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I have worked with insecticides for most of this century, but the Pestie Smart Pest Plan was new to me. In the past, there were two ways to prevent or eliminate insect infestations: hire an exterminator or do it yourself. Hiring a pro was and still is the more expensive option, up front, but the value is in their expertise. A DIYer can easily waste time and money on wrong solutions, unless they take time to learn about bugs and chemicals. The Pestie pest control subscription offers the best of both worlds: a DIY solution with guaranteed results backed by professional expertise. I decided to test it at my house. In this Pestie Smart Pest Plan Review, I will share my experience with the system, including who will most benefit from using it.
Pestie Smart Pest Plan: At a Glance
Our rating: 4.7/5
| Pestie Smart Pest Plan Specs | |
| Guaranteed? | Yes |
| Controlled species | 100+ |
| Expert support | Yes |
| Applications per year | 4 |
| Yearly cost | Plans start at $140 |
Testing the Pestie Smart Pest Plan
As a long time homeowner with years of residential pest control experience, I’m probably not the target demographic for Pestie Smart Pest Plan. But for those new to DIY bug prevention, it offers guaranteed results by providing on-time delivery of effective pesticides. I appreciated the concept and wanted to give it a fair shake. I was able to test the service in the fall, which is a busy time for bugs as they wander indoors in search of food, water, or a sheltered space to overwinter. When my Pestie shipment arrived, I mixed and applied the product as directed in two key areas: a barrier around my home’s foundation and as a crack and crevice treatment inside the entryways, under kitchen and bathroom sinks, and along the baseboard trim.
The preventative treatment process was similar to what I’ve done for years—and it was just as effective. As a value shopper, I am very price conscious. This program costs quite a bit more than the insecticide concentrate I buy and apply with my pump sprayer. But the packaging was more user friendly, and the instructions were clear and easy to follow. Another added benefit to this program was that there was just enough product to do the job and nothing leftover to dispose of or store—somewhere—and hope it would be in good condition for the next application.
| What We Like | What We Don’t Like |
| Customized plan based on client location | Preventative only, not for current infestations |
| Expert support available | Higher cost than full DIY approach |
| Products ship at the correct application time | |
| Payment options to suit different needs |
Exactly What I Needed, Right On Time
To get started, I filled out a short questionnaire about my location and pest control needs (preventative only or existing infestation), and was instantly provided with a four-per-year treatment plan, with “today” as the first application and future application dates in mid-February, early May, and late July. My first Pestie box arrived within a week. The kit included a rechargeable spray wand, a single-use packet of insecticide concentrate, a mixing bag, and protective gloves.
Buyers have the option to pay for the full plan year at once (which garners the lowest price), paying as they go with auto renewal, or buying just one treatment. Subscription and auto-renewal options automatically ship at the proper application time, based on location and pest control needs. There is a real convenience factor here. It’s easy to lose track of the season or just let things slide when treatment means a run to the hardware store. Having this box arrive on your doorstep is a good reminder that it’s time to spray.
Crystal Clear User Interface
I took the time to read all of the safety precautions and application instructions, but it really was a matter of just mix and spray. The gloves didn’t fit my hands, but that’s a perennial problem for me so I keep XXL gloves around for that reason. After suiting up, I emptied the concentrate into the mixing bag, added plain tap water to the fill line, and screwed on the spray wand. After agitating for a couple of minutes it was time to spray. All the instructions were clearly labeled on each item in the kit, and there was a QR code on the mixing bag that linked to further clarification if needed.
The battery powered pump and spray wand is another handy convenience. It came fully charged and is durable enough to reuse many times over. A short USB charging cable was also included in the kit. The spray pattern and pressure were calibrated for large droplets and moderate pressure, which places the chemical on the targeted surface more efficiently than a fine mist. It worked well and held enough charge to empty the contents of the mixing bag. Afterward, I dropped the wand’s intake hose into a bucket of plain water and sprayed for a couple more minutes to clear out any insecticide left in the wand before storing it.
