Wondering if Abroadly is a trustworthy app? In this review, we’ll be diving deep into Abroadly, seeing what it’s all about, and whether it’s worth signing up for.

What started out as a Facebook group offering a helping hand to travelers around the world who were stranded during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, has exploded in popularity and been featured in Lonely Planet with over 10,000 confirmed hosted travelers.

Keep reading to learn more about Abroadly.

Backpackers traveling in Australia

What Is Abroadly?

In March 2020, Abroadly started in response to the crisis as a Facebook group called “Adopt A Backpacker WA.” Miguel and his partner Nikki created it to help backpackers, travelers, and international students by connecting them with local families (or “Local Hosts”) who could offer temporary accommodation during tough times.

Abroadly isn’t just another travel platform—it’s your key to real, budget-friendly adventures. They connect travelers with free or low-cost stays from friendly hosts, offer seasonal job opportunities, and bring together a community for meetups, ridesharing, and more.

What makes them different? Trust and safety come first. Every user goes through a strict identity check, so you can explore with confidence, knowing every connection is the real deal.

abroadly

What Makes Abroadly Different?

Abroadly is all about making budget travel easier, safer, and more connected for everyone. With their user-friendly app, travelers can quickly and easily find the perfect accommodation, job, or travel buddy—whether they’re seasoned tech users or new to the digital world. The app is designed to be intuitive, ensuring a smooth experience for all.

What truly sets Abroadly apart is their commitment to safety and trust. Every user goes through a thorough identity verification process, which helps build confidence in the platform and ensures every connection is genuine. This unique approach makes Abroadly the first platform to prioritize this level of security, setting a new standard in the travel community.

For female travelers, Abroadly offers an added layer of comfort with a Female-Only filter. This feature allows women to easily find listings and connections tailored to their needs, fostering a safer and more empowering travel experience. Additionally, their smart geo-notifications keep users informed with real-time updates based on location and interests, ensuring that no important opportunity—whether it’s a job, a stay, or a meetup—is ever missed.

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Beyond just accommodations and jobs, Abroadly thrives on fostering a vibrant community. The platform encourages meaningful interactions where travelers can share experiences, tips, and even organize meet-ups, making each journey feel more connected and enriching. At the heart of it all, Abroadly’s mission remains clear: to make budget travel safe and accessible for everyone.

How It Works

The first step to using the Abroadly app is to sign up and choose your profile. There are 6 different types of profiles to choose from:

  • Traveler
  • Au Pair
  • Local Host
  • Au Pair Host
  • Business Page
  • WHV 88-Days Employer

Once the registration is completed, you must verify your ID to make your profile more trustworthy.

Once you’re signed up, you can check out the interactive map to find what you’re looking for — whether that’s someone to grab a coffee with, somewhere to rest your head for the night, or a traveler to host and give you a hand at home. 

Each individual gets user reviews as they use the platform, so you can check out what others have to say about them before connecting. This helps to limit awkward and unpleasant encounters.  

Then, once you’ve found your perfect match, send or receive a request, and use the Instant messaging service to arrange your experience. 

That’s it! It’s quick and easy to sign up and you can find hosts, friends, or travelers within just a few minutes.

Membership Costs

There are three types of memberships available:

  • Traveller
  • Host
  • Business

The option with ID not verified is free, but you won’t be able to access most of the features available.

Instead, we recommend you pick the ID Verified membership which is valid for 3 years.

abroadly

Pros And Cons

Like with all platforms, it’s important to check out the pros and cons before signing up.

Pros

  • Abroadly has the cheapest membership options when compared to other competitors.
  • The platform is easy and fun to use, with advanced web-app technology. 
  • Everything is in one place so it’s a one-stop-shop for traveling the world safely and cheaply while making memorable connections and experiences along the way.
  • Did we mention the free trial of up to 14 days? A serious pro in our eyes.
  • The app provides a nice level of safety you can’t find on other platforms.

Cons

  • Abroadly is relatively new compared to other platforms. However, they managed to step up their game significantly since their original launch.

Final Thoughts On Abroadly

Staying in a local’s home is a surefire way to make your traveling experience unforgettable, creating a makeshift family for a short time who will help you to see a destination from a new perspective. 

Making connections is the best part of traveling and that’s exactly what Abroadly aims for. You can form a friendship in the blink of an eye, find a job so you don’t have to end your travels before you’re ready, or stay with a friendly family who will fill the homesick hole you might be experiencing.

On the flip side, you can offer up your home and invite people from all walks of life through your doors, and learn more about different cultures and traditions.

Abroadly is an easy, budget-friendly way to do all of the above, without having to trawl the internet separately for everything you need, saving precious time that you can spend exploring, and it gets a thumbs up from us.

About Melissa Giroux

Melissa Giroux founded abrokenbackpack.com in 2015 and has been living abroad since 2014. Originally from Canada, she has embraced a digital nomad lifestyle, working online from various destinations worldwide. Melissa is passionate about travel, technology, entrepreneurship, and CrossFit. Her extensive travels have taken her across Asia, Oceania, Europe, and North America. Currently, she resides in Thailand.


☑ Book your flight: Who said you won’t be able to find cheap flights? My top saving tip is flexibility. If you're flexible, you should be able to find a cheaper flight. Check out Skyscanner or Google Flights for the hottest deals.

☑ Book your accommodation: Want the comfort of being at home or the luxury of a hotel? I love using Vrbo and Booking.com for those very reasons. If you're a solo traveler, Hostelworld offers a wide variety of hostels you should take a look at. Alternatively, if you're a budget traveler, sign up for Worldpackers to get FREE accommodation in exchange for work.

☑ Rent a car or an RV: Make your trip more comfortable by renting a car with DiscoverCars.com. This website allows you to compare car rentals around the world. If you're traveling in the United States, find an RV rental on RVshare.

☑ Stay safe: Travel mishaps happen – so, better be safe than sorry by covering your back with travel medical insurance. I would suggest SafetyWing, Genki or Heymondo as they offer the best rates, especially for long-term travelers.

☑ Pack the essentials: Universal charger, check; power bank, check; passport, check! What else could you forget? I've put together this ultimate packing list just for you!

☑ Do you need a visa? If you aren't sure if you need a visa, it’s highly recommended for you to double-check. You can use iVisa - it's super useful and easy to use.

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