Thumbtack vs Angi for service businesses: what each one publishes

The short answer

Thumbtack says there’s no charge to join and no annual or membership fees: you set a price per lead and a weekly budget, and you can request a refund within 45 days. Angi says profiles are free and pros can pay to advertise, but we couldn’t find its lead prices or refund terms on its public pages. Ask Angi for them in writing before you sign.

If you’re deciding where to spend on leads, the first difference is how much each company tells you before you sign up. Thumbtack publishes its budget and refund rules. Angi’s public pages say much less about what you’ll pay.

Updated November 5, 2026. We make CoveDesk, a phone answering service, and we don’t sell leads. What this page says about each company comes from its own website, linked below.

Side by side

What each company’s own pages say
QuestionThumbtackAngi
Cost to join“No charge to join, no annual fees and no membership fees”A free profile. Pros can upgrade to advertise
How you payYour set price per lead, for each serviceNot stated on the pages we could read
Limit on spendA weekly budget you set, or unlimitedNot stated on the pages we could read
Going overUp to 40% of your budget or $40 + 2%, whichever is lessNot stated on the pages we could read
RefundsSome automatic. Others on request within 45 days, case by case, at its discretionNot stated on the pages we could read
Who can advertiseNot stated as a rating rulePros with an average rating of 3 stars or higher

“Not stated” means only that: Angi’s sales team can tell you more, and its help pages didn’t open for us. Get the numbers in writing, including what happens if you stop.

How to work out whether leads pay

Cost per job won = lead price ÷ the share of leads you win. At $30 a lead and one job in five, each job costs you $150 in leads. Compare that with the profit on a typical job, using the margin calculator.

What a won job costs in leads
Lead priceWin 1 in 3Win 1 in 5Win 1 in 10
$15$45$75$150
$30$90$150$300
$50$150$250$500
$80$240$400$800

These lead prices are examples, not either company’s rates.

The part neither platform does for you

A lead costs you money whether or not you reach the customer, unless a refund applies, and a customer who’s asked several pros may not wait for you. Before you turn on either service, decide who answers when those calls and messages arrive while you’re on a job.

That’s where we come in: CoveDesk answers your business calls and texts you the details, so a paid lead doesn’t end in voicemail. Set up your own Google profile too, since it costs nothing per lead.

Common questions

Is Thumbtack or Angi better for contractors?
It depends on your trade, your market and what the leads cost you. Try one with a small limit and track what you spend against the jobs you win. Thumbtack publishes more of its rules, which makes it easier to compare before you start.
Does Thumbtack charge a monthly fee?
Thumbtack says there’s no charge to join, no annual fees and no membership fees. You pay for leads at the prices and weekly budget you set.
Can I get a refund on a bad Thumbtack lead?
Sometimes. Some refunds are automatic, and for other situations you can ask within 45 days. Thumbtack decides case by case, and refunds are at its discretion.
How much does Angi cost for pros?
We couldn’t find a price on Angi’s public pages. It says profiles are free and pros can pay to advertise, so ask its sales team for the full cost in writing.
How do I work out if leads are worth it?
Divide the lead price by the share of leads you win. Compare that cost per job with your profit on a typical job.

Sources

What this page says about other companies comes from their own websites, read on November 5, 2026:

Prices and terms change, so check each company’s website before you buy. Company names are the trademarks of their owners and are used only to identify their services; none of them is affiliated with or endorses CoveDesk. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it.

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