Orkin Review (2022)

Nothing can disturb your peace of mind more quickly than a pest infestation. So whether you’re looking to prevent or eliminate a creepy-crawly concern, you’ll want to choose a reputable pest control provider to protect your home.

In our research on pest control, we read hundreds of reviews from real customers on third-party sites, listened to more than 100 hours of customer service calls, and secret-shopped for quotes, and found that Orkin is one of the most recognizable and tenured providers in the pest control industry. Our comprehensive Orkin review offers details on treatment plans, reservicing policies, customer reviews, pros and cons, and how Orkin compares to other top pest control companies. 

Fast Facts About Orkin

• Pests Covered: Ants, bed bugs, beetles, carpenter ants, centipedes, cockroaches, crickets, earwigs, fleas, flies, millipedes, mites, mosquitoes, moths, rodents, silverfish, spiders, stinging insects, termites, ticks, and wildlife
• 24/7 Availability: Yes
• State Availability: 47 (all but Alaska, South Dakota, and Wyoming)
• Get a Quick Quote: Visit Orkin site

Upsides and Downsides of Orkin

Here are a few of our top pros and cons for Orkin’s pest management services:

Orkin Pest Control Services

All of Orkin’s general pest control services treat for 15 common pest issues, but your initial visit and price will be determined by the biggest potential pest issue you’re facing. This first service is the most aggressive and will be more tailored than the subsequent general visits. After the initial inspection and treatment, your Orkin services will be provided as bimonthly general pest control treatments. Note that service offerings may vary by region.

• Ants: Ant treatments are included in Orkin’s general plan using a combination of insecticides and dealing with potential entry points. There is an additional service available for tough-to-treat carpenter ants.
• Bed bugs: Orkin offers treatments for bed bugs after an initial inspection to determine where they live throughout the house and the number of generations. The company then delivers heat, freezing, and chemical treatment to oust these critters.
• Beetles: Beetles, a common household pest, are included in Orkin’s general plan.
• Centipedes and millipedes: These creatures are included in Orkin’s general pest control treatments, no matter how many legs they have.
• Cockroaches: Cockroaches are included in bimonthly treatments under the general Orkin plan.
• Crickets: Bimonthly cricket treatment and prevention is part of Orkin’s general plan.
• Earwigs: Earwigs are included in the umbrella of pests covered by the general plan from Orkin.
• Fleas: As a stand-alone or add-on service, Orkin will treat for fleas in the home by identifying entry points, eliminating these pests, and preventing recurring infestations. 
• Flies: Treatment for flies is part of the bimonthly services included in Orkin’s general pest control plan.
• Mites: Mites are another common pest in many areas of the country covered under the general plan from Orkin. 
• Mosquitoes: For an additional fee, Orkin offers mosquito treatments as a stand-alone or add-on service performed monthly from April through October.
• Moths: Moth prevention and treatment are included in the general plan offered by Orkin.
• Rodents: Rodents, like mice and rats, are covered in Orkin’s general pest plan, though a current rodent issue may present a higher cost for the initial visit.
• Silverfish: These common bathroom bugs are included in Orkin’s general pest control treatments.
• Scorpions: For warmer areas of the country that experience these pests, scorpions are some of the pests covered in the general plan.
• Spiders: Spiders are part of the standard coverage in an Orkin general plan.
• Stinging insects: Orkin offers treatment for stinging insects, such as wasps and hornets, as an individual or added service. In typical treatments for these pests, Orkin will knock down the nest and use a pheromone-blocking spray to prevent them from returning.
• Termites: If you’re battling termite damage from these house-harming insects, an Orkin Pro will perform liquid Termidor treatments, apply OrkinFoam dry foam treatments to seal hard-to-reach areas, and use Sentricon baiting and monitoring methods for ongoing termite control.
• Ticks: Ticks can be a significant health hazard, and tick prevention is offered as an additional service for homeowners. Orkin treats for ticks by starting with a thorough inspection, using insecticides to treat their resting environments, and suggesting changes to the habitat for the residing family and any four-legged friends to avoid future problems.
• Wildlife: Orkin’s wildlife treatments vary significantly based on the animal, but an Orkin Pro will customize a plan to deter or trap the pest in question safely. This can be an added treatment in conjunction with a general plan or a one-off pest control service.

