Best pest control services: Bug, rodent, and reptile removal

You rarely have a choice about needing one of the best pest control companies. Having bugs or rodents in your home can be a major problem, not only are they unsanitary, but they can create noise, and even their appearance can be distressing. The best pest control services will deal with the problem quickly, efficiently, and with the minimum of disruption to your life.

The choice of pest control services will vary according to where you live in the country but, thankfully, local pest exterminators and removers will likely have the best knowledge of the specific critters that plague your specific area.

While it sometimes may be tempting to go for a cheap fix, employing one of the best pest control services will be more likely to fix the problem for good. They should be able to inspect your property soon after you call them, and provide you with a quote for the full cost before they start. If the problem isn’t of an urgent nature, it’s worth looking around and getting quotes from a few different companies, to ensure you’re not being overcharged. Many pest control agencies have charts on their websites that explain their pricing, which can be useful if you’re in a hurry.

The pest control services we’ve selected here are available in most states, but there are many, many local services spread across the country whose services you may also be able to engage. Customer reviews come into their own here, and you should read as many as you can before entering into a contract with a company. 

Wildlife isn’t the only unpleasant thing capable of getting into your home - turn to our list of the best mold test kits if you’ve got a fungal problem, or our guide to the best home security systems to deter two-legged intruders.

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There's no 'one-size fits all' solution when it comes to pest control. While methods for removing pets remain fairly standard across companies, the size of your home and the severity of the infestation will dictate not only the type of pest control you need, but also the price and the time it takes to get done. In most cases, pest control companies will need to either visit your property to survey it, or at least speak to you in person to get an idea of what they're dealing with.

As such, getting multiple quotes and comparing providers is essential. Some may understand your house-type or area a little better than others, and different pest control companies tend to specialize in certain types of pest. There are plenty of generalists out there, but they tend to quote higher based on more generalized service types, so we suggest getting quotes from both local an national companies so you can do an accurate and fair comparison. An aggregator like BuyerZone will help you to do exactly that, so give them a try.

How we chose the best pest control companies

When you're choosing the right pest control company for your needs, you should consider a handful of important things. While we've done our best to cover all these in our list of providers, we appreciate that not all companies operate across all of America, so you may have a limited selection where you live and work.

Locality

What pest control services operate in your area, and how local are they really? Just because one operates in your state, this doesn't mean they're truly local. You should look to see what companies operate in your county, and whether or not they can get to your home quickly and easily. Not only will this make the process quicker, but you'll also be able to get them back easier if the problem recurs.

The more local your company, the more likely they are to recognize and deal with your infestation. Exterminators in southern Florida, for example, know how to deal with crocs, whereas Washington State operators will be very familiar with termites and ant infestations (for example). 

Service Plans

In some instances you'll be able to get a one-time call-out for a pest infestation and never need to bother with that company again. Good for you - your home is pest free! However, for many, infestations are just a persistent problem of the area they live in, so if you fall into this category, make sure you look at what service plans are on offer. Some companies will revisit once per month (or every other month), whereas some will come over per season, and others whenever you want to call them out. Choose the right plan for you, and don't rely on one-off call-outs if you know that your pest issue will persist.

Account Management

If you have an account with a company, for regular visits, we suggest you pick a provider that allows you to manage your account online via their website, rather than on an ad-hoc basis. It makes it easier for you to track your services and know how much you're paying for them.

Cost

In a way, cost is something you have little control over when it comes to pest extermination. While you will get different prices by comparing quotes, we definitely think it's best to get the appropriate level of service you need, rather than saving money and not quite getting the right solution. You may also find that only one pest control company operates locally, and that does cut down your options.

Speed and service

You will know how urgent your problem is. Some pest control companies are quick to quote and slow to service, so look at user reviews in your local area to see how companies really operate. Sadly, service can vary from office to office, so while we can give you an overview of the companies we found to be the best overall, you may get better or worse service in your particular area.

Pest control companies at a glance

While many pest control companies offer similar services, they will vary in terms of extras, after-care, and the actual states in which they operate. Some may deal with specific types of pest that others won't handle, so it pays to know what's what. The table below should give you an idea of what features are on offer.

Best Pest Control Companies

We tested a range of pest control companies to create the below list. Not all of them will necessarily operate in your area, or deal with the pests present in your home, but you should be able to find a number of providers that can deal with your issue quickly and professionally.

Terminix: Best pest control company overall

Terminix is a pest control company that operates through a wide selection of states, offer fast response times and cover a wide range of pests. Terminix offers a wide range of pest control solutions and deals with almost every pest infestation imaginable, from bugs like ants and cockroaches to arachnids like spiders, as well as, rodents like mice and rats. It even has experience covering the rarer, and geographically specific pest problems, like scorpions.

