10 Best Sites Like Angie’s List for Home Contractors and Pros in 2020

Angie’s List is nearly 25 years old, and its exceptionally rich directory and intuitiveness are quite hard to beat. Not only that, but many people value the strict approach of Angie’s List when it comes to contractors’ background.

Some people may not be too eager to work with Angie’s List though, perhaps because it doesn’t provide them with enough flexibility when searching for contractors, or because it doesn’t offer the desired range of services.

Well, if you find that Angie’s List isn’t quite good for you, then let us introduce you to the top 10 sites similar to Angie’s List where you can hire contractors for repair and home improvement projects.

Porch

Porch has a lot of similarities with Angie’s List, but since it’s 10 years younger, it may not have an as wide choice of contractors.

Aside from serving as a directory of contractors across the United States, Porch has its own team of contractors that may be assigned to do your job after you go through a preliminary quiz. Alternatively, you might be matched with professionals listed on the platform who can complete your project.

What we really like about Porch is that it provides service-by-service cost breakdowns based on location. Porch’s cost guide could be helpful if you are undecided about your budget.

And, of course, Porch has a screening process for professionals offering services on the platform, which means that you should always have a smooth experience with them.

Thumbtack

Thumbtack is more than just contractors and home improvement workers. And while the focus of our topic is home repairs, what is remarkable about Thumbtack is that you can find wedding photographers, personal trainers, and professionals in many fields other than home improvement.

Compared to Porch, Thumbtack is perhaps a little bit easier to use and maybe more flexible. When you search for a service in your area, you are provided with a list of contractors along with estimated hourly costs, reviews, the number of hires, and whatnot. No need to browse directories like on Porch, and Porch’s quiz matching is a bit less flexible.

Houzz

If your job is focused on remodeling or designing your new home, then Houzz may be the best place to look for a contractor.

While you can find electricians, pest control contractors, movers, or painters on Houzz, their numbers here are perhaps not as big as on more specialized platforms. Design and remodeling are what Houzz is about.

It’s also remarkable that Houzz has its own shop of furniture, home décor, and home improvement hardware, which may make it a bit easier for you to get started.

HomeAdvisor

HomeAdvisor is very similar to Porch and Angie’s List. Just 4 years younger than Angie’s List, HomeAdvisor shouldn’t lag that much behind in terms of contractor availability.

HomeAdvisor employs a similar quiz matching system, and they also do in-depth screening and background checks of the contractors on the platform.

Not only that, but HomeAdvisor has a convenient price guide, a very handy thing that Angie’s List doesn’t have.

Bark

Bark is very similar to Thumbtack – it has many professionals other than contractors, which means that Bark could become the right place for you to look for pros for a variety of your needs.

With that being said, how Bark matches you with contractors is very different.

On Thumbtack, you search for the desired service in your area, and you get a list of contractors to choose from. On Bark, you go through a quiz, enter your email address, and then receive quotes from contractors that can do your job.

Such a system allows for a hassle-free search, but it may also limit your flexibility compared to Thumbtack.

Yelp

A business directory service, Yelp provides you with an insane number of pros to choose from, and not just in the field of home improvement.

Yelp is a highly flexible platform – thanks to its wide variety of search filters, it’s rather easy to find the desired service provider. You don’t have the convenient quiz matching system here, but this may be a good thing for some people.

A nice detail is that Yelp provides you with a map of your area with the service providers indicated on it. Not only that, but Yelp allows you to get free cost estimates from local contractors.

Consumer’s Checkbook

Consumer’s Checkbook is over 40 years old, and it boasts an unparalleled wealth of information for customers.

This platform has a unique approach aimed at ensuring unbiased ratings of service providers – you are required to buy membership to post reviews and generally access the platform’s services.

While the other platforms on our top don’t charge any membership fees, they may not be as unbiased and helpful in making smart choices as Consumer’s Checkbook.

Handy

Handy is interesting in the sense that it combines the benefits of some of the contractor platforms we’ve already overviewed.

Like Bark, Handy asks you to provide project details and an email address to send quotes to.

Like Houzz, Handy has its own furniture and home hardware shop, though the assortment here isn’t as wide.

And like platforms such as Angie’s List, Porch, or HomeAdvisor, you aren’t distracted by side services like wedding photography or massage therapy – Handy is completely focused on home repair and improvement.

Merchant Circle

Merchant Circle is a contractor directory with some enhanced features. Namely, this platform provides you with tools that allow you to chat with service providers and get advice from them.

And, of course, as a directory, Merchant Circle provides you with an in-depth insight on every merchant registered on the platform, including contact details, customer reviews, social recommendation, and other info that would help you make an optimal choice.

HomeFlock

Finally, we have HomeFlock, which is a directory like Merchant Circle but a little bit simpler.

HomeFlock is much more like a classic directory than Merchant Circle – here, you don’t have the convenient chatting tools, but you still have access to all the contractor info that you’d need to hire the right professional.

Not only that, but HomeFlock provides information on the permits that each contractor has, which you may also care about.