Side-by-side comparison

AfterHoursLead vs Thumbtack

Thumbtack sells leads to multiple contractors at once. AfterHoursLead captures leads exclusively from your website — no bidding, no sharing, no per-lead fees.

The Thumbtack problem

When you buy a lead on Thumbtack, so do 3–5 other contractors. You're competing on price and speed from the moment the lead lands in your inbox. The average plumbing lead costs $35–$80 — and you win maybe 1 in 5. That's $175–$400 per closed job, before you've even bought materials.

AAfterHoursLead

Captures leads from people who already searched Google and landed on your website. They're not comparing you to 4 other contractors — they came to you.

✓100% exclusive leads — yours only
✓Flat monthly fee, no per-lead costs
✓No competing or bidding
✓Customers already found you
$199/mo
Unlimited leads · No per-lead fee
TTThumbtack

Lead marketplace where homeowners post jobs and multiple contractors compete. You pay per lead, often sharing that lead with several competitors.

✗Shared with 3–5 competitors
✗$15–$80+ per lead
✗Must bid and compete on price
✗Homeowners compare contractors
$15–80+ /lead
Shared lead · Competitive market
Feature
AfterHoursLead
Thumbtack
Leads from your own website
Thumbtack leads are shared with competitors
✓
✗
No per-lead fee
✓
✗
Exclusive leads (not shared)
✓
✗
24/7 lead capture
✓
✓
Instant SMS when lead arrives
✓
✓
AI qualifies leads before sending to you
✓
✗
Works while you sleep
✓
Partial
No bidding or competing
✓
✗
You own the customer relationship
✓
✗
Builds your brand, not theirs
✓
✗
Monthly cost (predictable)
$199–$399/mo
Varies wildly
Cost per lead
$0 extra
$15–$80+

The math: owning vs buying leads

For a plumber closing 10 jobs/month from bought leads at $50/lead average:

Thumbtack (shared leads)
Leads to win 10 jobs (~20% close)50 leads
Cost per lead (avg)$50
Monthly lead cost$2,500
AfterHoursLead (own your leads)
Monthly subscription$199
Per-lead cost$0
Monthly lead cost$199

Stop paying per lead. Own your lead flow.

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