Comparison
Batmaid alternative: employ your cleaner directly and save over CHF 1,100 a year
- From CHF 37.90/h + VAT
- Batmaid is the employer
- Direct, 3 h a week: CHF 1,178 less a year
Batmaid or employ her yourself: what do you pay?
Your canton, your hours, your wage. The answer in francs.
Directly you pay about
CHF 1'178less a year
- Batmaid StandardCHF 493 per month
13.0 h a month x CHF 37.90, excl. VAT
- Employed directly + ClinoCHF 385 per month
Wage with holiday supplement, employer contributions, Clino
She earns CHF 26.00 gross per hour worked. For comparison: Batmaid's reference hour in Zurich contains CHF 26.00.
Batmaid price from batmaid.ch, as of 03.08.2026, excl. VAT. Batmaid includes finding a cleaner, a replacement when she is off and loss-of-earnings cover; employing directly, you organise these yourself.
Already have your cleaner? Clino carries these numbers into registration and payroll, 30 days free.
Start with these numbers →If you found your cleaner through Batmaid: art. 7.6 of the terms of use bars you from hiring her directly during the contract and for 6 months after it, without written consent, with damages of 3 months of the services used. Check your contract first. How to switch in 3 steps
Batmaid fits if you do not have anyone yet. If you already have your cleaner, employing her directly costs less.
Batmaid charges CHF 37.90 to 39.90 an hour, excluding VAT. The same person employed directly costs you about CHF 29.60 with Clino, all in.
And if you want to compare more fundamentally, the hiring model comparison puts platform, agency, direct employment and cash side by side, with cost, effort and responsibility.
The 7 providers compared: which one suits whom?
The biggest difference is not the price, it is who legally employs the cleaner. With agencies it is the provider; on marketplaces and with Clino it is you. Almost everything else follows from that: the cost, the flexibility, and whether the same person comes every time.
Clino
Direct employmentOur own serviceCHF 25-35/hr wage + CHF 19.90/mo
Employer of the cleaner: You, the household
- No platform margin: you pay only the wage, contributions and the Clino fee
- AHV, payslips, accident cover and contract run automatically, in all 26 cantons
- You have to find the cleaner yourself (for example with a free ad on tili.ch)
- No automatic replacement if she is off sick
Best for
You already have someone you trust, or can find one, and you want them employed properly at the lowest total cost. Not built for a one-off clean.
Suuber
MarketplaceCHF 26.50-35/hr gross + CHF 39 one-off
Employer of the cleaner: You, the household
- Profiles show the hourly rate up front and you pick the person yourself
- AHV, unemployment, sick-pay and accident insurance are included in the hourly rate
- Heavily concentrated on the Zurich region, no cities in Romandie or Ticino
- No end-of-tenancy cleaning
Best for
You live in the Zurich region, want to pick a specific person at a transparent rate and stay their direct employer, without handling the admin yourself.
Batmaid
AgencyCHF 37.90-39.90/hr by plan, excl. VAT, min. 2 hrs
Employer of the cleaner: Batmaid (on their own payroll)
- Cleaners are employed and insured by Batmaid
- Replacement sent if your cleaner is away, and available nationwide
- Among the most expensive providers here, and the prices exclude VAT
- The same person is not guaranteed, and art. 7.6 of the terms bars hiring her directly
Best for
You want zero admin and guaranteed cover, and would rather pay a premium than organise anything. Also the safest pick for a one-off deep clean or an end-of-tenancy clean.
Homeservice24
MarketplaceWage straight to the cleaner + membership from CHF 39.90
Employer of the cleaner: You, the household
- You pick the person yourself and keep them
- The cleaner sets her own rate (averaging about CHF 28 gross) and keeps all of it, no per-hour commission
- All of the admin stays with you
- Without registering, this slides into undeclared work fast
Best for
You are happy to choose your own cleaner and want her to keep the whole wage. But AHV, contract and insurance are still yours to sort out, for example with Clino. The platform is operated by Lemonfrog AG, which also operates Fairboss.
Helpling
Agencyfrom CHF 42.90/hr incl. VAT (one-off from CHF 44.90), min. 2.5 hrs
Employer of the cleaner: Helpling (on their own payroll)
- Since 2025 cleaners are directly employed by Helpling
- Publishes what it pays: CHF 24.75 gross an hour, and you book online in a couple of minutes
- Once VAT is levelled out, about CHF 2/hr more than Batmaid Standard, with a longer minimum booking
- International operator with less Swiss focus
Best for
You would rather book online in a familiar app, and availability where you live matters more to you than the price.
Wecasa
Agencyfrom CHF 44.90/hr
Employer of the cleaner: Not disclosed by the provider
- Several home services in a single booking
- All-inclusive package, clearly stated
- The most expensive provider in this comparison
- Does not disclose who employs the cleaner
Best for
You want cleaning plus other services at home from a single app, and price is not the deciding factor.
