Best Travel Nursing Companies in 2026: 8 Companies Compared

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By the Ainotely Editorial Team.
Updated November 2026. 8 min read. Prices and features researched from each vendor's official pages and app store listings at time of writing.
Best Travel Nursing Companies
Quick picks
  1. 1Aya Healthcare logo
    Aya HealthcareLargest job choice
    Visit
  2. 2Travel Nurse Across America logo
    Travel Nurse Across AmericaPersonal recruiter support
    Visit
  3. 3AMN Healthcare logo
    AMN HealthcareScale and specialties
    Visit
  4. 4Cross Country Healthcare logo
    Cross Country HealthcareLarge assignment network
    Visit
  5. 5FlexCare logo
    FlexCarePay transparency
    Visit
Short version:
In this guide Quick comparisonThe best travel nursing companiesHow we picked theseWhat to check before you buyFrequently asked questionsSources

Quick comparison

ProductIdeal forPrice fromFree version
Aya HealthcareLargest job choiceSee websiteNoVisit
Travel Nurse Across AmericaPersonal recruiter supportSee websiteNoVisit
AMN HealthcareScale and specialtiesSee websiteNoVisit
Cross Country HealthcareLarge assignment networkSee websiteNoVisit
FlexCarePay transparencySee websiteNoVisit
Atlas MedStaffTransparent pay and supportSee websiteNoVisit
TotalMedWide assignment rangeSee websiteNoVisit
Medical SolutionsSupportive traveller experienceSee websiteNoVisit

The best travel nursing companies

Travel nursing companies connect nurses with short-term hospital assignments, handling pay, housing, licensing, benefits and travel logistics. The best company depends on specialty, desired location, pay transparency and recruiter quality, not just on job count. We compared job breadth, pay models, housing, benefits and traveller support.

Aya Healthcare logo
#1

Aya Healthcare

Ideal for: Largest job choice

Aya Healthcare app screenshots
App Store screenshots

Aya Healthcare suits nurses who want the widest choice of assignments. Its job board covers many specialties, locations and shift patterns, with recruiters who help with licensing, credentialing, housing and travel logistics. Benefits, including health coverage and housing options, suit nurses who travel year-round.

The catch is variation. A large agency means recruiter experience varies, so a nurse should interview the recruiter as much as the recruiter interviews the nurse. Ask about response times, assignment honesty and what happens when an assignment cancels, before committing to a recruiter.

The good and the bad
  • Largest job board among travel agencies
  • Strong recruiter network
  • Benefits and housing support for travellers
  • Size means recruiter quality varies
  • High-demand assignments fill fast
Travel Nurse Across America logo
#2

Travel Nurse Across America

Ideal for: Personal recruiter support

Travel Nurse Across America website
tnna.com homepage

Travel Nurse Across America, known as TNAA, suits nurses who value a steady recruiter relationship over the largest job board. Its recruiters work closely with travellers across assignments, helping with licensing, housing and benefits, which helps a nurse who wants one trusted contact across several contracts.

The weakness is scale. TNAA job volume is smaller than Aya or AMN, so a nurse with a very specific location or specialty may find fewer options. For a nurse who prioritises recruiter trust and steady support, TNAA is a strong pick.

The good and the bad
  • Personal recruiter relationships
  • Wide specialty and location range
  • Housing and benefits support
  • Job volume is smaller than Aya
  • Pay varies by assignment and market
AMN Healthcare logo
#3

AMN Healthcare

Ideal for: Scale and specialties

AMN Healthcare website
amnhealthcare.com homepage

AMN Healthcare suits nurses who want scale and specialty depth. As one of the largest healthcare staffing companies in the US, it covers many specialties, facilities and contract types, including travel, local and per diem work through its brands. That scale helps a nurse with a niche specialty find assignments that smaller agencies lack.

The catch is personal feel. A large company can feel less personal than a boutique agency, and recruiter quality varies, so a nurse should test responsiveness early. AMN fits a nurse who wants options across specialties and is comfortable managing the recruiter relationship actively.

The good and the bad
  • Very large healthcare staffing scale
  • Deep specialty coverage
  • Managed service programmes for hospitals
  • Large-company feel can feel less personal
  • Recruiter quality varies by team
Cross Country Healthcare logo
#4

Cross Country Healthcare

Ideal for: Large assignment network

Cross Country Healthcare suits nurses who want a large, established assignment network. Its travel nursing division covers many specialties and locations, with housing, benefits and credentialing support that helps first-time travellers navigate licensing and travel logistics. That history gives new travellers confidence.

The weakness is consistency. Like all large agencies, Cross Country experience varies by recruiter and facility, so a nurse should confirm pay breakdown, housing details and cancellation terms in writing for each assignment. For a nurse who wants an established agency with broad choice, Cross Country is a solid option.

The good and the bad
  • Large assignment network across nursing specialties
  • Housing and benefits support
  • Long history in travel staffing
  • Experience varies by recruiter and facility
  • Pay transparency should be confirmed per assignment
FlexCare logo
#5

FlexCare

Ideal for: Pay transparency

FlexCare suits nurses who want to see exactly how pay is built. Its pay breakdowns show hourly rate, stipends, housing and benefits separately, which helps a nurse compare offers honestly instead of guessing at a blended rate. That transparency has made FlexCare popular with experienced travellers who negotiate hard.