Terminix has a vast array of plans in place that are designed to treat specific scenarios of pest infestation. The most basic pest control plan it offers is a one time treatment remove and help prevent further infections, but there are yearly protection plans where a pest control technician visits a property quarterly to help protect your home. There are special termite protection plans in place, where Terminix will help prevent damage from termite infestation by creating bait barriers and yearly inspections. You can also get free inspections and quotes if you are just discovering a pest problem and are unsure what to do.

Terminix offers a guarantee for most services and plans - although this can vary depending on the nature of the plan. If you are not satisfied by the results of its pest control service in 30 days you get a refund of the treatment cost, and the plan is cancelled. Terminix also has a very helpful and accessible customer service department that offer around the clock assistance and advice.

The biggest disadvantage of Terminix is the slightly higher prices it charges when compared to other pest control services. Although Terminix offers pest control services in a lot of states, it doesn’t operate in Alaska, Montana, or North Dakota.  

Terminix User Reviews and Ratings

• Scores B+ rating via Better Business Bureau
• Scores 2 out of 5 via Consumer Affairs

We looked at over 650 reviews of Terminix via sites like the BBB and Consumer Affairs, and found them to be well liked. Their local reps are often praised for good service, and they are well liked by people newly moving into homes who have to then deal with a historical pest infestation. More recently, their services appear to have suffered during COVID lockdowns, but this is completely understandable, and they appear to be trying to get back on track with these issues.

Where complaints occurred - usually about operatives not showing up to scheduled appointments - Terminix usually responds well to the criticism and offers resolution. Another criticism of Terminix appears to be customers failing to understand quotes, and complaining when they were charged more than they expected.

• Read our full Terminix review

Truly Nolen: Best value service

Truly Nolen currently have offices in just 18 states, and it has a comprehensive list of offices on its website; searchable by ZIP code. If you are looking for a quality level service for a lower price, Truly Nolen is a great option. It offers lower prices than most pest control companies we contacted in most scenarios. Truly Nolen also puts an emphasis on fast response times. It strives to respond to all queries within a 24 hour period, and it was extremely fast in responding to our query. However, as it is a franchise, the standard of customer service can vary greatly between branches. 

Truly Nolan is a pest control service that has expertise in dealing in a wide range of pest infestations. There's an emphasis on controlling insects and spiders in a lot of services and plans, but it does have coherent strategies in place for other kinds of pest control problems like termite infestations, rodent control, bed bugs, scorpions and wasps. There is also an emphasis on helping a homeowners develop a yearly pest control plan, with quarterly visits. All plans and strategies are developed around seasonal pest control issues that are local to the area, so TN offers targeted strategies that focus on the context of the infestation. 

Truly Nolan’s plans for interior pest control include powder application to treat pests hiding in doorways windows and under the floorboards, destroying spider-webs and their food source, monitoring stations to report on insect activity in your homes, bait stations to trap ants and cockroaches and botanical aerosols. 

Truly Nolan also offers a decent educational element on its website - even having a dedicated blog on pest control solutions for all kinds of infestations. It does offer more in-depth advice than Terminix, but this advice can be a little harder to find.

Truly Nolan User Reviews

• Scores 3.5 out of 5 via Yelp
• Scores A+ rating via Better Business Bureau

We read more than 200 user reviews of Truly Nolan and found the company to be well liked when it comes to service. They're great at pest control, according to most reviews, although they seem to fall behind when it comes to lawn care and persistent problems. Many reviewers praised the knowledge of the operatives who visited their home.

Where there are complaints, they tend to center on the company failing to resolve long-term infestations like termites or bed bugs. The majority come from people with service plans who don't feel they have gotten value for money when their pest problem hasn't been resolved.

• Read our full Truly Nolan review

Orkin Pest Control: Best for service plans

Orkin Pest Control has wide coverage throughout the United States, so you're likely to be able to use their services for your pest problem. The only states that are not currently covered are: North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and Alaska. That's an impressive spread. Orkin will remove almost all pest types too, from cockroaches and ants, through to larger pests like mice and reptiles. 

Orkin offers coverage plans for persistent pest problems too, which means visits to your home every month. However, if the infestation is persistent, they will schedule visits even more frequently if necessary, which is an excellent service. Because Orkin's coverage is so good, they have speedy response times too. You can expect an operative at your home within 24 hours, on average, which is fairly standard for most pest removal companies, but still very reassuring.

The company's website, pest library, and customer service are all good, although the knowledge online isn't quite as good as some other providers. Overall, Orkin offers an excellent package for pest removal.

