Our pick, by situation
- Testing paid leads, or you want to stop any week: Thumbtack. No contract, no joining fee, a weekly cap, and an automatic refund when the customer replies to no pro within 72 hours (if you replied within 4 business hours).
- You know your close rate and want steady volume: Angi, but only after you have the subscription amount, term and early termination fee in writing.
- You want to know the price before you sign up: neither. Look at Networx, below.
| Rule | Thumbtack | Angi |
|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Pay per lead; pro sets an exact price per service; weekly budget caps spend; Opportunities charged only if the customer responds | Per lead, subscription (prepaid, auto-renewing fixed term) or lead bundle, set in your onboarding Contract |
| Joining or subscription fee | None | Not published |
| Contract | None | Fixed term set in your Contract if you take a Subscription; auto-renews |
| Cost to leave early | Not published | Early Termination Fee may apply; amount set in your Contract, not published |
| Other pros on the lead | Not published | Shared; frequently sent to several other pros (competition limits exist, number not published) |
| Refund or credit | Automatic Fair Shot refund if the customer replies to no pro within 72 hours (you replied within 4 business hours and kept first contact on Thumbtack); other requests within 45 days; refunds to Thumbtack balance by default | Discretionary credits, request within 30 days; store credit only, expires 6 months after issue; not for no-callback, hired someone else, shopping, or lost job |
| Spending cap | Weekly budget | Monthly budget when you pay per lead; can be exceeded by a lead or two (Pro Agreement updated October 6, 2026) |
| Visit Thumbtack | Visit Angi |
Where they really differ
Getting out. Thumbtack’s pro page says “There’s no contracts, no annual fees, and no membership fees.” Angi’s Pro Terms describe subscriptions as an “automatically renewing, fixed term commitment”, with an early termination fee if you leave before the term ends, and a fee that can rise up to 10% at each renewal.
Getting money back. Thumbtack refunds automatically in one situation (customer replies to no pro within 72 hours, you replied within 4 business hours), takes other requests within 45 days, and will send money back to your card if you ask in time. Angi’s credits are discretionary, store credit only, must be asked for within 30 days and expire after six months.
Sharing the lead. Angi says a lead is “frequently” sent to several other pros. Thumbtack says “limited competition per lead” without a number. Neither publishes how many.
Full rules for each: what Thumbtack charges and what Angi charges.
Thumbtack vs Yelp
Yelp Ads are a different product: you pay per click on an ad, not per lead. Yelp publishes a minimum of $5 a day on average and has no contract for self-serve ads. If clicks rarely turn into calls for you, a per-lead platform like Thumbtack moves that risk off you. What Yelp Ads cost
Alternatives to Thumbtack and Angi
Three other US platforms that sell leads, each with one rule that sets it apart:
- Networx: the only one that publishes lead prices (Shared leads $10 to $100+, exclusive $15 to $120+, per lead). Lead sharing: shared: up to 4 pros per lead; exclusive plan: 1 pro.
- Porch: buy leads one at a time, on a monthly budget, or both. Credits go to your Porch balance only; Porch says it doesn’t refund to cards.
- Bark: $2.35 per credit; credits per lead not published. Each lead shows its credit cost before you respond.
Compare all 10 on the contractor leads hub, or put your numbers for any three into the cost per job calculator.
Get told when these prices change
Providers change fees with little notice. Alerts start soon, and we'll send nothing else.
Common questions
Is Thumbtack or Angi cheaper for contractors?
Neither publishes lead prices, so there's no honest price answer from the outside. What you can compare is risk: Thumbtack is free to join with no contract, and Angi subscriptions are fixed-term with a possible early termination fee. Run a month on one and compare cost per won job.
Which is better for new contractors, Thumbtack or Angi?
Thumbtack is the lower-risk test: no joining fee, no contract, a weekly budget cap, and Opportunities you pay for only if the customer replies. Angi makes more sense once you know your close rate and want steady volume under a subscription.
What are the best Thumbtack alternatives for pros?
Networx publishes its prices and caps shared leads at four pros, or sells exclusive leads. Porch lets you buy leads one at a time or on a monthly budget. Bark charges per lead in credits, shown before you respond. Google Local Services Ads charge per valid call or message.