Terminix vs. Orkin Comparison Review (2023) - At Home Pros (2023)

Bugs mean business, and when you’ve noticed the egg casings or seen a bug, there’s probably a lot more than you’re not seeing. As soon as you have the first inkling that you may be dealing with a bug infestation, you need to call an expert, like the ones at Orkin and Terminix.

It’s imperative to secure the foundation and perimeter of your home, and choosing the right extermination service equals your future happiness. Bed bugs, moths, rodents, and termites eat away at the structure and safety of your abode, making it a health risk to all under the roof. Additionally, beyond the basic health risks, there’s a gross-out factor as well; you don’t want to share your space with insects! 

Terminix and Orkin are two famous names in the bug-ridding business. Orkin is a national chain that’s well-known with broad marketable reach, specializing in nearly any type of bug or pest. Terminix has 90 years of experience and makes sure that every single technician that wears the Terminix badge is highly educated and well-trained. 

At Home Pros encourages you in the right decision if you’re deciding between Orkin and Terminix for extermination services. Depending on your budget, expectations, and location, one of these two companies will meet your needs and get rid of your infestation issue once and for all. 

If you’re dealing with dry termites, or prefer a step-by-step breakdown of the process, Orkin can be a safe bet. However, Terminix has 24-hour customer service, sterling guarantees, and a superb record. 

Terminix vs. Orkin: Overview

These two pest control giants offer similar benefits: satisfaction guarantees, comprehensive coverage and many decades of experience. The first thing you need to know is whether the company is in your area; next, does it deal with the particular pest with which you’re afflicted? Once you’ve figured out these variables, determine your decision on your budget parameters and expertise expectations. 

About Terminix

Many pest control experts work for Terminix. The company makes a point to employ the best-trained people in the industry. Certified members of the Entomological Society of America, entomologists and ACE- and BCE specialists are all an esteemed presence on Terminix’s staff.

This company was one of the first to get a patent for termite control in 1934. Now Terminix has more than 2 million customers. The company puts a great deal of energy and resources into transparency. With responsive employees and 24-hour chat features, Terminix is an intelligent option if you have pests.

Terminix Pest Control Locations
Terminix Pest Control’s service spans 45 states in the United States, but the company does not operate in Alaska, Vermont, South Dakota, North Dakota and Montana. Terminix has teams in:

• 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
• Wyoming

About Orkin:

Using integrated pest control, Orkin is a well-known and well-respected pest control service. All of the company’s treatment programs are backed by an exceptional quality assurance program. From weevils to termites to rhinoceros beetles, Orkin can handle whatever type of pest which is affecting your property. 

Orkin has been in business for over a century, and its pest-control specialists all go through an exacting 160-hour training program to make sure that everyone on Orkin’s staff is a highly qualified expert. With a sterling Better Business Bureau rating and complete online transparency, Orkin provides exceptional customer service and top-notch treatments. 

Orkin Locations
Orkin has offices in 47 states in the United States and over 400 global locations. The three states in which Orkin does not have a working office are in Alaska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. 

Terminix vs. Orkin: Services

Any pest problem is a serious challenge if you’re a homeowner. If you’ve noticed the telltale signs of bug activity, chances are it’s already too late. Fortunately, there’s help available. Terminix’s customer service is far beyond its competitors. With an online chat function, Terminix makes it easy to contact a trained technician with any pest problem.

Terminix offers a superb range of pest services, like:

• Clothes moths
• Rats and mice
• Cockroaches
• Scorpions
• “House” ants
• Silverfish
• Spiders (non-dangerous)
• Centipedes
• Earwigs
• House crickets
• Millipedes
• Paper wasps

Orkin covers all sorts of pest problems, and their transparent online services provide resources and a step-by-step breakdown of their process. The initial visit and assessment start off the procedure, followed by bi-monthly or quarterly visits. Orkin’s 30-Day Money Back Guarantee leaves you to rest assured that a technician will be back if the services have failed. 

Orkin technicians will take care of:

• Moths
• Crickets
• Fleas
• Hornets
• Scorpions
• Ants
• Silverfish
• Cockroaches
• Mice
• Spiders
• Centipedes
• Earwigs

Terminix vs. Orkin: Termites

According to the EPA, millions of homes and businesses are damaged by termites and billions of dollars are lost annually. If you have termites, you risk lost revenue, health hazards, and unsanitary and unsafe environs. 

Termites devour your house’s structure, weakening it in its bones. To protect the safety of your home, its occupants, and your future, you have to act fast when termite activity is detected. Both Orkin and Terminix are large, well-supported companies with excellent resources. 

Orkin offers transparency and additional articles, whereas Terminix provides a 24-hour chat option, so you can always contact an expert with those hard-to-answer questions, any time, day or night. 

It’s important to understand that, with both of these industry giants, the estimate you get after a conversation or walk-through is liable to fluctuate. Since termites are often difficult to get rid of, the estimate may change as your pest protection plan focuses. Orkin may be able to charge just an initial fee for the first consultation, whereas Terminix may not.

Terminix
If you’ve noticed the evidence of termites in your home, Terminix is an excellent choice. With over 90 years in the business, this company gets the job one with its OnGuard® Termite Protection System. 

Terminix sets up built-in stations 10 to 15 feet apart around your property to generate a zone of protection. The toxic bait poisons some of the feeding termites, and then, when surviving bugs return to the nest with the bait, they exterminate the other termites in the colony. Annual checkups by Terminix technicians decreases any chance of reinfestation. 

Terminix safeguards its work with the Nix & Fix Termite Guarantee™. If you discover any evidence of termites after the company technicians leave and you still hold your Terminix plan, they’ll return to treat your property again, but the plan is only available for certain, pre-qualified homes.

Orkin
Orkin has been in the business for over a century, and has a broad national reach. This company uses similar tactics to Terminix, with liquid soil treatments, tent fumigations and termite baits.  

Otto Orkin established the company by selling rat poison door-to-door in 1901. In its marketing material, Orkin claims to use Sentricon for bait systems, and Termidor as its liquid bait. Sentricon in particular has been extensively tested and researched, but the traps need to be consistently taken care of by Orkin technicians. 

Dry wood termites can be especially hard to get rid of, as you need to have a tent fumigation process that necessitates your house to be empty for a few days. With Orkin’s specialized treatments, this pesky pest problem will be history in no time at all.

At Home Pros Conclusion

Orkin and Terminix are two companies with a lot of similar strengths, like national reach, excellent resources, and superb customer service. Terminix has 24-hour online chat options that can answer your burning pest questions in a timely, educated manner. Orkin provides a slew of great options and is transparent about its methods.

Bugs destroy your home, endanger you and your loved ones, and interfere with your peace of mind. You need responsive, expert help when you notice the signs of bug infestation. 

Orkin and Terminix both have excellent reach, and although Terminix may skew cheaper than Orkin, Orkin extermination services provide more resources for the customer. Orkin is transparent about what kind of chemicals are in their treatments. For more expensive treatments, Orkin offers an initial treatment with a nominal fee, whereas Terminix may not.

Together, these two companies have amassed over two centuries worth of experience and have a similar menu in terms of services. If you’re someone who is concerned with the types of chemicals being used in some of the extermination processes, then Orkin tends to be more transparent. 

However, Terminix is more responsive, with a constantly open line of communication through its chat option. For someone who is looking to treat multiple properties, Terminix makes it simple to tailor the services to fit the customer’s real estate profile. 

At Home Pros can help you make the key decision as to what is the best bug extermination service for your building, situation and budget. Let At Home Pros help connect you and your family to the right pro for your next home service project.