Top Tier Bug Prevention
The insecticide mixture in this kit is labeled for controlling more than 100 common household insect and arachnid pests. My usual suspects in the fall are our native smoky brown cockroaches that inhabit mulched landscape beds and follow the tiniest cracks into the basement or attic. The unfinished basement is also a magnet for crickets and centipedes. With everything currently under control, I hoped to keep it that way.
Shortly after I applied the preventative treatment, two things happened that would normally send bugs into the house. A 3-day rainy spell passed through our area followed by a 20-degree dip in temperature. Although it was not a dramatic change, nothing happened. A no-show by our local bug population is the best result I had hoped for, and the Pestie product delivered.
Safe for Indoor and Outdoor Use—Apply With Care
The active ingredients in Pestie Home Barrier B2 are Imidacloprid and Beta-Cyfluthrin, both highly effective bug killers that are safe for people and pets when used as instructed. Imidacloprid is a systemic neonicotinoid insecticide that targets feeding insects such as termites, bedbugs, fleas, and ticks. It works through both ingestion and contact. Beta-Cyfluthrin is a non-systemic pyrethroid insecticide that works against crawling and feeding insects, like ants, cockroaches, stink bugs, and others. The combination of Imidacloprid and Beta-Cyfluthrin has been trusted for many years to prevent insects from infesting stored grain, among other agricultural applications.
But chemical applications come with inherent environmental risks if the application instructions are misunderstood or disregarded. Pestie Home Barrier B2 is labeled for use as an outdoor home barrier treatment, or indoor spot spray. Once dried on a hard surface like concrete, brick, or wood, the residue dissipates in a few days. The biggest environmental risk is collateral damage to non-targeted insects and aquatic invertebrates if the product is sprayed in areas other than home exteriors or interior spot treatment. There is also a risk of contamination or low level toxic exposure if it is used improperly or unsafely indoors.
Premium Price for Timely Home Delivery
The Pestie Smart Pest Plan was easy to use and worked well for me, but determining the value is a more personal question. When it comes to home pest prevention the three options are professional service, a DIY subscription plan like Pestie, or figure it out and buy products on your own. Several pest control subscription programs offer tailored regional solutions nationwide. Among them, Pestie is one of the more expensive options. But it guarantees results with just four treatments, while some competitors do not offer guarantees or require more frequent applications. So it’s a premium price, but Pestie eliminates any guesswork and provides exactly what you need when you need it to keep bugs out of the house.
Product Comparisons
| Pestie Smart Pest Plan | DoMyOwn Pest Box | Sunday Complete Pest Solutions | Riddy Pest Pro Subscription | Ortho Home Defense | |
| Guaranteed results | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Controlled species | 100+ | Varies | “dozens” | 100+ | 130+ |
| Applications per year | 4 | 6 | Varies | 4 | 1 |
| Yearly cost | $140.00 | Varies | Varies | $110.00 | $9.97 |
So, is the Pestie Smart Pest Plan right for you?
Pestie Smart Pest Plan gave me exactly what it promised: a bug free house. The first delivery arrived within days of signing up, the kit was self-explanatory and easy to use, and I didn’t have to worry about storing unused chemicals for months at a time. Convenience runs through the service and, in my case, the product was as effective as advertised.
With timely deliveries at each application time throughout the year, this is a time- and money-saving system for beginning DIYers to take control of pest issues. They can save money they might otherwise spend on professional services by doing it themselves, but without navigating the process of bug identification and matching the chemical solution to the problem. Unless you want to be completely removed from the pest control process, or if you want to spend the absolute least amount of money, this could be the right way to protect your home.
Meet the Tester
Mark Wolfe is a writer and product tester with an extensive background in the green industry. For more than twenty years he mowed, edged, planted, pruned, cultivated, irrigated, and renovated beautiful landscapes. Now he tests and writes reviews about the latest outdoor power equipment, hand tools, home and garden products, and other outdoor living goods.
