Batmaid Alternative 2026: Register Your Cleaner Yourself & Save
Batmaid, Helpling and Homeservice24 are convenient but expensive (CHF 33-55/hr). There’s an alternative: find your cleaner through any channel, then register them yourself with Clino for CHF 19.90/mo. Same cleaner, lower cost.
Cleaning platforms in Switzerland cost CHF 33 to 55 per hour (Batmaid CHF 33-39, Helpling CHF 30-38, Homeservice24 CHF 30-40, Wecasa from CHF 44.90; putzfrau.ch belongs to Batmaid). If you find the cleaner yourself and register them with Clino, you pay CHF 25-35 per hour plus CHF 19.90 a month. That is cheaper for you and pays the cleaner more.
Key points at a glance
- 1Platforms like Batmaid cost CHF 33-55/hr - a big share goes to the platform, not your cleaner.
- 2Direct + Clino: same person, you pay less and your cleaner earns more.
- 3Clino handles AHV, payroll, contract and insurance - for CHF 19.90/month.
Cleaning platforms like Batmaid, Helpling or Homeservice24 are very popular in Switzerland. They promise a vetted cleaner at the click of a button - and usually deliver. But this convenience comes at a price: between CHF 33 and CHF 55 per hour through a platform.
There’s a simple alternative: find your cleaner yourself - through recommendations, Facebook groups or classified ads - and register them properly. All the administration (AHV, payslips, insurance, contract) is handled by Clino for CHF 19.90/month. Find a cleaner.
In this article, we compare the largest platforms, reveal the hidden costs and calculate how much you save - and how much more your cleaner earns.
Go deeper: what a cleaner really costs - or read our guide to employing your cleaner directly.
Transparency: Clino is the publisher of this article. We’re not neutral, but we disclose all numbers.
Platform overview: what do Batmaid & Co. cost?
| Platform | Price/hr | What’s included | What’s missing |
|---|---|---|---|
 Batmaid | CHF 33–39 | Vetted cleaners, insurance, payroll | No personal relationship, changing staff possible |
 Helpling | CHF 30–38 | Similar to Batmaid, online booking | International company, less Swiss focus |
 Homeservice24 | CHF 28–35 | Marketplace: you contact cleaners directly | You handle admin yourself |
 Putzfrau.ch | CHF 30–40 | Matching and partial admin | Limited coverage in Switzerland |
 Wecasa | CHF 44.90+ | All-inclusive package, online booking | Most expensive option on the market |
Prices based on publicly available information (April 2026). Actual prices may vary by region and availability.
Where does your money go?
On a platform you pay by the hour - but only part of it reaches your cleaner. The platform keeps the rest.
Same person, same work - but your cleaner earns around 40% more directly, and you pay less overall.
Why people leave platforms
Cleaning platforms are great for getting started. But long-term, many customers prefer to work directly with their cleaner:
- •Too expensive long-term: CHF 33-55/hr adds up. At 3 hours per week, that’s over CHF 400/month.
- •Same person every time: many want to build trust rather than see someone new every week.
- •The cleaner suggests it: via the platform, they often receive only CHF 20-25 of the CHF 38 you pay. Directly, they earn more.
- •More flexibility: changes through the platform are often cumbersome. Directly, you can arrange schedules freely.
- •The platform earns too much: the markup of CHF 10-18 per hour goes to the platform, not your cleaner.
Good to know: most cleaners prefer direct employment. They earn more, have a permanent contract and build a personal relationship with their employer.
Platform or employ directly - what fits you?
Is Batmaid worth it for you? 5-question check
Platform or employ directly? Answer 5 quick questions and see what fits you.
1. How often do you need a cleaner?
2. How important is always the same person?
3. What matters more?
4. Does a bit of admin bother you if an app handles it?
5. How long do you want to employ the cleaner?
The alternative: register your cleaner yourself with Clino
The principle is simple: you find your cleaner yourself and register them properly as a domestic employee. Clino handles all the administration:
- ✓AHV registration with the compensation office
- ✓Monthly payslips with all deductions
- ✓Accident insurance (UVG)
- ✓Employment contract under Swiss law
- ✓Year-end statement and salary certificate
- ✓Withholding tax processing (if applicable)
All for CHF 19.90/month. No commission, no hidden fees.
Where do you find a cleaner? Through personal recommendations, Facebook groups, ads on tutti.ch or similar platforms. In our guide Find a cleaner in Switzerland we show you all the options.
Agree on a fair hourly wage - for example CHF 25-30. That’s significantly less than through a platform and still more than your cleaner receives there net. A true win-win.
Cost comparison: platform vs Clino
Numbers don’t lie. Here are two concrete examples:
Example 1: 3 hours per week
- •Batmaid: 12 hrs × CHF 38 = CHF 456/month = CHF 5,472/year
- •Direct + Clino: 12 hrs × CHF 30 = CHF 360 + CHF 19.90 = CHF 379.90/month = CHF 4,558.80/year
- →Savings: CHF 913.20 per year
And your cleaner earns CHF 30/hr instead of approx. CHF 22 through the platform.
