HomeStars vs Houzz: Which Is Worth It for Canadian Contractors?

Contractors ask me about HomeStars and Houzz all the time. Both promise leads, both have reviews, and both charge you for something. They are very different businesses, though, and the right answer depends on your trade.

Below: how each one works, what it costs, who it suits, and straight answers to the questions contractors type into Google about each.

What is HomeStars?

HomeStars calls itself Canada's largest network of community-reviewed home service professionals.¹ Homeowners post a job for free. Pros who are interested say so, and the homeowner picks who to talk to. The pro pays a fee only when the homeowner chooses to get in touch.

HomeStars is owned by Angi Inc., the US company behind Angi and HomeAdvisor, and is part of the Instapro Group of home trades marketplaces in Europe.¹

Good for: plumbers, electricians, HVAC, roofers, painters, movers and other trades with lots of small and medium jobs, especially in big cities where homeowners post a lot of jobs.

Watch out for: you're competing with other pros for the same job, and you pay to talk to homeowners who may still pick someone else. Track what each paid contact turns into.

What is Houzz?

Houzz is a home design website and app full of project photos, where homeowners save ideas and find the pros who did the work. Houzz Pro is its paid business software for contractors and designers: 3D floor plans, estimates, takeoffs, schedules and selections, with marketing tools on higher plans.²

A basic Houzz profile is free. Houzz Pro is a monthly subscription; software review sites list plans from about $55 to $59 US a month at the entry level.⁴ Houzz doesn't publish one Canadian price on a page we could check, so ask for a quote in Canadian dollars.

Good for: kitchen and bath remodelers, custom home builders, landscape designers and anyone whose work sells on photos.

Watch out for: Houzz is a design site first. If your work is repair or emergency service, few homeowners will find you there.

How do HomeStars and Houzz compare with Google?

In our survey of 1,113 Canadian homeowners, Google Search was the first place most people looked for a contractor. Directories like HomeStars and Houzz came second, well behind.³

What this means for contractors: a directory profile is worth having, but put your Google Business Profile and website first. If you only have time for one review platform, make it Google. See how we manage Google profiles and how many reviews you need.

What contractors ask about HomeStars

These are the questions Google suggests when you type "HomeStars", with straight answers.

Is HomeStars legit?

Yes. It's a real, long-running Canadian marketplace, owned today by Angi Inc. Like any lead site, how well it works depends on your trade, your area and how you follow up.

Is HomeStars Canadian?

It's built for Canada and serves Canadian cities, but it's owned by Angi Inc., a US company, and is part of the Instapro Group.

Is HomeStars free?

Free for homeowners, and free for pros to sign up. Pros pay a fee when a homeowner chooses to contact them about a job.

How much does HomeStars cost per month?

HomeStars describes its model as pay when a homeowner gets in touch, not a monthly membership. What you spend depends on how many jobs you show interest in and how many homeowners contact you. Ask HomeStars for the current fees in your trade and city.

Is HomeStars worth it for contractors?

It can be, for trades with lots of small and medium jobs in big cities. Track every paid contact for three months: how many became quotes, and how many became jobs. If the cost per booked job beats your other channels, keep it.

Is HomeStars reliable?

The reviews come from homeowners on the site. As a contractor, treat it as one source of leads and reviews, not your only one.

What about HomeStars reviews complaints?

Most complaints you'll find online are about lead quality and paying to compete with other pros. Read the terms, set your service area tightly and only show interest in jobs you want.

HomeStars vs TaskRabbit, Jiffy or TrustedPros?

TaskRabbit and Jiffy lean toward small tasks and quick bookings. TrustedPros is another Canadian directory. HomeStars sits in between, with bigger home projects and reviews. Pick the one where your kind of job gets posted.

What contractors ask about Houzz

And the questions Google suggests when you type "Houzz".

Is Houzz legit?

Yes. Houzz is a long-running home design site and app from Houzz Inc., a US company, and Houzz Pro is used by contractors and designers.

Is Houzz still in business?

Yes. The site, the app and Houzz Pro are all running in 2026.

Is Houzz free?

Free for homeowners, and a basic pro profile is free. Houzz Pro, the business software, is a paid monthly plan.

How much does Houzz Pro cost?

Software review sites list entry plans at about $55 to $59 US a month in 2026, with higher plans costing more. Houzz doesn't publish a single Canadian price we could check, so get a quote.

Is Houzz Pro worth it?

If you'll use the software (estimates, 3D plans, schedules) and your work sells on photos, it can be. If you only want leads, judge it on leads and booked jobs over three months.

Is Houzz good for contractors?

For design-led contractors, yes: remodelers, custom home builders and landscape designers. For repair and emergency trades, much less.

Houzz vs Angi?

Angi is a lead marketplace in the US, and owns HomeStars in Canada. Houzz is a design showcase plus software. In Canada, compare HomeStars with Houzz.

Houzz vs Buildertrend, Jobber or JobTread?

Those are business software. If you're comparing Houzz Pro as software, compare the features you'll actually use. Jobber is a Canadian company built for service trades; Buildertrend and JobTread lean toward builders and remodelers.

How much do Houzz leads cost?

Houzz sells software and marketing plans rather than a fixed price per lead. Work out your own cost per lead by dividing what you pay by the leads you get.

Which should you choose?

• Plumbers, electricians, HVAC, roofers, movers: HomeStars is the better fit of the two, after your Google profile and Local Services Ads.
• Kitchen and bath remodelers, custom builders, landscape designers: Houzz is the better fit, because your work sells on photos.
• General contractors and renovators: try one for three months and track every lead to a booked job.
• Everyone: keep your details the same on both and on Google, because AI tools and Google compare them.