Worldpackers vs Workaway: Which One is Best for You?

Torn between Worldpackers and Workaway? I use both work-exchange platforms, and I’ve learned firsthand how different they can be.

When I quit my job in 2024, I spent a full year volunteering across the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. Through Worldpackers and Workaway, I found work-exchange opportunities in hostels, homestays, farms, and even desert tents. 

I saw my fair share of accepted (and rejected) applications. More than once, I questioned my safety and my plans. I was picked up at airports and welcomed into homes, before leaving with some of my happiest memories.

Along the way, I learned which platform tends to offer more responsive hosts and fairer prices.

If you’re new to volunteering and work exchange, don’t worry—I’ve got you covered. Here, I break down the pros and cons of using Worldpackers and Workaway so you can save time, money, and stress.

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In a Nutshell: Worldpackers vs Workaway

At first glance, Worldpackers (WP) seems to have the edge over Workaway (WA), especially when it comes to design, customer support, and safety features.

But the table below only tells a small part of the story. Keep reading to find out how it really feels to use both platforms.

Why Use Work-Exchange Platforms in the First Place?

Let’s face it: Traveling is not cheap. From accommodations to food, the costs of travel have skyrocketed in the past few years.

The National Geographic points to inflation, labor shortages, and the COVID-19 pandemic as the main factors behind this problem. 

To put this into perspective, travel writer Glen Nomad shared how he spent PHP134,678 ($2,300) for a 10-day trip across Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C.

That amount included his discounted flights and CityPASS from a vacation package. Without those perks, the trip would have cost around PHP157,828 ($2,700).

In contrast, I spent five months traveling across the U.S. for about $6,000. If you disregard the airfare, then the total price would drop to $2,500.

During this period, I stayed with local hosts, working a few hours a day in exchange for free accommodation and meals. It wasn’t luxury travel, but it felt richer in every other sense of the word.

This setup is called a work exchange. As I mentioned in an earlier article, it is a form of traveling that values cultural immersion and shared experience.

It allows you to offer your skills, like cleaning, gardening, teaching English, and other kinds of labor. In return, your host provides you with lodging, meals, and a glimpse into their country’s daily life.

After learning about work exchanges, I decided to try them for myself.

I first joined Workaway due to its vast network. I sent out applications as early as June, hoping to find placements in the U.S. from August to October.

However, days went by without updates, making me feel uneasy about my situation.

I soon signed up for Worldpackers to increase my chances of securing my stay. In the end, both platforms helped me pursue meaningful volunteer opportunities.

Finding the Right Fit

From my experience, it’s clear that work exchanges can be deeply rewarding, but it takes patience and persistence to get the best one. Here’s what I wish I knew before my first Workaway experience.

So let’s look closer at how Worldpackers and Workaway compare when it comes to value, safety, and overall experience.

1. Pricing & Value

Today, Worldpackers and Workaway cost approximately $59/year. Despite the similar base pricing, Worldpackers gives you more value for your money as it offers safety measures (WP Safeguard), onboarding resources (WP Academy), and promo discounts.

Workaway, on the other hand, only gives you direct access to their hosts. Subscribing to this platform will not result in other privileges.

2. Host Variety

Workaway went live in 2002. Since then, it has established linkages and projects across farms, rural homesteads, schools, families, and eco-villages—the entire spectrum of work-exchange arrangements.

In my travels, I found unique Workaway gigs, including a yurt retreat in Alaska, a small desert farm in Arizona, and a rural teaching placement in Europe. 

Meanwhile, the earliest version of Worldpackers was launched on February 4, 2014. The younger platform focuses more on creative, NGO-related, or hostel-based hosts, which is great for immersion but is less ideal for off-grid adventures.

✅ Winner: Workaway

Pro tip: Before you commit to either platform, browse hosts in your desired destinations first. If there are ample opportunities that appeal to you, then subscribe.

3. Host Quality & Transparency

This is where Worldpackers really shines. The profile of each host displays key metrics like their reply rate, average response time, and verified reviews, so people know what to expect before sending an application.

The hosts must also specify the working hours, days off, accommodation type, meals, and amenities. 

Workaway, on the other hand, gives hosts full freedom to write their listings.

Some describe everything clearly, while others might only write a few vague sentences. That means you often have to send follow-up messages to clarify details like schedules and sleeping arrangements.

For first-timers, I found Worldpackers easier to use than Workaway. It allowed me to filter volunteer opportunities and find the one that truly matches my preferences.

✅ Winner: Worldpackers

4. Review System

Worldpackers enforces a two-way review system with a 15-day deadline after each stay. Neither the volunteer nor the host can see the other’s feedback until both have submitted or the deadline expires, encouraging honesty.

On Workaway, reviews are optional and often neglected. I completed three Workaway stays and had to remind the hosts multiple times to write a review.

Although some complied, others never did. I also forgot and made mistakes. 

The reviews immediately appear on Workaway after posting. This makes people hesitant to say anything negative. So when it comes to transparency, Worldpackers is taking this category.

✅ Winner: Worldpackers

5. Safety & Insurance

Worldpackers offers a unique protective measure called “WP Safeguard.” If a host fails to honor what was agreed upon, the platform helps volunteers find another host nearby.

When relocation isn’t possible, Worldpackers covers accommodation costs in another hostel within the same city.

The amount of coverage depends on your membership level, starting from $59 for the Solo Trips, going up to $199 for the Solo Pack, and finally $399 for the Solo Pack Plus.

