In today’s on-demand economy, services like Angi and TaskRabbit make it easy to book home repairs, installations, and other projects with the tap of a button. But which service should you choose to get your next home project done?
Here’s an in-depth comparison of Angi and TaskRabbit pros, cons, pricing, and key differences to help you decide.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Angi | TaskRabbit |
| Screening | Pre-screens pros | No screening, open marketplace |
| Job Posting | Direct booking | Post a job, get bids |
| Reviews | Focuses on reviews | Profiles and rates emphasized |
| Services | Home repairs and renovations | Broad range from cleaning to assembly |
| Availability | Nationwide | 50 cities in US and London |
| Minimums | Higher, some over $100 | Lower minimums, hourly rates |
| Quality | More consistent with licensed pros | Varies greatly with independent workers |
| Payments | Paid through platform | Pay tasker directly in cash or via platform |
| Ideal For | Large projects, licensed work like plumbing | Quick tasks, flexible help for odd jobs |
Overview Of Angi And TaskRabbit
Angi (formerly Angie’s List) connects homeowners with pre-screened, customer-rated home service professionals for projects like remodeling, maintenance, cleaning, and more. Homeowners can book services directly through the Angi platform and read reviews of service pros before hiring.
TaskRabbit offers an on-demand network of independent contractors (Taskers) who can help with home projects like furniture assembly, handyman tasks, moving help, cleaning, and delivery services. Users post jobs and Taskers bid on them, allowing you to select the best person for your task and agree on pricing.
Key Differences
Here are some of the main differences between using Angi versus TaskRabbit:
- Pre-screened pros Vs. open marketplace – Angi pre-screens the service professionals in their network, while TaskRabbit has an open marketplace where anyone can sign up to Task.
- Job posting Vs. direct booking – On TaskRabbit, you post a job and receive bids, while Angi allows you to search, compare, and directly book pros for specific projects.
- Reviews – Angi focuses heavily on customer reviews, ratings, and recommendations to showcase provider quality. TaskRabbit has reviews too but puts more emphasis on Tasker profiles, qualifications, and rates.
- Services offered – Angi specializes in home repairs, renovations, installations, and maintenance from plumbing to pest control. TaskRabbit offers a much broader range of services from cleaning and moving to assembling furniture and delivering goods.
- Availability – Angi is available nationwide in most major metro areas. TaskRabbit is available in about 50 cities across the U.S. and London.
Also Read: Choose Between Networx And HomeAdvisor.
Pros And Cons Of Angi And TaskRabbit
Pros of Using Angi
Here are some of the top advantages of Angi for home projects:
- Pre-screened, reviewed pros – Service professionals on Angi undergo background checks, must be licensed if required for their trade, carry liability insurance, and are reviewed by other users. This provides peace of mind.
- Project quotes – You can get free, detailed quotes from Angi pros for specific projects tailored to your home. Quotes include materials, labor costs, and more.
- Quality assurance promise – If you’re dissatisfied after using an Angi pro, they’ll work to make it right by sending another contractor to fix the issue or giving a refund.
- Wide range of professional services – No matter what type of home project you need done, from simple handyman jobs to major bathroom remodels, Angi offers a broad network of experienced, qualified pros.
- User reviews and ratings – See unbiased reviews, ratings, and background details on Angi pros from past customers to evaluate expertise and quality before hiring them.
Cons of Using Angi
Some downsides to consider about Angi:
- Membership fees – You must pay a membership fee to access Angi services, pros, and discounts. Membership costs around $150-$200 per year.
- Minimum service fees – Some pros on Angi have minimum service fees that can be over $100 even for small repairs.
- Less flexibility – You can’t just book a pro for a few hours. Most Angi pros provide full-service jobs like overseeing a kitchen remodel from start to finish. TaskRabbit offers more flexibility for booking help for simple odd jobs or tasks.
- Scheduling can take time – It may take a few days or weeks to get an Angi pro scheduled depending on their availability, especially for larger jobs. With TaskRabbit, you can often book Taskers within hours or same-day.
- Limited same-day service – While Angi does offer some same-day options, it’s primarily tailored for larger, long-term home projects and improvements that require planning.
Pros of Using TaskRabbit
Some advantages of choosing TaskRabbit include:
- Lower minimums – Many Taskers are willing to work for less than an hour and have lower minimums than Angi service pros. This is better for small jobs.
- Flexible booking – Need someone to mount your TV in 30 minutes? No problem. TaskRabbit makes it easy to book Taskers for all types of projects and time frames.
- Budget-friendly – TaskRabbit offers transparent, hourly rates, allowing you to set your budget. Angi project quotes don’t always include the full cost upfront.
- Broad range of skills – From handymen to photographers to personal assistants, TaskRabbit has a massive marketplace of Taskers with varied skillsets suitable for almost any household task.
- Cash payment option – You can pay Taskers directly in cash upon completion of the work, unlike Angi which requires credit card payment through the platform.
- Faster assistance – Taskers can arrive very quickly for last-minute help since there are more providers available in most areas.
Also Read: Differences Between Xome And Zestimate.
Cons of Using TaskRabbit
Some potential drawbacks of TaskRabbit include:
- No background checks – TaskRabbit doesn’t screen or conduct background checks on Taskers. You must evaluate Tasker profiles, reviews, and qualifications yourself.
- Inconsistent quality – Since anyone can sign up as a Tasker, there can be big variations in quality. Some Taskers may lack the skills or experience advertised in their profiles.
- Requires trust – You have to let unknown Taskers into your home with no professional accreditation or licensing verified by the platform. This requires more trust compared to using an Angi pro.
- Tasker reliability – Some Taskers may cancel on you last minute or simply not show up for a task. The open marketplace means less accountability. An Angi pro is more likely to stand by a commitment.
