The 30-second answer
For most local pros, Yelp wins. Lower commitment, better leads, and you build something that compounds (reviews). HomeAdvisor only pays back if your jobs are big.
How they stack up, side by side
We scored HomeAdvisor and Yelp 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
Yelp
Total 22 / 30
By the numbers, Yelp 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 now part of Angi. You pay a yearly fee plus a fee per lead. Targets bigger home projects.
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.
Yelp
Yelp is review-driven and free to start. You pay for ads only if you want to show up first. Better fit for small and mid-sized local pros.
The way you actually use it:
- Make a free Yelp business page.
- Add photos, services, and ask happy customers for reviews.
- Turn on paid ads to show at the top of search.
- Use Yelp Connect to get messages straight to your phone.
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
+$1,720
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.
Yelp - strengths
- People trust Yelp reviews. Good reviews can fill your calendar.
- Most leads have already read about you before they reach out.
- Works great if your average job is $300 or more.
Yelp - weaknesses
- Ads can cost $5 to $15 per click. Costs add up fast.
- Some leads send the same message to many pros. You have to be fast.
- Hard to track which clicks turn into real jobs.
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
Yelp is friendlier for small pros and grows with you. HomeAdvisor locks you into a yearly plan that only pencils out for big projects.
Pick HomeAdvisor when…
- You do big projects ($2,000+ tickets).
- You can afford a yearly contract.
- You want to be on the same network as Angi.
Pick Yelp when…
- You're a smaller home-services pro.
- You don't want a yearly contract.
- You want to build a public reputation through reviews.
Common questions
Is HomeAdvisor the same as Angi?
Same parent company, same lead pool. Different website. Most pros end up on both when they sign up.
Why do small contractors prefer Yelp?
No yearly fee, no contracts, and reviews compound over time. You build a public reputation that brings in jobs even without paid ads.
When does HomeAdvisor make sense?
When your jobs are big (think roofs, remodels, full HVAC systems). The yearly fee is small next to a $20K+ job.
Can I just be on Yelp and skip HomeAdvisor?
Yes, many successful contractors do. Yelp + Google + word-of-mouth is enough for many pros. HomeAdvisor adds value mostly at scale.
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.
Responsebird does it for you. Auto-reply, qualify, book, follow up - across every source you connect. Seven days free.