Common pests like ants, roaches, mice and bed bugs can make you feel uncomfortable in your own home. Thankfully, there are many pest control companies that claim they’ll provide you a pest-free home. With so many companies to choose from, how do you know which is best for you?
We at Today’s Homeowner combed through pest control services and selected the four best options for you and your home. Read on to learn more about each company, their cost and available coverage plans.
Today’s Homeowner works with an independent reviews team to create evidence-based research that helps our readers make informed decisions. The reviews are always independent. For transparency, we may be compensated if you purchase through a link.
Compare the Top Pest Control Companies
| Provider | Superlative | Type of Pests Covered* | Availability | BBB Rating |
| Terminix | Best Overall | Cockroaches, mice, rats, silverfish, ants, clothes moths, spiders, scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, earwigs, house crickets, bed bugs, termites, mosquitoes, paper wasps and ticks. | 45 states (excluding Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Vermont) | B- |
| Orkin | Best for Comprehensive Service | Ants, moths, crickets, fleas, hornets, scorpions, silverfish, roaches, mice, spiders, centipedes, earwigs, termites, mosquitoes, bed bugs, flies and stinging pests | 47 states (excluding Alaska, South Dakota and Wyoming) | A+ |
| Hawx | Best for Flexible Plans | Ants, spiders, cockroaches, mosquitoes, rodents, termites, ticks, stinging insects, wood-destroying insects and bed bugs | 12 states | A- |
| Aptive | Best for Seasonal Options | Ants, roaches, rodents, spiders, fleas, stinging insects, aphids, crickets, earwigs, millipedes, pill bugs, silverfish, snails, beetles, and moths | 24 states | A- |
*Every pest control provider is continuously updating its covered pest list, which can also change from location to location. This list is based on the bugs detailed on each provider’s web page.
Best Overall: Terminix
With over 90 years of experience and satellite offices across much of the country, Terminix is our pick for the best overall pest control company. The provider treats 13 common insects in your home through its general plan, including ants, bed bugs, cockroaches and millipedes. Terminix even offers specialized services, such as wildlife removal and tick treatment.
Terminix Coverage
Terminix uses trained experts to identify pest problems in your home and craft a personalized treatment plan. Unlike some competitors, the company will perform additional treatments at no additional cost if an infestation returns before the next scheduled appointment. Additionally, Terminix offers a monthly mosquito service for those who want to remove these annoying yard pests.
Terminix Cost
Terminix pest control plans typically range from $550 to $700 per year and go up or down based on the following factors:
- Severity of infestation—The more severe the pest infestation, the higher your cost will be.
- Size of your home—The cost of treatment will go up with larger homes and down for smaller ones.
- Type of treatment—Some treatments are more expensive than others and will increase the overall cost of your plan.
Terminix offers ongoing treatment plans that can be paid monthly or quarterly. It also offers one-time pest control treatments that are paid after each service is complete. For more specialized treatment options, such as rodent control or bed bug treatment, Terminix offers free home inspections to give customers an idea of the cost of treatment.
To get a free quote from Terminix, fill out this form or give 866-569-4035 a call today.
Read Our Full Review: Terminix Pest Control Review
Best for Comprehensive Service: Orkin
With over a century of pest control experience, it’s no surprise that Orkin offers comprehensive and attentive service. The provider has a variety of plans available to homeowners across the country and treats an impressive total of 20 pests. Orkin also offers specialized services for bed bugs and termite control.
Orkin Coverage
Orkin treats a variety of pests both indoors and outside, including common pests like beetles, centipedes, spiders and rodents. While Orkin customizes plans to fit each homeowner’s unique needs, it doesn’t offer free home inspections like some of its competitors. The provider also features specialized mosquito and ant treatments but doesn’t offer wildlife removal services for animals like raccoons.
Orkin Cost
Unlike some of its competitors, Orkin offers instant quotes online. During our secret shopping process, we received a quote for a three-bedroom home with a modest-sized yard. The price came out to around $50 per month, with an initial inspection fee of $198.50. Orkin added an option for free termite inspections and offered mosquito treatment for an additional $38.33 per month.
To find out how Orkin can treat bugs in your home, fill out this quick form or contact a representative at 877-868-1416.
Read Our Full Review: Orkin Pest Control Review
Best for Flexible Plans: Hawx
Hawx Pest Control is a trusted residential and commercial pest control company known for its flexible plans. It offers homeowners a choice of quarterly or bi-monthly pest services, along with specialty treatments for mosquitoes, termites and fire ants. The provider also helps customers communicate directly with an exterminator through text messaging and offers a service guarantee on all plans.
Hawx Coverage
All Hawx general pest control plans treat many common household pests, including most types of ants, cockroaches, wasps and hornets. However, these plans do not include treatments for German roaches, fire ants and insect pollinators. Unlike some of its competitors, Hawx details its comprehensive four-step extermination process online. Here’s a look at their process:
- Foundation—The provider treats the area around your home’s foundation.
- Perimeter—Hawx treats beyond the structure of your home to eliminate lingering nests and hives.
