Our team conducts in-depth, independent research to help you find the best pest control companies for your home. We evaluate leading providers based on service offerings, state availability, workmanship guarantees, and customer experience. We also analyze third-party reviews and contacted each company directly to verify key information. This research helps us score major pest control providers using an unbiased rating system focused on the factors that matter most to homeowners like you.
Pest Control Research Process
Our pest control review process includes the following research methods:
First-Party Research
We collect and verify information directly from each pest control company’s official sources. This includes reviewing websites, service plans, warranties and satisfaction guarantees, financing options, and state-by-state availability. Our goal is to accurately present what each provider claims to offer and to update that information as services or policies change regularly.
Customer Insights
We analyze customer reviews from trusted third-party platforms, including the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Trustpilot, and Google Reviews. By identifying common trends and concerns, we can gain insight into each company’s real-world experiences, particularly regarding service effectiveness, responsiveness, and customer satisfaction.
Secret Shopping
To better understand the customer experience, we contact each company anonymously by phone and via online chat (when available). We ask detailed questions about pest control plans, pricing, and service terms, and we assess the overall quality of customer service, including representative knowledge, clarity, responsiveness, and professionalism.
Factors Evaluated To Compare Pest Control Companies
We apply the information above to evaluate each pest control company individually. Our rating system evaluates providers across six key categories: plans and services, reputation and customer response, customer service, workmanship guarantee, financing, and availability. These categories include 30 individual scoring factors that reflect what matters most to homeowners. Each factor is assigned a point value that contributes to a weighted, 100-point scale. We divided each company’s total score by 20 to determine a 5-star rating.
Here’s more details about each key category we consider:
Plans and Services
When scoring this factor, we consider two broad categories: general plans and specialty treatments. For general plans, companies score more points for covering a wide range of common pests, like ants, spiders, and cockroaches. For specialty treatments, companies with multiple treatment plans that target hard-to-remove pests, termites, ticks, and mosquitoes, score higher. Companies that offer multiple plans and service options receive higher scores than those with fewer choices.
Reputation and Customer Responses
We consider companies with longer, verifiable business histories and a track record of positive customer experiences more trustworthy. We award points for years in business, which is combined with a total average customer review score. We review third-party sources to find verifiable, unbiased customer feedback. Companies with a proven history and consistently high customer ratings receive more points in this category.
Customer Service
When scoring customer service, we consider two general criteria: how easy it is to contact a company and any additional benefits available to customers. Companies with a single communication channel score lower than those with an open phone number, email address, and online chat feature.
Companies with GreenPro or QualityPro certifications receive more points, as these designations reflect industry-recognized standards for professionalism, environmental responsibility, and technician training. GreenPro certification indicates a company uses eco-conscious pest management practices, while QualityPro certification is awarded to providers that meet higher standards in business operations, background checks, and customer service.
We also award points to companies that clearly provide product information, giving customers easy access to details about the chemicals or treatment methods used during service. Additionally, companies can receive points for providing the following services:
- One-time treatment options
- Online resources
- Pet and child-safe treatment options
Workmanship Guarantee
A company that provides a reliable service guarantee typically stands behind its work. For this factor, companies receive more points for providing a money-back and re-service guarantee. We also consider the timeframe for these guarantees when ranking each company, with providers offering a money-back guarantee for 30 days or more receiving more points.
Financing
Our review process considers companies that offer transparent and honest financing as more reliable and trustworthy than those with unclear pricing practices. Providers that provide custom financing, free quotes, and service discounts receive full points in this category.
Availability
Where you live determines which providers are available. Companies with services available in more U.S. states rate higher than those available in fewer states.
Factor Weights for Rating Pest Control Companies
Review the factor weights for our pest control ratings at a glance below.
| Review Category | Percent of Score |
|---|---|
|
Plans and Services |
30% |
|
Reputation and Customer Responses |
15% |
|
Customer Service |
25% |
|
Workmanship Guarantee |
15% |
|
Financing |
10% |
|
Availability |
5% |
How To Interpret Company Ratings
We consider any pest control company that scores above 90 out of 100 points as “excellent.” These companies offer robust plans that target a wide array of pests, provide excellent customer service and guarantees, and carry the appropriate certifications.
Any company that scores between 80 and 89 points is a good choice, but may have lost points in certain areas, like not covering common pests in its general plan or having low customer response scores. We do not typically recommend companies that score between 70 and 79 points, but these providers may offer a specialty service with unique benefits that better fit some situations. We don’t recommend any company that scores below 70 points.
How To Choose the Best Pest Control Company
There’s no shortage of local and nationwide pest control companies to choose from, each offering similar services at comparable prices. With this in mind, deciding which company to choose can be overwhelming. When picking out the right pest control company for you and your family, we recommend considering the following factors:
- Services: We recommend considering the services you need and looking for companies that specialize in those pests. Check each company’s primary pest plan and specialty treatments on its website. If it doesn’t list the pests you’re dealing with, choose another company.
- Price: Pest control services can quickly become expensive, and few companies have pricing information directly on their websites. We recommend obtaining free quotes from eligible providers before making a final decision. You can get a free quote with an online or over-the-phone estimate.
- Customer reviews: Even nationally recognized companies can have less-than-impressive branch offices locally. Before choosing a company, check the customer reviews and work history of your local branch office. Websites like the BBB, Trustpilot, and Google Reviews provide good sources for authentic customer feedback.
- Guarantees: A company’s guarantee reflects how much it stands behind its services. We consider providers that offer long-lasting, clearly stated guarantees, like free re-treatments between visits or money-back promises if pests return, as more trustworthy than those with vague or short-term terms.
