Angi and Thumbtack can send you new customers, but you pay for the contact whether or not you win the job, and the customer isn't yours. A website and Google listing of your own work the other way: you pay once, and every call that comes in is yours.
Side by side
Neither is wrong. They work differently, and the differences decide which one is worth your money.
| Thumbtack / Angi leads | Your own site + Google listing | |
|---|---|---|
| What you pay | Per lead or contact; price set by the platform and varies by job and market | $1,197 once, then $19/month hosting |
| If you don't win the job | You usually still pay for the lead | Nothing extra |
| Who else is on the request | Often several other pros | The customer picked you before calling |
| Who owns the profile and reviews | The platform | You: your domain and your Google listing |
| Speed to first customer | Fast; requests can arrive right away | Slower; live in 48 hours, ranking takes weeks to months |
| If you stop paying | The leads stop | The site and listing stay yours |
Do the math
Look at what you paid for leads over the last few months. FieldTender Presence costs $1,197 once plus $19 a month for hosting, which is $1,425 in the first year (before any sales tax and domain registration, about $10–15 a year).
| Monthly spend on leads | 12 months of leads | FieldTender, first year |
|---|---|---|
| $300 | $3,600 | $1,425 |
| $600 | $7,200 | $1,425 |
| $1,000 | $12,000 | $1,425 |
This is arithmetic, not a forecast. If you spend more than roughly $120 a month on leads, the site costs less over a year, but only if it actually replaces some of those leads, and that depends on your market and how fast Google starts sending you calls. It does not replace leads on day one. For how the cost compares with DIY builders, freelancers and agencies, see how much a contractor website costs.
You don't have to quit
Use the marketplace while your own site and Google listing build up. Not sure where to start? Follow the seven-step plan to stop paying per lead. Then turn the customers you already have into direct bookings (here is how) with FieldTender Direct, a one-page booking site with your name on it: $249 setup, $29 a month, no contract.
See FieldTender Direct →Pick your trade
Every site is written for one trade, with that trade's services, search terms and questions. See the version for plumbers, HVAC companies, electricians, roofers, handymen, painters, landscapers, pest control companies, locksmiths, garage door companies, water damage restoration companies, and pool and spa companies.
Common questions
No. We don't sell or resell leads and there are no per-lead fees. We build your own website and Google listing, so the customers who call you found you on Google, not through a bidding list.
Usually not at first. A marketplace can send requests right away. Your site is live within 48 hours and your Google listing goes through Google's verification (typically 1–5 business days), but ranking in search takes longer and depends on your market and competition. That is why most contractors keep their Thumbtack or Angi profile while their own presence builds.
No. Keep using them to find new customers if they are paying for themselves. The goal is to stop depending on them: your own site and Google listing bring in calls you do not pay per lead for, and FieldTender Direct gives your repeat customers a way to book you without going back through the app.
FieldTender Presence is $1,197 one time, then $19 a month for hosting, with no minimum term. Prices exclude sales tax. Thumbtack's lead prices vary by job and market and are not published up front, so the fair comparison is your own lead spend over the last few months.
You do. Your domain is registered in your name, the site content is yours, and the Google listing stays yours. If you cancel, you take all of it with you.
More questions? See the full FAQ or email us.
Fill out one form. We build the rest — your Google listing and your website, all handled.
48-hour delivery guarantee — $200 off automatically if we're late. No minimum term, cancel anytime.