- Yard—The provider uses water-activated yard granules to kill bugs throughout your grass and landscaping before they reach entry points.
- Eaves—Hawx will knock down any wasps nests and cobwebs around your home’s roofline.
Hawx Cost
Like many of its competitors, Hawx doesn’t give a detailed estimate without an in-home inspection, which determines the severity of your infestation, the size of the area that needs to be treated and the type of treatment used.
However, during our research, we found that general treatment plans cost around $600 per year, with an initial treatment cost of $350. Hawx will retreat your yard and home between treatments if any bugs are spotted.
If you’re interested in a custom quote from Hawx, fill out this quick form or contact the provider at 818-273-1741.
Best for Seasonal Options: Aptive
Although it’s a relative newcomer to the pest control industry, Aptive has made a mark with its focus on reducing pesticide risk and its seasonal pest control plan. The Four-Seasons Protection Plan includes an initial visit followed by quarterly treatments, keeping your home free from bugs through each season. The provider is also a member of the EPA’s Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program, which helps build community awareness of pesticide risk.
Aptive Coverage
Aptive makes pest control simple, offering a Four-Seasons Protection Plan and one-time services to customers. While Aptive keeps pest control simple, it doesn’t offer termite control or bed bug removal services like many of its competitors.
Aptive Cost
A Four-Seasons Protection Plan from Aptive typically costs between $560 and $620, though this cost will vary based on the size of your home, the treatment you need and the severity of the infestation.
For a custom quote from Aptive, complete this quick form or contact the provider at 855-697-0130.
Compare Common Pests Covered by Each Company
Here are the pests that are covered by top pest control companies:
| Terminix | Orkin | Hawx | Aptive | |
| Cockroaches | X | X | X | X |
| Mice | X | X | X | X |
| Rats | X | X | X | |
| Silverfish | X | X | X | |
| Ants | X | X | X | X |
| Moths | X | X | X | |
| Spiders | X | X | X | X |
| Scorpions | X | X | ||
| Centipedes | X | X | ||
| Millipedes | X | X | ||
| Earwigs | X | X | X | |
| Crickets | X | X | X | |
| Bed bugs | X | X | X | |
| Termites | X | X | X | |
| Mosquitoes | X | X | X | |
| Stinging insects | X | X | X | X |
| Ticks | X | X | ||
| Fleas | X | X | ||
| Flies | X | |||
| Grasshoppers | ||||
| Pillbugs | X | |||
| Aphids | X | |||
| Snails | X |
Note: Each provider’s list of covered pests constantly changes. This list represents what each company advertises on their websites. It’s important to note that many providers will expand their pest treating capabilities to fit your pest control needs.
Final Thoughts
While any provider on this list can help attack pesky bugs in and around your home, our top choice for pest control is Terminix. The provider has the best pest control services and uses its 90+ years of industry experience to offer customers comprehensive and affordable treatment plans.
While you may be considering DIY treatment options, keep in mind that hiring a professional can provide some peace of mind, as you won’t have to be responsible for monitoring your pest situation and applying treatment. If you decide to go with a professional, it’s important to get quotes from at least three providers so that you can compare pricing and plans before making a decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most effective pest control?
The most effective pest control service is the one provided by a professional. We recommend Terminix, which values customer service, educates customers throughout the treatment process and offers effective and affordable plans.
Is pest control worth the cost?
Pest control is worth the cost for many homeowners. Whether DIY or handled by a professional, pest control gives you peace of mind that your home is free of disease-carrying bugs like mosquitoes and cockroaches. Additionally, pest control ensures your home stays damage-free, as termites and rodents can wreak havoc on your home’s foundation and wiring.
Should I try pest control myself?
There are DIY pest control solutions you can use to rid your home of bugs. However, if you can’t get a hold on the infestation in your home, it’s best to call a professional before the problem gets too large and causes damage to your home.
What is the best way to get rid of mice?
The best way to get rid of mice in your home is to place traps in vulnerable areas, such as along the walls or near a trash can. If your efforts don’t get rid of the problem, it may be wise to call a professional before the infestation gets out of hand.
How We Chose the Top Pest Control Companies
To aid consumers in finding the best pest control company, our reviews team researched popular regional and national providers, comparing and analyzing their state availability, experience, guarantees and customer service, among other factors:
- Availability: Providers available in 45 states were awarded the most points, while those in fewer states received lower scores.
- Experience: Years of business in the pest control industry was an important factor. We gave more points to companies with lengthier histories and awarded fewer points to newer companies.
- Reputation: To gauge companies’ practices and trustworthiness, we scored companies based on their ratings on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), rewarding more points to companies with a higher BBB rating.
- Guarantees: The pest control providers were also scored on whether or not they offered money-back, specified time window and other guarantees to protect customers from unsatisfactory treatments and no-shows for service appointments.
Our team keeps the data points for these criteria updated based on any changes to these pest control companies’ availability, experience, reputation and guarantees. This ongoing effort ensures that we can provide accurate scores and information for homeowners.
