Helpx Arvostelua 

A dangerous experience with zero platform accountability. I faced host volatile behavior, inappropriate physical touching + boundary violations, 12-hour shifts without adequate food, and filthy conditions. Escaped with help of a community member. HelpX support ignored my evidence and brushed off my safety report. Volunteer safety is not a priority here. Stay away.

DO NOT JOIN THIS SITE. ALL FAKE HOSTS, NEVER UP TODATE SOME HOSTS DO NOT EVEN HAVE A PLACE BUT STILL ON THERE. ONE EVEN TOLD ME SHE HAD BEEN KICKED OFF WORKAWAY AND FOR NOTHING. SO PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THIS TERRIBLE SITE,
AFTER I LEFT A BAD REVIEW OF A HOST WHO FAILED TO TELL ME THEY WERE CLOSING DOWN AFTER TWO DAYS AND FAILED TO BUY FOOD AND WERE EXTREMELY RACIST TO ME, THEY LOCKED ME OUT , AFTER THEY LEFT A REVIEW I COULD NOT SEE. THEY DID THIS BECAUSE THEY ALL TOOK DRUGS AND SMOKED WEED AND WERE BASICALLY INSANE. THE HOST WAS AN ECO PROBJECT IN SKIBEREEN RUN BY AN ARGENTINIAN WOMAN. LOCALLY EVERY SAID THEY WERE KNOWN FOR BEING DISHONEST AND THAT THE CHARITY HAD MADE A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY. THEY WERE TOLD TO GET OFF THE PROPERTY AND SHUT DOWN BY A MONASTRY OR CATHOLIC ORGANISATION. HELPX HAVE KEPT THE MONEY AND REFUSED TO REFUND ME

I did my first work away program through this site, and the experience was terrible. I ended up working for a company 3500 miles away that turns out to be a for-profit company who advertise that you would come and work for their lodge four hours a day and exchange for board and food.

After arriving, I found that the business was not paying their employees according to the laws and that the situation that I was in 3500 miles from my home was very stressful and even seemed quite dangerous at times due to the circumstances. , Instead of providing a fun exchange program with a community organization, I was finding a business who has undercutting the local economy and laws while treating their work aways poorly, and getting increased profits by having people work in subpar conditions for the benefit of their business by calling them Workaways or volunteers, but it is not an accordance with labor laws that they can do that.

They were pillaging the local community by charging lower prices for their rooms by working people for free with no pay while the other businesses followed the laws, which creates an unfair advantage and economic instability for other businesses.

There was very minimal food, and the food that was given was very substandard – like dried out baked potatoes with canned chili or eggs, and they were very aggressive about meal times and complained always about how terrible the work aways are that they were illegally working for free in their for-profit business.
The housing was equally as atrocious. They had a small attic room with twin sized mattresses lined up against the wall where both men and women from everywhere in the world slept with absolutely no privacy or even curtains to divide their sleeping areas in that one room.

While I was there at least three people left crying because of the terrible treatment as well as being stranded at the edge of town with no way to get anywhere, young women who were alone and had come from other countries and out of town were told to hitchhike down the road, and no one even knew where they were going or when they would be back. There was no one looking out to make sure that these people were safe as they got sent hitchhiking around and no safety measures in place to make sure anyone would even notice if they went missing- because there are no Ubers there are and also no bikes for people to use. The management was very aggressive about giving anyone a ride – especially if they randomly began to say that that person was somebody they didn’t like, which was pretty much everybody.

I have never seen employees treated this bad before by a business – much less have I ever seen a business skirt the system and labor laws by using volunteer labor for their for-profit business and then treating them so terribly while they do illegal things.

I reached out to the company while I was in that situation and they did not even reach back out to me or reply. This business in is still breaking the same labor laws with the help of helpX. As well as it is my understanding that they’re still treating people terribly as well as advising other businesses to do likewise.

