Every platform quotes you a per-lead price. Nobody shows what it costs per closed job. We did the math — and it's brutally clear why contractors are leaving Angi and Thumbtack.
Contractors leaving Angi and Thumbtack are switching to exclusive lead platforms. Here's the full breakdown — pricing, lead type, TCPA compliance, and realistic cost per closed job.
| Platform | Monthly Cost | Lead Type | TCPA Verified | Contract | Close Rate | Cost / Closed Job |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
TradeRadar Exclusive
|
$129/mo | Exclusive (you only) | ✓ Yes | No contract | 35–45% | ~$65 |
|
Angi Shared
1.96/5 BBB rating
|
$300+/mo | Shared (3–5 ctrs) | ✗ No | Annual contract | 8–12% | $600–800 |
|
Thumbtack Shared
Bidding wars on every lead
|
Pay-per-lead | Shared (2–4 ctrs) | ✗ No | No contract | 10–15% | $300–500 |
|
CraftJack Shared
Winding down operations
|
Pay-per-lead | Shared (2–4 ctrs) | ✗ No | Month-to-month | 10–15% | $250–400 |
Google LSA Shared |
Pay-per-lead | Shared (1–3 ctrs) | ✓ Required | No contract | 15–25% | $200–450 |
The exact math from our keyword research: A shared lead at $60 with a 10% close rate costs $600 per closed job. An exclusive lead at $150 with a 40% close rate costs $375 per closed job — 37% cheaper, with zero bidding war stress. TradeRadar's actual per-lead cost (~$26) brings that down to ~$65 per job.
The price tag on a shared lead looks cheap. The real cost isn't.
The math is straightforward: when you're competing with 4 other contractors, you need to win 1 in 8–10 conversations just to break even on the lead cost. When you're the only contractor, you just need to not blow the call.
Every contractor thinks in terms of "jobs" — not "leads." Here's the unit economics for shared vs. exclusive leads using real industry data.
Industry benchmark (from keyword research): Even at the industry-average exclusive lead price of $150, the math wins: $150 lead × 40% close rate = $375/job. A shared lead at $60 × 10% close rate = $600/job. Exclusive leads beat shared leads on cost per job — every time.
TradeRadar's $129/month plan brings the per-lead cost to ~$26 — making the cost-per-job ~$65. Over 12 months of roofing season, that's a $6,420 difference per year vs. a typical Angi subscription.
Angi's 1.96/5 BBB rating tells the story. Shared lead platforms aren't inherently evil — they have misaligned incentives. Their business model is to sell the same lead to as many contractors as possible. More contractors per lead = more revenue for them = worse outcomes for you.
Thumbtack adds a twist: bidding wars. You don't just race to the phone — you race to underbid. The homeowner learns to play contractors against each other. You win by discounting, not by being the best fit.
CraftJack is winding down. Contractors who built their pipeline on CraftJack need a Thumbtack alternative or Angi alternative now, not after operations shut off.
Exclusive leads cost more per lead. They cost dramatically less per closed job. For most roofing and HVAC contractors running small crews, the math lands clearly on the exclusive side — no contracts, no bidding wars, no racing to answer texts at midnight.
Get TCPA-verified, exclusive roofing leads in your market. No contracts. Costs less per job than Angi, Thumbtack, or CraftJack.
Get My Exclusive Leads →