What is the best volunteering platform between Wwoof and Workaway?
When it comes to volunteering abroad in exchange for free accommodation and meals, two websites stand out:
🌱 WWOOF – World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms
🌍 Workaway – A global volunteering and cultural exchange platform
Both platforms connect travelers with hosts offering room and board in return for a few hours of help per day. But which one is better? It depends on your values, budget, and travel style.
Many of my fellow volunteers say they prefer Workaway over WWOOF — and their main reason is simple:
👉 It’s cheaper and more convenient.
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Workaway charges a 30-euro annual fee and gives access to a global list of hosts. With one account, you can apply to projects in any country.
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WWOOF, on the other hand, operates country by country. This means you need to buy a separate membership for each country where you want to volunteer.
Here are some example costs:-
Italy – €30 (includes insurance)
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Ireland – €20
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UK – £20
…and so on.
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🛎️ Update (September 2021):
Good news — WWOOF is now working on an international platform that could make it easier to access opportunities across multiple countries. Stay tuned!
🤔 Which one should you choose? My honest opinion
Over the past few years, I’ve done a lot of volunteering and have used both WWOOF and Workaway. So if you’re looking for a personal recommendation, here’s mine:
👉 I’d choose WWOOF. Why?
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It’s a non-profit organisation.
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It supports ecological farms and sustainability-focused hosts.
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Most European WWOOF platforms include volunteer insurance.
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Both hosts and volunteers pay a membership fee, which feels fair and balanced.
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Member contributions help fund eco-projects and initiatives that promote sustainable living.
😕 Why I don’t use Workaway (even though it’s popular)
Workaway is definitely a great platform with a wide range of opportunities, but I personally prefer WWOOF for a few reasons:
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Workaway is a commercial platform, similar to how Couchsurfing has shifted.
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Only volunteers pay to use the platform; hosts list their opportunities for free. But shouldn’t hosts also contribute, since they benefit from free help?
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Other volunteers have shared valid concerns. For example, one person in a Facebook group mentioned:
💬 “When your subscription expires, you’re locked out of your profile and messages — even if you’re actively traveling or in touch with a host.”
💬 “Feedback tends to be overly positive and sometimes misleading, making it hard to evaluate hosts objectively.”
💬 “Many listings target very young travelers and offer little in terms of actual meaningful work or learning.”
Here’s a screenshot of the full comment that sums up some common frustrations:
Final thoughts: the cost of access & alternative Platforms 🌐
It’s a bit frustrating that, in the age of the open internet and open-source knowledge, we still have to pay just to view a list of volunteering opportunities. Imagine if there were a platform as open and collaborative as Wikipedia, where anyone could freely share, browse, and join volunteering projects worldwide.
Are there other volunteering platforms? 🔎
Yes, several other websites offer volunteering opportunities.
However, many of them:
- Charge high membership or placement fees
- Have limited listings
- Focus mainly on paid “voluntourism” packages
What Voluntouring.org offers 🌱
Voluntouring.org, provides a free volunteer opportunity database focused on:
- Sustainability
- Non-profit and grassroots initiatives
- Charitable and community-oriented projects
Voluntouring.org lists both free and low-cost opportunities, including those that offer food and accommodation in exchange for help, and others that may involve costs (especially in developing regions).
Just to be clear, Voluntouring.org is free, but it’s not on the same level as WWOOF or Workaway when it comes to the number of opportunities or platform features. It doesn’t have things like built-in messaging, host reviews, or a huge global database. The site is more of a simple directory, sharing grassroots and sustainability-focused projects. It can be a useful starting point, especially if you’re travelling on a budget, but it’s not a full alternative to the bigger platforms — more of a supplement.
Before you choose WWOOF or Workaway… 🧭
Consider exploring these free volunteer listings first.
They’re open to everyone and constantly updated.
That said, if you’re planning a long-term nomadic lifestyle, subscribing to either WWOOF or Workaway might still be a wise investment , both platforms can open many doors.
We hope this helps! 💡
We hope this guide has helped you compare WWOOF and Workaway, and consider your options clearly.
Whichever path you choose, may your journey be meaningful, respectful, and impactful.
[Read also: Best Facebook groups for alternative lifestyles and travelling]
Explore the Free Volunteer Project List
Browse open opportunities with no signup fees. Go to the list 🔗