Orkin Reservice Guarantee

Orkin provides a thorough reservicing guarantee, promising to return free of charge for follow-up services if covered pests return between treatments. For example, if spiders appear between bimonthly services, an Orkin specialist would return before the next scheduled visit to reapply. The company also provides a 30-day money-back guarantee for those unsure whether pest control is right for them. 

Orkin Pricing

Perhaps due to more than 120 years of experience, Orkin’s prices can exceed competitor rates, particularly for initial visits. For an accurate idea of pricing, we secret-shopped the company for a three-bedroom, three-bathroom house on an acre of land in Cincinnati.

For Orkin’s general plan, we were quoted $216.50 without mosquitos for the first inspection and treatment, then $94.83 per month for ongoing pest control. The customer service representatives we spoke with noted that the price of the initial visit would be determined partially by the specific type of pests your home is battling. 

While Orkin’s mosquito treatments start in April and end in October, they are charged monthly throughout an entire year. Initial mosquito treatment was $134, then $59 monthly after the first service. 

Orkin Reviews

After analyzing hundreds of reviews across multiple third-party sites, we found that many positive reviews cited the proactive communication, professionalism, and timeliness of Orkin Pros. The few negative reviews we encountered mentioned opposite experiences: late arrival times or missed appointments with no notice. Below are a few representative reviews from Orkin customers.

I have had a great experience using Orkin since becoming a homeowner last year. We have a lot of foliage and an older home, and bugs are my biggest fear. I am so pleased with our service, and our technician. Thank you… for keeping our home bug free! —Erika Thomas via Google Reviews

My initial request was to get rid of a very busy gopher in my yard. Arrived well within the time the tech said he would and got right down to business. Explained what he would be doing, why, and what to expect. Then also treated the outside of the house for spiders, ants, wasps, earwigs, etc. Very professional, thorough and efficient. —Shannon McAllister via Google Reviews

Generally a good and reliable company. However, the service is half done. As an example[,] the focus hedge in my backyard is often not treated for whitefly[,] which is one of the reasons I got Orkin in the first place. Service could be better to match the prestige of the Orkin name. —Dhruv Khanna via Google Reviews

I do not care for people walking in and out of your house multiple times in shoes. We maintain a nice house. Management should train staff not to be presumptuous, but rather respectful to homeowners. Provide shoe covers and encourage your employees to be considerate. —Victoria Sanford via Google Reviews

How Orkin Compares to the Competition

Here’s how Orkin compares to other professional pest control options:

Our Recommendation

If you need a professional exterminator, Orkin is an excellent choice for pest control. It offers more than 120 years of experience, a money-back guarantee within the first 30 days of service, and exceptional customer service in both reviews and our experience secret shopping. 

However, based on our extensive research across the industry, we recommend Terminix as the top national provider for pest control. Terminix tops our list based on its excellent reputation among third-party reviews, wide range of options for help over the phone and online, and comprehensive pest control services.

If you live in an eligible area, Hawx is another reputable provider of pest control plans, though it lost points in our review for its lack of a 24/7 customer service line. We always recommend that you request quotes from multiple providers to compare personalized treatment plans for your home before deciding.

How We Chose the Top Pest Control Companies

Our pest control research process starts with combining takeaways from a deep analysis of more than 1,000 customer reviews on third-party websites, such as Yelp, Google Reviews, Best Company, and the Better Business Bureau, and listening to more than 100 customer service call recordings from large pest control brands.

From there, we compile a list of important factors that commonly come up in that customer feedback, build out a scoring tool based on those factors, and analyze each company to find how they stack up against each other. For instance, companies that offer more guarantees for their service earned more points than others, and pest control plans with a larger range of covered pests earned more points than ones with fewer.

After analyzing dozens of residential and commercial pest control businesses through this process, we were able to determine the best pest control companies on the market that offer services in a wide range of states across the country to help our readers find the best professional near them.