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5 Best Pest Control Companies
By Stephanie Colestock MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
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45 states
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Regardless of how you feel about insects, rodents, and other fauna, your home is one of your biggest assets, and those creepy crawlies can do some serious damage to it inside and out. If you’re seeing pests in or around your home — and your tried-and-true DIY approaches don’t work — it might be time to call for professional pest control.
Pest control companies can tackle many types of infestations, or simply inspect and prevent unwanted bugs and critters from ever settling in. These professionals are not only trained to spot signs of various household pests, but also know the best ways to deter them before they can cause damage, health hazards, or the denial of a home warranty claim.
Here’s a look at some of the best pest control companies around and why we picked them.
Our Top Picks for Best Pest Control
- Best Overall: Terminix
- Best for Quick and Efficient Treatment: Orkin
- Best Eco-Friendly Option: Rentokil
- Best for Comprehensive Pest Control: Moxie
- Best for Affordable Service: Truly Nolen
Best Pest Control Reviews
Best Overall: Terminix
With affordable monthly plans, a stellar reputation, free inspections and a comprehensive pest control plan, Terminix snags our pick for the best overall pest control company. They far surpass many of their competitors in the industry when it comes to nationwide availability and ease-of-scheduling, while also providing a range of plans and customization options.
As the first company to receive a termite control patent, Terminix is no stranger to controlling and preventing termites. To that end, they offer a free termite inspection to look for these destructive little creatures, as well as monthly termite protection plans starting at just $69 per month. In addition to eradicating termites, Terminix also offers prevention services to help control other pests, such as ants, cockroaches, mosquitoes, rodents and selected wildlife.
Terminix’s services can be one-offs or part of a quarterly or monthly plan. The company offers a guarantee between treatments for those customers who are enrolled in a plan and will come back to re-treat the property at no cost if pests reappear. For one-time pest control services, they’ll also come back to re-treat if pests are seen again within 30 days.
- Free termite inspections offered
- Pest Control Plan protects and treats against 13 common household pests
- Service can easily be transferred if you move
- Online scheduling and 24/7 customer support
- Standard plan excludes many common pests, such as mosquitoes and termites
Availability: Not available in Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota or Vermont
Pests treated: Ants, bedbugs, centipedes, cockroaches, crickets, earwigs, mice, millipedes, mosquitoes, moths, rats, scorpions, silverfish, spiders and termites.
Best for Quick and Efficient Treatment: Orkin
With same-day visits and a guarantee that offers repeat treatments and/or your money back, Orkin is our pick for the fastest and most efficient pest control service. They offer to treat more types of pests than many of their competitors and have customer service representatives available 24/7/365.
As an industry leader with over 120 years of experience in pest control, Orkin is an easy top pick. Both quarterly and monthly plans are available. Orkin offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee; if the problem persists, they will also come out for return visits within a 60-day window, as needed.
Orkin provides preventive pest control for many different kinds of insects and animals. They also offer targeted treatments and take care of pests like termites, ticks and mosquitos. Their technicians take care of infestations, treat the areas that might be prone to future pests, and also offer full-property protection services meant to prevent future pests and damage to your home. These services include moisture control, replacing attic insulation, leaf removal, moisture control and humidity reduction, surface sanitization and wildlife management.
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 60-day return visits as needed
- Same-day availability offered
- Full-property services available, such as moisture control and attic insulation
- Once dry, all chemicals used are 100% safe for pets and children
- With a large pest library, Orkin doesn't really "specialize" in any pests (so they might not be right for out-of-control infestations)
- No online chat or 24/7 customer service
Availability: Not available in Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota or Wyoming
Pests treated: Amphipods, ants, bats, bed bugs, beetles, box elder bugs, caddisflies, centipedes, chinch bugs, cicadas, cockroaches, crickets, dobsonflies, dragonflies, earwigs, firebrats, fleas, flies, horntails, kissing bugs, kudzu bugs, lace bugs, leaf miners, lice, locusts, mayflies, mealybugs, monarch butterflies, millipedes, mites, mosquitoes, moths, paper wasps, psocids, rodents, silverfish, snails and slugs, sowbugs, spiders, springtails, stinging pests, stink bugs, termites, thrips, ticks and weevils.
Best Eco-friendly Option: Ehrlich by Rentokil
Along with being a member of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program which aims to help reduce the use of pesticides and educate communities on their potential harm, each of the companies under the Rentokil umbrella is also GreenPro Certified by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA).
