Swaphouse vs HomeExchange: which home swap platform fits you?
If you've looked into home swapping, you've almost certainly come across HomeExchange. It's the biggest name in the space, and for good reason. So why did we build Swaphouse, and how do the two compare? Here's an honest side-by-side, including where HomeExchange might be the better pick for you.
The short version
Swaphouse suits you if you want free, direct swaps and only want to talk to people who are already interested in your home. HomeExchange suits you if a larger network, GuestPoints and included assistance matter more to you than the annual fee.
All figures in this article are as of October 2026.
1. Cost: free swaps or an annual membership?
With Swaphouse, you can list your home, find a match, chat and arrange a swap for free. There's no paid membership, booking fee or points balance to manage. Optional Truvi damage protection is separate, so you decide whether to add it for a particular swap.
HomeExchange is free to explore, but you need a paid membership to finalize an exchange. The standard annual price is €175 or US$235, depending on your market. That includes unlimited exchanges during the membership period and its package of guarantees and assistance.
Trying home swapping for the first time? Swaphouse lets you give it a go without an annual subscription. If you swap often and value a larger network with included assistance, HomeExchange's fee may well be worth it to you. Curious how we keep Swaphouse running? Here's the story behind our free platform.
2. Matching: mutual interest or direct requests?
On Swaphouse, you like a home you'd love to stay in. If its member likes yours too, you match and can start chatting. You begin with a little common ground: you're both interested in the other's home. It can save a lot of polite "lovely place, but not for us" replies.
On HomeExchange, you can send requests directly from listings. That gives you more people to approach, though some requests you receive may not fit your plans. Its larger catalog also means more potential options, especially for a particular destination or less flexible dates.
A match is an introduction, not a confirmed trip. You still need to agree dates, who's traveling and the details of the stay.
3. Direct swaps or GuestPoints?
Swaphouse focuses on direct, reciprocal swaps: you stay in their home and they stay in yours. HomeExchange offers that too, plus GuestPoints. Hosting can earn you points to use for a stay with someone else, so your next host doesn't need to want a return visit.
🏠 Imagine you live in Amsterdam and want to visit Lisbon
With a direct swap, you find someone in Lisbon who wants to visit your home. You agree dates and exchange places. You can arrange this on either platform.
With HomeExchange's GuestPoints, you could host a member from Berlin, then use those points to stay in Lisbon. Your Lisbon host doesn't need to visit you in return. You still need enough points, available dates and their agreement.
That's why we built Swaphouse around direct swaps. Trust runs both ways: both households have a home to look after, so you're trusting someone with your home while they trust you with theirs. We built Swaphouse around sharing the homes we already live in. You can choose a reciprocal exchange on HomeExchange too, but on Swaphouse it's the basis of every swap.
Your swap doesn't have to happen at the same time. You could stay in Lisbon in June and welcome the people you're swapping with to Amsterdam in September. Both households need somewhere else to stay while hosting, but you don't need points to agree different dates.
Local rules can depend on the type of exchange. For example, HomeExchange's Amsterdam guidance distinguishes hosting for GuestPoints from reciprocal swaps without points, which are exempt from the short-term rental rules described there. That distinction applies to reciprocal swaps on HomeExchange too. Check the rules where you live.
If you rent your home, check your tenancy, any permissions you need and the local rules before arranging either kind of exchange. Our guide to home swapping as a renter explains where to start.
4. Trust: what do the checks actually tell you?
Opening your home is personal. Both platforms offer ways to learn more about the people on the other side, but their checks work differently.
Swaphouse
You join through LinkedIn. This connects your account to a professional profile; it isn't identity verification. We receive your name, email and profile picture, and don't post on your behalf. You can also add other social profiles, so the people you match with can get to know you a little better.
Our optional postal address check sends a six-digit code to your home. Entering it adds an Address Verified badge to your listing and confirms you can receive mail there, not that you own the property. It's free during the beta.
HomeExchange
Its verification is required for every member and checks identity and proof of address. That's a broader identity check than our postal badge. See what HomeExchange verifies.
Whichever you choose, read reviews, talk through expectations and have a video call before confirming. A badge adds information; getting to know the people you're swapping with is still part of the process.
5. Remote work: Wi-Fi and workspaces
Both platforms let you find homes that suit remote work. On Swaphouse, it's part of every listing: each home needs reliable Wi-Fi and at least one laptop-friendly spot, and every listing shows its Wi-Fi download and upload speed. Most of those speeds are verified with our built-in speed test, though not all of them, so look for the Wi-Fi badge.
