Opus Group Insights
Yelp Ads vs Google Local Services Ads for Contractors: 2026 Costs
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Summary (updated 16 October 2026): For most contractors, Google Local Services Ads cost less per booked job than Yelp Ads: Yelp charges per click (third-party 2026 reports put contractor clicks at $5–$25) with no published price, while LSA charges per lead, which SearchLight puts at $39–$79 in 2026 depending on trade. Yelp has no term contract for self-serve ads and starts at about $5 a day. Across the accounts Opus Group runs (all trades, not per trade), leads average $63, $44–$90 in clients' best months, with a 27x return on ad spend and $1M+ of work won for clients every month.
Side by side
| Yelp Ads | Local Services Ads | |
|---|---|---|
| You pay for | A click (auction price, Yelp Support) | A valid lead |
| Typical cost, 2026 | $5–$25 a click for contractors (SuperDupr, 3D Media); $30–$150 a lead (3D Media) | $39 electrical, $51 HVAC, $57 plumbing, $79 roofing a lead (SearchLight) |
| Typical monthly spend | $500–$5,000 (SuperDupr, 3D Media) | Set your own weekly budget |
| Minimum | About $5 a day (Yelp) | None published |
| Contract | None for self-serve (Yelp) | None |
| Where | Yelp search and competitor pages | Top of Google Search and Maps |
How to compare them fairly
- Count leads the same way on every platform.
- Remove leads you would not pay for (spam, wrong service, out of area).
- Track which leads book a job.
- Divide 30 days of spend by booked jobs on each.
Sources
- Yelp Support: how Yelp Ads cost per click is set
- Yelp for Business: Yelp Ads (budget, no term contract)
- SuperDupr: Yelp Ads click costs for contractors, 2026
- 3D Media: Yelp Ads cost for contractors, 2026
- SearchLight: LSA cost per lead by trade, 2026
- Google Ads Help: LSA transition to Performance Max
All sources checked 16 October 2026. Prices and terms change, so confirm them with each company.
FAQ
Are Yelp Ads or Local Services Ads better for contractors?
For most contractors, Google Local Services Ads cost less per booked job than Yelp Ads: Yelp charges per click (third-party 2026 reports put contractor clicks at $5–$25) with no published price, while LSA charges per lead, which SearchLight puts at $39–$79 in 2026 depending on trade. Yelp has no term contract for self-serve ads and starts at about $5 a day.
How much do Yelp Ads cost for contractors?
Yelp does not publish a price. Third-party 2026 reports put contractor clicks at $5–$25 and monthly budgets at $500–$5,000.
Do Yelp Ads have a contract?
Yelp says self-serve advertisers have no term contract and can pause or cancel any time.
Can I run both?
Yes. Compare them on cost per booked job over the same 30 days and move budget to the cheaper one.
Opus Group runs Google Ads, Local Services Ads and high-converting landing pages for local service businesses. See how it works.
Opus Group is a Google Ads and Local Services Ads agency for home-service contractors across the US.
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