The 30-second answer
Thumbtack wins for most pros - it's cheaper, faster, and has no contract. HomeAdvisor only beats it if your jobs are big and you can commit to a yearly plan.
How they stack up, side by side
We scored HomeAdvisor and Thumbtack on six things that matter most: lead quality, cost per lead, how fast you get your first job, how easy it is to set up, refund protection, and how well it works in small markets. Higher is better.
HomeAdvisor
Total 15 / 30
Thumbtack
Total 25 / 30
By the numbers, Thumbtack edges ahead overall. But the scorecard is the start - see the picker below to find the right one for your trade.
How each one works
HomeAdvisor
HomeAdvisor is yearly-contract-driven, focused on bigger home projects. Now owned by Angi.
The way you actually use it:
- Sign up and pay your yearly fee.
- Pick your services and zip codes.
- Customers fill out a job request.
- HomeAdvisor sells the lead to a few pros at once.
Thumbtack
Thumbtack is monthly, no-contract, friendly to any service business. Cheaper leads, broader categories.
The way you actually use it:
- Sign up and pick the jobs you want.
- Set your service area and prices.
- Customers send you a request. You pay for the contact info.
- Reply fast. The first good answer usually wins.
Which one pays back more?
Use the sliders below. Put in your average job price and how many leads you can handle in a month. The two cards show which platform looks better for your numbers.
We use the middle of each platform's typical lead cost and a close rate based on how ready-to-buy the customers usually are.
+$1,000
monthly profit estimate
+$1,480
monthly profit estimate
What each one does best (and worst)
HomeAdvisor - strengths
- Big brand. Many home owners have used it for years.
- You can pick your service areas in detail.
- Same back-end as Angi now. Same lead pool.
HomeAdvisor - weaknesses
- Same leads also sold to Angi pros. Lots of competition.
- Yearly fees are real. You pay no matter what.
- Lead quality changes a lot by city and season.
Thumbtack - strengths
- Lots of customers. You can fill your schedule fast.
- Lower cost per lead than most other platforms.
- Works in almost every U.S. city, big or small.
Thumbtack - weaknesses
- Many pros get the same lead. You have to reply in minutes.
- Some leads are just price shoppers. Many will ghost.
- Refund rules are strict. You can lose money on bad leads.
Which one fits your business?
Four quick questions. Honest answers. We add up the points and tell you which one to start with.
The bottom line
Thumbtack is the friendlier place to start. HomeAdvisor is the place to scale once you have big-ticket jobs to fill.
Pick HomeAdvisor when…
- Your average job is $2,000+.
- You can afford a yearly contract.
- You're a home-services pro (roofer, remodeler, HVAC).
Pick Thumbtack when…
- You're a smaller business or just starting.
- You want no contract.
- You're a cleaner, painter, mover, or wedding pro.
Common questions
Why are people leaving HomeAdvisor for Thumbtack?
Mostly the contract and price. HomeAdvisor charges yearly fees plus per-lead costs. Thumbtack lets you start with zero commitment.
Which has better leads?
It depends on the trade. For big home services, HomeAdvisor leads tend to be bigger budgets. For most other trades, Thumbtack wins.
Can I use both?
Yes. Many pros run both for a quarter, track which one books more jobs, then double down on the winner.
How fast can I start on each?
Thumbtack - same day. HomeAdvisor - usually 1 to 2 weeks of setup plus sales calls.
One thing matters more than the platform
Reply in under 5 minutes. On every platform. The pros who win on Yelp, Thumbtack, Angi, HomeAdvisor, Bark, TaskRabbit, and LSA all share one habit - they reply fast. Slow replies lose to fast replies, every time.
Whichever you pick, reply in 5 minutes.
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