The best apps for Au Pairs in the USA (2026)

The best apps for au pairs in the USA help you do five things: meet other au pairs, stay in touch with home, get around, learn the language, and manage money and travel. I was an au pair in Chicago, so this list comes from real life, not guesses. Here are the apps worth downloading before and during your year abroad, including the one that is built just for au pairs.

The best apps for au pairs at a glance

The best app to meet other au pairs: Aupairtrip

The hardest part of being an au pair is not the childcare, it is making friends in a new place.

I tried the dating apps, the Facebook groups and the WhatsApp groups, and none of them were made for au pairs. That is exactly why I created Aupairtrip: a safe place to meet other au pairs near you, make real friends, and plan trips together.

Celine from Aupairtrip, former au pair in Chicago

The Aupairtrip app shows you au pairs near you, lets you join local events, and helps you plan trips together, all in one place made just for you. If you want more tips, read our guides on how to make friends as an au pair and how to meet au pairs near you.

Other apps can help you meet people too, even if they are not made for au pairs:

• Bumble For Friends to meet locals your age, though it is not specific to au pairs.
• Meetup to join hobby groups and local events in your city.
• TripBFF to meet other travellers and find friends to explore with.

And don't forget your agency's monthly cluster meetings: they are often where you meet your very first au pair friends.

Apps to stay in touch with home

Being far from family is hard, so a good video call makes a real difference. The most useful ones are:

• WhatsApp for free messages and calls with family and friends back home.
• FaceTime if your family uses iPhones.
• Zoom for longer group calls with the whole family.

Apps to get around

You will be in a new city, so getting around easily matters a lot:

• Google Maps for directions, public transport and finding places nearby.
• Uber or Lyft for safe rides, especially at night.
• Your city's local transport app for buses and trains.

Apps to learn the language

Even if your English is good, these help every day:

• Duolingo to practise a little every day.
• Google Translate for words you do not know yet, with a handy camera mode.

Apps to manage your money

Most au pairs open a local US bank account soon after they arrive, so you usually do not need special apps to send money home. What really helps is an easy way to pay friends back and split costs:

• Venmo or Zelle to pay friends back instantly. In the US, almost everyone uses them to split a dinner or a ride.
• Tricount to share and split expenses with friends on trips, so everyone sees who paid what and no one has to do the maths.
• Your US bank app to check your balance and track your pocket money.

Apps to plan trips and activities

One of the best parts of the au pair year is travelling and exploring, ideally with friends:

• Aupairtrip to find other au pairs near you and plan trips together.
• GetYourGuide to book tours, activities and fun things to do wherever you go.
• Skyscanner to find cheap flights.
• Airbnb or Hostelworld for affordable places to stay.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best app to meet other au pairs?

Aupairtrip is the app made just for au pairs. It shows you au pairs near you, lets you join local events and helps you plan trips together, which is safer and easier than dating apps or big Facebook groups. Bumble For Friends and Meetup can also help you meet locals.

What apps do au pairs in the USA use the most?

Many au pairs use Aupairtrip to meet other au pairs, WhatsApp and FaceTime to call home, Google Maps and Uber to get around, and Venmo or Tricount to split costs with friends. Duolingo and Google Translate help with the language.

How do au pairs manage money in the USA?

Most au pairs open a local US bank account soon after they arrive, so they rarely need international transfer apps. To pay friends back, Venmo and Zelle are the norm in the US, and Tricount makes it easy to split trip expenses fairly.

Is there an app made just for au pairs?

Yes. Aupairtrip was created by a former au pair for au pairs, to meet friends near you, join events and plan trips together in one safe place.

Download the one made for you. Meet au pairs near you and plan your next trip on the Aupairtrip app.

Last reviewed: November 2026.