Our Comprehensive Thumbtack Review (Using it for 3 Years)

Thumbtack is quickly rising in popularity due to its high ratings, positive reviews, the broad range of professionals using the platform, and ease of use. Whether you’re looking to renovate your home, plan an event, or do anything in between, Thumbtack has plenty of options available.

Thumbtack is a service that connects professionals with clients who need work done around their homes. You can hire maids, cleaners, contractors, trainers, legal experts, and more through the service. Thumbtack’s review-based system lets you compare various professionals to find the ideal match.

As the title says, I’ve used Thumbtack for about three yearsnow . That includes using it to find contractors to complete the majority of my entire first netzero home renovation project back in 2021.

This post’ll tell you everything you need to know about using Thumbtack, including which projects you can find, how to leave reviews, how its finances work, and more.

*There are some affiliate links for Thumbtack in this post as well. You can choose to use them or not, it’s up to you!

What Is Thumbtack and How Does It Work?

Thumbtack is a freelance home service website that lets contractors post their work and clients look for professionals. It works by searching for a project you need to be completed and then cycling through nearby available experts. You can set your price range and project timeframe, too.

If you’re a professional looking to list your services, you’ll have to follow these steps:

1. Create an account. You’ll need to provide a phone number, email address, and other details.
2. List your services, including what projects you can do, how long it takes to complete tasks, what your schedule looks like, where you can work, and how much your services will cost.
3. Thumbtack explains that you need to have one review from a past client to have your services show in the search results.

Clients looking for professional services will need to follow these instructions:

1. Create a customer profile (including similar details as mentioned above).
2. Set your preferences, including the timeframe for the project’s completion, your budget, and so on.
3. Type your preferred projects in the search bar or look through local contractors to find out what works best for you.

Thumbtack is unique compared to other contractor services because it offers equal opportunities and customer support to clients and business owners. In addition, both sides can leave reviews, letting people know who they should (and shouldn’t) work with.

Does Thumbtack Take a Percentage?

Thumbtack doesn’t take a percentage from you as a client, which is one of many reasons it’s a better choice for contractors and clients than alternatives. As a result, neither side has to worry about losing their money or dealing with hidden fees after signing a contract. 

All legal work is available through the service, providing safety to both sides of the deal. 

So, how does Thumbtack make money if it doesn’t take a portion of each project?

The shorter version is that they collect fees for every lead and every time you contact one of these leads, or potential new customers. These are collected from the contractor, not the client. This is one of the reasons I love using it so much from the client side.

Another reason Thumbtack benefits professionals so much is that it provides discounts based on the following outcomes:

• If there’s a lot of competition and the client chooses you over everyone else, you could receive a discount of up to 20%.
• If your services aren’t an exact match and the client chooses you anyways, you could receive a discount of 10-20%.

What Kind of Projects Can You Hire For on Thumbtack?

You can find a wide variety of projects for hire on Thumbtack, and they’re always adding more professions. The company lets you hire various contractors, from home renovators to DJs. You can use the search bar to find new projects or find anything available in your local area.

Consider these projects and contractors listed by Thumbtack as some of its most popular searches:

• Plumbing
• Landscaping
• Photography
• Regular house maintenance
• Pet care
• Movers
• Electricians
• TV installers
• Attorneys
• Web developers
• Weddings
• Home cleaners
• Personal trainers

If you’re looking for inspiration, you can also see our net-zero home renovation projects and results. You can complete similar projects using Thumbtack’s painters, handymen, plumbers, and other professionals.

Each job post lets you preview some details before contacting the contractor. The key thing here that I’d like to point out is that the review system creates accountability for the contractor.

We’ve all heard the horror stories about dealing with contractors. I love using Thumbtack because it really can remove this part of the equation. This is because:

• The contractor is listed publically in Thumbtack’s database
• Having reviews mean that they must do a good job to stay in business
• The contractors know there will be recourse if they take your money and run, among other things.

Another critical detail Thumbtack provides is a list of the professional’s qualifications. 

Expert contractors can list qualities that make them more reliable professionals, such as:

• Applicable degrees
• Licenses
• Years of experience
• Certifications

Thumbtack can also show whether or not the professional has a background check, which is essential for many potential customers.

Once you hire an expert, you can use it as a communication tool to contact them for repeat jobs. You can also complete the job and close the communication channel if you have a poor experience with the client or contractor. Repeat jobs typically have no additional lead charges.

