8 best pest control companies of 2024

Finding the best pest control company for your pest problem shouldn’t leave you overwhelmed and frustrated, but with so many providers available, it might. We’ve spent hours reviewing pest control providers, looking at their services and reputation to find the best ones.

In this guide, we’ll explain what we believe are the best pest control companies and why. We’ll also discuss what to consider when choosing one to ensure your money goes toward professional service that fixes your pest problem for good.

Why we picked Arrow Exterminators?

Arrow Exterminators has been a leader in the pest control industry for nearly 60 years and is known for employing well-trained, knowledgeable technicians. Many of the company’s positive customer reviews mention techs who clearly know what they’re doing, keep their promises and deliver reliable results. Arrow offers a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee, which states that the company will return free of charge if your pest problem isn’t solved by its treatments.

Arrow Exterminators is an especially great option if you have wildlife problems. The techs not only carry out humane removals, but they also repair the damage done by the animals and will work with your homeowners insurance provider to get the work covered to keep your costs down.

While Arrow Exterminators is a great option overall, it does fall short in some areas. Specifically, it doesn’t allow for online quotes, which is inconvenient.

Additionally, while the company’s pricing, in general, is excellent, the cost of certain services — namely, bedbugs and termites — is above what other companies charge, potentially because the guarantee you get with service is more difficult to live up to with these particularly problematic insects. You’ll pay an average of $1,200 for termite and bedbug services from Arrow, which is double what you might see from some competitors. The guarantee may be worth the extra cost, though.

Who should use Arrow Exterminators?

Homeowners with wildlife pest concerns will benefit from Arrow’s services, humane treatment and satisfaction guarantee. It’s a good option for insects, too, although the cost for some insects is higher than that of the competition.

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Why we picked Ehrlich Pest Control?

Ehrlich Pest Control (formerly JC Ehrlich) is another powerhouse in the pest control space, with just under a century of experience. It’s known for offering comprehensive pest solutions, including treatment of specialty pests, such as bedbugs and termites.

This provider has one of the most comprehensive plans available, which includes protection against a wide array of insects and wildlife, including standard pests like ants and mosquitoes, as well as less common pests, like lanternflies, snakes, moths, moles and more. Many companies offer these catch-all plans, but Ehrlich specifically includes protection for bedbugs, which is out of the norm.

Ehrlich has extensive services and fair pricing all around, but it lost some points in our ratings because it doesn’t offer online quotes. Its pricing is also a bit higher than some of the competition, with some annual contracts hitting $900, compared to the industry average of $600.

Who should use Ehrlich Pest Control?

We recommend Ehrlich specifically for customers looking for comprehensive preventive treatment, which includes a wide variety of standard pests, plus bedbugs.

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Why we picked Truly Nolen?

Truly Nolen has more than 85 years of experience, and it has maintained overwhelmingly positive customer reviews and ratings over that time. Those include nearly perfect ratings on Google Reviews, TrustPilot and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Its technicians are known for being responsive, knowledgeable and timely.

The company has average pricing, with annual contracts coming in around the industry standard of $600, and its treatment options include just about every insect and rodent you might be experiencing, including less common pests like silverfish, lice, boxelders, moths and weevils.

While Truly Nolen offers stellar service at a fair price, it falls a bit short when it comes to its satisfaction guarantee, which lasts for only 30 days. Plus, its service area is limited to 16 states and Puerto Rico.

Who should use Truly Nolen?

We would recommend Truly Nolen specifically for rodent control. The company excels at solving rodent problems and can carry out repairs — including upgrading your insulation — if mice or rats leave damage behind.

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Why we picked Orkin?

Orkin is one of the best pest control companies in terms of experience, having been in business for more than 120 years. It’s best known for highly knowledgeable technicians who go through an extensive in-house training program, which includes training from a pest specialist from Purdue University, as well as field training for guaranteed experience.

Additionally, Orkin has a massive service area, so most homeowners will be able to get service from its professionals. The only state it doesn’t cover is Alaska.

Orkin’s pricing might be high for specialty services — around $1,200 for termite or bedbug treatment, which is about double the industry average. Its guarantee lasts for only 60 days, which is good but not ideal.

Who should use Orkin

We suggest Orkin to homeowners who want extensive experience and expertise behind their pest control solutions backed by years of training from certified experts and educators in the field. It’s also a great pick if you want recommendations for pest management above and beyond what you pay for, which can help you manage pests long-term rather than relying on repeat treatments and professional solutions.

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Why we picked Viking Pest Control

Viking Pest Control has some of the highest customer ratings and unusually positive reviews across many sources, including Google Reviews, BBB and TrustPilot. It’s clear that the company prioritizes customer satisfaction, which is evident in the company’s agreement to provide unlimited service requests within your contract period at no extra cost.

The service offerings are also comprehensive, so whether you have rodents, common insects or problematic pests like termites and bedbugs, this company is likely to provide a permanent solution.

On the other hand, Viking only services four states — Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania — and it only takes service requests by phone. The convenience factor is low, and there’s a chance you may not be able to order service at all, based on your location.

Who should use Viking Pest Control

We recommend Viking Pest Control for homeowners who want an ongoing pest management contract and a solid guarantee that their homes will remain pest-free.