Putzfrau.ch
AgencyNot published on their site
Employer of the cleaner: Batmaid (on their own payroll)
- Same operational backing as Batmaid
- Available across several regions
- Reads as independent, but it belongs to Batmaid
- Prices are not published on the site
Best for
Nothing that Batmaid does not already cover. Worth knowing mainly so you do not 'switch' to the same company.
The rating is Clino's own editorial assessment against five criteria: value for money, who legally employs the cleaner, whether you keep the same person, coverage across Switzerland, and how transparent the pricing is. Clino rates its own service here too, so read it with that in mind. Third-party review scores are shown separately where one exists with a meaningful sample. Prices as published on each provider's own site, checked 03.08.2026.
Prices as published on the providers' own sites, checked 03.08.2026. Actual prices may vary by region, canton and availability. Wecasa does not disclose who employs the cleaner, which is why that field is left open.
The fine print that changes the comparison
- •VAT: Batmaid quotes its plan prices without VAT, Helpling with it ('VAT is already included in the price'). At 8.1%, Batmaid Standard works out at about CHF 40.97 rather than CHF 37.90. So the gap to Helpling's CHF 42.90 is roughly CHF 2 an hour, not roughly CHF 5.
- •Wages: Helpling publishes CHF 24.75 gross an hour for its cleaners. Batmaid publishes a gross base salary of CHF 20.72-22.81 an hour. On Homeservice24 the cleaner sets her own rate, averaging about CHF 28 gross.
- •Insurance: Batmaid's plan pages market damage insurance, while art. 6.1 of the terms of use says Batmaid explicitly excludes all liability for any damages caused by its agents. Cancellation reads the same way: the plan page promises free cancellation up to 72 hours before, while art. 10.2 sets free at 28 days or more, CHF 20 between 8 and 28 days, and full charge within 7 days. When in doubt the terms govern, not the plan page, so read them.
- •Homeservice24 and Fairboss are both operated by Lemonfrog AG, so comparing one against the other is not an independent comparison. Homeservice24 is a contact marketplace: you are the employer, there is no per-hour commission, and registering the job with the AHV is down to you.
- •If you want direct employment, Batsoft (batsoft.ch) sits alongside Clino as an option, from the same group as Batmaid. There you are the employer of your cleaning agent and the commission runs between CHF 0.00 and CHF 10.00 an hour depending on the canton. Batmaid and Batsoft are opposite models, do not mix them up.
Where does your money go? Batmaid's own figures
Batmaid is one of the few providers that publishes its cost structure in full. We take those figures as the starting point - there is no fairer basis available.
Batmaid: one cleaning hour in Zurich
Reference hour CHF 43.90
Figures from batmaid.ch/en/about-us, Zurich column, retrieved 3 August 2026. Batmaid calculates there on a CHF 43.90 reference hour and publishes a gross base salary of CHF 20.72-22.81 an hour; the booking price checked on 03.08.2026 was CHF 37.90 (Standard) and CHF 39.90 (Comfort), both excluding VAT. The shares show the structure, not the amount on your invoice.
Direct employment + Clino: the same hour
Zurich, 3 hrs/week
Against Batmaid Standard's booking price (CHF 37.90/hr, excl. VAT) that is CHF 8.31 less per hour, with identical pay for your cleaner.
Calculated with Clino's payroll engine: canton of Zurich, 3 hours a week (13 hours a month), 4 weeks of holiday, simplified procedure.
In both cases the cleaner receives CHF 26.00 gross per hour worked. So the difference is not the wage, and it is not margin either: Batmaid reports 1.84% profit, CHF 0.81 an hour.
It comes from almost everywhere else. Private household employment is not a VAT-able service, and there is no operations and office markup, because you take on the sourcing, the scheduling and the cover yourself.
One thing does get lost: Batmaid insures loss of earnings and guarantees hours (CHF 2.51 an hour). In direct employment the statutory continued-pay rules still apply, but a daily sickness benefit policy is yours to arrange.
How Batgroup evolved - and where Clino fits
Batmaid started in 2014/2015 as a platform connecting households with cleaning professionals. The administrative declaration of the employment relationship stayed with the household. The company is based in Pully (VD) and the platform is operated by Vanguard Internet SA, part of Batgroup SA.
In 2021, against the backdrop of COVID-19 and a broader rethink of employment conditions in the sector, the business was reorganised under Batgroup into three complementary models:
A managed cleaning service in which Batmaid is the legal employer of the cleaning professional.
A marketplace where households can find and directly employ a cleaner.
Software that allows private households to declare, insure, pay and manage their own domestic employee. Here the household is the employer, not Batmaid.
Closest to ClinoThis distinction matters when comparing Batmaid with Clino. Clino is not a direct replacement for the managed service: Batmaid also provides recruitment, employment, customer support and replacement coverage when your cleaner is unavailable.
Clino overlaps more closely with Batsoft. Both are intended for households that already have (or independently find) a cleaner and want to employ that person legally.
Sources: Batmaid company history, Batgroup's published restructuring announcement, Batsoft product information and the Swiss commercial register (Vanguard Internet SA, Batgroup SA); as of July 2026.