The catch is volume by specialty. Some specialties and locations have fewer FlexCare jobs than Aya or AMN, so a nurse with a narrow focus may need a second agency. For a nurse who values transparent pay above all, FlexCare is a leading pick.

The good and the bad
  • Strong pay transparency with detailed pay breakdowns
  • Wide assignment range
  • Traveller support team
  • Job volume varies by specialty
  • Housing options should be confirmed per assignment
Atlas MedStaff logo
#6

Atlas MedStaff

Ideal for: Transparent pay and support

Atlas MedStaff suits nurses who want transparent pay plus a supportive agency culture. Its recruiters emphasise clear pay packages, honest assignment details and traveller support, which helps a nurse avoid surprises on housing, stipends or facility expectations. That culture appeals to nurses who have felt burned by opaque offers elsewhere.

The limit is size. Atlas is smaller than the largest agencies, so job choice is narrower, especially for niche specialties or specific locations. For a nurse who values transparency and support over maximum job volume, Atlas is a strong boutique-style pick.

The good and the bad
  • Transparent pay packages
  • Supportive recruiter culture
  • Housing and benefits guidance
  • Smaller agency than Aya or AMN, so job choice is narrower
  • Specialty coverage varies
TotalMed logo
#7

TotalMed

Ideal for: Wide assignment range

TotalMed suits nurses who want a wide assignment range beyond nursing alone. Its staffing covers travel nursing plus allied health roles, which helps a nurse household or a nurse with allied qualifications find work through one agency. Housing, benefits and credentialing support cover the practical side of travel.

The weakness is the usual large-agency variation. Recruiter quality and facility experience differ, so confirm pay, housing and cancellation terms in writing before signing. TotalMed fits a nurse who wants breadth and is willing to manage the recruiter relationship actively.

The good and the bad
  • Wide range of nursing and allied assignments
  • Housing and benefits support
  • Recruiter guidance for travellers
  • Experience varies by recruiter
  • Pay should be compared assignment by assignment
Medical Solutions logo
#8

Medical Solutions

Ideal for: Supportive traveller experience

Medical Solutions suits nurses who want strong support during assignments. Its traveller experience includes round-the-clock support, housing help and benefits guidance, which matters when a housing issue, facility change or personal emergency arises mid-assignment. That support focus has earned it loyalty among repeat travellers.

The catch is pay comparison. As with every agency, pay varies by specialty, location and urgency, so a nurse should still compare the full package against FlexCare or Atlas for transparency. For a nurse who values a safety net during travel, Medical Solutions is a reassuring choice.

The good and the bad
  • Supportive traveller experience with 24-hour support
  • Wide assignment range
  • Housing and benefits options
  • Pay varies by assignment and market
  • Job volume trails the largest agencies for some specialties

How we picked these

We compared job breadth, pay transparency, housing models, benefits, licensing support and traveller reputation for companies still operating in October 2026. We kept large, midsize and transparency-focused agencies in the list, since nurses prioritise different trade-offs. We did not work assignments through these agencies, and we did not repeat vendor pay claims as guaranteed rates, since pay varies by assignment.

What to check before you buy

Start with the full pay package, not the hourly rate. Ask for a written breakdown showing hourly pay, housing stipend or provided housing, travel reimbursement, meal and incidental stipends, benefits costs and any bonuses, since a high hourly rate with a low stipend can pay less overall than a balanced package. Compare at least two agencies for the same assignment where possible.

Next, check housing, licensing and cancellation terms. Confirm whether housing is provided or stipend-based, what happens if housing falls through, who pays for state licensing and when, and what the cancellation policy pays if the facility cancels. Get those terms in writing before you sign, since verbal promises are hard to enforce mid-assignment.

Finally, interview your recruiter. Ask how quickly they respond, how many travellers they support, whether they have placed nurses at your target facility before, and what they do when an assignment goes wrong. A good recruiter is honest about facility challenges, while a recruiter who only sells the highest pay may hide problems you will discover on day one.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best travel nursing company?

Aya Healthcare is our pick for most travel nurses because of job choice, recruiter network and benefits. FlexCare and Atlas MedStaff suit pay transparency fans, TNAA suits recruiter relationships, and AMN suits specialty depth. The best agency also depends on your specialty and target location.

How much do travel nurses make?

Pay varies widely by specialty, location, shift, experience and market urgency, with crisis and hard-to-fill assignments paying more than standard ones. Compare the full package, including stipends, housing and benefits, rather than judging by hourly rate alone, and confirm the breakdown in writing.

Do travel nursing companies provide housing?

Yes, most offer a choice between company-provided housing and a tax-free housing stipend for nurses who arrange their own housing, subject to eligibility rules. Confirm which option applies, what the stipend covers, and what happens if housing falls through before signing.

How do I choose a travel nursing recruiter?

Interview recruiters on response time, honesty about facilities, pay transparency and support when problems arise. A good recruiter answers promptly, explains pay breakdowns clearly, warns about facility challenges, and stays in contact during the assignment, not just until placement.

Can new graduate nurses travel?

Most agencies require at least one to two years of experience in a specialty before travel assignments, since travel nurses must adapt quickly with less orientation. New graduates should gain staff experience first, then travel once they can handle a new unit with confidence.

Sources

  1. https://ayahealthcare.com/
  2. https://tnna.com/
  3. https://amnhealthcare.com/
  4. https://crosscountry.com/
  5. https://flexcare.com/
  6. https://atlasmedstaff.com/
  7. https://totalmed.com/
  8. https://medicalsolutions.com/