Workaway introduced its own system called Emergency Help, though it’s still relatively new. Assistance is only available for users who subscribed after December 6, 2022. 

Volunteers must fill out an Emergency Help Application Form, keep receipts for alternative accommodation, and await approval before any assistance can be provided. Refunds worth $59 are processed within 10 days once approved.

I can only vouch for the WP Safeguard, but both platforms’ systems look solid.

🔁 Tie (It depends on your preferences.)

Pro tip: For your peace of mind, you can also sign up for travel insurance using SafetyWing.

6. Customer Support

Worldpackers fosters a strong sense of community, where newcomers can connect with seasoned travelers for advice. It also has a 24/7 multilingual chat and a robust Help Center.

Meanwhile, Workaway relies more on email-based support and a contact form on its website. They also offer 24/7 assistance and a Personal Workaway Team Advisor for real-time conversations, but responses can be slow and inconsistent.

Although I rarely needed help myself, I’ve read multiple forums where users praised Worldpackers for having better customer service.

✅ Winner: Worldpackers

7. Education Resources

It was my first time volunteering at a hostel when I joined Worldpackers. Fortunately, I had access to WP Academy and its guides to prepare me for that journey.

In contrast, Workaway users usually have to figure things out on their own.

That independence can appeal to experienced travelers or those who prefer learning by doing. But for newcomers, Worldpackers’ onboarding tools make a world of difference.

✅ Winner: Worldpackers

8. User Interface

If you ask me last year, Worldpackers has a smoother interface than Workaway. You can check out my full review here.

Workaway, to its credit, has made big strides since then. You can now filter by last-minute hosts, host type, and availability. A map and analytics are also available for its users.

As of writing, you cannot go wrong with either platform in terms of user experience.

🔁 Tie (It depends on your preferences.)

9. Ease of Acceptance

While Worldpackers shows each host’s response rate and average reply time, Workaway does not reveal these details. You could send a dozen messages and hear nothing back.

Since communication can make or break travel plans, Worldpackers has the edge here.

✅ Winner: Worldpackers

10. Volunteer Task & Workload

On Worldpackers, hosts are required to outline daily tasks, expected hours, days off, amenities, and inclusions.

The platform allows up to 32 hours of work per week, and many of its hostel placements usually permit only one day off per week.

Despite this strict schedule, I still managed to explore my surroundings by discussing my plans with my hosts early on. This helped minimize misunderstandings.

Meanwhile, Workaway tends to be more flexible.

Most hosts limit work exchanges to around 25 hours per week, which gives you more time to rest or explore. But listings are often vague or incomplete, so you’ll likely have to clarify expectations.

If you value structure, Worldpackers is the safer choice. If you prefer lighter workloads and more downtime, Workaway might suit you better.

🔁 Tie (It depends on your preferences.)

✅ Winner: Worldpackers

11. Opportunities to Earn

Workaway allows some hosts to pay volunteers as long as it is allowed by local regulations.

You can even filter for paid listings, but be mindful of the visa and taxes before accepting any form of compensation.

Because Worldpackers is primarily a skill-exchange platform, paid work is rare. However, you can apply to be a content creator for the platform.

🔁 Tie (It depends on your preferences as neither is a perfect job site.)

12. Travel Buddy & Community

Worldpackers builds its sense of community through shared experiences. Many of its placements are in hostels or NGO projects, where you naturally meet fellow volunteers. 

The platform also offers guides on finding a travel buddy, though many users still turn to external forums like Reddit or Facebook groups for these connections.

Likewise, Workaway nurtures a tight-knit community. Because many hosts are families or based in remote areas, you often form deeper one-on-one relationships with locals. 

Workaway also has a dedicated Travel Buddy feature where verified users can match with others heading to the same destinations—a nifty tool for solo travelers looking for company.

🔁 Tie (It depends on your preferences.)

13. Geographic Reach

Worldpackers performs best in Latin America, Southern and Mediterranean Europe, and places with vibrant hostel scenes.

As for Workaway, the platform has a strong presence in more countries than Worldpackers, especially in Asia, remote islands, and rural development zones.

If your heart is set on off-grid living, Workaway likely has more options.

🔁 Tie (It depends on your preferences.)

14. Refund Policies

One of the most reassuring features of Worldpackers is its refund policy. If no host replies within seven days, you can request a full refund.

Workaway recently made its own Host Response Guarantee. To qualify for this, you must contact at least ten hosts within 30 days of joining the platform. If no one responds, you can reach out to Workaway’s support team to claim a refund.

While It’s a step in the right direction, Workaway’s process feels more restrictive and time-bound. Worldpackers has a clearer safety net.

The Final Verdict

After comparing them, Worldpackers comes out ahead winning seven out of 14 categories, while Workaway only leads in one (Host Variety).

The remaining six categories were close calls, with both platforms performing almost equally.

If I were to start over today, Worldpackers would still be my top pick, especially as a beginner, solo traveler, and someone who values consistent support.

However, this does not mean that Workaway is ineffective. Its strength lies in its sheer reach and diversity of hosts. If you’re more adventurous and you know your limits, then Workaway could be the better platform for you.

You can also subscribe to both platforms to increase your chances of finding good hosts. But if neither seems right, there are alternatives worth exploring.

Ultimately, there is no perfect work-exchange platform. But the right one will open doors to new places, new people, and new versions of yourself.

What to Read Next

• Worldpackers Review from a First-Time Volunteer
• What I Wish I Knew Before My First Workaway Experience
• 10 Best Workaway Alternatives for Volunteering and Work Exchange