10 Best Alternatives To Couchsurfing In 2024

Looking for the best Couchsurfing alternatives?

Then you’ve come to the right place as I’m a full-time budget traveller always looking for new ways to score cheap or free accommodation.

Couchsurfing is, or was, one of the best ways to find accommodation for free. But their new paywall has left people searching for alternatives to Couchsurfing.

I’ve done all of the hard work for you and put together this list of the best alternatives that I recommend trying out.

Best Couchsurfing Alternatives

Since Couchsurfing is no longer free, many people are looking for alternatives. While not all of these alternatives are free, they all offer something a little unique. Don’t worry- I’m not like the other blogs which are promoting Airbnb as an alternative- like, how??? I don’t know, but I’m not including it. I’ll start with one that actually is free and it is the best Couchsurfing alternative.

1. BeWelcome

BeWelcome is the closest alternative to Couchsurfing in terms of a like-for-like replacement.

It operates in pretty much the exact same way that Couchsurfing does, but there are no payments involved.

BeWelcome is more or less what Couchsurfing used to be.

You find a host who lets you sleep on their couch or in a spare room and that’s about it. You aren’t expected to do anything in return, but it can be a nice gesture to help out with some housework.

Plus, a lot of the time you end up becoming friends with your host, as many will offer to show you around their hometown.

The only downside is that there are nowhere near as many users as Couchsurfing has, and it can be harder to find a host. It’s also a lot less regulated than Couchsurfing, and there have been a few reports of weird hosts on the platform.

But in the same way to stay safe on Couchsurfing, only stay with hosts who have positive reviews. Don’t take a gamble!

So if you want a different option to Couchsurfing that is more or less identical, BeWelcome is the next best thing.

Laptop on a wooden table showing the BeWelcome website homepage, one of the best Couchsurfing alternatives. The page is inviting visitors to join the largest free hospitality community, set against a comfortable living room background with plush sofas.

2. Worldpackers

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Worldpackers is in my opinion, the best alternative to Couchsurfing. In short, it’s a volunteer exchange programme.

What this means is that in return for your volunteering work, which can be anything from farm work, to working in a hostel, to doing charity work, and even modern things like blogging; you get free accommodation and meals.

Like with Couchsurfing, there is an annual sign-up fee, but it’s so worth it in my opinion. Aside from the free accommodation, you also make some amazing memories.

It’s pretty much a way of doing an Australia Working-Holiday Visa, but anywhere in the world. You do work, in exchange for accommodation and food.

You can choose from over 140 countries, and the 3 million members on the site, so you definitely aren’t short of options.

Plus, it’s much safer than sleeping on someone’s couch as the hosts have to go through a thorough vetting process. All in all, I can’t recommend Worldpackers enough.

3. TrustedHousesitters

TrustedHousesitters is another one of my favourite ways to find free accommodation.

If you’re an animal lover, this is the one for you. When people go away, they need someone to look after their pets.

This is where you come in. You petsit for them, and in return, you get free accommodation. Plus, you get to spend loads of time with some pets. Most of the time it’s dogs, but there are opportunities for cats, rabbits, hamsters, parrots, and even horses. Pretty much any animal, to be honest.

Like Worldpackers, there is an annual charge, but again, it’s so worth it. I’ve even planned trips around petsitting. I wasn’t planning a trip, but I saw an opportunity, so I took it.

TrustedHousesitters also offers the unique opportunity to live as a local rather than a tourist. As, usually, houses won’t be right by tourist attractions. You’ll have to go to supermarkets the same way locals do rather than eating out every day, for example.

But if you don’t love animals, don’t worry. Sometimes people just want you to look after their house while they’re gone. This option offers a bit more flexibility as you can do what you want during the day, rather than being restricted to animal duties.

It’s such a cool way to get free accommodation, and most of the time, it’ll be a lot better than sleeping on anyone’s couch!

Two dachshunds on leashes, one black and one brown, standing on a concrete surface in bright sunlight.

4. Homestay

Homestay is kind of a blend between Airbnb and Couchsurfing.

It’s like Couchsurfing in the sense that you find a local from where you are visiting and they will host you.

But it’s like Airbnb because you pay per night you are staying there. So it’s pretty much Couchsurfing but you pay to stay.

It is still better than booking hotel rooms though because it’s cheaper, which is good for keeping the cost of backpacking down, and because you make friends with a local who can give tips and tricks, and maybe even show you around.

It’s not my favourite alternative, but it’s an alternative nonetheless. Their catchline is “Find your home away from home”, but I think Aupair is much better for that, and I’ll get to it later on.

5. Trustroots

Trustroots is another option which is very similar to Couchsurfing, in all aspects including their website layout. But it’s nice to have a bit of familiarity.

It’s run by a non-profit organisation, and their entire existence is pretty much because Couchsurfing is no longer free. To quote them, “We think it’s a shame that former non-profits have been sold to venture capital.”

So it’s good to know that they aren’t going to ask you to start paying anytime soon!

There are over 100,000 members so it’s a pretty large pool of people to find hosts from. You can actually connect your Couchsurfing profile and other sites such as Couchers, BeWelcome and a few others.

It also has some features Couchsurfing has, such as meet-ups and events rather than being solely for finding hosts.

An example of this is the “circles” which are kind of like Facebook groups where you join and you can connect with like-minded people. For example, you might join a circle for hiking.

