Honest breakdown · 2026
Is Angi worth it for contractors?
Short answer: it can work if you have strong margins and answer leads instantly — but the shared-lead model means you're racing 3–5 other contractors for the same homeowner, and you pay per lead whether you close or not. Here's the honest math, and a different way to get leads.
When Angi IS worth it
- • You answer every lead within minutes (speed wins shared leads)
- • High close rate + healthy margins that absorb per-lead cost
- • You're in a high-ticket trade where one job covers many lead fees
When it ISN'T
- • You're a 1–5 person shop that can't sit on the phone all day
- • Your trade's per-lead cost is high and close rates are average
- • You're tired of price-competing with everyone else who bought the same lead
The alternative: exclusive leads, flat price
BellAveGo pulls homeowner leads from public code-enforcement and permit records — people the city has flagged to do work — and gives each lead to ONE contractor per zip. No sharing, no per-lead fees, no bidding war. Flat $197/month for 10 leads a week, first lead free, cancel anytime.
Or compare side by side: Angi vs BellAveGo
What Angi leads cost by trade
Contractor-reported ranges per SHARED lead (sold to 3–5 pros). You pay whether or not you close.
| Trade | Angi (shared, per lead) | BellAveGo (exclusive) |
|---|---|---|
| Roofing | $30–$100 | ~$4.92 · flat, never shared |
| HVAC | $25–$85 | ~$4.92 · flat, never shared |
| Plumbing | $20–$60 | ~$4.92 · flat, never shared |
| Electrical | $20–$60 | ~$4.92 · flat, never shared |
| Landscaping | $15–$45 | ~$4.92 · flat, never shared |
| Windows / Remodeling | $50–$150+ | ~$4.92 · flat, never shared |
BellAveGo is a flat $197/month for 40 exclusive leads (~$4.92 each), no per-lead fees. Angi prices are set by demand and vary by market.
Angi vs BellAveGo, head to head
| Angi / HomeAdvisor | BellAveGo | |
|---|---|---|
| Lead exclusivity | Shared with 3–5 pros | One contractor per zip |
| Pricing | Pay per lead ($15–$150+) | Flat $197/mo, no per-lead fees |
| Lead source | Ad form-fills (price-shoppers) | Public code-violation + permit records |
| Verifiable? | No | Yes — city case / permit number |
| Homeowner intent | Comparing quotes | Legally ordered to fix something |
| Contract | Membership + commitments common | Cancel anytime, first lead free |
Based on BellAveGo's own analysis of ~18,000 public code-enforcement and permit records across major US metros (last 120 days). See the data: code violations by city.
Frequently asked questions
Is Angi worth it for contractors in 2026?
It depends on your margins and how fast you answer. Angi (formerly Angie's List / HomeAdvisor) sells the same homeowner lead to multiple contractors and charges per lead ($15–$100+ depending on trade) whether or not you close. It can work if you have high close rates and answer instantly — but many contractors report the shared-lead competition and per-lead costs eat the margin. If you want leads that aren't a race against 3–5 other shops, an exclusive-lead service like BellAveGo (one contractor per zip, flat $197/mo) is usually the better math.
Why do contractors say Angi isn’t worth it?
The three most common complaints: (1) leads are shared with several competitors, so you compete on price and speed; (2) you pay per lead even when the homeowner never answers or was just price-shopping; (3) credit disputes for bad leads are slow. None of that means Angi never works — it means the model favors high-volume shops that can absorb the cost.
What is a better alternative to Angi for contractors?
BellAveGo delivers exclusive leads (one contractor per zip, never resold) sourced from public code-enforcement and permit records — homeowners who are legally required to hire, not price-shopping form-fills. Flat $197/month for 40 leads (~$4.92 each), no per-lead fees, first lead free.
How much does Angi cost vs BellAveGo?
Angi is pay-per-lead: commonly $15–$100+ per SHARED lead, often plus a membership fee. BellAveGo is a flat $197/month for 10 EXCLUSIVE leads a week (~$4.92/lead), no per-lead charges, 7-day free trial, cancel anytime.
How much are Angi leads per trade?
Angi lead prices vary by trade and are set by demand. Contractors commonly report roughly: roofing $30–$100, HVAC $25–$85, plumbing $20–$60, electrical $20–$60, landscaping $15–$45, and windows/remodeling $50–$150+ — per SHARED lead, sold to several contractors. Because you pay whether or not you close, the real cost per booked job is a multiple of the sticker price. BellAveGo's exclusive leads work out to ~$4.92 each at a flat $197/month.
Does Angi refund or guarantee bad leads?
Angi does offer lead credits/refunds for clearly invalid leads (wrong number, out of area, spam), but contractors frequently report the dispute process is slow and many "bad" leads (no answer, just price-shopping) don't qualify. An exclusive-lead model sidesteps most of this: with one contractor per zip you're not fighting over a shared contact, and every BellAveGo lead is a verifiable public record.
Angi vs HomeAdvisor vs Thumbtack — what is the difference?
Angi and HomeAdvisor are the same company (Angi Inc.) and share the same shared-lead, pay-per-lead model. Thumbtack is similar but contractors send quotes and pay when they reach out. All three are shared marketplaces — the homeowner is contacted by multiple pros. BellAveGo is different in kind: exclusive leads from public records, one contractor per zip, flat monthly price. See the full comparison at /lead-sources-compared.
How do I get exclusive leads instead of shared ones?
Use a service that sources leads from data instead of reselling ad form-fills. BellAveGo monitors public code-enforcement and permit records nightly, matches each homeowner to the right trade, skip-traces the phone, and delivers it to a single contractor per zip. First lead free, no card — see real (masked) leads in your area at /scan.