Thumbtack
A lead marketplace — customers post jobs, pros pay for leads and compete for the work.
A fair comparison
RelayLeads vs Thumbtack
These solve different problems. Thumbtack is a marketplace that sells you leads; Relay is your own front door, where the lead, the booking, and the customer relationship belong to you.
RelayLeads
Your own Business OS — a branded page where your leads land, book, and pay you directly. Free.
Side by side
Where they differ
| Thumbtack | RelayLeads | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Pay per lead, win or lose | Free — you pay nothing for your own leads |
| Who owns the customer | The marketplace | You — your page, your list, your repeat business |
| Competition | Quoted against other pros on every job | Your link is yours alone — no bidding |
| Payments | Arranged between you and the customer | Deposits and payments collected at booking on your own Stripe or Square |
| Where demand comes from | The marketplace's audience | Your Google profile, socials, truck, and word of mouth — pointed at one link |
| Best for | Filling a brand-new pipeline fast | Turning your own reputation into booked, paid jobs |
Competitor details are summarized in general terms from public materials and may change — always confirm current plans and pricing on their site.
Where Thumbtack shines
- Real customer demand, immediately available
- Useful for brand-new businesses with no pipeline
- Reviews that build early social proof
Where RelayLeads shines
- ✓Leads from your own reputation cost you nothing
- ✓Deposits at booking — marketplace leads rarely come with money down
- ✓Every job grows your book of business, not a platform's
- ✓Works alongside a marketplace: send won customers to your link so the repeat work is direct
They're not mutually exclusive. Buy leads on a marketplace if you need pipeline today — but send every won customer to your own relay.ly link, so the second job, and every one after it, is yours for free.
FAQ
Common questions
Can I use RelayLeads and Thumbtack together?
Yes, and it's the smart play: let the marketplace fill gaps while your own link captures repeat customers, referrals, and everyone who finds you directly.
Does RelayLeads send me leads?
Relay doesn't sell leads — it converts the demand you already have. Your Google Business Profile, social bios, truck decal, and referrals all point at one link that books and collects deposits 24/7.
Claim your link. We build the rest.
Free, takes about two minutes, no credit card — the cheapest way to compare is to claim your link and see it working.