But in terms of finding free accommodation, it’s another very good option.

6. Servas

Servas is one of the oldest hospitality exchange companies. It was established in 1949 as an NGO working to promote world peace.

These mottos are still a large part of Servas today, and they fit in perfectly with the attitudes of budget travellers. One of the best things about backpacking is the mindset of being chilled and laid-back.

Thanks to these principles, everyone on Servas has to go through an interview stage in order to be accepted onto the platform.

But what this means is that once you’re in, you will only meet people who have similar outlooks on life to you. And most of the time, the hosts are even friendlier than you would get from Couchsurfing and other similar sites.

So while it’s harder to become a part of, it has its benefits once you are part of it.

7. Couchers

From the oldest in Servas to the youngest. Couchers was only founded in 2020, exactly after the paid subscription model was introduced to Couchsurfing.

Being only a few years old, it’s still “up and coming“, with only 26,000 members, but it’s a very solid alternative to Couchsurfing. In fact, they brand themselves as exactly that. Here’s what it says on their site:

Like Couchsurfing™, but better
Couchers.org is a non-profit and free platform, built by volunteers and responsible to the couch surfing community, instead of investors. Formed after Couchsurfing™ put up its paywall in 2020, our goal is to reclaim couch surfing by creating a complete alternative, with all your favourite features.

Couchers.org is the fastest growing couch surfing platform. We have built the largest active volunteer base with over 40 skilled contributors. Our product teams are designing and developing the platform at blazing speed, releasing new features every two weeks; our community teams are planning out and executing user base growth and engagement strategies to reach a critical mass of quality couch surfers with active local communities and a vibrant global discussion.

Our plan: fix the problems with Couchsurfing™
We're sure that you, like all of us, have had great experiences that couldn't have happened without Couchsurfing™. But we all know it's got its issues. For the next generation in couch surfing apps, we need to fix those issues.

If there's any problems you've found with Couchsurfing™ or any other platforms, we'd love to hear about it so we can try to fix them.

There’s not much else to say except it’s pretty much Couchsurfing but with no payments required.

8. Workaway

Workaway is a very similar platform to Worldpackers.

You agree to do a certain amount of work per day, and in return, you get food and accommodation.

There are lots of opportunities ranging from helping in schools, working in animal rescue shelters, helping set-up eco projects and more.

Personally, I prefer Worldpackers, but some people prefer Workaway because it has the ability to organise work as a couple or as two friends, which can be useful to be fair!

But between the two sites, there’s truly something for everyone. Workaway does also have a subscription fee, but again, I think it’s worth it because you grow as a person as well as get free accommodation.

9. WarmShowers

WarmShowers is like Couchsurfing but for cyclists, and cyclists alone. If you aren’t a cyclist, you can’t use WarmShowers.

The cycling community worldwide is known for being pretty protective of each other, and WarmShowers is the perfect example.

If you’re a cyclist, perfect! If you’re not a cyclist, “bye-bye”.

I wouldn’t say it’s worth beginning cycling if you aren’t already just to make use of the platform, but if you need a reason to start exercising, then maybe this is it!

WarmShowers is a pretty nice community, and if you do cycle, it’s a good way to connect with other cyclists and enjoy your passion all over the world.

Cyclist pausing on a mountain bike trail overlooking a lush green landscape, wearing a red helmet and black attire, highlighting outdoor adventure and exploration. — A picture of me mountain biking.

10. AuPair

AuPair is, in my opinion, what Homestay claims to be- the opportunity to find your home away from home.

How it works is you put in details about yourself, what you want to do, where you want to travel, how long for, etc. and you get paired with potential families.

In return for allowing you to stay in their house and providing meals for you, you help out with their family in one of a few ways.

The most popular is to teach the children of the family the language you speak. For example, a friend of mine from school went to Spain to teach a family’s two young boys English. It does help to speak the second language involved, but it’s not a necessity.

Other options include simply childminding, looking after an elderly family member, tutoring and more. But the general consensus is you help look after someone or teach someone.

All in all, you basically do good deeds and feel like a good samaritan, and in return, you get a roof over your head and food in your stomach.

Alternatives To Couchsurfing: FAQ

Below are some questions related to Couchsurfing alternatives along with my answers to each question.

What can I use instead of Couchsurfing?

The most similar alternatives to Couchsurfing are BeWelcome and Trustroots which offer a like-for-like service but without having to pay.

What happened to Couchsurfing?

Couchsurfing introduced a paywall in May 2020. There is a monthly subscription of $2.39 to get access to the Couchsurfing Community. Staying with a host remains free.

Is there free Couchsurfing?

Free Couchsurfing alternatives include BeWelcome and Trustroots which are very similar, and almost like-for-like. Unfortunately, there aren’t as many members as on Couchsurfing though.

Where can I host people for free?

You can host people for free on BeWelcome and Trustroots. Couchsurfing used to be free to host people, but now has a subscription fee.

Final Thoughts: Couchsurfing Alternatives

And there you have it, the best Couchsurfing alternatives.

If you want a like-for-like alternative, consider BeWelcome and Trustroots.

But I also recommend checking out Worldpackers and Trustedhousesitters for experiences that go beyond free accommodation.

If you need more convincing to take your trip, meeting new people is just one of many reasons to solo travel. I can’t recommend it enough!