In 2024, U.S. spending on laundry and dry-cleaning services totaled $16.116 billion—so yeah, this “small” expense adds up fast. (fred.stlouisfed.org)

If you’re trying to land the cheapest laundry service, the trick isn’t finding the lowest “$ per lb” promo. It’s learning how to compare apps the way the bill hits your card: minimums + fees + turnaround speed + add-ons.

What “finding the cheapest” really means (in app terms)

Most laundry apps price your order in one of these ways:

  • Per-pound wash & fold (simple, but minimum charges matter)
  • Per-bag / per-load flat rate (great if you can consistently fill the bag)
  • Per-item pricing (common for dry cleaning and specialty pieces)
  • Memberships/subscriptions (often remove fees or add credits)

So the “cheapest” app for you is the one with the lowest all-in total for your typical laundry week—not someone else’s.

A simple method to compare apps (without getting fooled by fees)

1) Build a “standard test order”

Pick one baseline you’ll compare everywhere. For example:

  • 20 lb / ~9 kg of everyday wash & fold, normal turnaround
  • 1 bulky item (like a comforter) if you regularly send those

This matters because many services have minimum charges (so a small basket can be weirdly expensive).

2) Compare the total price, not the headline rate

A quick reality check: one popular service lists a $9.95 pickup & delivery fee, a $5 service fee, and a $30 minimum order (before discounts/taxes). (rinse.com)
That’s not “bad”—it’s just exactly why you can’t judge on “$ per lb” alone.

3) Watch for “drip pricing” behavior

A good pricing screen shows you the real total early. Regulators have been calling out pricing that hides mandatory fees; the FTC has said a proposed rule would prohibit “advertising prices that hide or leave out mandatory fees.” (ftc.gov)

Translation: if an app makes you click five times to finally see the minimum charge, that’s a red flag for your budget.

4) Decide if speed is worth paying for

Rush service can double the cost. If you don’t actually need next-day, don’t pay for it.

Also, time has value. The latest U.S. time-use data shows people spent an average 0.17 hours per day on laundry in 2024 (about 10 minutes/day). (bls.gov)
If paying a bit more saves you stress and time, “cheapest” might mean best cost-per-week, not lowest receipt.

5) Only consider subscriptions if you’ll use them consistently

Subscriptions can be money-savers when they:

  • remove per-order fees, or
  • give credits/cashback you’ll actually use

But if you order once a month, a membership can quietly become your most expensive “laundry line item.”

5 apps to help you find the cheapest laundry service

Below are five apps that make price-checking practical. I’m writing this like a real-world “budget test”: I focus on what you see at checkout (minimums, fees, and pricing model), because that’s what decides cheap vs. not-cheap.

1) Poplin (US) — best for predictable per-pound math

How pricing works (what I look at first):

  • Standard (next-day) is $1/lb in most zip codes (higher in some)
  • Express is $2/lb in most zip codes (higher in some)
  • Free pickup and delivery
  • Minimum charge is typically $30 (Standard) / $40 (Express) (poplin.zendesk.com)

How to get the cheapest outcome

  • If your laundry is light, combine loads until you clear the minimum without wasting money.
  • Skip Express unless you truly need it.

Pros

  • Easy to compare: per-pound rate + clear minimums
  • Free pickup/delivery helps the all-in total (poplin.zendesk.com)

Cons

  • Rates/minimums can vary by location
  • Oversized items can add extra charges (so comforters can change the math) (poplin.zendesk.com)

2) Rinse (US/Canada in select cities) — best if you place larger orders or use subscriptions

How pricing works (the budget gotchas):

  • Wash & Fold minimum order: $30 (rinse.com)
  • Pay-as-you-go orders list a $9.95 pickup & delivery fee and $5 service fee (rinse.com)
  • Those fees (and minimum-order adjustments) can be waived with certain subscriptions (rinse.com)

How to get the cheapest outcome

  • If you order frequently, compare pay-as-you-go vs. a plan that waives per-order fees.
  • If you order infrequently, avoid paying a subscription just to save a fee twice.

Pros

  • Transparent fee list (you can actually budget it)
  • Subscription option can reduce per-order fee pain (rinse.com)

Cons

  • Minimum order + per-order fees can make small loads expensive (rinse.com)
  • Rush adds another layer of cost (rinse.com)

3) hampr (US) — best if you can reliably fill a big “bag load”

How pricing works

  • Membership is $39/year (paid annually) (help.tryhampr.com)
  • hampr frames pricing around a bag size: one 13-gallon kitchen bag ≈ 15 lb of laundry (help.tryhampr.com)
  • Price per load varies by market (you check your address to see details) (tryhampr.com)

How to get the cheapest outcome

  • This is usually strongest when you can hit that ~15 lb sweet spot consistently.
  • If you’re doing tiny loads, flat-rate models often punish you.

Pros

  • Flat-rate-per-load thinking can be cheaper than per-pound if you fill the bag
  • Clear load-size definition helps you avoid “mystery weight” anxiety (help.tryhampr.com)

Cons

  • Membership cost is real—only worth it if you’ll use it enough
  • Per-load pricing is market-specific, so you must price-check in-app/by address (tryhampr.com)

4) Laundryheap (International: UK + other markets) — best for built-in estimating and membership-style savings

How pricing works

  • The app uses a price estimator and weighs wash services in kg or lb (depending on location) (help.laundryheap.com)
  • There’s a minimum order value and service fee that vary by area (help.laundryheap.com)
  • Subscription options can remove service fees; one tier also returns 10% as wallet credit (with conditions) (help.laundryheap.com)

How to get the cheapest outcome

  • Use the estimator to build your “standard test order,” then compare total to other apps.
  • If you order frequently, the “no service fees” benefit can matter more than a tiny per-kg difference.

Pros

Cons

  • Minimum order value varies by location, so “cheap” depends on where you live (help.laundryheap.com)
  • Wallet credit rules/expiry can reduce the effective savings if you don’t reorder soon (help.laundryheap.com)

5) Hamper (Houston, TX area) — best for a clear local price list

How pricing works

  • Wash & Fold is listed at $1.99/lb with a 10 lb minimum (usehamper.com)
  • It’s an app-based pickup/delivery service (iOS listing) (apps.apple.com)

How to get the cheapest outcome

  • If you’re near the service area, this is the kind of app where you can do quick math: ($1.99 × pounds), but don’t forget the minimum.

Pros

  • Straightforward published pricing and minimums (usehamper.com)
  • Good fit if you want a simpler “local service with an app” setup (apps.apple.com)

Cons

  • Not a national app; it’s geographically limited (apps.apple.com)
  • Per-pound pricing means heavy weeks cost more (no flat-rate upside) (usehamper.com)

What’s trending right now (and why it matters for your bill)

  • Minimum charges are everywhere: many services effectively steer you toward larger, consolidated orders.
  • Subscriptions are replacing “random promo codes”: fee waivers and credits are becoming the main way apps advertise savings. (rinse.com)
  • Price transparency is becoming a competitive advantage: when apps show the total early (minimums, fees, rush), it’s easier to stay on budget—exactly the kind of clarity regulators are pushing for in online pricing. (ftc.gov)

Quick wrap-up (no fluff)

Finding the cheapest laundry service with apps is mostly a comparison game: pick a standard basket, compare all-in totals, and treat minimums/fees like part of the price—not fine print. With the right match, you can keep laundry spending predictable (and maybe buy back some time, too). (bls.gov)

References