Yaya Middle East vs HelperPlace: which is better for hiring a nanny or maid in the UAE?
In short: Yaya or HelperPlace?
- Both are marketplaces with iOS and Android apps: caregivers apply to jobs and families message them inside the platform.
- Yaya Middle East adds a video introduction on every profile, a published screening process, activity-based ranking with delisting after 10 days, Yaya AI and a free trial in the app, with phone, email and WhatsApp support.
- HelperPlace is a platform covering 10 countries, with no profile videos and no free trial. It describes candidates as pre-screened; we found no detailed screening procedure on the pages we reviewed. Its website prices, in US dollars, are lower for a 30- or 60-day search (US$60 and US$70, about AED 220 and 257), and are generally non-refundable once access starts.
New app users get 3 free credits. Each message sent, CV viewed or application viewed uses one credit; contacting a Top Yaya Pick needs a subscription.
Quick comparison
| Feature | Yaya Middle East | HelperPlace |
|---|---|---|
| Based in | UAE | Hong Kong |
| Markets | UAE and Bahrain | 10: Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Malaysia, Taiwan, Oman |
| Apps | iOS, Android, web | iOS, Android, web |
| Caregivers apply to jobs | Yes | Yes |
| Messaging | Private chat in the app and on the web | In-app messaging |
| Video on profiles | Yes, mandatory for every caregiver | No |
| Search filters | 23, plus natural-language search | 10, plus name search |
| Ways to shortlist | Top Yaya Picks, Best Matches once you post a job, grouped browsing lists (Most Active, New Helpers, References Available, Visa-Ready) and side-by-side comparison | Recommended profiles and a shortlist (per its pricing page) |
| Profile depth | Video, plus work history, references, CV and certifications where provided, last-active and reply-speed signals, and an ID-verified mark | Basics, about, work history with duties, skills, expectations; no video |
| AI search | Yes, Yaya AI: describe what you need in plain language | Not documented (offers a "matching analyzer") |
| Inactive caregivers | Ranked by app activity; hidden after 10 days without using the app | Shows when a helper was last active |
| Published screening | Every profile reviewed by hand, every caregiver contacted, ID checked, bio and CV cross-checked; about 30% approved (what the review covers) | Describes candidates as pre-screened; we found no detailed screening procedure on the pages reviewed |
| Roles | Nannies, nanny/maids, maids, cooks, drivers, babysitters, governesses and au pairs | Domestic helpers (maids, nannies, cooks, caregivers) and drivers |
| Website prices in | AED | US dollars |
| Free trial | Yes, browse free + 3 free credits in the app | No, paid plans only |
| Billing | Subscription, auto-renews until cancelled; cancel anytime | One-time |
| Refunds | Web purchases and renewals refunded if requested within 24 hours; app purchases follow Apple and Google rules | Generally non-refundable after access starts, including if candidates don't reply; limited billing and technical exceptions; app purchases follow store rules |
| Visa help | Maids.cc or Housekeeping Co (pricing on our visa page) | Information and links to Tadbeer services |
| Support | Phone, email and WhatsApp, 7 days a week, on every plan including the free trial | Email and in-app messaging; head office in Hong Kong (per its FAQ) |
| Done-for-you search | Yaya Concierge, from AED 1,000 + VAT | Not documented (lists third-party agencies) |
Detailed comparison
Seeing caregivers before you call
HelperPlace profiles have a photo and written details, with no video. Every Yaya profile has a video introduction, so you can hear a caregiver's English and see how they come across before you spend time on interviews.
Screening
HelperPlace describes its UAE candidates as "pre-screened", but we found no description of what that involves on the pages we reviewed. Yaya Middle East publishes its process. Every Yaya Middle East profile is reviewed by hand before it goes live. Our team contacts every caregiver and checks her ID document by hand, our AI cross-checks her bio, profile details and CV for discrepancies, and a person reviews her experience for relevance. Every caregiver records a video introduction. About 30% of applicants are approved; most are turned down for not meeting our standards.
Keeping profiles current
HelperPlace shows when each helper was last active. Yaya Middle East uses app activity in the ranking itself: less active caregivers move down the results, and anyone who hasn't used the app for 10 days is deactivated automatically, which keeps stale profiles to a minimum.
