Comparison Guide
CraftJack vs BaaDigi: Pay-Per-Lead vs Owning Your Pipeline
CraftJack is one of the more popular pay-per-lead platforms for contractors — cheaper than HomeAdvisor, a bit more selective about who gets each lead. For contractors who are new to paid leads or testing a market, the lower price point is appealing. But the core business model is identical to every other lead platform: you're renting access to leads you don't own, from homeowners who found a platform brand instead of yours. This guide breaks down CraftJack's true cost structure, compares it to building your own marketing, and shows you when each approach actually makes sense.
Last updated June 2026
The Short Answer
Quick answer: CraftJack sells shared pay-per-lead at $10-$50 per lead, sent to 2-4 contractors, that close at 15-25% — putting the real cost per booked job around $125-$250. It's cheaper and more selective than HomeAdvisor and requires no long-term contract, making it a fine short-term supplement. But like every lead platform, you build zero asset: stop paying and the leads stop, and homeowners remember CraftJack, not your company. Exclusive leads from your own SEO and Google Ads close at 30-50%, dropping cost per booked job to $100-$200 within 12 months. BaaDigi builds that owned pipeline on a one-client-per-zip-code basis, with every lead, ranking, and dollar tracked on the Predictable Work Dashboard and AI follow-up responding in under 60 seconds.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| CraftJack | BaaDigi (Owned Pipeline) | |
|---|---|---|
| Lead type | Shared (2-4 pros) | 100% exclusive to you |
| Cost per lead | $10-$50 | ~$50 — drops year over year |
| Close rate | 15-25% | 30-50% |
| Real cost per booked job | $125-$250 | $100-$200 (by month 12) |
| Contract | None — no long-term contract | Month-to-month |
| You own the asset? | No | Yes — rankings, ads, site |
| Speed-to-lead | Manual (30-min discount window) | AI responds in <60 sec |
CraftJack
Visit sitePricing: $10-$50 per lead, shared with 2-4 contractors. Pricing varies by trade, location, and job type.
Pros
- Lower cost per lead than HomeAdvisor ($10-$50 vs $15-$100+)
- Leads sent to fewer contractors (usually 2-4, sometimes fewer)
- Simple pay-per-lead model with no long-term contracts required
- Good for testing new service areas before committing to marketing investment
- Discount for fast responders — respond within 30 minutes and get a price reduction
Cons
- Leads are still shared — you're competing with 2-4 contractors per lead
- You build zero long-term asset — stop paying and leads stop immediately
- Limited control over lead quality, source, or volume
- No brand building — homeowners remember CraftJack, not your company
- Costs never decrease regardless of how long or how much you spend
- Dispute resolution for bad leads is inconsistent and time-consuming
Best for: Contractors who need a predictable, lower-cost lead supplement while building their own long-term marketing channels
CraftJack vs HomeAdvisor: Is CraftJack Actually Better?
CraftJack operates on the same fundamental model as HomeAdvisor — you pay per shared lead — but with some differences that matter to contractors in the right situation.
CraftJack typically sends leads to 2-4 contractors instead of 3-5, which slightly improves your odds. Their pricing is often lower ($10-$50 vs $15-$100+). Their "speed-to-contact" discount (respond within 30 minutes and get a price reduction) incentivizes fast follow-up, which aligns with best practices for lead conversion.
However, the fundamental economics are the same: shared leads close at 15-25% at best. At $30/lead with a 20% close rate, you're paying $150 per booked job. With exclusive leads from your own marketing and a 40% close rate, you might pay $75 per booked job — and the entire budget goes toward building assets you own.
CraftJack is genuinely better than HomeAdvisor for cost-conscious contractors who need supplemental leads. It's still not a substitute for owning your pipeline.
The Right Way to Use CraftJack (If You Use It)
If you decide to use CraftJack, here's how to maximize your return:
**Speed is everything.** CraftJack sends the same lead to multiple contractors simultaneously. Contractors who respond within 5 minutes win the job at dramatically higher rates than those who respond in 30-60 minutes. Set up auto-response text messages immediately when you receive a new lead notification.
**Track your cost per booked job, not cost per lead.** Many contractors focus on the per-lead price and lose track of actual ROI. Build a simple spreadsheet: leads purchased, leads contacted, leads converted to appointments, appointments converted to jobs, revenue per job. CraftJack only makes sense if your cost per booked job is below your acceptable CAC threshold.
**Set a hard monthly budget cap.** Without a cap, it's easy to spend far more than intended during busy seasons. Most contractors should limit CraftJack to 10-20% of total marketing spend at most.
