What it is
What Hometouch is, in its own words
Hometouch says its introductory model started in 2015 and is not regulated by the CQC, because Hometouch does not direct the care, manage care plans or provide rotas. Its managed care service is regulated by the CQC. Its pricing page lists introductory care from £1,400 a week and regulated care from £1,500 a week, and its site says carers are paid the rate on their profile minus a 20% commission.
On Trustpilot Hometouch showed 4.6 from 155 reviews on 19 October 2026.
The alternatives
8 alternatives to Hometouch
Listed in no particular order. Each is labelled by how it works, with one line from its own website and a price only where it publishes one. Checked on 19 October 2026.
Elder
IntroductoryDescribes itself as an introductory care agency helping families find vetted, self-employed carers, and says it is not required to register with the CQC. It offers live-in care, short respite stays and part-time care.
Source: Elder, introductory agency, checked 19 October 2026
Curam
BothDescribes itself as a home care platform that connects families directly with self-employed carers. It also runs Curam Managed Care, which it says is CQC registered.
Published price: Average hourly rate £20.50 and £1,200 a week for live-in (Curam's figures for August 2025), with a 12% client fee added to invoices.
Source: curamcare.com, Curam Managed Care, Curam client information, checked 19 October 2026
TrustonTap
IntroductorySays all its carers are self-employed and set their own rates, that the CQC defines it as an introductory agency, and that it obtains two references on every carer it takes on.
Published price: £23 to £34 an hour, average £26.
Source: TrustonTap FAQs, checked 19 October 2026
Consultus Care & Nursing
BothFounded in 1962. It offers an introductory service, where a self-employed carer works for you, and a fully managed live-in service that it says is regulated by the CQC in England. It also offers live-in nursing.
Source: consultuscare.com, checked 19 October 2026
PrimeCarers
IntroductoryThe service that wrote this page. Families search self-employed carers near them, see each carer's own rate and choose who to hire. It is not a care agency and is not CQC registered. Every carer has an ID check, a right to work check, an enhanced DBS (or PVG or Access NI) issued within the last 2 years and an online interview. We do not verify references, qualifications or training.
Published price: Hourly visits £18 to £25, live-in £1,050 to £1,400 a week, our fee included.
Source: PrimeCarers pricing, what we check, checked 19 October 2026
Country Cousins
IntroductoryCalls itself the UK's longest-serving introductory live-in care provider. Its carers are self-employed and contracted by you, and it says it is not CQC registered. Its sister company, Trinity Homecare, is.
Source: country-cousins.co.uk, checked 19 October 2026
Edyn
CQC-registered managed agencyFully managed live-in care, which it describes as CQC-regulated in England, with a carer in the home supported by a care team.
Published price: Live-in from £1,395 a week for one person, final price after an assessment.
Source: edyn.care, checked 19 October 2026
The Good Care Group
CQC-registered managed agencyLive-in care provider that says it directly employs, trains and supervises all its carers, is inspected by the CQC in England and the Care Inspectorate in Scotland, and is rated Outstanding in all five CQC categories.
Source: thegoodcaregroup.com, checked 19 October 2026
Which kind suits you
Introductory or managed: which kind suits you
Because Hometouch offers both models, decide first whether you want to choose and direct the carer yourself, or have an agency run the care. Then compare like with like.
| Introductory service | CQC-registered managed agency | |
|---|---|---|
| Who employs the carer | Nobody. The carer is self-employed and works for you | The agency |
| Who chooses the carer | You, from profiles | The agency, usually with your input |
| Who directs the care day to day | You and the carer | The agency, through a care plan |
| If the carer cannot come | You find cover, with whatever help the service offers | The agency arranges cover |
| Registered with the CQC in England | No, because it does not provide the care | Yes, and its inspection reports are public |
| Price | Usually lower. On PrimeCarers, live-in is typically £1,120 a week | Usually higher. A typical managed live-in week is £1,120 to £1,750 |
Who employs the carer
- Introductory service
- Nobody. The carer is self-employed and works for you
- CQC-registered managed agency
- The agency
Who chooses the carer
- Introductory service
- You, from profiles
- CQC-registered managed agency
- The agency, usually with your input
Who directs the care day to day
- Introductory service
- You and the carer
- CQC-registered managed agency
- The agency, through a care plan
If the carer cannot come
- Introductory service
- You find cover, with whatever help the service offers
- CQC-registered managed agency
- The agency arranges cover
Registered with the CQC in England
- Introductory service
- No, because it does not provide the care
- CQC-registered managed agency
- Yes, and its inspection reports are public
Price
- Introductory service
- Usually lower. On PrimeCarers, live-in is typically £1,120 a week
- CQC-registered managed agency
- Usually higher. A typical managed live-in week is £1,120 to £1,750
Some providers run both models, so ask which one you are being offered. The managed range is a typical figure, not any named agency's price.
An introductory service tends to suit a family that wants to choose the carer, can be the person the carer answers to, and wants more of the price to reach the carer. A managed agency tends to suit care that is complex or clinical, a family that cannot be on hand to direct it, or anyone who wants the provider to be responsible for cover. Either way, ask which checks were done on the carer you would get, not on the company in general.
Questions
Questions about alternatives to Hometouch
Both. Hometouch says its introductory model is not regulated by the CQC and its managed care service is. Which one you are offered changes who directs the care and what the weekly price includes.
Its pricing page lists introductory care from £1,400 a week and regulated care from £1,500 a week (checked 19 October 2026). Ask what is included before you compare it with anyone else's figure.
Introductory services usually cost less than a managed agency. On PrimeCarers, live-in runs £1,050 to £1,400 a week, typically £1,120, with our fee included. Curam gives an average of £1,200 a week (August 2025) before its 12% client fee. Each carer sets their own rate on both, so the carer you choose decides the final figure.
Sources
Sources checked on 19 October 2026
- myhometouch.commyhometouch.com/
- Hometouch pricingmyhometouch.com/pricing
- Hometouch on Trustpilotuk.trustpilot.com/review/myhometouch.com
- Elder, introductory agencywww.elder.org/introductory-agency/
- curamcare.comwww.curamcare.com/
- Curam Managed Carewww.curamcare.com/home-care-services/managed-care
- Curam client informationwww.curamcare.com/client-information
- TrustonTap FAQswww.trustontap.com/faqs
- consultuscare.comwww.consultuscare.com/
- PrimeCarers pricing/pricing
- what we check/best-carers
- country-cousins.co.ukwww.country-cousins.co.uk/
- edyn.carewww.edyn.care/
- thegoodcaregroup.comwww.thegoodcaregroup.com/