3 Best Pest Control Companies in 2022

Clearing up a pest problem in your home can be extremely stressful, and before you call in professionals to deal with an infestation, you have many factors to consider. Choosing an inefficient company can escalate your pest problem, and not all pests are covered under many general plans.

We at the Home Media reviews team have done extensive research on the best pest control services available throughout the country. We've identified the best pest control companies to remove these disruptive visitors through over 100 hours of investigation into pricing, coverage, customer service and reviews. Keep reading to learn more about our picks and how to get a free quote from each one.

Top 3 pest control companies

Here are our top three picks for tackling your pest control needs:

Orkin: Most experienced
Terminix: Best customer service
Hawx: Best for reservice treatments

Compare the best pest control companies

Review key highlights for each pest control service in the table below.

Orkin

Orkin has been in business since 1901, and the company has built an award-winning technician certification program. All Orkin technicians are trained at a 30,000-square-foot facility in Georgia, which features a full-size model home to practice pest control techniques. Orkin Pros receive more than 160 hours of instruction over the first year to ensure the quality of service.

Beyond its general pest control plan, the company offers additional services, such as attic insulation and lawn treatments, to attack pest problems at the root. The company also offers same-day service in many cases for pest emergencies and a 24/7 customer service line. All ongoing Orkin plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pros and cons of Orkin

+ More than 100 years of experience
+ 30-day money-back guarantee
+ Wide range of online resources to understand different pest types and treatments
– More expensive than some other national brands
– No online chat or quote available

We reached out to Orkin for comment on the cons listed here and did not receive a response from the company.

Orkin key details

Services: Orkin offers a general pest control plan tailored to your region to treat seasonally specific pests, such as ants, cockroaches, crickets and even scorpions in some areas. The company also offers add-on services for bedbugs, carpenter ants, fleas, mosquitoes, stinging insects (such as wasps and hornets), termites, ticks and wildlife.
Pricing: $550–$860 annually
State availability: 47 (excludes Alaska, South Dakota and Wyoming)

Get a quote: Fill out Orkin's online form or call 1-877-868-1416

Terminix

Terminix has 95 years of experience in the pest control business and a widespread network of licensed pest experts. Before completing any services, a Terminix technician will come to your home to perform a thorough inspection and build a plan and estimate based on your home's needs.

If you purchase an annual plan, Terminix will visit your home four times throughout the year to ensure that it is pest-free for each season. Additionally, all treatments are guaranteed for reservicing. The company will perform services at no extra cost if pests return between scheduled visits. The company also has convenient online tools: an online quote option and live chat.

Pros and cons of Terminix

+ Most affordable plans on this list based on quotes we obtained across nine states
+ Add-on services cover an extensive array of areas, including attics, lawns and crawl spaces
+ Initial treatments are discounted
– No money-back guarantee offered
– More aggressive ant species, such as carpenter, fire, pharaoh and tawny crazy ants, are excluded from its general plan 

We reached out to Terminix for comment on these cons and did not receive a response from the company.

Terminix key details

Services: Terminix's general plan covers a variety of common household pests and is customized according to your home's location and the common pests of each season. Typical treatments in the plan include centipedes, rats, roaches, silverfish and more. Add-on or one-off treatments are available for attic insulation, bedbugs, crawl spaces, mosquitoes, intensive rodent control, termites, ticks, wasps and wildlife control for animals such as raccoons. 
Pricing: $455–$750 annually
State availability: 45 (excludes Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Vermont)

Get a quote: Fill out Terminix's online form or call 1-866-569-4035

Hawx

Hawx is a newer player in the pest control industry, founded in 2013 and still expanding across the country. Nevertheless, the provider offers a competitive array of services, covering general plans and add-on services for tough-to-treat bedbugs, mosquitoes, rodents and termite control.

While Hawx is not available as widely as other providers on the list, we found it best for reservice treatments thanks to its satisfaction guarantee. 

Pros and cons of Hawx

+ Stinging insects are included under Hawx's general plan
+ Website chat offers direct contact with your technician for easy communication
+ Both quarterly and bimonthly pest control services are available for flexible treatment schedules
– Cost for initial home inspection and treatment can be up to $350
– Shorter time in business than competitors, founded in 2013
– Only available in 12 states

We reached out to Hawx for comment on these cons but did not receive a response from the provider.

When is professional pest control worth the cost?