**Use it as a bridge, not a foundation.** The contractors who use CraftJack most profitably are those running it alongside (not instead of) SEO and Google Ads, using platform leads for immediate cash flow while their owned channels ramp up.
Why Building Your Own Pipeline Beats CraftJack Long-Term
Here's the compounding math that lead platforms don't want you to see:
Year 1 with CraftJack at $2,000/month: 40-80 leads/month shared, 8-16 jobs booked. Cost per booked job: $125-$250. Assets built: $0.
Year 1 with BaaDigi at $2,000/month (Stability Engine): 15-30 leads/month exclusive (lower volume, higher close rate), 6-12 jobs booked initially. Cost per booked job early on: $165-$330. Assets built: Google rankings, GBP authority, conversion-optimized website.
Year 3 with CraftJack at $2,000/month: 40-80 leads/month (prices have increased), same math. Assets built: $0. You've spent $72,000 with nothing to show but jobs completed.
Year 3 with BaaDigi investment: 40-80 leads/month (SEO now generating 60%+ of leads for free), 16-40 jobs booked. Cost per booked job: $50-$125. Assets built: established Google rankings, strong GBP, loyal referral base, domain authority that generates leads even when you're not paying for ads.
The first 6-12 months look similar or slightly favor CraftJack for cost per job. Years 2-5, your own pipeline wins by a widening margin.
The BaaDigi Alternative: Own Your Pipeline
Instead of renting leads from platforms, we build a marketing system you own — one that generates exclusive leads and gets cheaper over time.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is CraftJack worth it?
CraftJack offers some of the cheapest shared contractor leads available ($10-$50). For new contractors or those testing a new service area, it can generate cash flow quickly. The leads are shared with 2-4 other contractors, so your close rate will be lower (15-25%) than exclusive leads. The real question is whether CraftJack is your primary growth strategy or a bridge while you build something you own. As a supplement to your own marketing, it can make sense. As a standalone strategy, you're perpetually renting leads with no equity built.
How much do CraftJack leads cost?
CraftJack leads range from $10-$50 depending on your trade, location, and project type. Roofing and HVAC leads are typically more expensive ($30-$50), while handyman and cleaning services run cheaper ($10-$25). They offer a speed-to-contact discount: respond within 30 minutes and get a price reduction. Even at the lower end, the real cost is cost-per-booked-job. At $25/lead with a 20% close rate, you're paying $125 per booked job — before any overhead.
Can I use CraftJack AND build my own marketing?
Absolutely — and that's often the smartest approach for contractors with limited starting budgets. Use CraftJack for immediate lead flow and cash generation while simultaneously investing in SEO, Google Ads, and a conversion-optimized website. As your own channels ramp up (typically 3-6 months for Google Ads, 6-12 months for SEO), gradually reduce your CraftJack budget. Most contractors who follow this transition plan are 80-100% off shared lead platforms within 18-24 months and paying 40-60% less per booked job.
What trades work best on CraftJack?
CraftJack works across most home service trades. Based on contractor reports, the best performing categories tend to be: landscaping and lawn care (lower-cost, repeat business potential), painting (lower average ticket but consistent demand), and general handyman services. Higher-ticket trades like roofing replacement and HVAC installation can work too, but at $30-$50 per shared lead, the economics only work if your team responds within minutes and your close rate is strong. Trades with extremely high ticket values ($15,000+ jobs) can absorb higher lead costs; trades with $300-$800 average tickets need very low cost per lead to be profitable.
How is CraftJack different from HomeAdvisor?
CraftJack and HomeAdvisor are both pay-per-lead platforms with a similar business model — they generate homeowner requests and sell them to multiple contractors. Key differences: CraftJack typically sends leads to fewer contractors (2-4 vs HomeAdvisor's 3-5), CraftJack's pricing is generally lower ($10-$50 vs $15-$100+), CraftJack offers a speed-to-contact discount, and CraftJack has a simpler pricing structure without the annual membership complexity of HomeAdvisor/Angi. Neither platform helps you build long-term equity or brand recognition.
What's the best alternative to CraftJack for contractors?
The best long-term alternative to CraftJack is building your own lead generation system: Google Business Profile optimization for local pack rankings, SEO to rank organically for high-intent searches, Google Ads for immediate exclusive leads, and a conversion-optimized website to turn traffic into calls. This approach generates 100% exclusive leads, costs less per booked job after 12 months, and builds equity that compounds over years. BaaDigi's Stability Engine starts at $497/month and covers the core channels needed to replace shared lead dependency.
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