HelpX should protect their platform users by keeping for-profit businesses who are giving poor accommodations and trade to workers and breaking labor laws off of their platform, or they should also be held legally responsible for the labor trafficking that ensues as a result.

I have been a host - and a Helper for about 20 years now - with almost 200 (all 5 stars)reviews.
Helpx and it's many helpers have made my garden vision become a realty - even though I have now become severely disabled - they have made my life possible really - I don't know what I would have done without them.
Despite financial struggles and latterly the incapacities of old age, I have landscaped a sculpture garden, maintained my home, and come through years of serious illness with the aid of hundreds of ready, willing and able, kind and caring helpers from all over the world, many of whom have become life long friends.
I have found the cultural exchanges interesting, amusing, eye opening, and a fabulous way to keep in touch with the world outside my country.
I have always felt (when I have had a problem) that Helpx really cares and listens (especially Rob). It has a way more intimate, family type feel than other similar websites.
In the old days - when I was younger (still old but fit and able) I had a great time travelling a Helper - had some wonderful experiences. A couple were more `interesting' than wonderful - but made great stories later. I could not have afforded to travel if it had not been for Helpxchange.
I will forever be grateful to them for making my fun life possible.

I have been a volunteer with HelpX for 23 years. I find both the company and the concept excellent. Yes there people who abuse the concept on both
sides (Helpers and Hosts). But they are both reviewed by the people using the system. Any misuse is highlighted.
I thoroughly enjoy my time spent with hosts and the work we do is not free in that the host provides accomodation and food. The hours we work are always around 5hrs / day for five days a week. If the host asks for more you simply leave, move on, live your life. It's not slavery. In my experience hosts are grateful of what we the helpers do for them.

This website and its employees are putting people both helper and host in dangerous positions and not taking accountability or responsibilty for helping to create or allow such situations. When complained to or provide with honest reviews, the complaints fall on deaf ears and the reviews not published so that nothing gets done to resolve it, with the website still allowing for the same listings to be listed and viewed on the website.

The concept of this website is so amazing I used it in 2006 20 years ago I would love it if it was a good website but it completely sucks You can't get customer service It made me log in and reset my password four different times just today like the idea is perfect it's a great website everything about it would be good except the customer service sucks and like I said I'd reset my password four times today and then I couldn't even log in because when it wants you to reset your password like when you when it makes you reset your password It asks you what your password is well if your password isn't working obviously you can't freaking use your password it's got the worst customer service they have no intelligence it's the dumbest place I've ever used in my life and this is starting from 20 years ago but if they get their s*** right it's going to be awesome but it's been 20 years so good luck with that

I have been a host since May, 2009. HelpExchange was one of the original work-for-bed-and-board platforms. The only other one I knew of at that time was WWOOFing (Willing Workers On Organic Farms). HelpX was the suburban, help-around-the-house and yard version.
I have hosted nearly 200 helpXers. I also hosted on a couple of other platforms overlapping the same timeline. It has been a mutually beneficial exchange, not just of accomodation, facilities and food for labour but of sharing experiences and cultural understandings.
This has not always been everybody's experience. I have 'rescued' travellers from other situations, had a couple of not-great guests myself, and had a couple of guests who didn't enjoy my place. I have heard of some hosts utilising travellers as unpaid workers in their business. This is not supposed to happen. A careful reading of previous reviews is recommended and paying attention to how a host respondes to negative reviews is important.
Overall, I have I found HelpX guests to be somewhat more reliable than some other platforms. I would be disappointed if HelpExchange didn't exist so am hoping issues I have read about here start to get resolved.

Very rude behaviour n very arrogant lady

Most combative greedy the woman who runs Helprix.
2 months ago this woman kept asking me every day to please promote her HelpFlex company in my society's group. I told everyone about it in every group but she forgot about it that very day. It's impossible that this woman hasn't caused trouble in any society she's been a part of Anyone can tell how educated she is by the way she talks.
She seems to think that business is all about fighting which is this lady's only hobby fighting. She talks in such a wrong tone,shouting like that even a man wouldn't talk in such a terrible way. She talks in such a vulgar manner. Even Ravana's pride didn't last so who is she? She doesn't even realize that his pride will be her downfall.
She has been sending me the same helper for two months but For the past 10 days she has been rescheduling my booking according to her own schedule delaying the bookings and today she finally asked me to pay extra money and threatened that no helper would come to my place from tomorrow. Be aware of this woman she can't be trusted and won't let anyone go without a fight.

