Home services are one of those “small” expenses that can quietly wreck your monthly budget. In fact, one recent analysis puts the average annual cost of owning and maintaining a single-family home in the U.S. at $21,400, with home maintenance alone averaging $8,808.[^1] And as one housing-cost expert put it: “It’s just important to understand that you’re buying a lot more than a mortgage payment.”[^2]

If you want to spend less without cutting corners, the fastest win I’ve found is simple: compare multiple quotes—using an app—before you hire anyone.

What “compare quotes by app” actually means (and why it saves money)

When you compare quotes by app, you’re basically using a marketplace that lets you:

  • Describe the job once (photos + details)
  • Get responses from multiple pros (or instantly see rates)
  • Compare price, availability, reviews, and scope—side by side
  • Message in-app to clarify what’s included before you book

The saving isn’t magic. It comes from two practical things:

  1. Competition: pros know you’re comparing, so pricing tends to be tighter (and add-ons get questioned).
  2. Clarity: you can catch “missing line items” (materials, disposal, call-out fees, minimum hours) before they become surprise charges.

The rule that makes quote comparisons “real”

To compare fairly, your quotes have to be apples-to-apples. When I request quotes, I copy/paste the same mini-brief into every app:

  • Exact job (what’s broken / what you want installed)
  • Photos + measurements (where relevant)
  • Timing (urgent vs flexible)
  • Materials: “include materials” or “labor only”
  • Access/constraints (parking, stairs, pets, shutoff location, etc.)
  • Ask for a written breakdown: labor, materials, fees, disposal, taxes

Quick money math: what comparing can change

Here’s a concrete way to think about it:

  • HomeAdvisor lists plumbers at $45–$150/hour (often with minimum charges).[^^3]
  • If a job takes 3 hours, that’s a labor spread of $135 to $450 before parts/fees.
  • Even if your “real” quotes land closer together, tiny differences (rate, minimum hours, trip fees) add up quickly.

Same idea for smaller tasks: Taskrabbit’s own pricing examples show typical hourly ranges like $40–$70/hour for furniture assembly (and higher for other categories).[^4] If you’re booking a multi-hour task, a small hourly difference becomes real money.

5 apps I used to compare home-service quotes

Below are five apps that felt genuinely practical for keeping costs under control. I’m writing this the way I use them: quick post, compare, message, then book only when the scope is clear.

1) Angi (US)

Angi is built for home projects and repairs, with options to see pricing and book instantly or request and compare quotes.[^5] It also leans heavily on reviews and its “Angi Approved” screening approach.[^5]

How it felt to use I treated Angi like a “home services menu”: search the category, read a few profiles, then either request quotes or go for upfront/instant pricing when available.

What saved me money

  • Using the quote route for anything that could hide extras (repairs, troubleshooting)
  • Using upfront pricing only for straightforward, repeatable tasks (where scope doesn’t drift)

Pros

  • Clear path to either compare quotes or book instantly.[^5]
  • Emphasis on screened pros via its approval process.[^5]
  • Angi itself recommends getting at least three quotes when you’re comparing bids.[^6]

Cons

  • Upfront pricing isn’t available everywhere or for every job type (so you may still be in quote-land).
  • The marketplace model can mean follow-up messages if your job description is vague (you’ll want good photos and details).

Best for

  • Common household services (handyman, cleaning, some repairs), plus bigger projects where multiple bids matter.

2) Thumbtack (US)

Thumbtack is a huge marketplace that walks you through Search → Chat → Hire directly in the app.[^7] It also publishes a large library of cost info, and the platform claims nearly 90 million projects have been started there.[^8]

How it felt to use Thumbtack feels like the quickest way to get into conversations. I’d look at profiles, sanity-check pricing expectations, then use chat to lock down details (timeline, materials, minimum charges).

What saved me money

  • Using chat to force clarity: “Is this labor-only?”, “Is there a trip fee?”, “What would change the price?”
  • Filtering hard by reviews and responsiveness before even talking money

Pros

  • Simple flow: browse, chat, hire.[^7]
  • Lots of category coverage and scale (useful when you need options fast).[^8]
  • Helpful for benchmarking typical prices before you commit.[^8]

Cons

  • Because it’s so broad, quality can vary by category and region—your screening (and your job brief) really matters.
  • You may still need to do the work of comparing scopes: different pros phrase the same job differently.

Best for

  • When you want multiple options quickly, especially in common urban/suburban markets.

3) Taskrabbit (US, UK, and more)

Taskrabbit is my go-to when I want transparent hourly rates upfront for smaller-to-medium tasks (assembly, mounting, moving help, minor handyman work). It also has clear platform rules that matter for your budget, like a one-hour minimum and billing in 15-minute increments after the first hour.[^9]

How it felt to use This one is more “compare people + rates” than “collect multiple written bids.” I could see rates, check reviews, and book without the back-and-forth.

