By the HMNDP Editorial Team, independent reporting on lawn care, landscaping, and the green-industry business.
Last reviewed: June 2026.
Pest control brands at a glance: DIY products and national services
Pest control brands split into two groups: DIY product brands you buy off a shelf (Ortho, Spectracide, Terro, Raid, Sevin, Hot Shot, Bengal, Safer Home) and national service companies you hire (Orkin, Terminix, Aptive, Rollins, Ecolab). DIY products run roughly $8 to $25 per item. National plans run about $40 to $70 per month or $400 to $700 per year. The right choice depends on pest type and severity, not on price alone.
| Type | Example brands | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY products | Ortho, Spectracide, Terro, Raid, Sevin, Hot Shot | $8 to $25 per item | Early or small infestations, single pest, spot treatment |
| National services | Orkin, Terminix, Aptive, Ecolab | $40 to $70/mo, $400 to $700/yr | Termites, recurring pests, large or unknown infestations |
DIY pest control product brands: the shelf you actually see
DIY pest control product brands are the sprays, baits, and granules sold at Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, Ace, and Amazon. Most cost $8 to $25. The leaders are Ortho, Spectracide, Sevin, Terro, Raid, Hot Shot, Bengal, and Safer Home. Each brand tends to own a pest category, so matching the brand to your pest matters more than picking the “best” brand overall.
- Ortho (owned by Scotts Miracle-Gro): Home Defense indoor and perimeter sprays, plus Weed B Gon and Bug B Gon for lawn and yard. $10 to $25.
- Spectracide (owned by Spectrum Brands): Triazicide and Terminate for lawn insects and DIY termite stakes. $6 to $20.
- Sevin (owned by Central Garden & Pet): garden and lawn insect dust and granules, widely used for beetles and vegetable-garden pests. $8 to $18.
- Terro (owned by Woodstream): liquid ant baits are the category standard for indoor ants. $5 to $15.
- Raid (owned by SC Johnson): aerosol roach and ant killers, foggers, and baits. $5 to $12.
- Hot Shot and Black Flag (both owned by Spectrum Brands): foggers, roach baits, and bed bug products. $6 to $15.
- Bengal: dry-spray roach and flea products favored for low residue. $8 to $20.
- Safer Home (part of Woodstream’s Safer Brand line): OMRI-listed and insecticidal-soap options marketed as people-and-pet-friendly. $8 to $20.
You can compare application methods and timing in our guide to doing your own pest control.
Where to buy DIY pest control brands
DIY pest control brands are stocked at big-box retail and online. Home Depot and Lowe’s carry Ortho, Spectracide, Sevin, and Terro in the lawn-and-garden aisle year-round, with wider selection from spring through early fall. Walmart, Ace Hardware, and Amazon carry the same brands plus Raid, Hot Shot, and Bengal. Prices are similar across retailers, usually within a few dollars.
One buying tip: check the EPA registration number printed on any pesticide label. Every product legally sold in the US carries one, and it confirms the product is registered for the use you intend (indoor, outdoor, or edible-garden).
National pest control service companies: who they are
National pest control companies send licensed technicians to treat and monitor your home on a schedule. The largest by US revenue are Terminix, Orkin, Aptive, and Ecolab, with Rollins operating as the parent that ties several of these brands together. Plans typically run $40 to $70 per month or $400 to $700 per year, with a higher first-visit fee of about $150 to $300.
| Company | Parent | Founded / scale | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orkin | Rollins, Inc. | 125+ years, US and international | General pest, termites, rodents |
| Terminix | Rentokil (acquired 2022, $6.7B) | Founded 1927, national | Termites and general pest |
| Aptive | Independent | Founded 2015, fast-growing | Recurring residential plans |
| Ecolab / Pest Elimination | Ecolab Inc. | Fortune 500 | Commercial and food-service |
If you would rather hire close to home, weigh a national plan against a local pest control company, which often prices below the national brands for the same recurring service.
Orkin brand profile
Orkin is a national exterminator founded more than 125 years ago and owned by Rollins, Inc. It covers general pests, termites, rodents, and mosquitoes across most of the US through company and franchise branches. Orkin usually quotes after a home inspection, so its plans land in the $45 to $70 per month range for recurring service, with termite work quoted separately.
Terminix brand profile
Terminix is a national pest and termite company founded in 1927. In 2022, UK-based Rentokil acquired Terminix for about $6.7 billion, creating the world’s largest pest control operator. Terminix is known for termite plans and general pest coverage, with recurring service commonly around $40 to $60 per month after an initial visit near $100 to $150.
Who owns the pest control brands: the consolidation most buyers miss
Most “pest control brands” are owned by a handful of parent companies, so the market is far more consolidated than the shelf or the ad suggests. Rollins, Inc. owns Orkin, HomeTeam Pest Defense, Fox Pest Control, Clark, Northwest Exterminating, and Critter Control, and it added Saela in 2025. Rentokil owns Terminix as of 2022. On the DIY side, three or four companies own nearly every product brand.
| Brand you see | Actual parent company |
|---|---|
| Orkin, HomeTeam, Fox, Clark, Critter Control | Rollins, Inc. |
| Terminix | Rentokil (since 2022) |
| Ortho | Scotts Miracle-Gro |
| Spectracide, Hot Shot, Black Flag | Spectrum Brands |
| Terro, Safer Home | Woodstream |
| Sevin | Central Garden & Pet |
| Raid | SC Johnson |
Why this matters: two “competing” service brands in your area may share a parent, which can shape pricing and territory. And several DIY brands from the same parent use overlapping active ingredients, so a lower-priced sibling product may work just as well.
