Welcome to HelpX
HelpX is an online listing of host organic farms, farmstays, hobby farms, lifestyle blocks, homestays, ranches, lodges, backpackers hostels and even sailing boats who invite volunteer helpers to stay with them short-term in exchange for food and accommodation. HelpX is provided primarily as a cultural exchange for working holiday makers, who would like the opportunity during their travels abroad, to stay with local people and gain practical experience. In the typical arrangement, the helper works an average of 4 hours per day and receives free accommodation and meals for their efforts.
This time range can vary considerably depending on the tasks at hand and the host's preferences. Some hosts may require just 2 hours per day for accommodation only, and ask you to provide and cook your own food.
Others may expect 6 hours per day in return for meals, your own room and sometimes other benefits such as free Internet use, horse riding, kayaking, bikes, local sight-seeing trips, yoga or English lessons, etc. Some will give weekends off, while others might allow you to put in 8 hours one day and later take a full day off. Helpers often live with the host family and are expected to join in and offer a helping hand with day-to-day activities.
Volunteer helpers are required to register for one of two levels of membership, Free or Premier. Helpers must upgrade to Premier membership to take full advantage of all HelpX has to offer. Premier membership costs 20 Euros for 2 years and allows the helper to contact all hosts and read all host reviews. Premier helpers can browse this site and contact hosts directly to see about making arrangements to stay.
Hosts wishing to add a free listing inviting helpers to stay will need to register. Registered hosts may update their details as often as they like and view helper profiles.
We advise both helpers and hosts to ask plenty of questions about each other in order to establish expectations from each party. Helpers should never turn up without prior arrangement.
Helpers can also opt to provide a self description for hosts to view who may then wish to invite the helper to stay with them. We advise helpers to include in their profile any skills or experience they may have, such as gardening, farming, agriculture, permaculture, fruit-picking; trade skills such as building, carpentry, landscaping, sail boat crewing; working with animals or an ability to care for and ride horses. Helpers can also look for travel companions.
HelpX (not helpex), operates worldwide including in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Europe including France.
Where will you go to next?
Australia
New Zealand
Europe
North America
Central America & Caribbean
South America
Pacific Islands
Asia
Africa
Testimonials
I have found Helpx a great way to meet travellers and share experiences and projects. I wish it were around when I travelled around the globe.
I have been using HelpX for a few years now and find it a great exchange. I have hosted people from different countries and found them very helpful.
Helpx is best way to exchange food and accommodation with skills. People can visit different corner of world without any cost, they learn cultural exchange and make world-wide friendships as family. Anyway I like Helpx.
We have found HelpX to have a lot more users than other sites we have found. We like the international vibe of the travellers we have hosted. Thanks HelpX!
Hi, we have been using Help-X since 2009. Just love the people we have met and are still in contact with most of them!
I have had only great experiences with the HelpX people who have come to stay with. It has been wonderful to share experiences with these workers as they travel around Australia. The site is easy to access and people have reported that the site has been useful for them. I highly recommend the whole experience with other people.
Helpx is awesome! Such a good way to meet people and to be really a part of the local culture. You give as much as you receive.
HelpX has been amazing for us as hosts. Not only has it been great to have help but the help 100 percent of the time has been of the highest standard which I think is incredible considering the cross section of ages, nationalities and sometimes language difficulties. It is also been wonderful to keep in touch and some have even revisited with other family members at a later date. Flexibility of hours worked and time off has been the key to the success of in our experience. Thank you for the opportunity.
Helpx is the best thing that ever happened to us. Not only has it made our farm more fun, I believe that it has enriched our lives and the lives of our family. Our international visitors are very welcome at lambing time when the workload seems a bit too much to handle. Thank you for a great website! We welcome more visitors and hope that this can continue for years to come.
We have hosted helpx visitors many times over the years and have loved it! - in fact we are still in touch with some who have returned home years ago. in the past couple of years we have been away so have not been able to host for a while but have updated the listing and we, and our old dog who just loves meeting new friends, are looking forward to welcome new travellers. Thanks for this wonderful site.
We love HelpX! Meeting travellers from all around the world is such fun, and we learn so much from them! Most are lovely enthusiastic folk who really enjoy what the area has to offer, and they fill our home with laughter! Its also great to get projects done so much quicker with their help.
We have been with HelpX as hosts for the last few years. During that time we have met some really wonderful people, who have stayed as part of our family, and will always remain good friends. We love the transparency of HelpX, the easy website, and the connectivity is great. When we next travel, we will spend some time as HelpX Volunteers in other countries too. Thoroughly recommend HelpX to hosts and people who want to see the real country they are travelling in.
I have found Helpx a great way to meet travellers and share experiences and projects. I wish it were around when I travelled around the globe.
I have been using HelpX for a few years now and find it a great exchange. I have hosted people from different countries and found them very helpful.
Helpx is best way to exchange food and accommodation with skills. People can visit different corner of world without any cost, they learn cultural exchange and make world-wide friendships as family. Anyway I like Helpx.
We have found HelpX to have a lot more users than other sites we have found. We like the international vibe of the travellers we have hosted. Thanks HelpX!
Hi, we have been using Help-X since 2009. Just love the people we have met and are still in contact with most of them!
I have had only great experiences with the HelpX people who have come to stay with. It has been wonderful to share experiences with these workers as they travel around Australia. The site is easy to access and people have reported that the site has been useful for them. I highly recommend the whole experience with other people.
Helpx is awesome! Such a good way to meet people and to be really a part of the local culture. You give as much as you receive.
HelpX has been amazing for us as hosts. Not only has it been great to have help but the help 100 percent of the time has been of the highest standard which I think is incredible considering the cross section of ages, nationalities and sometimes language difficulties. It is also been wonderful to keep in touch and some have even revisited with other family members at a later date. Flexibility of hours worked and time off has been the key to the success of in our experience. Thank you for the opportunity.
Helpx is the best thing that ever happened to us. Not only has it made our farm more fun, I believe that it has enriched our lives and the lives of our family. Our international visitors are very welcome at lambing time when the workload seems a bit too much to handle. Thank you for a great website! We welcome more visitors and hope that this can continue for years to come.
We have hosted helpx visitors many times over the years and have loved it! - in fact we are still in touch with some who have returned home years ago. in the past couple of years we have been away so have not been able to host for a while but have updated the listing and we, and our old dog who just loves meeting new friends, are looking forward to welcome new travellers. Thanks for this wonderful site.
We love HelpX! Meeting travellers from all around the world is such fun, and we learn so much from them! Most are lovely enthusiastic folk who really enjoy what the area has to offer, and they fill our home with laughter! Its also great to get projects done so much quicker with their help.
We have been with HelpX as hosts for the last few years. During that time we have met some really wonderful people, who have stayed as part of our family, and will always remain good friends. We love the transparency of HelpX, the easy website, and the connectivity is great. When we next travel, we will spend some time as HelpX Volunteers in other countries too. Thoroughly recommend HelpX to hosts and people who want to see the real country they are travelling in.