RunsForYou vs. Thumbtack: Why Shared Leads Cost More Than You Think
Thumbtack's per-contact model sounds like pay-per-lead but it's actually pay-per-shared-contact. Your $25 lead is also a $25 lead for 3–4 other contractors. RunsForYou leads are one-contractor-only, period.
Side-by-Side
RunsForYou vs. Thumbtack: A feature-by-feature comparison.
| Feature | RunsForYou | Thumbtack |
|---|---|---|
| Who else gets the lead? | Nobody | Up to 4 other contractors |
| Charge trigger | Qualified, exclusive lead | Any contact, even no-response |
| Bidding war | None — you're the only call | Race to respond first |
| Profile upkeep | We handle campaigns | You maintain profile, reviews, pricing |
| Targeting control | Zip-code, vertical, budget | Broad categories only |
| Commission-only option | Yes | No |
Why Contractors Switch
The three reasons Thumbtack doesn't work long-term.
1. Shared leads make every lead a bidding war.
When Thumbtack sells the same lead to 3–5 contractors, the homeowner ends up with five cold calls in an hour. The contractor who happens to call first usually wins. That's not a business model — that's a lottery. Our leads are sent to one contractor only, so you're never racing anyone.
2. The charge-dispute-credit cycle drains you.
Aggregators charge you for every “lead” — valid or not. You spend hours disputing bad leads and fighting for credits that often get denied. We replace any invalid lead without a dispute process. One ticket, one replacement, done.
3. You're paying for a brand that isn't yours.
Every dollar you spend on Thumbtack builds Thumbtack's brand, not yours. When you run direct campaigns through RunsForYou, the ad spend, the landing pages, and the homeowner relationships become assets attached to your business — not to a middleman's platform.
See more alternatives.
Ready to stop splitting leads with 4 competitors?
Book a free consultation. We'll show you exactly how many exclusive leads are available in your market — and what switching from Thumbtack could mean for your close rate.