What saved me money

  • Picking a Tasker with a slightly higher hourly rate but faster reviews for the exact task type (fewer billed hours beats cheap + slow)
  • Avoiding tiny jobs that still trigger minimums (I bundle tasks)

Pros

  • Clear pricing mechanics like one-hour minimum and 15-minute increments after that.[^9]
  • Taskrabbit explains that invoices include platform fees (and what they’re for).[^10]
  • Publishes example pricing ranges that help you ballpark costs.[^4]

Cons

  • Platform fees exist and can affect your total.[^10]
  • Some Taskers may have higher minimums depending on category/policy (you need to notice it before booking).[^11]

Best for

  • Assembly, mounting, moving help, basic handyman work—anything where time is the main variable.

4) Checkatrade (UK)

Checkatrade is very “UK trades” oriented. What I like is the straightforward “request a quote” flow: you send job details, and they’ll send your request to a selection of checked trades so you can wait for quotes to come in.[^12]

How it felt to use It’s a structured way to find trades and get quotes without calling around. I used it when I wanted a classic “get a few quotes” process, just modernized.

What saved me money

  • Getting multiple quotes without burning time (time is money, especially if you’re juggling family life)
  • Comparing not just price, but availability—because “urgent” often equals “expensive”

Pros

  • Clear quote-request mechanism that distributes your request to relevant trades.[^12]
  • Profiles include things like reviews and accreditations.[^12]
  • Great fit for UK-specific trade categories.

Cons

  • Like any quote system, quality of quotes depends heavily on your job description (photos + details matter).
  • Depending on the trade and your area, the number of responses can vary.

Best for

  • UK homeowners or renters booking trade work (repairs, installs, renovations).

5) Rated People (UK)

Rated People is one of the cleanest “post a job, get quotes” systems I tested. You create a job for free, then up to three tradespeople can provide a quote (and it notes that on average you’ll get 1–2).[^13]

How it felt to use Very “set it and compare”: post job, wait for quotes, then check ratings before choosing.

What saved me money

  • Letting trades come to me with pricing, instead of me chasing availability (which usually pushes you toward overpriced “whoever can come tomorrow” options)

Pros

  • Clear expectation: up to 3 quotes; typical results 1–2.[^13]
  • Ratings are tied to jobs placed through the platform (helpful for trust).[^13]
  • Good for planned work where you can wait a bit for the best fit.

Cons

  • If you need immediate emergency service, a quote marketplace can be slower than calling a known local pro.
  • Quote volume depends on trade demand in your area.

Best for

  • UK projects where you want structured bidding: decorating, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, etc.

Current trends I’m seeing (and how they affect your total cost)

A few developments are making quote comparison by app more useful—and also changing where “hidden costs” show up:

  • More upfront pricing for standardized jobs (good for budgeting, but only when scope is truly fixed).[^5]
  • More transparency around platform fees and minimums (you’ll see this most clearly on task-based apps).[^9][^10]
  • Bigger marketplaces publishing their own cost data to set expectations before you book.[^8]
  • Quote caps and structured quoting (like limiting how many trades quote) to keep things manageable for both sides.[^13]

Conclusion

Comparing quotes by app isn’t about chasing the cheapest number—it’s about paying a fair price for a clearly defined job. When home maintenance can average thousands per year,[^1] a little discipline in how you request and compare quotes can make your spending feel a lot more controllable.

References

[^1]: Bankrate — Hidden Homeownership Costs Hit $21,000 A Year In 2025 (includes $21,400 average and $8,808 maintenance figure). https://www.bankrate.com/homeownership/costs-of-owning-a-home
[^2]: CNBC — Hidden costs of homeownership average $18,000 a year (includes Jeff Ostrowski quote). https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/11/hidden-costs-of-homeownership-average-18000-a-year.html
[^3]: HomeAdvisor — Plumbing Cost Estimates. https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/plumbing/
[^4]: Taskrabbit Blog — How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Tasker? (pricing examples by service type). https://www.taskrabbit.com/blog/how-much-does-it-cost-to-hire-a-tasker/
[^5]: Angi — How Does Angi Work. https://www.angi.com/landing/how-it-works
[^6]: Angi — Frequently Asked Questions (recommendation to get at least three quotes). https://www.angi.com/faq/
[^7]: Thumbtack — How It Works. https://www.thumbtack.com/how-it-works
[^8]: Thumbtack — Cost Estimates / Prices (platform scale stats like “Nearly 90 million projects”). https://www.thumbtack.com/prices
[^9]: Taskrabbit Support — What’s the One-Hour Minimum? https://support.taskrabbit.com/hc/en-us/articles/360035346111-What-s-the-One-Hour-Minimum
[^10]: Taskrabbit Support — I’d Like To Understand The Fees On My Task’s Invoice. https://support.taskrabbit.com/hc/en-us/articles/17965125708557-I-d-Like-To-Understand-The-Fees-On-My-Task-s-Invoice
[^11]: Taskrabbit Support — Tasker Rates & Minimum Hours Policy (policy and higher minimums). https://support.taskrabbit.com/hc/en-us/articles/35682300983181-Tasker-Rates-Minimum-Hours-Policy
[^12]: Checkatrade Support — How to find a Trade on Checkatrade (Request a Quote + sending to selected trades). https://www.checkatrade.com/support/consumer/jobs/how-to-find-a-trade
[^13]: Rated People — How our service works (homeowner flow; up to 3 quotes; average 1–2). https://www.ratedpeople.com/c/how-it-works