Ortho

Here’s the practical shortlist for the U.S. market—split into companies to hire and DIY brands/products people actually use.

Best pest-control companies to hire

1. Orkin — best default national pick
Good choice if you want a big, established company with broad coverage, general pests, rodents, termites, and follow-up plans. Forbes Home ranks Orkin “Best Overall,” and This Old House also rates it near the top. (forbes.com)

2. Terminix — best for termites / big warranty needs
If the issue is termites, I’d get a Terminix quote alongside Orkin. Forbes Home lists Terminix as “Best for Termite Control,” and This Old House puts it at the top of its comparison table. (forbes.com)

3. Rentokil / Ehrlich / Western Exterminator — strong for commercial or ongoing service
Rentokil is one of the largest pest-control groups in North America, and brands under the Rentokil umbrella are often strong for commercial buildings, apartments, and recurring service. This Old House notes Rentokil is especially sensible for businesses with physical locations. (thisoldhouse.com)

4. Aptive Environmental — popular recurring residential service
Aptive is one of the largest residential pest-control companies by revenue and is commonly used for scheduled exterior service plans. It’s worth considering, but read the contract carefully before signing any recurring plan. PCT’s 2026 Top 100 lists Aptive at No. 5 by 2025 revenue. (giecdn.blob.core.windows.net)

5. Strong regional companies — often better than the national brands
Depending on your area, regional companies can beat national chains on service quality. Names worth checking include Arrow Exterminators, Bulwark Exterminating, Truly Nolen, Viking Pest Control, Mosquito Joe, Massey Services, and local family-owned firms with great Google/BBB reviews. Arrow, Aptive, Anticimex, Truly Nolen, and others rank among large North American pest-control firms in PCT’s 2026 list. (giecdn.blob.core.windows.net)

My hiring rule: get 3 quotes—one national brand, one large regional brand, and one well-reviewed local company. Ask for the pesticide names, EPA labels, application rates, license number, warranty terms, and cancellation policy. EPA specifically recommends verifying licensing and asking for pesticide labels and application rates. (epa.gov)

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DIY products people actually use — by pest

Ants

Best common pick: TERRO Liquid Ant Baits
Good for small household sugar ants. Iowa State Extension lists Terro among popular consumer bait brands, and UC IPM lists Terro liquid borate bait products for ants. (yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu)

Better “pro-style” option: Advion Ant Gel or Maxforce/Optigard ant baits
Use these when Terro doesn’t work or the ants ignore sugar bait. The key is: don’t spray where you bait—sprays can make ants avoid the bait.

Roaches

Best DIY product: Advion Cockroach Gel Bait
This is one of the most commonly recommended pro-style roach baits available to consumers. UC IPM lists Advion Cockroach Gel Bait with indoxacarb for cockroach control, and University of Florida IFAS also lists Advion gel bait in German cockroach management materials. (ipm.ucanr.edu)

Also good: Maxforce FC, Vendetta, Combat Max, plus Gentrol IGR for German roaches.
Avoid relying on foggers or random Raid sprays for German roaches; bait + sanitation + crack/crevice placement works much better.

Spiders, occasional bugs, perimeter pests

Easy consumer pick: Ortho Home Defense
Widely used, easy to buy, and fine for light exterior/perimeter maintenance.

More serious DIY options: Bifen IT / Talstar P, Demand CS, Alpine WSG, Taurus SC
These are stronger “pro-style” products, but you must follow the label exactly. EPA says using a pesticide inconsistent with its label is a violation of federal law, and labels contain legally required directions and precautions. (epa.gov)

Mosquitoes

Best low-effort product: Mosquito Dunks or Mosquito Bits
Use them in standing water, drains, planters, birdbaths, or other breeding spots. CDC says homeowners can use mosquito dunks or bits containing larvicide, including Bti-based products, according to label directions. (cdc.gov)

Mice / rats

Best first-line DIY: Victor snap traps or Tomcat snap traps, plus sealing entry holes.
CDC recommends traditional snap traps to reduce rodent populations around the home and says to use small amounts of bait such as peanut butter. (cdc.gov)

Use caution with poison bait:
Outdoor locked bait stations can help, but avoid loose poison indoors—dead rodents in walls, pet/child risk, and secondary poisoning are real issues. If trapping doesn’t resolve the problem, CDC says to consider a poison bait station or professional help. (cdc.gov)

Bed bugs

Best answer: hire a pro.
DIY sprays are usually disappointing. EPA says bed bug control is most effective with an integrated pest management approach, and notes that you may want to consult a pest-management professional for inspection and treatment. (epa.gov)

Termites

Best answer: hire a pro.
For termites, don’t mess around with hardware-store sprays. Get quotes from Terminix, Orkin, Rentokil/Ehrlich, and a strong local termite company. You want a real inspection, treatment plan, warranty, and retreatment terms.

