Yelp is a review site first: homeowners read reviews, then request quotes, and the professionals they see pay Yelp for placement — pay-per-click ads start around $5 a day, and competitors can advertise directly on a professional's own profile page. Handvetted verifies every professional before joining and introduces you to one match. Read Yelp to learn what a business did for other people. Use Handvetted so you only have to read about one.
- Yelp is review-first discovery with paid ad placement.
- Competitors can advertise on a pro's own Yelp profile.
- Handvetted verifies first and introduces one match, free.
- Yelp reviews help you vet; Handvetted vets for you.
Yelp vs Handvetted: how they actually work
| Dimension | Yelp | Handvetted |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Reading a large body of reviews before choosing | Homeowners who want one verified professional |
| Cost to homeowners | Free to browse and request quotes | Free. Always |
| Cost to professionals | Free listing; paid ads from about $5/day | No per-call pricing |
| Screening | None for a listing; reviews are the signal | Licensed, background-checked, 4.5+ star verified rating |
| What sits next to a pro's profile | Ads for competing businesses | One match, briefed on your project |
| Your role after | Read, compare, request quotes | Take the call and decide |
Yelp works when you like research. Handvetted works when you want the research done before anyone contacts you.
Where Yelp is strong
- Review depth. Years of reviews, with photos, on most local businesses in larger metros.
- Search reach. Yelp profiles often rank well in Google, so a business's Yelp page is easy to find.
- Request a quote. The estimate-request tool reaches several businesses at once, free for the homeowner.
- Small jobs. Yelp covers everything from a locksmith to a full remodel.
Where Handvetted differs
- Verification before visibility. A professional cannot enter the network without a current license, a background check and a verified 4.5+ star rating. Not everyone makes it in.
- No ads on your match. Yelp sells ad space to competitors that appears on a professional's profile, and about two-thirds of Yelp's services ad revenue comes from home services. A Handvetted match arrives alone.
- One introduction. No queue of callers who paid for your contact information.
- Free rematch. If the first match is not right, we match you with a different verified professional at no cost.
What to watch for on either platform
- Read the 1-star and recent reviews, not just the average.
- Confirm the license through your state board.
- Ask for proof of insurance, not a promise.
- Get scope and price in writing before any deposit.
The decision, plainly
Choose Yelp if you want to read extensively and compare several businesses yourself. Choose Handvetted if you want one licensed, background-checked professional, already matched to your project, with no ads competing for the introduction. Both are free for homeowners.
FAQ
Is Yelp free for homeowners?
Yes. Browsing reviews and requesting quotes is free. The advertising costs fall on the businesses, which pay per click or per call starting around $5 a day.
Why do competitors appear on a professional's Yelp profile?
Yelp sells sponsored ad placements that appear on listing pages, including competitors' ads next to a business's own profile unless the business pays to remove them. Handvetted never places a competing professional next to your match.
Is Handvetted free?
Free for homeowners, always. The verified professionals fund the service, and your request is never shared with multiple businesses.
How is Handvetted different from Yelp?
Yelp is a review library you search yourself. Handvetted verifies license, background and a 4.5+ star rating before a professional joins, then introduces one match already briefed on your project.
Can I trust Yelp reviews?
Yelp filters reviews it suspects are fake, but no filter is perfect. Read the recent and critical reviews, and verify licensing and insurance independently of any review platform.
Which is better for an emergency repair?
For emergencies, speed matters more than comparison. A matching service gets you one verified professional fast; a review site sends you into research while the water is still running.
One last thing
If a business has 200 five-star reviews written in the same voice in one month, trust the three detailed two-star reviews instead. Specific complaints are hard to fake.
Need help fast? Get matched with one verified damage restoration professional — free for homeowners, always.
Several businesses calling after one request? Here is why that happens.