Example 2: 4 hours per week
- •Batmaid: 16 hrs × CHF 35 = CHF 560/month = CHF 6,720/year
- •Direct + Clino: 16 hrs × CHF 28 = CHF 448 + CHF 19.90 = CHF 467.90/month = CHF 5,614.80/year
- →Savings: CHF 1,105.20 per year
Your cleaner earns CHF 28/hr instead of approx. CHF 20 through the platform.
The more hours you book, the greater the savings. And the more your cleaner benefits from the higher direct wage.
Calculate your personal costs with our cost calculator.
Who is behind Batmaid?
Batmaid was founded in 2014/2015 by Andreas Schollin-Borg and Eric Laudet and is based in Pully (VD). The platform is operated by Vanguard Internet SA, part of Batgroup SA.
Since early 2021, Batmaid has been split into three units: Batmaid (book a cleaning), Batwork (find your own cleaner) and Batsoft (register & run payroll). The same year, investor AEVIS VICTORIA came on board with up to CHF 25 million.
Worth knowing: until 2021, Batmaid was purely a matchmaking platform. Only after public criticism of working conditions did Batmaid become the formal employer of most of its cleaners. Undeclared work: risks & penalties.
Sources: Swiss commercial register (Vanguard Internet SA, Batgroup SA), Batmaid blog, WOZ investigation, Startupticker - as of June 2026.
putzfrau.ch as an 'alternative'? That's also Batmaid
Many compare Batmaid with putzfrau.ch, assuming they're independent providers. In fact, putzfrau.ch's own contact page is simply headed 'Kontakt - Batmaid SA' and lists Batmaid's offices in Pully and Lugano.
Since July 2021, putzfrau.ch and Batmaid have officially worked together. So choosing 'putzfrau.ch instead of Batmaid' often means choosing the same company - with the same pricing model.
Source: putzfrau.ch/kontakt (page title 'Kontakt - Batmaid SA'), accessed June 2026.
What do Batmaid customers say? A look at Trustpilot
On Trustpilot, Batmaid scores 3.5 out of 5 from over 1,800 reviews. Nearly 70% give 5 stars - but around 12% give just one. Notably, Batmaid has claimed the profile but doesn't reply to reviews there.
Excellent quality of cleaning. Trustworthy and always with a smile!
We've used this company for years but the quality of the cleaning has always been very poor... I have also witnessed many cleaners staying shorter time than we have booked.
Real reviews from trustpilot.com/review/batmaid.ch, accessed 4 June 2026.
Honest comparison: platform vs direct employment
| Category | Platform | Direct + Clino |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | CHF 33-55/hr | CHF 25-35/hr + CHF 19.90/mo |
| Convenience | Very high | High (Clino handles admin) |
| Same person every time | Not guaranteed | Yes |
| Replacement if absent | Yes (platform arranges replacement) | No (you need to find a replacement yourself) |
| Trust | Vetted by platform | Built by you personally |
| Flexibility | Platform rules | Freely arranged |
Platforms are ideal for getting started: fast, convenient, with replacement coverage. Direct employment is better long-term: cheaper, more personal, fairer for the cleaner.
How to switch in 3 steps
Step 1: ask your cleaner
Ask your current cleaner if they’d like to work for you directly. Most say yes - because they earn more and get a permanent contract.
Step 2: agree on wages
Agree on a fair hourly wage. For example CHF 28-30 - instead of the CHF 20-22 they receive via the platform. You still save because the platform markup disappears.
Step 3: register with Clino
Create a Clino account and register your domestic worker. In just a few minutes, everything is set up. The first 30 days are free. → Start 30-day free trial
A detailed guide is available in our article Employ your cleaner directly - how it works.
Ready to pay less for cleaning?
30-day free trial. Cancel anytime. CHF 19.90/month after.
Want to try quitt.ch? Save up to CHF 120
Prefer a payroll service instead of a platform? quitt.ch handles everything for you - save up to CHF 120 with code CLINOCH.
CHF 30 off (Start) · CHF 60 off (Comfort) · CHF 120 off (Flat)
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Frequently asked questions
Is Batmaid a bad service?+
No, Batmaid is a good service. Cleaners are vetted and booking is convenient. But costs are high long-term. If you already know and trust your cleaner, direct employment can save you a lot.
Can I hire my Batmaid cleaner directly?+
You can ask your cleaner if they’d like to work for you directly. Many cleaners prefer direct employment because they earn more. However, check your platform’s terms regarding non-solicitation clauses.
How much does Clino cost compared to Batmaid?+
Clino costs CHF 19.90/month flat for all administration. With Batmaid, you pay CHF 33-39 per hour, of which approx. CHF 15-18 goes to the platform. At 3 hours per week, you save over CHF 900 per year with Clino.
Does Clino really handle everything?+
Yes. Clino handles AHV registration, creates monthly payslips, calculates social insurance contributions, creates the employment contract, arranges accident insurance and produces the year-end statement. How Clino works.
What if my cleaner gets sick?+
With direct employment, you’re required to continue paying wages during illness (duration depends on years of service). This is similarly regulated at platforms. Clino automatically calculates continued wage payments. More about illness and continued wages.
Is there a free trial?+
Yes, Clino offers a 30-day free trial. Cancel anytime. Then CHF 19.90/month.
Further reading
Disclaimer: Platform prices are based on publicly available information (April 2026). Prices may vary by region and availability. Clino is the publisher of this article and is therefore not neutral.
Updated 18 June 2026