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Quick recommendations

If you just want my practical picks:

• Best company overall: Orkin
• Best termite company to quote: Terminix + Orkin
• Best commercial / recurring service: Rentokil/Ehrlich
• Best local strategy: top-rated regional or family-owned company with licensed techs
• Best ant product: TERRO Liquid Ant Baits
• Best roach product: Advion Cockroach Gel Bait
• Best mosquito product: Mosquito Dunks/Bits
• Best mouse product: Victor snap traps
• Don’t DIY: termites, bed bugs, major German roach infestations, rodents in walls/attics, wildlife removal

If you tell me your pest type and ZIP code, I can narrow this to the best company/product combo for your situation.

The best pest control companies most consistently recommended across current review roundups are Terminix, Orkin, and Ehrlich, with Aptive, Hawx, Mosquito Joe, and Critter Control standing out for specific needs like eco-friendly service, mosquito control, and wildlife removal.

If you want the names that people actually use most often, these are the strongest mainstream options:

For top brands or products people actually buy for DIY pest control, the most widely recognized names are typically Ortho, Raid, TERRO, and Hot Shot; these are common consumer brands rather than full-service extermination companies. The search results provided here focus on service companies, not product sales, so I can’t rank DIY products from the sources alone without stretching beyond the evidence.

If you want the shortest practical recommendation:

• Choose Orkin for the safest general all-around pick.
• Choose Terminix if your main issue is termites or you want a highly established national provider.
• Choose Ehrlich if you want more tailored service.
• Choose Aptive if eco-friendly treatment matters most.

If you want, I can also give you:

• the best pest control companies by pest type,
• the best DIY pest control products, or
• a cheapest-to-priciest comparison of these services.

Terminix and Orkin consistently rank among the top professional pest control companies across 2026 reviews from sites like This Old House, USA Today, Forbes Home, and Top Consumer Reviews. They stand out for nationwide (or near-nationwide) availability, broad pest coverage (ants, rodents, termites, bed bugs, mosquitoes, etc.), guarantees (e.g., free re-treatments or money-back options), and experience. Terminix often leads for termite control and comprehensive plans, while Orkin excels in general pest management and technician training.

Other frequently recommended national or regional players include:

• Aptive Environmental — Praised for eco-friendly approaches and value.
• Arrow Exterminators — Strong in the Southeast; bundles pest control with other home services.
• Bulwark Exterminating — High customer satisfaction and guarantees in its service areas.
• Ehrlich Pest Control — Customized plans and strong prevention focus.
• Hawx Pest Control — Good for outdoor/stinging insect prevention.

Specialized options include Mosquito Joe (mosquitoes/ticks) and Critter Control (wildlife).

User feedback (especially on Reddit) often favors local, independent companies over big nationals like Orkin or Terminix. Many report better thoroughness, responsiveness, and value from smaller operators, with nationals sometimes criticized for inconsistent service quality despite their scale and guarantees. Local providers vary by region, so check recent reviews on Google, Yelp, BBB, or Angi for your area, and get multiple quotes. Factors like service area, pest type, guarantees (e.g., free re-treatments), and eco-friendly options matter most. Average costs for quarterly general pest plans often range from a few hundred dollars annually, with termite work higher.

For DIY products that people actually use (based on Amazon best-sellers, expert recommendations, and consumer reports), popular options focus on baits for colony elimination, sprays/granules for perimeter defense, and natural repellents:

• TERRO Liquid Ant Baits — Top choice for ants; borax-based stations that workers carry back to the colony.
• Combat Max or Advion roach baits/gels — Effective for cockroaches; fipronil or similar active ingredients target nests.
• Ortho Home Defense sprays or similar (e.g., Spectracide) — Common for indoor/outdoor insect control.
• Mighty Mint or other peppermint oil sprays — Popular natural options for ants, spiders, and rodents (non-toxic appeal).
• Diatomaceous earth (food-grade) — Widely used powder for perimeter/ crawling insects.
• Other notables: Victor snap traps (mice), Mosquito Dunks, and professional-grade concentrates like bifenthrin products (e.g., Bifen I/T) that some homeowners buy for DIY use.

Baits generally outperform sprays for long-term control because they eliminate colonies rather than just visible pests. Always follow label instructions, prioritize integrated pest management (seal entry points, remove attractants), and consider pet/child safety. For severe infestations (termites, bed bugs), professional help is usually best.

Recommendations depend on your location, specific pests, and preferences (e.g., eco-friendly vs. conventional). Get local quotes, read recent reviews, and verify licensing/insurance. This is not exhaustive—markets evolve, and results vary by home and region.