This designation represents an awareness of the effects of pesticides and a promise to use chemical pesticide alternatives whenever possible while treating your home. This includes organic pest control methods and green pest control principles like using steam, heat treatments and even vacuuming instead of preventive chemical application.
Rentokil is actually comprised of many different companies, including Ehrlich, Anderson Pest Solutions, Presto-X, Western Exterminator, Batzner Pest Control and Oliver Exterminating. They and their affiliates offer trusted, green pest control services in 43 states.
Specific treatment options and pricing will vary by location and servicing company but is usually pretty comprehensive. For example, Ehrlich, one of Rentokil’s pest control providers, protects and treats against ants, bed bugs, bees, birds, cockroaches, crickets, fabric pests (like moths), fleas, flies, mice, mosquitoes, rats, rodents, snakes, spiders, spotted lanternflies, stinkbugs, termites, ticks, wasps and various wildlife pests.
- Organic pest control from a green-certified company
- Wide pest control library
- Alternative treatments limit your family's exposure to chemicals unless absolutely necessary
- Customers in different states may work with different companies within the Rentokil library
- No standard pricing
Availability: Available in 43 states
Pests treated: Ants, bed bugs, bees, birds, cockroaches, crickets, fabric pests, fleas, flies, mice, mosquitoes, rats, rodents, snakes, spiders, spotted lanternflies, stinkbugs, termites, ticks, wasps and wildlife.
Best for Comprehensive Pest Control: Moxie
If you’re looking for a pest control company that offers to treat and prevent more common household pests, look no further than Moxie. This company earned our nod for the most comprehensive pest control coverage as they target more than 50 pests as part of their general household treatment plan.
Moxie provides 24/7 customer service and will send out a pest control expert to retreat your home if you need services in-between visits. Plans are completely customizable and can include supplemental treatments for termites, bedbugs and rodents. However, termite treatment is only available through select locations (of which there are about 24, as of this writing).
- Wide variety of treated pests in their basic program
- Year-round treatment guarantee with free reservices
- 24/7 customer support
- No offered everywhere
- Termite treatment only available through select locations
- Bedbug and rodent treatments are separate
Availability: Only available in 24+ major cities
Pests treated: acrobat ants, American cockroaches, American dog ticks, Argentine ants, big-headed ants, Black Widows, brown-banded cockroaches, brown dog ticks, Brown Widows, carpet beetles, cellar spiders, centipedes, earwigs, false Black Widows, field crickets, fire ants, firebrats, fleas, flour beetles, German cockroaches, grass spiders, harvester ants, hornets, house crickets, house spiders, Jerusalem crickets, jumping spiders, little black ants, millipedes, mud daubers, odorous house ants, orb weavers, oriental cockroaches, paper wasps, pharaoh ants, pill/sow bugs, scorpions, silverfish, smokey-brown cockroaches, spiders, thief ants, ticks, trapdoor spiders, velvety tree ants, wasps, wolf spiders, yellow jackets and yellow sac spiders.
Best for Affordable Service: Truly Nolen
With many online discounts, coupons and a reduced seasonal treatment package option, Truly Nolen is our pick for the most affordable pest control service. They make it easy for homeowners to not only get instant quotes online but also create a customized package based on their property and pest activity. For example, while companies such as Orkin and Terminix typically charge between $69 or more per month for a basic inspection and treatment, Truly Nolen offers the same service for just $45 per month.
If you have a question about pests around your home or pest control solutions, you can click on the Ask An Expert on Truly Nolen’s website; you’ll get a response from a certified entomologist (bug expert) within 48 hours. They also offer an online home scorecard (which tells you how at-risk your home might be for pests) and you can request services or a free estimate on their site.
Truly Nolen helps protect your home against 25 common pests as well as termite, rodent or bed bug control and even lawn care. Single treatments are available, too, and Truly Nolen can curate a four-season pest control package that protects against 16 different pests. They offer free estimates and a 100% money-back guarantee if you’re not completely satisfied.
Truly Nolen uses an integrated pest management (IPM) system. This means that they consider common sense and environmentally-safer approaches to pest control, blending treatment success with minimized risk.
- Green pest control practices
- 100% money-back guarantee
- Not offered everywhere
- No online pricing available
Availability: 16 states and Canada
Pests treated: ants, bed bugs, bees, beetles, birds, boxelders, caterpillars, crickets, earwigs, fleas, flies, gnats, grubs lice, millipedes, mosquitoes, moths, roaches, rodents, scorpions, silverfish, spiders, termites, ticks, wasps and weevils.
