I use ZenMaid for scheduling. Do I have to switch?

No. ZenMaid books the week, Hotlyne updates each client during the visit. Cleaners on recurring routes run both and drop neither.

When is ZenMaid the better choice?

If recurring schedules, reminders, and per-cleaner calendars are the problem you are solving, ZenMaid does that well. Hotlyne does not schedule. It shows clients the clean happening.

Do my clients need an app or an account?

No. You text one link and they open it in any browser. Nothing to download, nothing to sign up for.

What do clients actually see?

A timeline of the visit. They know when you arrive, rooms tick off as you finish them, and photos and notes attach to the room where they happened. No SMS charges, because the link does the updating.

Does Hotlyne replace my reminders?

It replaces the mid-clean texts, not the appointment reminders. Keep sending those however you do now. Hotlyne picks up when you walk in the door.

How much does Hotlyne cost?

Nothing to start. 5 active timelines free, no credit card. Pro is $9.99/month for photos, branding, and up to 1,000 timelines.

Hotlyne vs. ZenMaid

A ZenMaid alternative built for live client updates.

ZenMaid is scheduling software made for residential cleaning businesses. It keeps recurring routes tight, with booking and reminders from $19 a month. What it sends clients is a reminder that you are coming. Hotlyne shows them the clean itself: one live timeline link they open in any browser, rooms ticking off as you finish them. No account, no app, and the first 5 timelines are free.

Start free

Side by side

ZenMaid vs. Hotlyne, feature by feature.

Feature	ZenMaid	Hotlyne
Built for	Residential cleaning businesses that run on a recurring schedule	Independent cleaners keeping clients updated during the job
What clients see	Booking confirmations and reminder texts and emails	One live timeline link: rooms, photos, and notes in any browser
Setup	Recurring schedules, client records, and reminder settings	One checklist template, running in about five minutes
Starting price	Starter at $19/month for up to 40 appointments	Free for 5 active timelines. No credit card
Paid plans	Pro at $39/month, Pro Max at $49, plus per-cleaner seat fees	Pro at $9.99/month flat, with unlimited client viewers
Scheduling and reminders	Recurring schedules, calendar sync, and automated reminders	Not included. Keep the calendar you already run
Texting costs	SMS fees and caps on every plan	No per-message fees. The timeline does the updating
Branding	Your business on booking pages and reminders	Your name, logo, and website on every timeline (Pro)

ZenMaid details come from its public website and pricing pages, checked October 2026. Appointment caps, seat fees, and SMS charges can change; verify current terms before you switch.

Where ZenMaid wins.

If your week runs on recurring routes, ZenMaid keeps it running.

Your business is built on weekly and biweekly recurring clients.
You want automated reminders that cut no-shows and late cancellations.
You coordinate several cleaners and need a schedule for each.
You want booking requests landing in your calendar on their own.

Where Hotlyne wins.

If clients text you mid-clean for status, Hotlyne is built for that exact moment.

Reminders tell clients you are coming. The timeline shows them the work.
Free for 5 timelines, then $9.99/month flat. No per-cleaner seat fees.
No SMS charges. Updates post to the link instead of going out one text at a time.
Photos and notes attach to the room where they happened, timestamped.
Clients open it in any browser. No app, no account, nothing to install.

See how Hotlyne works for house cleaners

FAQ

Questions cleaners ask before they switch.

I use ZenMaid for scheduling. Do I have to switch?: No. ZenMaid books the week, Hotlyne updates each client during the visit. Cleaners on recurring routes run both and drop neither.
When is ZenMaid the better choice?: If recurring schedules, reminders, and per-cleaner calendars are the problem you are solving, ZenMaid does that well. Hotlyne does not schedule. It shows clients the clean happening.
Do my clients need an app or an account?: No. You text one link and they open it in any browser. Nothing to download, nothing to sign up for.
What do clients actually see?: A timeline of the visit. They know when you arrive, rooms tick off as you finish them, and photos and notes attach to the room where they happened. No SMS charges, because the link does the updating.
Does Hotlyne replace my reminders?: It replaces the mid-clean texts, not the appointment reminders. Keep sending those however you do now. Hotlyne picks up when you walk in the door.
How much does Hotlyne cost?: Nothing to start. 5 active timelines free, no credit card. Pro is $9.99/month for photos, branding, and up to 1,000 timelines.