If you manage cleaning for vacation rentals, you've probably come across ResortCleaning. It's one of the older platforms in this space, built specifically for STR and resort cleaning operations. For a long time, it was one of the only real options purpose-built for this kind of work.
But "purpose-built for STR cleaning" no longer means "ResortCleaning is the only option." A growing number of operators are making the switch — and the two reasons we hear most are cost and simplicity.
The Price Gap Is Significant
Operators who've moved from ResortCleaning to Cleaner Sync consistently describe the price difference as 5 to 10 times cheaper, depending on property count and features used. ResortCleaning's pricing is enterprise-oriented — it was built for larger management companies and priced accordingly.
Cleaner Sync starts free and scales gradually. The Pro plan — which includes unlimited iCal syncs, up to 1,000 bookings per month, 20 cleaners, and 20 clients — is $39/month. For small and mid-sized STR cleaning operations, the math is straightforward.
That cost difference matters. Every dollar saved on software is a dollar that stays in your business — or your pocket.
The "Before" Picture Most STR Operators Know Too Well
Before switching to Cleaner Sync, one of our users — Kim, who manages cleaning across multiple STR properties — described her daily workflow in detail. It's worth reading in full because it captures exactly what so many operators are still going through:
"I had to manually pull checkout reports from multiple sources — VRBO, Airbnb, Evolve, Booking.com. Make a spreadsheet, then go to Google Calendar and update the cleaning days using the spreadsheet. Once I had all the cleanings entered I had to then go back and assign cleaners for those cleanings. Once cleaners cleaned the property they had to text or email saying it was completed and text about any issues or supplies needed so I would have to update the spreadsheet again with needed supplies. It took hours of my time to make sure I didn't miss any cleanings plus I would have to go through and add any additional new cleanings. It became a nightmare of continual stress. Now everything is updated automatically and all I have to do is assign the cleanings and read completions. Instead of spending hours a day I now have free time to actually live. — Kim"
If any part of that sounds familiar, you're not alone. The spreadsheet + Google Calendar + group text workflow is how the majority of STR cleaning operators run their businesses today — not because it's good, but because they haven't found something better yet.
What Cleaner Sync Replaces in That Workflow
Let's go through Kim's "before" step by step:
Manually pulling checkout reports from Airbnb, VRBO, Evolve, Booking.com
Cleaner Sync connects to each platform's iCal feed. When a booking is made, the checkout date automatically creates a cleaning task. When a booking is cancelled, the task disappears. You never open a platform to pull a report.
Building a spreadsheet and updating Google Calendar
Gone. Your cleaning schedule populates automatically from the iCal feeds. Every property, every checkout, already on the schedule.
Going back to assign cleaners to each job
This is the one step that still takes human judgment — who's available, who knows that property, who's nearby. Cleaner Sync keeps this step but makes it fast: you see all unassigned jobs in one view and tap to assign. No spreadsheet, no calendar switching.
Cleaners texting or emailing when finished
Cleaners use the Cleaner Sync app to mark jobs complete, upload photos, and log notes about issues or supplies needed. You see it instantly. No texts, no emails, no back-and-forth.
Updating the spreadsheet with supply notes
Job notes and supply requests live inside the booking, attached to the specific property and date. Nothing to transfer, nothing to lose in a text thread.
What ResortCleaning Does That Cleaner Sync Also Does
The operators who've switched from ResortCleaning to Cleaner Sync tend to say the same thing: the core functionality is the same. Both platforms handle:
- iCal sync with major booking platforms
- Cleaner assignment and scheduling
- Job completion tracking
- Photo documentation
- Client and property management
- Communication between company and cleaning staff
The difference isn't what's possible. It's the cost, the interface, and how much overhead it takes to run day-to-day.
Easier to Use Matters More Than You Think
Software that's hard to use doesn't get used — at least not fully. Cleaners skip steps. Managers work around the system instead of through it. The value of the platform erodes over time as people default back to texting and spreadsheets because it's faster.
Cleaner Sync was designed to be simple enough that cleaners who aren't tech-savvy can use the app without training. The company dashboard is built around the daily workflow: what needs to be cleaned today, what's assigned, what's been completed, what has photos, what has notes. Everything a manager needs is one screen.
The Bottom Line
ResortCleaning is a capable platform with a long track record in the STR cleaning space. If you're already on it and it's working for your operation, there's no urgent reason to switch.
But if you're still on spreadsheets and Google Calendar — doing what Kim was doing before she switched — or if you're evaluating options and comparing costs, Cleaner Sync is worth a serious look. It was built for exactly this workflow, it costs a fraction of the enterprise alternatives, and the operators who've made the switch consistently say it gave them time back they didn't know they could get back.
Cleaner Sync is free to start. No credit card required. Connect a property, sync an iCal feed, and see your cleaning schedule build itself.