Search
HelperPlace's UAE search has 10 filters, including start date, contract status, language, skills, nationality and gender. Yaya Middle East has 23, including online now, visa ready today, availability, open to relocating, references, driving licence, education, cooking and certifications. You can also describe what you need to Yaya AI: in the app it returns matched profiles and answers hiring questions in English or Arabic, and on CareFinder Web it turns your request into filters. Compare favourites side by side on the web, or swipe through profiles in Spotlight.
Where each is based
HelperPlace was founded in Hong Kong in 2016 and serves 10 countries from one platform, with website prices in US dollars. Its UAE search also shows helpers who are currently outside the UAE.
Yaya Middle East is a UAE company serving the UAE and Bahrain. Prices are in dirhams, salary ranges reflect local rates, and our visa partner, support team and Concierge service are set up for families here.
Pricing
| Access | Yaya Middle East | HelperPlace (website) | HelperPlace (iOS app, UAE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | AED 99 (intro), then AED 129/week | US$50 (about AED 184) | AED 199.99 |
| 30 days | AED 299 | US$60 (about AED 220) | AED 249.99 |
| 60 days | AED 469 | US$70 (about AED 257) | AED 299.99 |
HelperPlace is cheaper for 30 and 60 days, especially on its website, and its plans are generally non-refundable once access starts, even if candidates don't reply. For a 30-day search, Yaya costs about AED 79 more than HelperPlace's website plan. That adds video introductions, Yaya's published profile review, Yaya AI search, activity-based delisting, and phone and WhatsApp support for families hiring in the UAE. Yaya is also cheaper for a first week, and you can try it free.
Which one is for you?
Choose Yaya Middle East if
- You want phone and WhatsApp support from a team set up for hiring in the UAE
- You want to see a video of every caregiver
- You want Yaya AI and 23 filters
- You want to try before paying
- You want optional Yaya Concierge to manage the search, from AED 1,000 + VAT, separate from your subscription
Choose HelperPlace if
- The lowest 30- or 60-day price matters more to you than video profiles
- You are hiring in Hong Kong, Singapore or Saudi Arabia
- You prefer a one-time payment
Rated by families
You might have read about us
“Yaya Middle East launches Yaya AI to simplify nanny and maid hiring.”New feature helps families find a caregiver faster, get instant answers on hiring processEmirates Woman
“Yaya Middle East: finding the right caregiver for your child.”Parents Rui Pinto and Marilena Hadgianni founded Yaya Middle East to ensure a seamless and thorough process in finding your child the perfect caregiver.What's On
“Platforms like Yaya Middle East were built to solve this problem.”Rui Gomes Pinto is the founder and CEO of Yaya Middle East, a UAE-based app connecting families with verified nannies and domestic helpers.Time Out Dubai
“Find and connect directly with nannies suited to your needs.”Relocating to a new city can be daunting but gone are the days where you need a compass and map to navigate around unknown surroundings. Yaya Middle East is there to help you with your childcare needs.Frequently asked questions
Is HelperPlace a UAE company?
No. HelperPlace Limited is based in Hong Kong and serves the UAE as one of 10 markets. Yaya Middle East is a UAE company.
Does HelperPlace have video profiles?
No. HelperPlace profiles have a photo and written details. Every Yaya Middle East profile has a video introduction.
How does HelperPlace screen helpers?
HelperPlace describes its candidates as pre-screened, but we found no detailed screening procedure on the pages we reviewed. Yaya Middle East reviews every profile by hand, contacts every caregiver, checks IDs and approves about 30% of applicants.
Is HelperPlace free for helpers?
Yes. HelperPlace is free for domestic helpers, and so is Yaya Middle East.
Does HelperPlace have a free trial?
No. HelperPlace offers paid plans only. Yaya Middle East lets you browse free and gives 3 free credits in the app before you subscribe.
Competitor facts come from each platform's own website, terms or app listing on 23 September 2026; the pages we read are listed below. Spot something out of date? Email support@yayamiddleeast.com and we will correct it.
Sources
- HelperPlace website: UAE home, pricing, FAQ, terms and conditions, about us, and UAE candidate, job and agency search pages, viewed 23 Sept 2026; a sample helper profile viewed 24 Sept 2026 for the profile-contents row
- HelperPlace on the UAE App Store (id1400717910) and Google Play
See Yaya's verified caregivers, free to browse
New app users get 3 free credits. Each message sent, CV viewed or application viewed uses one credit; contacting a Top Yaya Pick needs a subscription.