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Alternatives to Hometouch for home and live-in care

Hometouch runs two services: an introductory one, where you hire a self-employed carer, and a managed one regulated by the CQC. So the first question when looking for an alternative is which of the two you were considering. These are the alternatives families are most often pointed to, with what each says about itself.

By PrimeCarers, the service that wrote this comparison  ·  Updated October 2026  ·  6 min read

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, 4 November 2026 and 5 November 2026.

  • Elder

    Alternatives to ElderIntroductory

    Describes itself as an introductory agency connecting families across Great Britain with vetted, self-employed carers, and says it does not provide regulated care. It offers live-in care, respite stays and, in some cities, visiting care.

    Published price: Live-in from £1,195 a week and respite from £1,595 a week, with its booking fee inside the price.

    Source: Elder, introductory agency, Elder pricing, checked 5 November 2026

  • Curam

    Alternatives to CuramBoth

    Describes 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

    Alternatives to TrustonTapIntroductory

    Says the CQC defines it as an introductory agency that is not required to register, that all its carers are self-employed and set their own rates, and that it checks identity, right to work and training certificates and takes two references on each carer.

    Published price: £23 to £34 an hour (average £26), live-in from £1,200 a week, plus a client administration fee of 5% plus VAT.

    Source: TrustonTap FAQs, TrustonTap pricing, checked 4 November 2026

  • Consultus Care & Nursing

    Alternatives to Consultus Care & NursingBoth

    Founded in 1962 and family-owned. It offers an introductory service, where a self-employed carer works for you and you pay them directly, and a fully managed live-in service that it says is regulated by the CQC in England. It also offers live-in nursing.

    Published price: Introductory live-in from £1,092 a week including its weekly agency fee, plus a £250 registration fee; managed live-in from £1,603 a week, subject to assessment.

    Source: consultuscare.com, Consultus live-in costs, checked 4 November 2026

  • PrimeCarers

    Alternatives to PrimeCarersIntroductory

    The 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

    Alternatives to Country CousinsIntroductory

    Says it has introduced live-in carers since 1959 and calls itself the UK's longest-serving introductory live-in care provider. Its carers are self-employed and contracted by you, and it is not CQC registered. Managed care comes from its sister company, Trinity Homecare.

    Published price: Live-in from £1,155 a week (its figure for October 2026), plus a one-off registration fee, an agency fee and the carer's travel.

    Source: country-cousins.co.uk, Country Cousins, introductory vs managed, Country Cousins live-in cost, checked 4 November 2026

  • Edyn

    Alternatives to EdynCQC-registered managed agency

    Fully managed live-in care, which it describes as CQC-regulated in England, with one carer in the home supported by a care manager and care coordinator. It says every carer has an enhanced DBS check, three references and at least 12 months of professional care experience.

    Published price: Live-in from £1,395 a week for one person (up to £1,895 for its advanced tier) and from £1,695 when both partners need care, final price after an assessment.

    Source: edyn.care, Edyn pricing, Edyn carers, checked 4 November 2026

  • The Good Care Group

    Alternatives to The Good Care GroupCQC-registered managed agency

    Describes itself as a fully managed and regulated home care provider whose live-in carers are employed and trained directly by it. It says it is rated Outstanding by the CQC in all five areas, and the CQC register shows its London location rated Outstanding.

    Source: The Good Care Group, arranging care, CQC register, checked 4 November 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.

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, 4 November 2026 and 5 November 2026

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