No protection from irresponsible, negligent hosts who abuse volunteers and take advantage of them. I had two negative experience with unscrupulous hosts. I wrote negative reviews and asked helpx to remove their profiles from the website. Helpx let these criminal hosts keep their profile! All of these work exchange websites (workaway, helpx, worldpackers) are complete rubbish and are obviously on the side of the hosts. It is all a work exchange mafia. These websites have no interest in sanctioning rotten hosts because that would mean fewer hosts. These websites want as many hosts as possible to make the membship attractive for volunteers. And there is one BIG question that nobody seems to be asking: WHY DON'T THE HOSTS DO THE WORK THEMSELVES? The reason: beause they are too damn lazy, greedy, selfish, stupid and incompetent to do the work themselves. They are the one who profit the most from the work exchanges, not the volunteers. In addition, they have the complete power and control over the work exchange and can (and do!) throw volunteer on the street for petty, frivolous reasons. I experienced this twice, once in India and once in Sri Lanka. Both hosts had very poor characters and expresed this by kicking me out after just one day! Beware of the positive reviews for helpx who are obviously working with helpx, like Barb U. A complete liar! "Anyone writing bad reviews on here is from Workaway. They won't even let you mention your membership with helpx on their site and will do anything to make people see helpx in a negative light." Another lie from this Barb U.: "Rob Prince started Helpx when there was nothing like it online and Workaway stole his idea." The truth is that the people running helpx don't have the balls and brains to sanction crappy hosts. The abusive hosts get to keep their profile on the website! Forgot about doing work exchanges with awful hosts who just take advantage of, abuse and exploit volunteers. Forget about workaway, helpx, worldpackers, etc. Get a paid job and say goodbye to abuse, exploitation and a complete lack of gratitude from hosts!

Had to delete my account after not being able to upgrade due to a technical glitch with the third party payment platform. Very odd that the website creators do not allow for a different payment platform

A woman ask me" How you can let foreighners in your house?" I read reviews. They are positive. That was my starting point. Not anymore. The negative reviews are not let to viewers.
I am just out of horrible experience with Claudia Tolosa from Columbia.
She contacted me as a helper to stay in my house on Koh Rong island. Quiet pretty place to visit.
After short conversation become clear that I don't have work for her. But she was insistant. Then I offer her another condition. She can come and stay in my house with full responsibility for herself, including financial, as she is not going to work.
The story turn ugly. She arrived. I gave her the best I could. She was respectfull in words but in action I found out she is just out of mind. She hung on my hospitality completely, like baby. I had to provide her everything. She is absolutely not capable for taking care of her surroundings. Then she started demand a work if though we never had conversation before her coming. I show her all work which has to be done. She ignore that, she wants crocheet. Her endless talk and this horrible frase" Listen to me" block me from my creative work. I have gallery in house.On 3th day I mention her on wich contract she is in my house. And if she doesn't want to pay for herself then she has to take care of the work I have. If she cannot do this work herself, she can manage someone to do it for her. I had horrible night with sluming door in her room. Morning time she is leaving because she doesn't have money. I was so happy about this news.Too much noisely drama for the type of my house. In village she told to people that she is rich. In the end of story she said that I have to pay her transportation expence beside food and room because she is helper. I ask what was her help? She said "I don't speak English, I don't know what word HELP means. Is it not ugly?
If HelpX let negative review also then we could avoide such insidents with losing money and being abused by people.

Used it a couple times over the past 15 years. Worked at some amazing places!

