US families find the right person.
- Support and guidance for au pairs
Go Au Pair was designated by the Department of State in 1989. It runs programs that meet rigorous safety and compliance regulations and provides access to advice, guidance and support throughout the experience via an international network of representatives.
Cons: Are there any drawbacks?
Go Au Pair shines, but there are minor imperfections. It’s important to be aware of the advantages and disadvantages before deciding whether or not to use this agency.
- Poor matches
Go Au Pair strives to find every au pair and host family the ideal match, but sometimes, pairings don’t work out.
- Reviewing options takes time
Some people may prefer a super speedy selection process, which gives you results automatically based on basic information you enter into the website. If this is you, Go Au Pair may not be the agency for you. Reviewing options takes time because there’s no automatic selection. You have to review applications and read information. In most cases, this will be an advantage, as people want to maximize the chances of finding the right au pair or host family.
Final Thoughts
What could be more exciting than exploring a new country, meeting new people and getting paid for the privilege of learning new skills and becoming part of a family? If this sounds like an unmissable opportunity, it’s worth checking out Go Au Pair. An established au pair agency that specializes in cultural exchange programs, Go Au Pair makes it simple and stress-free for au pairs and host families to find their perfect match. The process is easy, au pairs and hosts are protected through strict policies and protocols, and the agency strives to ensure every individual benefits from this unique experience.