Best pest control brand by pest type
The best pest control brand depends almost entirely on the pest. Terro leads indoor ants, Raid and Hot Shot lead roaches, Ortho and Spectracide lead yard and perimeter insects, and termites or established rodent problems usually call for a pro like Orkin or Terminix. Use the table below to match your specific pest to a starting brand.
| Pest | Best DIY brand | When to call a pro |
|---|---|---|
| Ants (indoor) | Terro liquid bait | Carpenter ants in structural wood |
| Roaches | Raid, Hot Shot, or Bengal baits | Recurring German roach infestation |
| Mosquitoes | Ortho, Cutter, Spectracide yard spray | Standing-water or yard-wide control |
| Termites | Spectracide Terminate (spot only) | Almost always: Terminix or Orkin |
| Rodents | Tomcat, Victor traps | Repeat activity or wall-void nesting |
| Lawn / weeds | Ortho Weed B Gon, Sevin granules | Whole-lawn grub or disease damage |
DIY vs professional: a severity-based decision rule
Use pest type and severity, not price, to decide between DIY and a pro. DIY products work well for early, single-pest, small-area problems where you can see the source. Hire a national or local pro for termites, recurring infestations, structural risk, or any pest you cannot locate. This rule saves money on the easy cases and prevents costly damage on the serious ones.
- Go DIY if the pest is visible, limited to one area, and known (a line of ants, a few roaches, seasonal mosquitoes). Start with the brand matched to that pest.
- Go pro if you see termites, bed bugs, rodents in walls, or a roach problem that returns within two weeks of treatment. These spread or cause damage faster than DIY can keep up.
- Go pro by default for anything structural (wood, foundation, crawlspace) or health-related, where misidentification is expensive.
For a full budget breakdown across both paths, see our pest control costs guide.
Pet-safe and eco-friendly pest control brands
For pet and kid households, Safer Home and other insecticidal-soap or botanical products are the common starting point. Safer Home (part of Woodstream’s Safer Brand line) offers OMRI-listed options for organic use. No pesticide is fully “safe,” so the reliable rule is to read the label: keep pets and children off treated surfaces until dry, and confirm the EPA registration number and any indoor-use approval.
Among national services, many now offer plans marketed as lower-toxicity or targeted, though claims vary by company and state. Ask any provider for the specific product name and its label so you can verify pet and child guidance yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best pest control brands for 2026?
For DIY, the top brands are Ortho and Spectracide for yard and perimeter, Terro for ants, Raid and Hot Shot for roaches, and Safer Home for pet-friendly use. For national service, Orkin and Terminix lead, with Aptive growing fast. The best brand for you depends on the specific pest and whether the problem is small enough to treat yourself.
What is the difference between DIY product brands and professional pest control companies?
DIY product brands (Ortho, Terro, Raid) are consumer pesticides you buy for $8 to $25 and apply yourself. Professional companies (Orkin, Terminix) send licensed technicians on a schedule for about $40 to $70 per month. DIY suits small, visible, single-pest problems. Pros suit termites, recurring infestations, and anything structural or hard to locate.
Who makes the top DIY pest control products?
A few parents own nearly all of them. Scotts Miracle-Gro owns Ortho. Spectrum Brands owns Spectracide, Hot Shot, and Black Flag. Woodstream owns Terro and Safer Home. Central Garden & Pet owns Sevin. SC Johnson owns Raid. Because siblings share active ingredients, a cheaper product from the same parent often performs like a pricier one.
Which national pest control company is best, Orkin or Terminix?
Both are national and reputable. Orkin (owned by Rollins) has 125-plus years of coverage and strong general-pest and rodent service. Terminix (owned by Rentokil since 2022) is known for termite plans. Pricing is similar, roughly $40 to $70 per month. Choose Terminix if termites are the concern and Orkin for broad recurring pest control, then compare local quotes.
What pest control brand is best for a specific pest?
Match brand to pest: Terro liquid bait for indoor ants, Raid or Hot Shot for roaches, Ortho or Spectracide sprays for mosquitoes and yard insects, Tomcat or Victor for rodents, and Sevin for garden pests. Termites are the exception: use a national pro like Terminix or Orkin rather than a DIY brand for anything beyond a tiny spot treatment.
How much do DIY products cost versus hiring a national exterminator?
DIY products cost about $8 to $25 per item, so a single problem often costs under $30 to treat. National exterminators charge roughly $40 to $70 per month or $400 to $700 per year for recurring plans, plus a first-visit fee near $150 to $300. DIY is cheaper upfront, but pros can cost less over time on serious or recurring infestations.
Are DIY pest control brands as effective as professional services?
For small, early, single-pest problems, DIY brands can be just as effective when matched to the pest and applied correctly. For termites, bed bugs, wall-void rodents, or infestations that return within two weeks, professional service is usually more effective because technicians locate the source and use restricted-use products. Effectiveness depends more on the pest than the brand.
Which pest control brands are safe for pets and kids?
Safer Home and other insecticidal-soap or botanical products are the usual starting point for pet and kid households, and Safer Home offers OMRI-listed options. No pesticide is fully safe, so read the label, keep pets and children off treated surfaces until dry, and confirm the EPA registration number. For services, ask the provider for the exact product and its label.
For more independent buying guides, visit the HMNDP Learn hub.