The short answer
Listings are free; leads from lead platforms are not. A Google Business Profile, a Yelp page and a Nextdoor Business Page cost $0 to set up and keep. Platforms that sell leads, like Thumbtack and Bark, are free to join, but the leads themselves cost money.
So “free to join” is not “free leads”. What matters is when the first charge starts.
Free listings: $0, no lead fees
- Google Business Profile. "Yes, creating a Business Profile and listing your business on Google is free." (Google) It’s separate from Local Services Ads, which charge per lead.
- Yelp business page. "Get found by these motivated customers, connect with them, and manage your page all for free." (Yelp) Ads are extra, from $5 a day on average: see Yelp Ads.
- Nextdoor Business Page and posts. "Engage nearby neighbors with free posts that show up in the most visible part of Nextdoor, the neighborhood newsfeed." (Nextdoor) Ads are extra and billed after they run: see Nextdoor Ads.
A listing brings leads only when people find it and pick you, so treat it as the base you build on, not a lead source you can switch up.
Free to join, but when do you pay?
- Thumbtack: nothing to join. Direct leads are charged automatically from your weekly budget when a customer reaches out. Opportunities cost you only if the customer replies. Thumbtack’s rules
- Bark: "From the moment you sign up, we'll send you leads for free." (Bark) You pay in credits to contact a customer, at $2.35 a credit; each lead shows its credit cost first. Credits bought from Nov 1, 2025 expire 3 months after purchase.
- Networx: no registration fee, but it charges "only a small flat fee per month", amount not published, and Post-Pay accounts pay an activation fee it doesn’t publish either. Then you pay per lead.
- Angi, Porch, Google Local Services Ads, Modernize: none of them publishes a joining cost. Each charges per lead, and Angi also sells subscriptions with an early termination fee. Details on the contractor leads hub.
How to get free leads on Thumbtack
Thumbtack doesn’t publish a free-lead offer. These are the ways it publishes to pay less:
- Use Opportunities. You reach out first and pay only if the customer responds.
- Reply within 4 business hours. If the customer then replies to no pro within 72 hours, Thumbtack refunds the lead automatically.
- Refer other pros. Thumbtack’s referral program: up to $100 lead credit per referred pro ($50 outside high-demand markets), max 10 per year. The credit has no cash value.
How to get leads as a contractor without paying up front
- Claim your Google Business Profile, then your Yelp page and your Nextdoor Business Page. All three are free.
- Post on Nextdoor when you finish a job in a neighborhood. Business posts are free.
- Answer every message fast, the same way you would a paid lead.
- Then test one paid platform with a cap. Thumbtack’s weekly budget, Yelp’s monthly budget and Nextdoor’s daily goal all limit what you can spend. After a month, check what each won job cost in the cost per job calculator.
Paying for exclusivity later? Read exclusive vs shared leads first.
Get told when these prices change
Providers change fees with little notice. Alerts start soon, and we'll send nothing else.
Common questions
Where can contractors get free leads?
From free business listings: a Google Business Profile, a Yelp business page and a Nextdoor Business Page all cost nothing. Lead platforms such as Thumbtack and Bark cost nothing to join, but charge for the leads themselves.
How do I get free leads on Thumbtack?
Thumbtack doesn't publish a free-lead offer. You can pay less: Opportunities cost you only if the customer replies, some leads are refunded automatically if the customer replies to no pro within 72 hours, and referring another pro can earn lead credit.
Is Bark free for professionals?
Joining is free and Bark says it sends you leads for free from the moment you sign up. Contacting a customer costs credits, shown on each lead before you respond. On a first Starter Pack, Bark returns the credits you used if you don't get hired.
Are Google Local Services Ads free?
No. Local Services Ads charge per valid lead, such as a call, message or booking. The free Google option is a Business Profile, which lists you on Google Search and Maps at no cost.