Our Verdict
Orkin and Terminix are both leaders in the pest control industry and are solid choices to take you care of your pest control problems. For general pest control, Orkin is our top pick because its basic plan covers more pests than Terminix and the company has branches in more states. If termites are your concern, Terminix is our pick because they have multiple plans to fit your needs.
Pest control is a necessary part of home routine maintenance. But with so many companies to choose from, the research to help you decide which company to go with can become overwhelming. Orkin and Terminix are nationally recognized leaders in the industry. But which is the better choice? Our side by side comparison should help you determine which is the best bet for your home or business.
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Best Overall
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| Pests |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Ants | ||
| Bed Bugs | ||
| Beetles | ||
| Centipedes | ||
| Cockroaches | ||
| Carpenter Ants | ||
| Crickets | ||
| Earwigs | ||
| Fleas | ||
| Flies | ||
| Millipedes | ||
| Mites | ||
| Mosquitoes | ||
| Moths | ||
| Rodents | ||
| Scorpions | ||
| Silverfish | ||
| Spiders | ||
| Stinging Pests (Bees, Wasps) | ||
| Stink Bugs | ||
| Termites | ||
| Ticks | ||
| Wildlife |
Orkin vs. Terminix Pricing
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Service Cost | $246 | One-time treatment – $249; Ongoing service – $139 |
| Basic Pest Control Services | $60/month | $119 every three months or $40/month |
| Termite Treatment | Cost based on inspection and size of problem | Basic Termite Plan – $70/month; Advanced Termite Plan – Cost based on inspection and size of problem; Premium Termite Plan – Cost based on inspection and size of problem |
| Mosquito Treatment | $326 for initial treatment; $110/month | One-time treatment – $150; Ongoing treatment – $70/month |
| BedBug Treatment | Cost based on inspection and size of problem | Cost based on inspection and size of problem |
Orkin vs. Terminix Main Features
| | |
|---|---|---|
| How many states do they serve: | Available in 47 states* | Available in 45 states* |
| Are they environmentally-friendly: | ||
| Do they offer a guarantee: | 30-day, money back guarantee | 30-day, money back guarantee |
| Do they offer free inspections: | Does not offer free inspections for all services | |
| How often do they spray for pests: | Every 60 days | Once every quarter |
| Do the offer re-treatments between visits: | ||
| Do they offer one-time treatments: | ||
| Do they offer commercial services: | ||
| Additional services offered: | Attic Insulation; Leaf-Stopper; Moisture Control; Lawn Care (available in Florida only); Wildlife Management; and Same day services if you call before noon | Tick Treatment, Wildlife Control; Attic Insulation; Crawl Space; Gutter Protection. Offers bundle pricing for some services |
| Customer service offerings: | Customer care team available 24/7; Get free quotes online; Online customer portal | Online pricing tool for some services; Online customer portal |
*Orkin serves these states:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
*Terminix serves these states:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming
Things to Consider About Orkin
Orkin has been in business for more than 100 and operates in every state but three. You won’t be able to get Orkin service in Alaska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Orkin’s costs are comparable to other pest control companies and they offer free re-treatments in between visits, if needed.
Orkin’s treats 20 different pests under the basic pest control plan. The company also offers a 30-day, money back guarantee if you aren’t satisfied with the service. You can receive free quotes over the phone, but prices will vary based on location and need. Orkin does offer 24/7 customer support, which is rare in the industry. And Orkin is the only company to offer same day service if you call before noon.
One other plus – Orkin requires technicians to undergo 160 hours of hands-on instruction in the first year of employment, to ensure they know what pests they are treating and the best way to get rid of them.
How Much Does Orkin Cost
Orkin has multiple plans to choose from, but all of them start with an initial visit to your home by a technician. The pest control specialist will thoroughly inspect both the inside and outside of your property and treat for pest problems and prevention. Orkin’s first time service costs $246 and covers 20 pests.
A technician will return to your home 30 days later and re-treat the outside of your home. A technician will then show up every 60 days after that to treat your property. It will cost around $60 a month for regularly scheduled pest control. If you notice a pest problem in between scheduled visits, you can call Orkin and they will send someone out to treat the problem at no additional cost.
