Looking for a Thumbtack alternative?

Plenty of good companies advertise on Thumbtack and do fine. But if the shared-lead treadmill isn't working for you, here's an honest look at how HomeAnswer is different — and where each model fits.

How Thumbtack generally works

Pay-per-lead marketplace. Pros set budgets and pay when matched with a customer or when responding — competition per job is limited but rarely exclusive.

Paying to respond doesn't mean the homeowner ever answers
Bidding dynamics can push lead prices up in competitive metros
Built for quick gigs as much as for licensed-trade jobs

Based on publicly described models and common contractor feedback; check current terms directly — they can change.

How HomeAnswer works

Homeowners come to us researching a real project — what it costs, what to do. As territories open, HomeAnswer is designed to route each request to one available pro.

Exclusive routing model — not a shared-lead race
No card required to check territory availability
Paid delivery only after the trade, territory, rate, and cap are approved
Wrong-trade, duplicate, vendor, and out-of-area rules should be clear before launch
Weekly budget cap and pause rules before a paid test starts

Run us side by side.

Most pros don't switch overnight — they test. Check whether your trade and area are open or on the next-priority list before any paid delivery starts.

Check My Area