When it comes to finding and hiring local home service professionals, Yelp and HomeAdvisor are two of the biggest names out there. But which review site is better for homeowners and businesses?
Here’s an in-depth look at the key differences between Yelp and HomeAdvisor, including pros, cons, features, and reviews.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Yelp | HomeAdvisor |
| Reviews | Authentic, user-generated | Submitted by paying customers only |
| Services Covered | All categories | Home services only |
| Screening of Pros | None | Background checks and license verification |
| Cost for Pros | Free listing | Monthly fees or per-lead fees |
| Booking Services | No | Yes, through HomeAdvisor |
| Lead Generation | No | Yes, charges pros for leads |
| Ideal For Homeowners | Broad reviews | Pre-screened pro search |
| Ideal For Pros | Brand visibility | New customer leads |
Overview Of Yelp And HomeAdvisor
Founded in 2004, Yelp is one of the most popular online review platforms, with over 200 million monthly visitors. Users can read and write reviews for all types of local businesses, including home services like plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians.
HomeAdvisor, founded in 1998 as ServiceMagic, is the largest home services marketplace in the US. Homeowners can use HomeAdvisor to find screened and reviewed home improvement professionals. Rather than user-generated reviews, each HomeAdvisor pro has passed a background and licensing check.
While both sites help connect consumers to home services pros, they work in different ways. Yelp relies on crowdsourced reviews, while HomeAdvisor pre-screens the professionals listed on their site.
Key Differences
Here are some of the main differences between Yelp and HomeAdvisor:
- Reviews – Yelp has authentic user-generated reviews, while HomeAdvisor has reviews that are submitted by homeowners after hiring a pro through their site.
- Pro Screening – HomeAdvisor conducts background checks and verifies licenses for the pros listed on their site. Yelp does not screen or vet businesses before they can be reviewed.
- Services Offered – Yelp reviews cover a broader range of service categories, while HomeAdvisor focuses specifically on home improvement professionals.
- Lead Generation – HomeAdvisor charges professionals a fee for consumer leads generated through their site. Yelp does not charge businesses to be listed or reviewed.
- Booking Services – HomeAdvisor allows users to book services directly through their site. Yelp does not offer booking or transactions.
Also Read: Choose Between Angi And TaskRabbit.
Pros And Cons Of Yelp And HomeAdvisor
Yelp Pros
As a crowdsourced review platform, Yelp has some distinct advantages:
- Authentic reviews – The reviews on Yelp offer genuine, unbiased feedback from past customers. Reviews aren’t screened or filtered by Yelp.
- Broad range of services – In addition to home services, Yelp provides reviews of restaurants, shopping, beauty and fitness, auto care, health services, and more.
- Established platform – With an average of over 70 million monthly app users, Yelp has an established user base and brand recognition.
- Free for businesses – Creating a free business owner’s account allows you to interact with customers, share news, and promote your services.
Yelp Cons
There are some downsides to Yelp as well:
- Questionable review reliability – There have been complaints about false or paid reviews from both businesses and consumers.
- No screening – Any user can leave a review, so there is no verification that they were an actual paying customer of that business.
- Difficult to remove bad reviews – Business owners have little recourse against false or malicious reviews. The process to contest them is tedious and often unsuccessful.
- Advertising pressure – Yelp sales reps push businesses to advertise to manage search placement and reviews.
HomeAdvisor Pros
HomeAdvisor offers unique benefits for homeowners looking for home services:
- Pre-screened professionals – The ability to see background checked pros with verified licenses provides peace of mind.
- Home services focus – HomeAdvisor is tailored specifically to home improvement, repair, and maintenance services.
- Instant booking – Homeowners can book appointments through HomeAdvisor and even track the pro en route to their home.
- Homeowner support – If issues arise after booking through HomeAdvisor, they provide resolution support.
For pros listed on HomeAdvisor, benefits include:
- Lead generation – HomeAdvisor delivers new customer leads, helping pros grow their business.
- Pro profile – Pros can promote their services, experience, and specialties in detail on their HomeAdvisor profile.
- Booking management – HomeAdvisor makes it easy to manage bookings, payments, and customer communication.
HomeAdvisor Cons
Some drawbacks to consider about HomeAdvisor:
- Membership fees – While free to homeowners, HomeAdvisor charges professionals a monthly or per-lead fee to access consumer leads.
- Focus on paid pros – Search placement and leads favor pros who pay more to HomeAdvisor. Unpaid listings may get buried.
- Leads lack context – The leads provide contact info but limited project details, so pros report spending time vetting real leads.
- Appointment setting issues – Homeowners complain of excessive sales calls after submitting project requests.
- Frivolous disputes – Some pros get stuck paying fees for false customer disputes.
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Yelp Vs. HomeAdvisor: Which Is Better?
So which site is better, Yelp or HomeAdvisor? Here are some key points to help decide:
- For homeowners – HomeAdvisor may provide more consistent quality through pro screening, while Yelp offers a broader range of service reviews.
- For service pros – HomeAdvisor provides lead gen but with fees; Yelp brings visibility but requires you to drive your own leads.
- For rare services – With a wider user base, Yelp may have more reviews for niche or uncommon home services.
- For established pros – Popular pros on Yelp with lots of reviews may not benefit as much from HomeAdvisor.
There are pros and cons to both platforms. Homeowners may want to check both sites to get a balanced view before selecting a contractor.
For many home service businesses, having a presence on both Yelp and HomeAdvisor can provide the best exposure. Maintaining an accurate business profile on Yelp along with an enhanced profile on HomeAdvisor can help maximize visibility. Monitoring reviews and ratings on both sites is also important.
Also Read: Is Networx Better Than HomeAdvisor?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
For most home service pros, HomeAdvisor is worth considering as a source of new customer leads. However, the membership fees can range from $50 to over $100 per lead, so the return on investment depends on your conversion rate of leads to actual business. Many pros find the number of low-quality leads to be frustrating.
HomeAdvisor reviews only come from customers who booked that pro through their site, and they are required soon after project completion. This controlled process results in more consistently positive reviews than a site like Yelp. However, homeowners have questioned the authenticity and value of these limited reviews.
Like HomeAdvisor, Angie’s List screens and vets home service providers listed on their site, charges membership fees to pros, and requires paid membership for consumers wanting to read detailed reviews. Angie’s List does not facilitate booking services or provide lead generation. Their reviews tend to be more in-depth.
The HomeAdvisor digital marketplace and brand are owned and operated by ANGI Homeservices. They also own Angie’s List and Handy.
Also Read: Comparison Between Houzz And Thumbtack.
Conclusion
Yelp and HomeAdvisor each offer unique value to consumers looking for home services, as well as to professionals in this space. The right option depends on specific needs and goals. With Yelp’s wider scope but less regulated reviews and HomeAdvisor’s narrower focus on screened home pros, considering both sites can provide the most complete view when shopping for and vetting home improvement services.