There’s no extra charge if you have mice and rats. They’re included in Orkin’s general pest control plan. If mosquitoes are causing problems in your yard, you can add mosquito control to your plan. The initial service visit will cost $326 and then will be around $110 a month afterwards.
Orkin won’t give you an estimate to treat termites or bed bugs. A pest control specialist will have to come to your house and inspect it to determine the size of the problem and what it will take to get rid of it.
Orkin will refund the amount of your last payment if you are unhappy with their service for any reason.
Are Customers Satisfied with Orkin
Orkin offers a 30-day, money back guarantee to customers who aren’t happy with the service they’ve been provided. And unlike most pest control companies, Orkin has a customer care team that’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And they are the only pest control company to offer same day service if you call before noon.
For the most part, Orkin’s customers are happy with their service. As is the case with most businesses, you will find complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau or registered on trusted consumer websites like TrustPilot. Most of the complaints involve problems getting rid of pests, the behavior of specific technicians, and troubles with billing. But you will find Orkin tries to respond to complaints online and rectify the situation.
Orkin requires a one-year contract with their customers. If you cancel the service before the agreement expires, Orkin will charge you for the remainder of the contract.
Terminix vs Orkin
Things to Consider About Terminix
Terminix has been in business for nearly a century and services 45 states. The company doesn’t have branches in Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Vermont. And while their general pest services are comparable to their competitors – you may pay more for certain specialty services.
The general pest control plan covers approximately 15 pests and a technician will treat your property every three months. They also offer services to treat bed bugs, mosquitoes, termites, and ticks. Terminix also offers wildlife control, attic insulation, crawl space treatment, and gutter protection.
You can get free quotes, free inspections and bundle specials for some services. Most Terminix plans come with the Nix Pest Guarantee – which means if you aren’t 100% satisfied, the company will do whatever it takes to make sure your pest problem is solved. If you have received a one-time service from Terminix – that means a technician will return to your home if you continue to have pest problems for up to 30 days after the initial visit. Terminix also offers free re-treatments in between regular service appointments.
How Much Does Terminix Cost
Unlike Orkin, Terminix does offer a one time treatment option. It will cost you around $250 to have your home serviced once. If you choose an ongoing pest control plan, your initial visit will cost around $140, and you’ll be charged $120 a quarter (or $40 a month). Those costs are based on a home less than 4,000 square feet. If your home is larger, you’ll pay more.
Terminix offers bundle pricing and you can get quotes for the cost online. For example, if you want to add mosquito protection to your general pest control plan – your cost for treatment will be around $95 a month.
Terminix has multiple termite plans to choose from, but in order to get an estimate a technician will have to visit your home, assess the problem, if any, and decide the best course of treatment. A Basic Termite Plan comes with the OnGuard Termite Protection System, an annual inspection and a guarantee and generally runs around $70 a month. The Advanced Plan adds the promise to fix termite damage up to $250,000 and the Premium Plan bundles all the termite services with general pest control. Terminix also offers a termite treatment plan for residents in California, Hawaii and Florida for a specific type of termite found in those states. All termite inspections are free.
The cost for bed bug treatment, like termites, varies. A technician will have to come to your home and assess the situation before an estimate can be given, but the inspection is free.
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Are Customers Satisfied with Terminix
Terminix’s website is very user friendly. You can schedule services online, which is a plus for many customers. Terminix also offers bundle services and you can go online, enter your address and receive a monthly cost for some services.
Cost is the driving factor when choosing pest control service, and some people decide not to use Terminix because they may be higher on some services than other pest control companies. But unlike Orkin, most contracts with Terminix are open-ended, so you can cancel the service any time without being charged a cancellation fee.
As with most companies, you will find mixed reviews online for customer service and support. Some customers have had trouble with scheduling services, billing charges, and ongoing pest issues. Others take issue with a constant change in the person who treats their home – so they’re never able to establish a relationship with their technician. Terminix customer service largely tries to respond to problems and rectify the situation.
Terminix offers coupon codes or specials from time to time on general pest control and other services. Discount offers can be found at the bottom of their website – just click on the “Featured Offers” tab.
The Bottom Line
Orkin and Terminix are both solid choices to take you care of your pest control problems. But we believe Orkin is the better overall choice because of its pricing and general services.