*Sample quotes were obtained in March 2024 for a 2,000-square-foot single-family home in Easton, Pa.

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Why we picked Terminix

After nearly 100 years of serving the exterminating industry, Terminix has become a household name. It’s specifically known for its termite bait stations for reactive and preventive termite treatment.

It’s one of the most convenient companies to order service from, with free online quotes, free inspections and service availability in 45 states. Its satisfaction guarantee lasts for 90 days with unlimited additional treatments within that time frame, which is above average.

Terminix is a convenient company, but it falls short in some areas. Namely, its size can get in the way of providing good customer service, which has led to more negative reviews than many competitors have. It also doesn’t handle as many pests as some competitors — including carpenter ants, house flies or stink bugs — so you’ll have to verify your insect or animal is covered before scheduling.

Who should use Terminix

Terminix is great for homeowners who want to get quotes and order services online with just a few clicks or taps. It’s also widely available, so it’s one of the best options for people in states that other large companies don’t cover.

**Sample quotes were obtained in March 2024 for a 2,000-square-foot single-family home in West Babylon, N.Y.

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Why we picked Aptive?

Aptive focuses on eco-friendly pest treatments, which include responsible use of pesticides registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and alternative preventive measures that could help reduce or avoid pesticide treatments. It’s also a member of the EPA’s Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program, which aims to bring awareness to responsible pesticide use.

Aptive’s annual contract is as much as $228 less than other well-known providers and includes treatment for a wide variety of pests, including ants, spiders, cockroaches, stinging insects, snails, fleas and ticks.

The primary downside to Aptive is that it doesn’t treat wood-destroying insects (WDI) like termites or carpenter bees, and it doesn’t offer wildlife removal services. Aptive also struggles to keep up with customer service and satisfaction, and its reviews and ratings online are below average overall.

Who should use Aptive?

Aptive is a decent service for homeowners who want protection from standard pests but don’t need treatments for things like bedbugs, termites, rodents or other wildlife. It’s also a good option for those who are environmentally conscious, as the treatments are eco-friendly and EPA-approved.

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Why we picked Bulwark Exterminating?

Bulwark Exterminating has more than two decades of experience, and it maintains mostly positive reviews from past customers. The company’s claim to fame, though, is its fully customized treatment plans. Rather than including all-inclusive pest prevention, its techs will assess your home and include the specific pest services you need and want.

Bulwark’s pricing is sometimes below the industry average of $600 for an annual contract, and the quality of service you get for the money is excellent. Most customers are satisfied with the results, especially since the service is catered to each individual property.

Unfortunately, Bulwark doesn’t include free inspections, and it doesn’t offer online quotes, although the latter is to be expected due to its emphasis on custom plans.

Who should use Bulwark Exterminating?

Bulwark is one of the best services available if you’re looking for a customized pest management plan. The treatment offered to you will be specific to your property, which yields outstanding results and leads to above-average customer satisfaction.

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Our picks at a glance

The table below includes a side-by-side look at our top picks for the best pest control companies. These stats should help you decide which provider will be the best fit for your pest problem.

What didn’t make the cut

You might be surprised not to see some other big names in the pest control industry on our list of the best exterminator companies. Below are some other big companies that we don’t think make the cut, along with some of the main reasons they scored lower in our ratings:

How to choose a pest control company

What methods do pest control companies use?

The methods that pest control companies use fall into two categories: preventive and reactive.

Preventive treatment includes using chemical repellents, removing pest attractions, getting rid of moisture issues and sealing portions of the home to keep pests out before they arrive. Reactive treatment usually includes the physical removal of wildlife or the use of pesticides or poison bait stations to kill insects that have already invaded your home.

Common repellents, pesticides and termiticides used by exterminators include the following:

The following are some examples of preventive treatment:

Costs and pricing models of top pest control companies

The three most common pricing models for exterminators are as follows:

One-time treatments

Most pest companies will perform stand-alone extermination for an isolated incident, such as eliminating a minor infestation of ants (non-carpenter), spiders, fruit flies, rodents and other wildlife and insects. These services usually cost between $200 and $500, depending on the severity of the infestation. The best providers offer a satisfaction guarantee of additional treatments at no extra cost.

Specialty pest treatments

Treatments for specialty pests, such as termites and bedbugs, are usually offered separately, and since the treatment is more involved, it costs more. The average cost for a stand-alone treatment for termites is $585. For bedbugs, it’s between $350 and $5,000, based on the extent of the issue and the size of your property.

Ongoing pest control plans

Many pest control companies also offer control services for a wide variety of pests, and they do so by including broad-stroke coverage in a monthly, quarterly or annual contract. These contracts include treatments every one to two months during problem seasons, and they generally include retreatment if your problem persists. These plans average between $45 and $65 per month.

Warning signs of a bad pest control company

There’s no way to guarantee that the pest control service you pay for is going to solve your problem and be worth your money, but there are some red flags you should look out for to avoid these issues:

Methodology

We spent hours sifting through providers to ensure we only recommend the best pest control companies available. We also believe in honesty and transparency, so we’ll include our detailed methodology below.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)