Paid listings on Angi face the same problems as Yelp. The Better Business Bureau stripped Angi of its accredited business status in February 2022. Angi has received 1,835 complaints over the past three years . And while the company has a mobile phone number data updated 2025 slightly higher rating than Yelp, at 2/5 stars, it’s still not the most trustworthy place on the internet.
When a company gets a low ranking on Angi, it has the ability to buy its way to the top, which skews search results. Companies that advertise get 12 times more views than those that don’t.
Yet consumers pay membership fees to join Angi, believing they will find honest and truthful customer reviews. These customers are paying for a service that provides them with reliable information. But instead, their business is going to the highest bidder, with no transparency, according to Consumer Reports .
Angi has faced multiple lawsuits in response to its deception. In 2021, the state of California found Angi guilty of misrepresenting that contractors had undergone due diligence.
The cost per click on Angi is even higher than on Yelp, averaging between $4 and $8 per click.
A Look at HomeAdvisor Advertising
Did you know that HomeAdvisor is an Angi company? The company works similarly to Angi in that it is a pay-per-rating you can be considered a master program, regardless of how favorable or unfavorable customers are about the company.
HomeAdvisor is not an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau and receives a D- rating. Customers give it an astonishing 3.76/5 stars. But like its parent company, HomeAdvisor has had 1,538 consumer complaints in the last three years.
Again, the advertising fees are high. Companies must pay a $350 membership fee just to be part of HomeAdvisor. Additionally, it costs an average of $15 to $100 to acquire customers .
The Best Online Marketing Strategy That Eliminates Yelp, Angi, and HomeAdvisor Ads
We painted a bleak picture by sault data digging into the reputations of these various review sites. And while it’s not pretty, by shining a light on the challenges small businesses face when advertising on Yelp, Angi, and HomeAdvisor, we can help others build a more effective online marketing strategy.
The great news is that you have a reliable alternative to these ad platforms. And you get transparent ROI data that will show you how well you’re doing and where you can improve.
The answer is SEO, content marketing and strategic Google PPC advertising.
Some companies avoid this marketing strategy because it’s a long game. You’ll need to continually develop high-quality content that resonates with your customers and delivers on your promises. In most cases, SEO takes 12 months to start seeing results. But it’s worth it in the long run.