Professional pest control is worth the cost in some cases:

If you have an infestation: Once your home has been overrun, removing all the pests can be quite difficult. For example, if you have a rat nest in your attic or multiple generations of bedbugs, it may be challenging to eliminate this large number of pests through do-it-yourself methods. If your home has reached full-fledged infestation, it's likely time to call in professional pest control.
If you have an older home: Older homes tend to come with character, but also potential issues in attics, foundations and entry points that have become unsealed over time. If you're moving into an older home or finding yourself battling the same pests each year, professionals may be able to assist you in removing them for good.
If you're dealing with certain types of pests: Pests like termites, bedbugs, carpenter ants, wildlife, cockroaches and rodents are notoriously difficult to catch and eliminate. Calling a professional extermination service at the first sign of these pests can prevent an outright infestation.

Do pest control companies offer service guarantees?

Yes, many pest control companies offer a guarantee of their services, with an offer to reservice free of charge between visits if any pests reemerge. Orkin, Terminix and Hawx all offer reservicing guarantees. Orkin also offers a money-back guarantee on its home services.

The bottom line: Which is the best pest control option for you?

If your home is overrun with unwanted pests and critters, it is likely time to invest in professional pest control services. Homeowners will be grateful they booked treatment before — and not after — a pest infestation occurs. Whether you're battling an infestation or looking to prevent one, calling in a pest control company can save you money and time down the road.

We recommend that you request quotes from all three companies listed above to weigh your options and find the best value and service for your situation. You may prefer Orkin for its impressive service record and pleasant technicians or Terminix for its low prices. Finally, those in the areas that Hawx serves may prefer a more personalized, regional touch to their pest control.

Key questions to ask your pest control provider

Before you commit to a pest control service, you may have questions about the chemicals the company uses and how its treatments work. Here are some of the best questions for pest control providers:

Does your company only use FDA-approved pesticides?
How long should children and pets be kept away from treated areas?
Do you offer a reservicing guarantee if pests return in between treatments?
Will any of the planned treatments require us to leave our home?
When can I expect my home to be free of this pest infestation?
How does your company train its technicians?

Frequently asked questions about professional pest control

Which pests do pest control companies typically treat?

This list will vary depending on the provider and the region of the country you live in, so make sure a company can meet your specific needs before booking an in-home consultation. However, most pest control companies will treat the following pests:

Bedbugs
Centipedes
Clothes moths
Cockroaches
Earwigs
Fleas
House ants
House crickets
Mice
Millipedes
Paper wasps
Rats
Scorpions
Silverfish
Spiders
Termites

What time of year is best for pest control?

Different pests emerge each season, making each new quarter of the year a good time to apply pest control. For example, rodents and wildlife may seek indoor shelter from the cold in the winter. In summer, mosquitoes can be rampant.

How much does pest control cost?

According to our thorough research on pest control costs, we determined the following costs are typical for pest control treatments based on national averages:

Methodology: Our system for ranking the best pest control companies

The Home Media reviews team aims to provide objective reviews to readers by compiling relevant information on pest control companies and rating the companies on factors that reflect what matters to consumers.

We crafted a rating system on a 100-point scale to score companies based on objective factors to guide our recommendations:

Plan options (35 points): We awarded companies with full points if they offered a general pest control plan, termite treatment, bedbug removal services and a mosquito treatment plan.
Customer service (25 points): We awarded full points to companies that offered 24/7 customer service and provided multiple forms of communication, such as online and phone quotes and online chat options. We gave fewer points to companies with limited service hours and communication channels.
Guarantees (10 points): Pest control companies that provide satisfaction and money-back guarantees to their customers received more points than companies that didn't offer guarantees, as this indicates a high level of concern for customer experience.
Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating (5 points): BBB ratings are based on publicly available information that the BBB obtains from a company and the number of complaints received from the public. We gave more points to companies with high BBB ratings than companies with low BBB ratings.
Years in business (5 points): Established companies with decades of experience received points for their expertise and widespread state availability.
Pricing (20 points): We awarded higher points to companies whose general plans fell under $50 per month, based on our secret-shopping process for homes around the country. Additionally, we awarded points to providers with flexible payment options, such as monthly, quarterly or annual payments. Companies also received credit for discounted initial treatments, as these first visits can often be more expensive than subsequent treatments.

After examining each provider's website, we spoke with representatives from each company to get more insight on coverage, treatments and pricing. To gather a sense of customer satisfaction, we read hundreds of third-party customer reviews across multiple sites for each pest control company to determine the most common concerns, benefits and feedback for each provider. We also surveyed 1,000 consumers who had hired pest control companies to better understand their experiences and the services that were most important to them.

Through our secret-shopping process, we gathered cost information for various treatment types and payment options for each pest control company to provide consumers with price ranges, simulating a real customer experience. Finally, we considered the company's money-back and reservicing guarantees for reliability.

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