- Lack of sophistication – TaskRabbit works well for simple tasks but may not be suitable for larger home improvement projects or jobs that require an expert.
Angi Vs. TaskRabbit Pricing
Both Angi and TaskRabbit offer free membership sign-up. Here is how their pricing models compare for services:
- Angi – Requires a paid membership fee of $150-$200 per year. You pay service pros their project rates directly through the Angi platform. Angi provides quotes so you know costs upfront.
- TaskRabbit – No membership fee. You pay the independent Tasker directly for time and materials based on agreed upon hourly rates or fixed price for the entire task. Taskers set their own rates.
For small jobs under 2 hours, TaskRabbit is likely to be more affordable. But for larger projects, the overall price can be lower through Angi since pros buy materials at contractor rates and provide fixed project bids.
On TaskRabbit, hourly rates range widely:
- General handyman or furniture assembly: $35-$50 per hour
- Moving help: $45-$70 per hour
- Delivery: $15-$35 per hour
- Deep cleaning: $50-$90 per hour
Angi prices also vary based on your location and the pro’s experience level. To give an idea, here are sample Angi costs:
- Minor kitchen or bath remodel: $5,000-$15,000
- Replace toilet: $175-$350
- Hang ceiling light fixture: $75-$200
- Paint one room: $400-$800
- Deep clean 1,500 sq ft home: $220-$350
Keep in mind Angi membership gives you discounts of 10%-20% with some pros. And both platforms let you read real customer reviews to get a sense of value for the price.
Key Similarities
Despite their differences, Angi and TaskRabbit also share some key traits:
- Ratings and reviews – Both feature customer ratings and reviews to evaluate quality.
- Secure payments – Payments are processed securely through the platforms. Neither requires handling cash.
- Guarantees – Each offers guarantees promising certain protections like covering damages or re-dos if issues arise.
- Mobile apps – You can book services, manage payments, and more all through the Angi and TaskRabbit mobile apps.
- Support – Both provide customer service support in case any problems come up.
Also Read: Is Yelp Better Than HomeAdvisor?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Thumbtack and TaskRabbit are quite similar in that they both offer an online marketplace matching customers with skilled professionals to complete a wide range of home services.
A few differences:
TaskRabbit has a broader range of categories from moving to delivery to personal assistance. Thumbtack focuses more on home maintenance, repair, and improvement projects.
TaskRabbit allows you to hire independent contractors directly. Thumbtack is centered around getting quotes from local professional service businesses that you would then hire separately.
Thumbtack may be better for larger remodeling projects. TaskRabbit is ideal for smaller tasks needing immediate help.
Thumbtack features more bidding with custom quotes. TaskRabbit shows hourly rates upfront.
Overall, TaskRabbit offers greater flexibility and speed, while Thumbtack connects you with more established businesses. Consider which approach suits your specific home service needs.
Angie’s List, now called Angi, received some backlash in 2015 over claims that they manipulated reviews and ratings for home service companies who paid to advertise on the platform.
Several pending lawsuits alleged that Angie’s List would remove negative reviews or increase ratings for paying advertisers as a form of favoritism. Some customers felt it compromised the fairness and accuracy of reviews.
However, an investigation into the claims by the FTC concluded in 2016 that there was no evidence to support allegations of manipulated or fake reviews on Angie’s List. Still, the controversy sparked ongoing debate about impartiality in online reviews.
Angi maintains that all of its over 80 million reviews are unbiased and transparent. Paid advertising does not influence ratings, recommendations, or member reviews. But some skepticism persists from earlier scandal.
TaskRabbit pricing is entirely set by the independent Taskers, so rates can vary widely across the open marketplace. Some factors contributing to potentially higher costs:
Taskers set their own hourly rates based on experience, skill level, and local market rates. Highly rated Taskers can demand premium pricing.
TaskRabbit takes a service fee percentage from Taskers, who then build that into their rates.
For larger tasks, TaskRabbit recommends tipping Taskers 15-20% on top of the Tasker’s billed amount.
Taskers may tack on fees for supplies, materials, mileage, or heavy lifting equipment needed to complete tasks.
Lack of competition in some markets means Taskers can charge higher prices due to demand.
Prices on TaskRabbit tend to be higher than hiring someone independently. But the convenience, rating system, and Tasker vetting come at a cost. Comparison shopping and negotiating can help lower pricing.
Yes, TaskRabbit continues to grow its user base. According to TaskRabbit, over 5 million people have used their service to outsource household tasks and projects to vetted Taskers since its inception in 2008.
Usage dipped early in the pandemic as people remained home more. But demand increased again as people sought help with moves, furniture assembly for home office setups, decluttering, cleaning, and more specialty projects around the house.
While competition has grown from apps like Thumbtack and Takl, TaskRabbit retains a leading share in the home services on-demand marketplace. Its brand recognition, easy booking, broad Tasker selection, and comprehensive platform keep TaskRabbit a popular choice to match busy people with qualified help for home tasks.
Also watch the video about TaskRabbit!
Conclusion
So, should you use Angi or TaskRabbit for your next home project?
Here are some guidelines:
Choose Angi for:
- Major home renovations and repairs
- Projects requiring licensed professionals like electricians
- Ongoing maintenance from trusted providers
- Any work where quality and safety are big concerns
Choose TaskRabbit for:
- Furniture assembly, mounting TVs., and minor handyman jobs
- Moving help and delivery services
- Quick or same-day service like deep cleaning before a party
- Short-term tasks rather than extended projects
TaskRabbit is the more flexible, affordable option for everyday home needs. But for significant, complex home projects or highly skilled trades, Angi is preferable.
Combine them as needed – hire specialty pros through Angi for remodeling, then use TaskRabbit later for unpacking or arranging furniture in the newly renovated space!