Other companies we considered
In creating this list of the best pest control services, we looked at many different options. Though they didn’t make our “best for” cut, the following companies may provide good service and value for some customers.
Aptiv
Though it was only founded in 2015, Aptiv is the fastest-growing pest control company in North America. They offer pest control services in 32 states with targeted services against ants, cockroaches, crickets, earwigs, pantry pests, pill bugs, silverfish, spiders, stingers (like bees and wasps) and rodents. They don’t publish their pricing online but they do offer 24/7 customer support if you ever have questions or need help.
Critter Control
If you have four-legged pests — including household critters like mice, rats, possums, raccoons and squirrels, all the way up to deer, coyotes, bobcats and porcupines— you may need a different kind of pest control service. Critter Control is one such company, offering to remove a wide variety of wildlife and household critters from your property in 37 different states.
Online quotes and pricing aren’t available, so you’ll need to call and request information. It’s also important to note that while Critter Control will treat bedbugs, they won’t touch other household pests like termites, ants or spiders.
Pest Control FAQ
How much does pest control cost?
The cost of pest control depends on factors such as your location, your property, the frequency of service visits and the type of pests you want to treat. For example, a two-acre property with a mosquito, tick and termite problem will likely cost a lot more than a condo with outdoor ants.
Depending on the company and the type of service you need, you can expect to pay an average of between $200 and $400 per visit for quarterly services. One-time and monthly treatments can also vary in price. If you need more intense services — like termite removal or fumigation — expect to pay more.
How often should pest control be done?
Many pest control companies recommend a quarterly service schedule. This allows them to treat your home according to seasonal changes and common pests while remaining affordable for you. However, if you have bigger pest concerns or even an infestation, you might need monthly services instead.
If you're looking to resolve a new issue or want to sell your home, a single treatment visit might be all you need.
Are pest control companies worth it?
Your home is a significant financial asset. More than that, though, it's where you and your loved ones eat, sleep and live each day. Having a pest issue can be a costly and even unhealthy issue.
Pest control services can help eradicate existing pests, prevent future pests, and even look for potential attractants before new pests ever come. While some homeowners may be able to prevent and treat pests with a DIY approach, hiring a professional company can be a great way to stay on top of treatments in a safe and effective way.
Hiring a pest control company can also save you a lot of money down the line. According to a recent survey by Terminix, for example, treating a termite infestation costs an average of almost $9,000. And that isn't included in your homeowners insurance coverage. Hiring a pest control company to treat and inspect your home for damage every few months could be enough to head off such an issue.
Some pest control companies even offer warranties, especially if you have been receiving regular inspections and treatments for a period of time. If you later have an infestation, some of these companies will provide treatment free of charge; you may even be able to transfer this warranty along with ownership of your property, like if you sell your home. Having a history of termite inspections and preventives, for instance, could make your home more marketable and even boost its value to potential buyers.
How to do your own pest control
You can absolutely take a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach to your home's pest control. At least, depending on the pest and the severity of the issue.
Ant traps, diatomaceous earth, peppermint oil, garlic spray – all of these can be safely used to prevent and eliminate pests in and around your home. You can also remove yard debris (such as leaves) from the property quickly and seal up any holes or access points outside your home to prevent new pests.
But if you find that your efforts aren't controlling the six- and eight-legged populations — or you start noticing damage in or around your home — it might be time to call in the experts.
How We Found the Best Pest Control
In order to find and identify the best pest control companies, we looked at a wide range of features and services. We first looked at each company’s locations and availability, to determine who could offer the most comprehensive nationwide coverage.
We then looked at the services available and what sort of pests are covered (or can be added a la carte). This included looking at pricing and even the packages offered by each company, as well as any satisfaction or money-back guarantees.
Lastly, we looked at the safety and responsibility of each pest control company. This meant considering how eco-friendly their products and services are, and how safe these chemicals can be around children and pets.
Summary of the Best Pest Control of 2022
- Best Overall: Terminix
- Best for Quick and Efficient Treatment: Orkin
- Best Eco-Friendly Option: Rentokil
- Best for Comprehensive Pest Control: Moxie
- Best for Affordable Service: Truly Nolen
Stephanie Colestock is a DC-based personal finance writer with nearly 11 years of freelance writing experience. She covers a wide range of finance-related topics and is currently working toward her CFP®️ certification. Her work appears on sites such as Business Insider, MSN, Fox Business, CNET, Investopedia, and more.