Alternatives to Betreut: Top 5 Cleaning Services in Germany (For Expats in 2025)

Let’s be real: Betreut.de is known for childcare and family care, but feels clunky for expats just wanting a clean apartment. The website can confuse non-German speakers, listings sometimes go stale, and contacting providers requires a monthly subscription.

If you’re an expat juggling work, language barriers, and weird cleaning expectations, there are far smoother options. We selected the best Betreut.de alternatives using actual SEO visibility, ratings ≥ 4.5, mentions in expat forums like Reddit and IamExpat, and confirmed service availability in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, and more.

👉 Looking for a Cleaner in Germany?
A4ord Cleaning Services – Transparent rates, vetted pros, English-speaking support, and easy online booking.

👉 Find Cleaning Services in Berlin • Munich • Hamburg

Now, meet the contender:

Betreut.de – for family-style setups and long-term arrangements

Website: betreut.de

What to know:
Betreut.de (the German branch of Care.com) is best known for child and elder care, but it also offers domestic cleaning services, especially for people seeking consistent weekly help. It’s subscription-based, and some profiles are inactive, so expect to spend time filtering.

Why it stands out:
It’s built around recurring household support rather than one-off bookings. Background-checked individuals offer both cleaning and family care services under one roof. This is good for people who want the same cleaner every week.

What expats love:
- Offers cleaning, babysitting, elder care, and more
- Well-known platform with structured profiles
- Subscription model adds friction but encourages commitment

Top 5 Competitors For The Best Cleaning Service

A4ord – for the best English-speaking experience

Website: a4ord.com

What to know:
A4ord isn’t a marketplace—it’s a concierge-style pet care service. You tell them what you need, and they match you with a trusted sitter. Great for expats who don’t want to browse through tons of profiles or apps that half-work in German.

Why it stands out:
A4ord is built with expats in mind — there are no contracts or last-minute no-shows. There are just reliable cleaners, verified profiles, and bookings that don’t require translating a PDF first.

What expats love:
- English-speaking customer support
- Verified cleaners with reviews
- Flat-rate and hourly options available
- Covers Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt & more

Helpling – for widespread availability and trusted profiles

Website: helpling.de

What to know:
Helpling is Germany’s largest cleaning marketplace, offering thousands of cleaners nationwide. It’s a platform model where quality depends on individual cleaners. Expect mixed consistency, but transparency and insurance are strong points.

What expats love:
- Available in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, and 50+ other cities
- Cleaner profiles with reviews and ratings
- Insurance and easy booking online or via app
- Transparent pricing from provider to client

SPIC AND SPAN – for English-first service with concierge simplicity

Website: spicandspan.de

What to know:
Unlike market-based platforms, this is a concierge-style service geared toward English-speaking expats. It is not strictly crowd-based, and quality control is centralized.

Why it stands out:
Explicit English-language support, fast online booking in under 60 seconds, and background-checked cleaners. Highly visible in expat blogs like IamExpat and HowToGermany.(SPIC AND SPAN. Home & Office Cleaning,

What expats love:
- Professional and reliable, especially for last-minute cleans
- No long-term contracts
- Support over phone, chat, and email in English

CleanWhale – for premium custom cleaning with transparent pricing

Website: cleanwhale.de

What to know:
CleanWhale provides full-service booking with flat pricing, optional add-ons, and online scheduling. It’s covered in SEO “alternatives” lists and is highly discussed in forums like Reddit. (CleanWhale, SPIC AND SPAN. Home & Office Cleaning, Reddit)

Why it stands out:
- Comprehensive offerings: move-out cleaning, oven/window cleaning, upholstery, and more
- Instant price quotes with no hidden fees
- Well-reviewed (4.2–4.6★), especially in the Berlin area 

What expats love:
- Digital-first booking in under 60 seconds
- Cleaners bring supplies, come organized
- No surprise charges, excellent consistency

Mr. Cleaner – for quick booking and regional reliability

Website: mrcleaner.de

What to know:
Mr. Cleaner is a Germany-based cleaning service that focuses on residential and commercial cleaning. It’s known for regional reliability and same-day appointments, especially in larger cities. The website is English-accessible and offers transparent online pricing.

Why it stands out:

• Real-time booking confirmation via phone or online
• Services include basic cleaning, end-of-tenancy, and deep cleans
• Clear pricing and scheduling with follow-up support
• 4.5★+ on Google Maps for major cities

What expats love:

• Easy booking flow without endless profiles
• Fast response for urgent cleaning jobs
• Option to pay by invoice, PayPal, or online transfer
• Good choice for offices and flats alike

Why Consider Alternatives to Betreut.de?

Betreut.de’s model is more focused on long-term domestic help and can feel cumbersome for short-term cleaning. It lacks transparent pricing, and many expat users report outdated listings and limited booking control.

The platforms above solve this by:

• Giving full price upfront
• Supporting online booking and clear cancellation terms
• Offering better SEO visibility and social proof
• Being available in English-friendly cities across Germany
• Providing insurance options and user-reviewed profiles

How We Selected These Providers

We selected services based on your stringent criteria:

• Top 10 search visibility for keywords like “cleaning services Germany”
• Ratings ≥ 4.5 on Google Maps or Trustpilot, where available
• Confirmed availability in at least Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, or other major metros
• English-support or expat-friendly interfaces
• A4ord Score: a proprietary formula that measures friendliness towards expats

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

What’s better for expats: Betreut.de or A4ord?
If you want recurring help from someone you can trust and actually communicate with, A4ord is the better bet. It’s designed for English speakers, and there are no subscriptions or profile scrolling — just tell them what you need, and they will match you with a vetted cleaner.

Is it normal to sign a contract for cleaning in Germany?
Yes, especially for recurring weekly or biweekly cleans. A4ord offers optional digital agreements. Helpling and others may use fixed-term arrangements depending on frequency.

Can I book a cleaner for just one visit?
Absolutely. A4ord, CleanWhale, Cleanflat, and Helpling all offer one-time bookings. Betreut is better suited for people seeking long-term arrangements.

Do these platforms provide the cleaning supplies?
Most do. A4ord cleaners bring their own. CleanWhale and MrCleaner do too. Helpling often expects you to provide supplies unless otherwise arranged with the cleaner.

What’s the fastest option for booking a cleaner today?
A4ord and CleanWhale both allow quick booking, sometimes same-day or next-day. A4ord is especially useful for expats who don’t want to fumble through half-translated apps.

Which service is best for consistent, weekly cleaning?
A4ord and Betreut are built for that. A4ord handles matching, scheduling, and communication for you. Betreut gives you a database of long-term cleaner profiles — but you’ll need a subscription and some patience to manage the process yourself.

Be Cleaner, Smarter, Verified

Betreut.de is handy for long-term caregiving needs, but when all you need is a clean home without hassle, these platforms deliver better value, transparency, and UX for expats.

👉 Looking for a Cleaner in Germany?
A4ord Cleaning Services – Transparent rates, vetted pros, English-speaking support, and easy online booking.

👉 Find Cleaning Services in Berlin • Munich • Hamburg