As we head into 2026, the cleaning software market is dominated by four distinct philosophies. If you are serious about scaling your business this year, your choice almost certainly comes down to “The Big Four.”
Each of these platforms is an established powerhouse, but they serve very different needs.
- Jobber: The Generalist Giant (for all trades).
- ZenMaid: The Residential Specialist (for home cleaning only).
- Connecteam: The Workforce Specialist (for staff management only).
- ProCleanerUK: The All-In-One Powerhouse (for complete business growth).
In this guide, we compare these four market leaders side-by-side to help you decide who you should choose in 2026.
1. Jobber: The Generalist Giant
Best For: Mixed-trade businesses (e.g., Landscaping + Cleaning) needing diverse integrations.
Jobber is the massive, “does-it-all” platform for the general field service industry. It is polished, reliable, and has a huge marketplace of third-party apps. However, because it caters to plumbers and landscapers as much as cleaners, it can be expensive to unlock the specific automation features a cleaning business needs in 2026.
The Pricing Reality
- Core ($39/mo): Very limited. 1 user only. No automated follow-ups.
- Grow ($199/mo): Up to 15 users. This is the “standard” plan required for marketing automation and 2-way SMS.
- Plus ($599/mo): Crucial Detail: If you want Jobber’s new AI Receptionist, you must be on this tier.
The “Gotchas”
- The AI Paywall: Jobber locks their AI Receptionist behind a $599/month paywall.
- Feature Gating: Essential tools like “Quote Markups” are often hidden on higher tiers.
Verdict: An excellent, polished platform, but you pay a premium for the brand name and features that aren’t specific to cleaning.
2. ZenMaid: The Residential Specialist
Best For: Solo cleaners or small “Maid Services” focusing strictly on residential homes.
ZenMaid is the residential specialist of The Big Four. Famous for its “Magic Booking Form,” it is designed specifically for the recurring residential workflow, making it simpler to set up than Jobber for small teams.
The Pricing Reality
- Starter (~$49/mo): Affordable for micro-businesses, pricing scales based on active services.
The Limitations
- Commercial Gap: Built for homes, it lacks robust features for Facilities Management or commercial asset tracking.
- Marketing Limits: It excels at booking existing leads but lacks the aggressive “Hunter” tools found in ProCleanerUK (like scratch-card lead magnets or loyalty points).
Verdict: The perfect choice for a pure residential maid service. However, if you expand into commercial contracts, you may hit a “functionality ceiling.”
3. Connecteam: The Workforce Specialist
Best For: Large enterprises that only need to manage staff timesheets, not customers.
Connecteam is the “HR Manager” of the group. It is world-class at time clocks, forms, and training, but it is not a CRM.
The Pricing Reality
- Modular Costs: You pay by “Hub.” A full system can cost $87/mo for basic versions of Operations, HR, and Chat hubs combined.
The Limitations
- No Invoicing: You cannot bill a customer. You need separate accounting software.
- No Customer Database: It manages staff, not clients.
Verdict: Essential for teams of 50+, but it must be paired with another software to actually run the business side.
4. ProCleanerUK: The All-In-One Powerhouse
Best For: Growth-focused cleaning companies (Residential & Commercial) wanting maximum value and automation.
ProCleanerUK (The One) is the fourth pillar of the industry. Unlike the others, which specialize in one area (Jobber = General Trade, ZenMaid = Residential, Connecteam = Staff), ProCleanerUK is the All-In-One Specialist. It is an established, robust platform that unifies all these functions—CRM, Staff Management, and Marketing—into a single system without the premium price tag.
The Pricing Reality (Fixed Tiers)
- Bronze: £79.99/mo (approx $100) for 6–15 Staff.
- Gold: £149.99/mo (approx $190) for 16–45 Staff.
- Xmas Special: £49.99/mo (approx $65) for 1–5 Staff.
Why It Stands Out in 2026
✅ 1. No “Feature Gating” (The Unlocked Advantage)
While Jobber and ZenMaid lock features behind higher tiers, ProCleanerUK offers 100% feature access on every plan. Whether you are on the £49 starter plan or the £149 Gold plan, you get the full suite of tools.
✅ 2. Gemini AI Included (Not Upsold)
Jobber charges $599/mo for their AI plan. ProCleanerUK includes the Gemini AI Chatbot as standard on all plans.
- Real Upselling: It intelligently upsells services during chats (“Add an oven clean for £50?”).
- Conflict Checking: Instantly checks your calendar to prevent double bookings.
✅ 3. Real Marketing Automation (100% INCLUDED)
Most software stops at “Appointment Reminders.” To actually grow, you usually have to buy separate marketing software ($50–$100/mo extra).
With ProCleanerUK, the entire Marketing Suite is BUILT-IN and INCLUDED in your monthly price. You do not pay a penny extra for:
- Gamification: Embed “Scratch & Win” games on your website to capture high-quality leads.
- Loyalty Program: An automated points system where customers earn rewards, reducing churn.
- Visual Funnels: A drag-and-drop builder for automated email/SMS sales sequences.
✅ 4. Built for the UK & Global Markets
While Jobber is US-centric, ProCleanerUK handles Payroll and expense management with OCR receipt scanning, while fully supporting global currencies.
✅ 5. The “Free Website” Offer
Uniquely among The Big Four, if you switch to a Yearly Plan, ProCleanerUK builds you a bespoke, SEO-optimized website for free—a lead-generating asset worth thousands, included at no extra cost.
The 2026 “Big Four” Comparison Matrix
| Feature | Jobber (Grow Plan) | ZenMaid | Connecteam | ProCleanerUK (Bronze) |
| Monthly Cost | $199 USD | ~$49 USD | **~$87 USD** (All Hubs) | £79.99 GBP (~$100 USD) |
| Primary Focus | General Trades | Residential Only | Staff Management | All-In-One Growth |
| AI Receptionist | ❌ (Requires $599 Plan) | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ Included (Gemini AI) |
| Customer Invoicing | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Marketing Suite | Basic (Mailchimp Sync) | Basic Emails | ❌ | ✅ Included (Funnels, Loyalty, Games) |
| Staff App Features | GPS, Forms | GPS, Checklists | GPS, Forms, Training | GPS, Forms, Training, Expense OCR |
| Free Website | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ Included (Yearly) |
Final Recommendation: Who Should You Choose in 2026?
Your choice this year depends on your business DNA:
- Choose Jobber if: You run a mixed-trade business (e.g., Landscaping + Cleaning) and need a generalist tool.
- Choose ZenMaid if: You are a small residential maid service wanting simplicity above all else.
- Choose Connecteam if: You are a large enterprise with 50+ staff and already have existing separate finance software.
- Choose ProCleanerUK if: You want the All-In-One solution. If you want the scheduling of Jobber, the focus of ZenMaid, and the staff tools of Connecteam—plus AI and Marketing Automation included in the price—ProCleanerUK is the most complete package of The Big Four.
Start your 7-Day Free Trial of The One here (No Credit Card Required) For UK Cleaning Companies.
Start your 7-Day Free Trial of The One here (No Credit Card Required) For USA Cleaning Companies.