Worth knowing: putzfrau.ch points to Batmaid
Many compare Batmaid with putzfrau.ch as if they were independent providers. Next to regional agencies in Dübendorf, Basel and Bern, putzfrau.ch's contact page lists Batmaid SA in Pully and Batmaid Lugano, both with the address client@batmaid.com.
So choosing 'putzfrau.ch instead of Batmaid' can, depending on your postcode, lead you to Batmaid itself. Before booking, ask who your contract is with and who employs the cleaner.
Source: putzfrau.ch/de/contact-us, accessed 1 October 2026.
What do Batmaid customers say? A look at Trustpilot
On Trustpilot, Batmaid scores 3.0 out of 5 from 1'823 reviews (as of 1 November 2026). Batmaid invites customers to review and, according to Trustpilot, has replied to about 20% of negative reviews.
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 21 July 2026.
Honest comparison: platform vs direct employment
| Category | Platform | Direct + Clino |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | CHF 37.90-39.90/hr at Batmaid (excl. VAT), from CHF 42.90/hr at Helpling (incl. VAT) | CHF 29.60-36.60/hr all inclusive (wage, contributions, Clino) |
| Convenience | Very high | High (Clino prepares 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 to start with, and when you need replacement cover and a fully managed service. Direct employment pays off long term: you pay less for the same work and decide yourself how much of it goes into the wage.
How to switch in 3 steps
Check this first: Batmaid's non-solicitation clause (art. 7.6)
At Batmaid, the cleaner's employer is Batmaid SA (terms of use art. 5.1: the services are performed through cleaning agents employed directly by Batmaid SA). You enter into an agency contract under art. 394 CO and never become the employer yourself.
That is exactly why art. 7.6 states that clients may not directly solicit, hire or engage the services of any cleaning agent during the contract and for 6 months after it, without written consent. Batmaid sets the damages at 3 months of the services used.
This applies to any cleaner you met through Batmaid. We are not going to show you how to get around the clause. Read your own contract terms and clear the situation up before you act. The direct employment described in this article is for households that find their cleaner themselves, or are not bound by a clause like this.
Source: batmaid.ch/en/terms-of-use, art. 5.1 and 7.6, accessed 1 October 2026. This article is not legal advice.
Step 1: check your terms, then ask
The contract first, not the conversation. If you found your cleaner through Batmaid, art. 7.6 of its terms of use expressly bars you from directly soliciting, hiring or engaging a cleaning agent during the contract and for 6 months after it, without written consent, with damages set at 3 months of the services used. Other platforms carry similar clauses, sometimes with a notice period or a transfer fee. So read your own contract terms before you even raise the subject. Only once that is clear, ask your cleaner whether they would like to work for you directly. It has to suit both sides.
Step 2: agree on wages
Agree a fair hourly wage. Batmaid publishes a gross base salary of CHF 20.72-22.81 an hour; in the breakdown of the CHF 43.90 reference hour that comes to roughly CHF 26.00 gross per hour worked, including holidays, public holidays and a 13th salary. From about CHF 24 base plus the holiday supplement your cleaner is level, and above that better off.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Is Batmaid a bad service?+
No. Batmaid employs its cleaners, insures them and publishes its cost structure. That is more transparency than most providers offer. The question is not good or bad, but whether you need the managed service. If you already know your cleaner and organise sourcing and cover yourself, direct employment is cheaper.
Can I hire my Batmaid cleaner directly?+
Not freely. Art. 7.6 of Batmaid’s terms of use bars customers from directly soliciting, hiring or engaging a cleaning agent during the contract and for 6 months after it, without written consent, and sets damages at 3 months of the services used. Other platforms carry similar clauses. Check your own contract terms first. You are free to hire directly if you find your cleaner independently of a platform.
How much does Clino cost compared to Batmaid?+
Clino costs CHF 19.90 a month as a flat rate. At Batmaid you pay CHF 37.90 (Standard) or CHF 39.90 (Comfort) an hour, both excluding VAT, of which 1.84% is profit according to their own breakdown. The rest is wage, social contributions, insurance, VAT and running costs. At 3 hours a week and the same pay, direct employment costs you about CHF 1,178 less a year.
Does Clino really prepare everything?+
Yes. Clino prepares the AHV registration, creates monthly payslips, calculates social insurance contributions, creates the employment contract, prepares the 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.
How long does Batmaid's no-poaching clause last?+
For the whole term of the contract and 6 months after it (art. 7.6 of the terms of use). For a breach, Batmaid claims damages equal to 3 months of the services used; if you changed plans, the price of the highest-frequency plan of the last 12 months applies. Helpling has a similar clause that runs for a year after the contract ends. How to switch in 3 steps.
Other providers compared: Clino vs quitt: head-to-head·quitt review & pricing·Fairboss alternative·Klara Home alternative·Helpling alternative·Homeservice24 review·Chèque-Service vs Clino (Romandie)
Disclaimer: Platform prices are based on publicly available information (August 2026). Prices may vary by region and availability. Clino is the publisher of this article and is therefore not neutral.