Which Ad Platform Actually Wins for Your Business?
We run ads on Meta, Google, LSA, and everything in between across 200+ home service clients. These are the real trade-offs — no platform loyalty, no fluff.
Meta Ads vs Google Ads
Which platform actually wins for home service leads in 2026?
Google LSA vs Meta Ads
Pay-per-lead vs pay-per-impression — when to run each (or both).
HomeAdvisor / Angi vs Meta Ads
Shared directory leads vs exclusive ad leads — the real math.
Yelp Ads vs Meta Ads
Yelp's user base doesn't match home service buyers — here's the math.
Nextdoor vs Meta Ads
Hyperlocal neighborhood targeting vs. full Meta scale. Where each fits.
Agency vs In-House Marketer
$18K/yr agency vs $75K+/yr employee — capability, cost, ramp time.
Direct Mail vs Meta Ads
Postcards vs digital — when direct mail still pencils (spoiler: rarely).
LinkedIn Ads vs Meta Ads
Residential contractors shouldn't run LinkedIn. Commercial trades should.
Compare Questions.
Why so many comparison pages?
Because home service contractors compare Meta Ads against a bunch of different alternatives — sometimes it's Google, sometimes HomeAdvisor, sometimes word-of-mouth, sometimes no ads at all. Each comparison asks a different question. We wrote them all out so you can find yours.
Are you biased toward Meta since you're a Meta ads agency?
Yes and no. We recommend Meta most of the time because it works most of the time for contractors. But we explicitly call out when LSA wins (emergency services), when direct mail wins (ultra-niche high-ticket), and when NOT to run Meta (commercial-only, very small markets). Read the recommendations on each page — they're honest.
Which comparison should I read first?
If you're already running ads anywhere: check the comparison matching your current channel (HomeAdvisor vs Meta, Yelp vs Meta, etc.). If you're not running paid ads yet: start with Word-of-Mouth vs Meta, then Meta vs Google Ads. These cover the biggest decisions most contractors face.
Do any of these channels complement each other?
Yes — Meta + LSA is the most common winning combo for home services. Meta builds top-of-funnel demand, LSA captures high-intent searchers. Adding Google Search on top works at $5K+/mo total budget. Running 3+ channels at low budget on each is usually worse than running 1-2 channels well.
How often do you update these?
Quarterly. Platform economics shift — Meta CPMs rise, LSA eligibility expands, directory platforms merge, new ones launch (TikTok for home services). We refresh comparison data every 3 months against current client account numbers. Last update: 2026-04-23.