How Easy Is the Platform to Use?

In short, very easy. Good design these days means simplicity, ease of use, no super-fancy graphics, and unnecessary distractions. Thumbtack nails all of these (no pun intended…bad joke?).

You can post a project in about 5 minutes, even if you include photos and a description. When you post a project requesting for a certain contractor, you can easily also click one button to send that same exact bid to any others in the area that may qualify for your type of project.

It’s all really intuitive and quick.

A Quick Story of the Last Time I Used Thumbtack

I had new tenants moving into one of our netzero homes the other day. The house had been vacant for a little while, and it turned out that the HVAC system was cycling on and off. It wasn’t totally going off, but it showed the power was cut off from the thermostat, so they couldn’t control it.

Panicking a little bit because I wanted to make sure the tenants were happy on the first day they moved in, I hopped on Thumbtack to post a project immediately for HVAC repair.

I found a well-reviewed HVAC repair contractor who had his calendar linked into the Thumbtack system with no service charge to come visit the property. Since it was a Sunday, this is exactly what I needed.

By that early afternoon, he had come to the house, fixed the unit, and left the tenants incredibly impressed and happy.

The ease of being able to schedule all of this from within Thumbtack to get a service call that quick was a dream. So again, this is one of the main reasons I used this platform to find professionals.

After the project is finished, you’re given the opportunity to leave reviews –

How Do I Leave a Review on Thumbtack?

To leave a review on the website or app, follow these steps:

• Open your Thumbtack mobile app or your online profile through a computer – the mobile app is one of the best ways to navigate the company’s services since it lets you call and text clients and experts. You can also leave reviews through the app from anywhere you go.
• Search for the professional or client you worked with – make sure you choose the correct profile. Leaving a review on the wrong person or business can result in losing your review or causing trouble for the professional or client. It’s also a violation of Thumbtack’s terms and conditions to leave false reviews.
• Choose the highlighted ‘Review’ icon at the top-right of the screen – this will open a window with all the details you’re allowed to review. For example, you can review a specific project they worked on or leave comments on the company’s overall work ethic, performance, and results.

Note: Some app versions use a star instead of the ‘Review’ text.

• Thumbtack reports that you can submit a review between one to five stars with photos and text. A five-star review is the highest rating available. 
• Make sure you add pictures of the before and after shots, letting people know what was changed and how well the contractor completed the project. You can also comment on their timeliness, friendliness, and so on.

The company also explains that all reviews on verified—listed professionals will show a Verified or Hired on Thumbtack note. This designation lets everyone know you worked with the client or experts. Thumbtack leaves your review on the site as long as it doesn’t violate its policies, terms, and conditions.

How Do I Delete a Review on Thumbtack?

While Thumbtack doesn’t allow you to delete a review, it provides details on how to update your review on current projects. Updated reviews show over old ones, but people can click and view the old ones if they want to.

Furthermore, a review can only be permanently deleted if it goes against the company’s policies.

Here’s how you can update your review:

1. Using an internet browser, go to your profile page to access all of the projects you’ve worked on or contractors hired – this page will show all the projects you’ve been involved in, regardless of how many times you’ve rehired the contractor.
2. Choose the review you want to change, then click the Update button – make sure you update the correct review because you can’t change them multiple times. Furthermore, you’ll cover the old evaluation with the new one, which can backfire if it’s posted to the wrong contractor’s profile.
3. Erase or edit your review, then submit it to Thumbtack for verification – as long as your project was verified through Thumbtack (and the comment doesn’t violate the terms and conditions), it’ll be submitted and posted to the website on the professional’s profile.
4. Wait for a verification email, then check to ensure your review has been updated – the status often takes a few minutes to change. Your new, updated review should be on the profile with a small downward arrow. Clicking the arrow opens the old evaluation for potential clients to read.

Keep these factors in mind before updating your review:

• You can’t change or update your review through the Thumbtack mobile app, so you’ll have to follow the previously mentioned steps through your internet browser.
• You can only edit your review once.
• Nobody can change Thumbtack reviews if they’re unverified, which means they met the client or contractor off of the website.

Final Thoughts

Thumbtack is a breakthrough service that makes it easy for experts and clients to contact each other without having to deal with hidden fees and countless back-and-forth phone calls.

It shows everything offered, which paints a clear picture for clients to find exactly what they’re looking for. This lead generation service is one of the best you’ll come across, and I’d highly recommend giving it a go!