Franchement le site est pourri. L’idée est bien mais il ne marche absolument pas, cela fait 2 jours que je ne peux accéder à rien, parce qu’il ne charge plus aucune page, payer 20€ pour le premium et ensuite ne pas pouvoir accéder au site c’est du vol ….

imo helpx is a far superior site to helpx, at least for farmers and more family type venues. workaway markets itself and attracts for more very young travelers who want to party, party, party.

i was "kicked off" helpx when a very deranged helper gave me a bad review. He was a seriously not-normal person, and evaporated from HelpX a few weeks later, perhaps because the next host was pro active in letting hellpx know he was a problem. I tried to be helpful and compassionate.

Where did it get me? He made false testimony, likely was kicked off a few weeks later. BUT HELPX NEVER CIRCLED BACK TO ME. I wrote and pointed out what the problem was, NADA in reply.

Another lesser issue, my husband required 24/7 care for a number of years before his death. I was not allowed to continue our listing in my name, AND was not allowed to carry our numerous positive reviews to my new profile.

A single date is required below. These frustrations occurred over more than a few months in 2024

We completed the full profile with photographs and personal information months ago and the profile is still not online.

I even wrote an email to ensure that all of the requirements had been fulfilled and I was told my profile would be processed in due course.

They need to throw in the towel - absolutely useless.

Go to other sites, these people are a waste of time.

Our experiences over the last 3 yrs (?) with many, mainly French, couples has been universally positive. We’ve made some great friends, learned a little French, shared meals, learned some cooking skills and drunk WAY too much wine.

I’ve found the site a little clunky to use, I can’t find some reviews our guests left and find it hard to leave reviews myself. But I can live with it.

They said, HelpX has provided an introduction to people I would otherwise not have met. I think we have found a comfortable balance in the exchange of accommodation for work, we feel the people we’ve hosted have left with a positive view of life in Australia.

Ich habe gute Erfahrungen mit Helpx in Australien gemacht. Ich habe nur Hosts mit guten Bewertungen kontaktiert und dort dann auch sehr schöne Erfahrungen machen können. Helpx ist meiner Meinung nach eine gute Plattform, um Hosts und Helper zusammenzubringen. Wer sich hinter den Hosts (v.a. ohne Bewertungen) verbirgt, kann man aber natürlich nie wissen. Deshalb bin ich bei Hosts mit guten Bewertungen geblieben. Man sollte sich auch darauf einstellen, Arbeiten wie Putzen, Unkraut entfernen etc. zu machen, da Privatpersonen nunmal hauptsächlich in solchen Bereichen Hilfe benötigen. Was ich auch gut finde ist, dass man bei Helpx auch z.B. Homestays und nicht nur Farmstays (wie z.B. bei Woofing) findet.

Tried this site out in the past. Had three hosts at three different locations/countries, and they were all alcoholics with mental health issues. I thought the first one might have been just bad luck, and since I had my membership, decided to try another two, but the same thing happend again, twice.

The first one, I was supposed to help with product sales - I ended up cleaning someone’s toilet.

The second one, I was supposed to help with cooking and babysitting - I ended up cleaning someone’s toilet.

The third one, I was supposed to help with a creative project and photo editing - I ended up cleaning someone’s toilet.

Aside from lying about job descriptions, they also always lied about food provision and I always ended buying most of my food myself (at most I’d get one meal per day, but as they were mental they’d scream and yell during meals, so a lot of the time I’d just get up and leave the table as I can’t eat while somebody is shouting and abusing me above my head).

In all three scenarios, I left the places early as I feared for my safety.

Seems like there is no host vetting and just about anybody can be a host. The first one started verbally abusing me from the moment I entered their home. You can’t report this to helpx as they won’t care or do anything about it, and all they care about is to receive your membership money.

I don’t recommend this site to anybody. As a helper, if you want to save your money and dignity, stay away from this site. I also can’t believe this site can still legally exist, but anything goes on the Internet. A lawsuit is viable if 5-10 of us with bad experiences got together and started it jointly.