Short answer
Thumbtack is a marketplace. You describe your project, contact pros, compare their quotes and hire one, and then you work with that pro directly. Pros pay Thumbtack for leads. Runhome is a service that handles the repair for you. You send photos, Runhome prices the job for your ZIP code, calls vetted contractors, negotiates, and sends you one price to approve. Then it schedules the work and follows up until the job is done.
Choose Thumbtack if you want to compare pros and their prices yourself. Choose Runhome if you want someone else to make the calls, check the price, and manage the job.
Runhome and Thumbtack side by side
| Topic | Runhome | Thumbtack |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A home repair service that handles the job for you, from the first photo to the finished work. | A marketplace where you find local pros, message them, and hire one. Thumbtack says it covers every county in the US. |
| Who does the legwork | Runhome calls the contractors, compares and negotiates their pricing, and schedules the work. | You contact pros, compare their quotes and hire one. You can contact up to five pros in the first four hours, and other interested pros may message you too. |
| Cost to you | The estimate is free. If Runhome handles the job, you approve one price that includes a management fee, usually around 10% on small jobs and up to about $100 on bigger ones. | Free to find, contact and hire a pro. You pay the pro directly, at the price the pro sets. |
| How it makes money | From its management fee. Runhome doesn't charge contractors for leads or sell your information. | Pros pay Thumbtack for leads, which are customers who reach out to them. |
| Pricing before you commit | A price estimate for your ZIP code in minutes, then one negotiated price to approve. | Each pro sets their own prices and sends you a quote. You compare them yourself. |
| Contractor checks | Runhome checks licensing where the law requires it, insurance, and service history before it sends a contractor. | Pros can complete a background check, and when they have, it shows on their profile. Pros contract with you directly and don't work for Thumbtack. |
| If something goes wrong | Runhome manages the job and follows up with the contractor until the work is done. | The Thumbtack Guarantee pays up to $2,500 if a pro you hired through Thumbtack doesn’t do the job as agreed, and up to $100,000 for property damage a pro causes. You must first try to resolve it with the pro, and report it within the stated deadlines. |
| Extras | Prices every item on a home inspection report, reviews contractor quotes you already have, and manages recurring services. | Pro reviews, cost guides for common projects, and categories well beyond home repair. |
Choose Runhome if
- You don't want to message, compare and chase contractors yourself.
- You want one price that has already been checked against local rates.
- You have a home inspection report or a contractor quote you want priced or checked.
- You want the repair scheduled and followed up until it is finished.
Choose Thumbtack if
- You want to message several pros and compare their quotes yourself.
- You need a service Runhome doesn’t handle, like event or lesson services.
- You already know which kind of pro you need and just want options.
Common questions
- Is Runhome cheaper than Thumbtack?
- It depends on the job. Thumbtack is free to use, and you pay the price the pro you hire sets. Runhome negotiates with contractors on your behalf and adds a management fee, usually around 10% on small jobs and up to about $100 on bigger ones, inside the one price you approve.
- Will several contractors message me?
- Not with Runhome. You deal with Runhome, and Runhome contacts the contractors and books the one that fits. On Thumbtack, you contact pros yourself, and other pros interested in your project may message you too.
- Who helps if the repair goes wrong?
- Runhome manages the job and follows up with the contractor until the work is done. The Thumbtack Guarantee covers pros you hired through Thumbtack, after you first try to resolve the issue with the pro.
- Can I use Runhome and Thumbtack together?
- Yes. If you already have a quote from a pro you found on Thumbtack, upload it to Runhome and Runhome will tell you whether the price and scope look fair for your area.
- Does Runhome work everywhere Thumbtack does?
- Runhome takes jobs across the United States wherever it can line up vetted contractors, which covers most US addresses. Start a free estimate and Runhome tells you right away whether it covers your home.
Sources
Thumbtack is a trademark of its owner. Runhome is not affiliated with Thumbtack. Details about Thumbtack come from its public pages and can change.