I've done both WWOOF and Workaway extensively and want to describe the specific profile of traveler each suits.

WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) suits travelers who: want genuine agricultural experience, are comfortable with rural isolation, are interested in sustainable food systems, can handle physical outdoor work, and don't need reliable internet for remote work. The demographic skews younger and more idealistic. The work is real farming — weeding, planting, harvesting, animal care. The environments range from intentional communities to commercial organic operations.

Workaway suits travelers who: want flexibility in the type of work, prefer to be in or near urban areas, want to use existing skills (teaching, construction, hospitality, tech), and want a more clearly transactional arrangement. The range of opportunities is far broader: hostel receptions, NGO admin, childcare, language teaching, website work, building projects.

The financial comparison: both offer accommodation and usually meals in exchange for labor. WWOOF annual membership costs $30-40 per country; Workaway is $49/year for global access. For multi-country travel, Workaway has the better economics. For deep, immersive stays in one agricultural context, WWOOF.

One thing both share: the quality of experience depends almost entirely on the match between your personality and the host's. Read reviews obsessively, communicate by email before committing, and have a plan B if the situation turns out to be a mismatch.