Why HowdyCasa beats
the competition
Other platforms charge businesses to send a quote. Some even charge customers before they receive one. We think that's backwards.
What the other guys don't tell you
Hidden fees, gotchas, and the fine print.
Thumbtack
Businesses pay $3–$75 per quote sent — even if the customer never responds or hires someone else.
Angi (formerly Angie's List)
Customers can be charged a membership fee before they can even access quotes. Plus businesses pay $15–$100+ per lead regardless of outcome.
HomeAdvisor
Businesses pay a mandatory annual membership ($300+) PLUS $15–$300 per lead — many of which are low-quality or shared with 3 other competitors.
We built HowdyCasa to change all of that.
✨Side-by-side comparison
The numbers don't lie.
| Feature | ⭐ HowdyCasa | Thumbtack | Angi (Angie) | HomeAdvisor | TaskRabbit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customer fee | Free | Free | Membership fee | Free | 15% service fee |
| Business listing fee | Free listing | Pay per lead | Pay per lead | Membership + leads | 15–30% commission |
| Avg. cost per lead | $0 | $3–$75+ | $15–$100+ | $15–$300+ | Per-job cut |
| Customers pay for quotes | |||||
| Businesses charged per quote sent | |||||
| Verified business profiles | |||||
| Review system | Verified | Unverified | Partial | Partial | Verified |
| Support | 24/7 | Limited | Email only | Limited | Chat only |
* Pricing based on publicly available data. Lead costs vary by market and service type.
What businesses pay per lead
Average cost per lead/quote across platforms (USD)
HowdyCasa: $0 per lead, always.
Overall platform score
Scored across six key dimensions that actually matter to users.
- HowdyCasa
- Thumbtack
- Angi
- HomeAdvisor
Built on a different philosophy
We believe connecting neighbors shouldn't cost a fortune. Here's what that looks like in practice.
Free. Period.
No lead fees, no subscriptions, no hidden charges — for customers or businesses. We make money through optional premium upgrades, not by taxing every interaction.
Businesses aren't penalized for trying
On Thumbtack, businesses pay just to send a quote — even if the customer ghosts them. On Angi, businesses pay $15–$300+ per lead whether or not they get the job. We think that's wrong.
Customers never pay for quotes
Angi charges some customers a membership fee just to access pro quotes. At HowdyCasa, getting quotes is always 100% free — no credit card, no catch.
Community-first
We're built for neighbors. Local pros, local customers, real relationships — not a national call center model where you talk to a stranger 500 miles away.
No algorithm hiding your listing
Big platforms bury free listings and push paid ads. Your HowdyCasa listing is shown based on quality and reviews, not how much you spent this week.
We root for local businesses
When a local pro wins a job, the money stays in your community. We genuinely want your business to grow — our success depends on yours.
Ready to try the fair way?
Join thousands of homeowners and local pros who are done paying for the privilege of finding each other.