Orkin User Reviews

• Scores 2.5 out of 5 via Yelp
• Scores 1.6 out of 5 via Consumer Affairs

Despite the lower overall scores, Orkin's customers seem very satisfied with the service they received. Most praise the fact that the operatives leave their home clean and tidy, and many appreciate that they get good service from their local operatives. In total we looked at more than 70 reviews of Orkin from this year alone.

The main source of criticism appears to be around the price that Orkin quotes and charges for its services. Pest control is rarely simple, and Orkin often charges additional fees for products and services necessary for different homes, and this is something the bulk of negative reviews appear to take issue with.

• Read our full Orkin review

Bulwark Pest Control: Best overall local service

If you're lucky enough to live in an area serviced by Bulwark, it's a good option for getting rid of pests. It operates in 12 states, mainly based in the South, and has great local knowledge of the types of critters that plague these areas of the country. Even within these states, though, coverage is patchy so there's little guarantee you'll be inside the service area. Callouts can take up to 48-hours too, which is another downside, although this is only for customers who live a significant distance from the pest control specialists.

Online Bulwark has a good pest library, and a very professional site. While quotes can't be given over the phone - as is standard with pest control companies - prices are very competitive for both one-off callouts and service plans. You'll also find good customer service, and a comprehensive list of pests on the website, which offers information on how best to deal with them if they become a persistent problem.

Bulwark User Reviews

• Scores a 4.5 out of 5 via Yelp
• Rating of A+ and accreditation via the Better Business Bureau

If you're lucky enough to live in an area where Bulwark operates, you'll get great service. This is the overwhelming message from the 200+ user reviews we read for the company. It's by far and away the most loved pest control company via Yelp, and has relatively few complaints on the BBB. People lavish praise on how prompt Bulwark is, how friendly and professional its operatives are, and how reasonable the prices end up.

Outlying reviews suggest that Bulwark had issues with showing up to appointments, but have since cleaned up their act. Almost all negative reviews are from before 2018, and Bulwark appears to be on top form right now, which is pleasing to see.

• Read our full Bulwark review

Rentokil Presto X: Best reputation

Presto-X has very good customer service and satisfaction, but it is limited by coverage in the US. While Rentokil is the largest pest control provider in the UK, its US franchise (Presto-X) is relatively small-scale. This pest removal provider offers the same options as most others, including 24 hour call-outs, and fast inspections and removal. You'll also be able to take out service plans, for persistent critters, or just pay for one-off visits.

While the website has limited options, especially when it comes to managing your account, you can book visits online and make payments. Other providers have slicker online experiences, though, so you should consider the bigger players like Terminix or Orkin if you want a slicker service.

Presto-X does offer a pest removal guarantee, and will come back free of charge if the treatment doesn't work, and you don't have a persistent problem.

Rentokil Presto X User Reviews

• Scores a 2 out of 5 via Yelp
• Scores A+ rating via Better Business Bureau

We didn't find a huge volume of user reviews for Presto X, but the ones we did find varied significantly. This indicates that it all comes down to the quality of the service in particular areas, although one thing that was apparent throughout is that users liked the quality and eco/animal-friendly nature of the products that Presto X uses. It seems some customers form a great bond with certain local pest control technicians, which is great to see.

Customer service appears to be a bug-bear (pun intended) among Presto X's less satisfied customers. Some are charged incorrectly, and others have struggled to get a response from the company to deal with issues, repeat infestations, or general complaints.

• Read our full Rentokil Presto X review

Pest Control FAQs

The world of pest control is quite a confusing one, and includes a lot of jargon. You'll also experience different techniques and language with different types of pest, so it pays to know a few things before you call each provider up. Here are some general FAQs to get you started.

Pest Control Glossary

• Bird of prey control: Sometimes birds of prey, like falcons, are used to remove pigeons and other bird-pests. It's safer, and more environmentally friendly.
• Contraband netting: Wire fencing used to stop animals gaining access to specific outdoor areas.
• Entry point: This is where the pest originally gets access to your home. It can be anything from a gap in your wall, a hole in your roof, or an ingress underneath your floor.
• Fumigation: The process whereby a chemical is released into your home to clear out an insect or bug infestation, like termites or bedbugs.
• Heat treatment: Often used as an alternative to chemical fumigation for the removal of mites and bedbugs. It's safer and more effective.
• Licence: Find out if your pest control company is licensed by getting in touch with the Department of Agriculture for your specific state.
• Mites: These are smaller bugs - often hard to see with the naked eye - like bedbugs, which can infest and quickly multiply within a home.
• Return to wild: This is where a pest control company will attempt to return a wild animal to their natural habitat, after it has invaded your home.
• Traps: Many exterminators will use bait and traps to clear out animals like rats and mice in your home. Some are lethal, some non-lethal.

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