Let's be blunt about what's happening:
"Of my first 25 leads from Angi, 16 were completely useless — wrong numbers, people who said they never submitted a request, and tire kickers who just wanted free quotes with no intention of hiring." — HVAC contractor, Trustpilot review
| Metric | Angi | Google LSA | AI Visibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per lead | $55-$150 | $25-$162 | N/A (organic) |
| Leads shared with | 3-8 competitors | Exclusive | Exclusive |
| Conversion rate | ~10% | 31% | 73% (AI-referred) |
| Effective cost per booked job | $1,400+ | $200-$600 | $50-$200/mo (subscription) |
| Contract required | 1 year + 35% penalty | No | No (cancel anytime) |
| Who owns the customer? | Angi | You | You |
On a $2,000/month Angi budget: you get ~3 booked jobs + $500 loss. On the same budget with Google LSA: 11 booked jobs + $3,500 profit.
Pay per lead: $25-$162 (exclusive)
Best for: Any contractor wanting immediate, exclusive leads from Google
Why #1: LSA is the single best replacement for Angi. Leads are exclusive (not shared), conversion rate is 31% (3x Angi), and you only pay for verified leads. Google's "Google Guaranteed" badge builds consumer trust. 70% of contractors now use LSA (up from 28% in 2022).
The math: $2,000/month on LSA = ~11 booked jobs + $3,500 profit. Same budget on Angi = ~3 booked jobs + $500 loss.
Limitation: Competition is increasing. As more contractors adopt LSA, costs will rise. You need a longer-term strategy too.
Free scan / Managed from $499/mo
Best for: Contractors who want to be recommended by AI search engines (the next Google)
Why #2: 45% of consumers now use AI to find contractors. When someone asks ChatGPT "best plumber near me," are you in the answer? AI-referred leads convert at 73% — more than double Google organic. And you're not paying per lead.
How it works: Teehoo optimizes your website, Google Business Profile, reviews, and content so AI search engines recommend you. Schema markup, robots.txt configuration, FAQ content, and review management — the signals AI needs to trust and recommend your business.
Why this is the future: Google clicks are down 42% since AI Overviews launched. The contractors who invest in AI visibility now have a 12-18 month head start before every competitor catches on.
Limitation: AI visibility takes 60-90 days to build. It's not instant like LSA. Best used alongside LSA, not instead of it.
$35-$60 per lead (shared with 4-5 contractors)
Best for: Contractors who want a marketplace but cheaper than Angi
Pros: Cheaper than Angi, no annual contracts, "Instant Book" for some categories, better mobile experience.
Cons: Still shared leads (4-5 contractors). Still a marketplace model. Response time pressure (42 min average for pool, 2 hours for some). Thumbtack takes a cut.
Verdict: Better than Angi, but same fundamental model. Use as a supplement, not your primary channel.
$0-$200/mo (hosting + basic SEO tools)
Best for: Contractors willing to invest in a long-term asset they own
Why it matters: On Angi, you're "renting a kiosk in their mall." Your own website is your property. Every review, every page of content, every backlink builds YOUR brand — not Angi's.
What to do: Professional website + Google Business Profile optimization + review generation + local content + Schema markup. This is exactly what Teehoo's managed services handle for you.
Free (organic) / Paid ads available
Best for: Contractors in residential neighborhoods
75% of Nextdoor users are homeowners. "Recommend a plumber" posts happen daily. Claim your business page, respond to recommendations, and engage genuinely. Zero cost, high trust.
Free listing / Paid: $150-$5,000/mo
Best for: Businesses with strong existing review profiles
Yelp's free listing still drives traffic. Paid advertising is expensive but can work for high-ticket trades. The same pay-to-play complaints as Angi, but Yelp's brand trust with consumers remains strong.
$0-$50 per referral reward
Best for: Every contractor (should always be running)
73-79% of homeowners find contractors through word of mouth. A simple "$50 off your next service for every referral" program costs almost nothing and produces the highest-converting leads. Automate it with a follow-up SMS after every job.
If you're currently spending $2,000/month on Angi, here's where to put it instead:
| Channel | Monthly Spend | Expected Booked Jobs | Cost per Booked Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google LSA | $1,200 | 6-8 | $150-$200 |
| AI Visibility (Teehoo) | $499 | Growing over time | Decreasing |
| Nextdoor + Referrals | $100 | 1-3 | $33-$100 |
| Thumbtack (supplement) | $200 | 1-2 | $100-$200 |
| Total | $1,999 | 8-13 jobs | $154-$250 |
vs Angi: $2,000/mo → 3 jobs → $667/job. The alternatives give you 3-4x more bookings for the same spend.
45% of customers now ask AI for contractor recommendations. Check if you're visible — free, 30 seconds.
Scan Your Business Free →Shared leads ($1,400+ effective cost per job), 50%+ useless leads, FTC fines for deceptive practices, locked 1-year contracts with 35% termination fees, and declining trust (2.1/5 on Trustpilot). Revenue is down 46% because contractors are moving to Google LSA and AI-based alternatives.
Google LSA is the best direct replacement — exclusive leads, 31% conversion rate, pay only for verified leads. For long-term growth, AI visibility optimization ensures ChatGPT and other AI search engines recommend your business directly to consumers.
Slightly — cheaper leads ($35-60 vs $55-150), no annual contracts, better app experience. But still shared leads with 4-5 competitors. Both are being disrupted by AI search, where consumers ask AI directly instead of browsing marketplaces.
If you're on an annual contract, calculate your early termination fee (35%) vs your projected savings from switching to LSA. Most contractors find that even with the termination fee, switching saves money within 2-3 months. If you're month-to-month, cancel immediately and redirect budget to Google LSA + AI visibility.
When someone asks ChatGPT "best HVAC contractor near me," AI visibility determines whether YOUR business appears in the answer. 45% of consumers now use AI to find services. AI-referred leads convert at 73% — more than double Google. Teehoo Martech helps contractors optimize for these AI recommendations.