How to Choose the Right Tree Service Company

November 4, 2026 · By Aaron DeVos

Arborist inspecting the canopy of a tree beside a home in Ontario

Summary

Choosing a tree service in Ontario is harder than it looks. Not every arborist does the same work, not every company has the same training or equipment, and five-star reviews don’t always mean good tree care. This guide explains the difference between a consulting arborist and a tree service company, what to check before you hire, and how to protect your trees and your wallet.

Consulting arborist vs. tree service: what’s the difference?

When most people think of an arborist, they picture a tree service: a crew with a truck, a chipper and chainsaws, pruning and cutting trees. That is the production side of the industry, and it is where most arborists work. But there is a second stream that many homeowners have never heard of: the consulting arborist. A consultant’s job is to assess the tree, diagnose the problem and recommend what should be done, not necessarily to do the work.

Both have a place. Knowing which one to call first can save you a tree, and money.

Pros and cons of hiring a consulting arborist

Pros

More training and credentials. Consultants typically carry more training and credentials than the staff of a tree service company.
A wider view of the problem. A good consultant can draw on many different people, tools and approaches to find the best solution for the client, not just the one they happen to sell.
Independent advice. Because they aren’t paid to do the work, their recommendation isn’t shaped by the equipment they own.

Cons

There is usually a fee. Most consultants charge to inspect a tree on site.
They often don’t do the work. Some consultants perform certain treatments, but many won’t do pruning, cabling, stump grinding or removal. You may still end up calling a tree service afterward (but they should at least point you in the right direction so that you can find someone that is good and affordable).

Pros and cons of hiring a tree service company

Pros

They do the work. Pruning, removals, stump grinding and cleanup come from one company, often with a free quote.
Equipment on hand. Crews arrive with the trucks, lifts and tools needed for the job.

Cons

Solutions are limited to what they offer. A tree service tends to recommend the solutions it is equipped to provide. If a company specializes in using a chainsaw to prune or remove trees, its recommendations will likely revolve around whether the chainsaw should be fired up. In reality, there may be many solutions that don’t require one.
Less training on average. The crew that shows up may have far less formal training than a consultant.

How to choose a tree service: 3 things to check

1. Reviews: look for consistency, not volume

Having lots of reviews isn’t what matters most. What matters is that the company scores high, consistently, across most of the reviews it gets.

Tip: Reviews aren’t everything. A company can collect plenty of high reviews without being good at caring for trees. While it’s great that the staff were friendly and did a thorough cleanup, that says little about whether they did the right things to the tree. A company can have lots of good reviews but carry out poor practices, the effects of which could cost the homeowner more in the long run.

2. Years of experience: every tree is different

There is no owner’s manual for every tree on every property. Reference materials do a poor job of predicting a tree’s future health and risk, because every tree is a little different from the next. A lot depends on the arborist’s experience in reading a tree’s condition. A seasoned arborist can draw on many similar trees they have seen before reaching a conclusion about yours.

3. Credentials: ISA Certified Arborist and 444A

Arborists can hold many credentials. Two are most common in Ontario:

ISA Certified Arborist. Issued by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). With the arborist’s full name or certification number, you can verify it in the ISA credential directory. Not every company that claims this title can back it up; see Is the Title of “Certified Arborist” Being Abused?
Ontario Arborist (444A). Earned by completing Ontario’s arborist apprenticeship program and passing the exam. Unlike the ISA credential, it can’t be verified online, so ask the arborist to show you a copy.

Tip: Ideally, the arborist who assesses your tree or gives the quote is credentialed, and so is the crew that does the work. With consultants, these are often the same person.

Does a tree service need WSIB and insurance?

None of this replaces the basics. Before anyone climbs your tree or starts a chainsaw on your property, make sure of two things:

Workers’ compensation (WSIB). Tree work is one of the most dangerous trades there is. Ask for a current WSIB clearance certificate, or look the company up yourself with the WSIB clearance lookup. If an uncovered worker is hurt on your property, you could be left dealing with the consequences.
Liability insurance. Ask for a certificate of insurance, and check that the policy is current and covers tree work. If a limb lands on your roof, your neighbour’s car or a power line, this is what pays for it.

A company that can’t or won’t show you these is not one to hire, however good its price or its reviews.

Find the right tree service company near you

Finding the right tree service means matching your tree’s problem to a company with the right experience, credentials, equipment and coverage. That is exactly what ArborProof is built to help with. Browse tree service companies by city or search the full directory to compare companies in your area, see which credentials we have confirmed, and find the best company for the job.

Written by Aaron DeVos, ArborProof. Last updated November 4, 2026.