Rover Review

Tuesday, December 3rd

2024 Pet Sitter Service Reviews

Rover

• Free to use the platform: pay only for the pet care services you use
• Focus on dogs and cats
• Meet and Greet feature
• Mobile app
• Background checks for sitters
• Guarantee covers many issues
• "A+” rating and accreditation from the BBB

Rover is an exceptional online platform that specializes in connecting pet owners with independent pet sitters who cater to both cats and dogs. Whether you require overnight boarding for your furry friend while you embark on a vacation, in-home sitting services, or someone to take your canine companion for a refreshing walk while you're busy at work, Rover offers a comprehensive range of pet care solutions to meet your specific needs.

Free to browse

To get started at Rover, simply visit their user-friendly homepage where you will be prompted to specify the type of care you require, the size of your dog or cat, your zip code, and your desired availability. Once you provide this information, you will be presented with a curated list of available pet sitters in your local area. However, it is a little disappointing that there aren't any options for pets outside of dogs and cats during the initial filtering process. On the other hand, the care style and other filters are very comprehensive. Rover offers boarding, house-sitting, drop-in visits, doggy daycare, and walking services for dogs. For cats, there are more limited styles of care including boarding, house sitting, and drop-ins.

Sitting prices vary by individual

Rover understands the importance of accommodating different budgets and preferences. Sitters determine their rates for services such as boarding, drop-in visits, daycare, and dog walking, which may vary based on your location. However, Rover offers convenient search tools that allow you to narrow down the list of sitters based on your budgetary constraints and specific criteria, such as having a fenced yard, pet first aid certification, or the presence of other pets in the sitter's home. The bottom line is that customers don't have to pay a dime before they connect with a sitter.

Security and background checks

If the thought of entrusting your beloved companion to unfamiliar individuals makes you nervous, Rover has you covered. All sitters on Rover have passed a background check and are vetted by Rover's specialists before being allowed to list on the website. Additionally, the listings offer "badges'' so that users can browse Rover and easily see highlights of sitters' skills. You might see qualifications and completion of various training programs such as Rover 101, which is Rover's basic pet-care course.

Meet and greet options to know your sitter

You can put your mind at ease by reading reviews from other pet owners who have utilized the services of prospective sitters. Beyond that, Rover encourages pet owners to arrange a meet and greet session with potential sitters before making a final decision, ensuring compatibility and establishing a sense of trust. On the other hand, while the platform attracts responsible and passionate pet sitters, some individuals may view it as a quick way to earn extra income. When meeting with a potential sitter, take the opportunity to inquire about their level of experience and communicate any unique requirements or special needs your pet may have. This meet-and-greet is definitely recommended if the sitter will watch your pet at their own residence and they have other animals in the home: it gives you the chance to make sure your Fido and her Fifi will be able to coexist in peace during the stay.

Highly rated mobile app

Unlike a few other sites in his review, Rover does offer a mobile app. The Rover app serves as a valuable tool for staying connected and informed while you're away from your furry friend. Pet sitters can utilize the app to send you photos of your pet during walks, playtime, and mealtimes, ensuring you remain involved in your pet's daily activities. You can even receive detailed information about the routes and duration of walks, including the number of bathroom breaks or snacks.

Insurance available for purchase

To further instill confidence in their services, Rover offers the Rover Guarantee. In the unlikely event that an issue arises during a booking, the Rover Guarantee provides coverage to rectify the situation. After a deductible of $250, Rover will reimburse you for veterinary bills up to $25,000 per claim and compensate for damage to personal property caused by the sitter or any third-party injuries, up to $1,000,000 per claim. Rover also provides round-the-clock phone and online support for its valued customers.

Top-rated service overall

In terms of customer satisfaction, Rover has a stellar reputation overall. With full accreditation and an "A+” rating with the BBB. Additionally, there are over 16,000 individual reviews on Trustpilot for Rover and the average star rating is a high 4.6 out of 5 stars. The reviews cover topics like how effective sitters were and that Rover regularly delivers exactly what they promise. Customers loved using the mobile app, and almost all of the comments for individual sitters are overwhelmingly positive.

Great choice for traditional pets

As a service designed to help pet owners find affordable and trustworthy care providers in their vicinity, Rover consistently delivers on its promises and comes highly recommended by customers and the BBB. With Rover, you can rest assured that your beloved companion will receive exceptional care while you attend to your commitments. While we wish they had more care styles for pets other than dogs or cats, their easy-to-use platform and stellar reputation make it one of the top options in our review.