💻 Both bringing work along? Ask before you swap:
- ✅ Are there two usable workspaces?
- ✅ Can you take calls in separate rooms?
- ✅ What's the upload speed, and was it tested?
- ✅ Is there a monitor or proper desk if you need one?
Swaphouse listings can show the number and location of workspaces, plus desk and monitor details, and on Explore you can filter by workspaces and minimum download and upload speed. A speed test is a snapshot, so ask about the current setup before relying on it for work.
You don't have to work remotely to join. A holiday, a family visit or a slower month somewhere new is just as welcome. The workspace is simply there if you need it.
6. Protection: damage and cancellations
HomeExchange includes guarantees with its standard membership: cover for eligible damage to your home (up to €1 million for the building, depending on your account's country), theft cover, cancellation assistance and 24/7 support. That's a real plus of the membership. For minor damage, the guest is responsible through a €500/US$500 security deposit, subject to HomeExchange's terms.
On Swaphouse, damage protection is optional and is arranged through Truvi. It protects against eligible guest-caused damage, and doesn't include cancellation assistance like HomeExchange's package. Each host decides whether to protect their own home, and you choose the level that suits you:
Truvi options, including the required guest screening
The two cheaper options leave the first €500 outside protection. Additional screening or verification options cost extra, and Truvi has confirmed that free, reciprocal swaps are eligible.
HomeExchange's guarantees apply to exchanges finalized on the platform with a valid membership, while Truvi protection must be arranged separately and should show your booking as Protected before the swap starts. Neither option is insurance, so wherever you swap, read the conditions on HomeExchange's guarantees page or our Damage Protection page, and check your own home insurance too.
✈️ What if the other side cancels?
On HomeExchange, if your host cancels, its cancellation assistance helps you find alternative accommodation and, if it can't arrange a replacement, may provide compensation within its limits.
Swaphouse doesn't mediate cancellations or reimburse travel costs, so it pays to agree on this together before anyone books flights. Talk about what a fair alternative would look like, such as new dates or a future stay, and keep it in your Swaphouse chat. Where you can, book flexible travel and check what your travel insurance covers.
If the people you're swapping with do cancel, ask early about alternatives and contact your airline or insurer quickly. We don't step in to resolve it, but we do want to hear about it if a cancellation seems careless or dishonest. How to prepare for cancellations
7. Reviews: what swappers say
Both platforms are rated "Excellent" on Trustpilot. HomeExchange holds 4.7 stars from more than 37,000 reviews, which is impressive after 30+ years. Swaphouse is much younger, with 4.8 stars from 36 reviews. Every one of those reviews gave five stars; the 4.8 is Trustpilot's TrustScore, which it calculates rather than averaging the ratings directly. With such different numbers of reviews, the scores aren't directly comparable, but we're proud of what our members have shared:
A unique way to travel and explore the world
An amazing first experience with Swaphouse
You can read them on Trustpilot, and even more swap stories on our reviews page.
8. Size: a huge catalog or a growing community?
Let's be honest: HomeExchange has far more homes. Swaphouse is younger and smaller, but growing fast: from 1,150 homes in December 2024 to 3,910+ homes across 101 countries today. For a specific small town or a fixed school-holiday week, a larger catalog gives you more places to look. If you're open to different destinations, a great match might be somewhere you hadn't considered. And because Swaphouse is free, joining costs you nothing while you see what's available.
So, which platform would suit you?
Start with Swaphouse if you like the idea of a direct exchange, prefer to chat after mutual interest and want to try home swapping without a required fee. Wi-Fi and workspace details are useful if you're bringing work along. You'll need a LinkedIn account, a match that works for both households, and a little flexibility with a smaller community.
Consider HomeExchange if a much larger choice of homes, GuestPoints and included assistance matter more to you. You'll pay an annual fee, but you can arrange stays without needing your host to visit your home in return. And if you prefer direct swaps, you can do those there too.
You can also join both. Browse homes in places you'd love to visit, see what might work for your dates, and get a feel for the community. A platform is only the starting point. Finding people you're comfortable sharing your home with is what makes the trip.
About Swaphouse
Imagine exploring the world without paying for pricey hotels or short-term rentals. Whether you're planning a holiday, a longer stay or a workation, Swaphouse lets you stay for free in someone else's home in exchange for your own. Join our community and start swapping.
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