Popular Fly Traps Ranked From Worst To Best Based On Reviews

Flies and fruit flies can be a real nuisance in your home. They swarm around your face, land on your food, and can even make distracting noises when you're trying to focus. Even outdoors, an invasion of flies can ruin a relaxing time on the patio or your ability to host a barbecue. While you could DIY a fly trap, some store-bought options may be more effective.

To help you find the best way to get rid of the flies invading your home, we researched some popular traps on the market and ranked them from worst to best. To help us determine the placement of each product in our rankings, we closely considered the customer reviews. Beyond simply looking at the average star rating, we also weighed the total number of reviews, as well as the percentage of customers who gave each product a 4- or 5-star rating. We also listed a few fly traps that you might want to avoid because of the poor reviews that customers have given them. You can learn more about the methodology we used to select these products at the end of this article, but in the meantime, keep reading to discover which fly trap may be the best fit for your indoor or outdoor fly-catching needs.

Do you have a few sneaky things in your home that are attracting fruit flies which then never seem to leave? If yes, you'll probably want to skip over the Wondercide Fruit Fly Trap when looking for the best solution. This trap has a low, 3.4-average star rating, indicating that many customers are not satisfied with its performance. The fruit fly trap is designed to lure the insects into the jar and then kill them when they come into contact with the solution inside. However, the low customer rating tells a different story than what the manufacturer claims.

Reviewers have questioned the performance of the jar while also noting that it has a very strong odor and isn't worth the price that they paid. "Honestly, an overpriced product that didn't have a huge impact on assisting with removal of the fruit flies. A home remedy would've done the same, or better, while saving a few bucks," wrote one customer. The 3.4-star review is also based on nearly 5,000 customer reviews, so when you consider that 31% of reviewers (or about 1,400 people) gave it a 1- or 2-star rating, you can get an idea of how many were very displeased with its ability to control their problem. 

The Raid Essential Fruit Fly Trap also doesn't look to be the best choice for those who want to rid their home of these pesky little bugs. More than 2,000 customers have reviewed it, giving it only a 3.5-star rating. While Raid claims that the trap will effectively kill bugs with its plant-based ingredients and essential oils, several customers have different opinions.

Over 40% of reviewers gave the traps 3 stars or fewer and over 20% went with the lowest rating of one star. In their reviews, several users were critical of the product's smell as well as commenting in its apparent lack of effectiveness. One wrote, "I've only had it open for three days, very stinky and hasn't caught one fruit fly. I have little flies in my plants and it hasn't caught one of those I have to dump it, can't get past the smell. It's rotten fruit juice."

The Rescue! Deck & Patio Fly TrapStik sounds like a top option based on the manufacturer's description. It's odorless, designed using colors and patterns to attract flies, and features a glue guard to make sure people or other animals don't inadvertently come into contact with the sticky trap. However, while the manufacturer's description may tell you one thing, if you look at the reviews from real customers, you'll learn something else. This fly trap has only a 3.8-star rating, which is based on more than 200 reviews.

Of those reviewers, 25% gave it either 1 or 2 stars, reflecting their overall dissatisfaction. Many were not impressed with the quality and found that it wasn't as effective as they were hoping. One user shared, "We have a bunch of flies in our backyard. I put three of these out and in seven days one fly was caught! Hope to find something else that works!"

The Mosalogic Flying Insect Plug-In Trap is another option where many of the customer reviews just don't match the manufacturer's claims about the performance of the product. With more than 10,000 reviews and a 3.8-star rating, it is clear that there is something about this product that should give you pause before adding it to your cart. It is designed to use UV lights to attract fruit flies, mosquitoes, and other flying insects, trapping them on the integrated glue board.

Unfortunately, nearly a fifth of users gave this product a dismal 1-star rating. Several reviewers commented on the poor performance given the higher price tag and the product's ability to actually catch flies or fruit flies. "I've had this plugged in for a month and it's only successfully caught three fruit flies, and we are swarmed with them. I put a bowl of apple cider vinegar below it and managed to catch more in that bowl than on the trap. I literally watched flies walk along the sticky side without getting stuck. This trap is only useful as a nightlight," wrote one customer who doesn't seem likely to purchase this fly trap again.

With a 4.2-star rating based on more than 1,200 reviews, this Raid Fly Ribbon appears to be a more solid pick than the lower-rated options above. Designed for both indoor and outdoor use, you can hang the fly trap anywhere that flies, moths, gnats, or other insects are a problem. The strips attract the bugs and trap them on the sticky pad. Once full, you can simply toss it in the trash and hang up a new one to continue trapping pesky flying insects.

Nearly 80% of reviewers gave these traps a 4- or 5-star rating and many customers were pleased with how easy to use these traps are. One user shared, "Tried those newfangled plugins, to no avail. After a week, we still had flies, but did catch one gnat. Went back to the strip, and had a fly within one half-hour. Tried and true, will never experiment again."

If you're looking for something more attractive than hanging sticky traps, consider this Plug-in Flying Insect Trap from Burlan. It comes highly recommended by many customers, holding a 4.3-star rating based on more than 1,800 reviews. The trap uses UV wavelengths to attract flies, fruit flies, and other flying insects. Once the bugs are attracted to the light, they are trapped on the sticky glue pad, keeping them from being a nuisance in your space. Because the trap relies on UV lights to attract bugs, it doesn't have a strong odor that some other options do. Once the glue card is full, it can be removed and replaced to keep the trap working at its best. It's a promising tool to combine with other strategies like opting for trash cans with lids (as garbage cans without lids can attract more flies than those with a lid) and keeping fruit in the fridge.

More than 80% of customers have given this trap a 4- or 5-star rating and 72% of users decided it deserved 5 stars. Some of the features highlighted by several reviewers include the stickiness, ease of use, and overall design and performance. "I love this product, especially during high traffic of flies season. It actually catches flies and they stick to the back. No one can see the collection unless you turn it around. It also works as a night light..." shared one reviewer who was glad they decided to try this fly trap.

Are you tired of swarming flies ruining your backyard barbecues or outdoor events? If so, take a look at these Outdoor Fly Magnets from Sewanta. They have nearly 12,000 reviews and hold a 4.4-star rating. Simply hang the fly traps near the areas where flies are a problem. The manufacturer recommends a location that is about 25 feet away from seating areas due to the stronger odor released by the traps. Once hung, flies will be attracted by the smell and directed down the cap into the trap's liquid where they'll drown. This trap uses a non-toxic bait, making it safe to use in areas around children or pets. For best results, hang the traps about 5 hours before you plan to spend time outside. A shady location, out of the direct sun, will help prolong the life of the trap and prevent the water from evaporating too quickly.

A solid 70% of reviewers gave these traps a 5-star rating, and 14% gave them a 4-star rating. Many reviewers highlighted how easy the traps are to use and how well they work to catch flies. One satisfied customer wrote, "This is very, very easy to use and it works like crazy. I was so shocked seeing how many flies it actually traps/kills. I had a ton of flies gathering around my backyard because of my dog's poo, but this took most of them out. I definitely would order again."

If you're ready to get rid of fruit flies once and for all, and realize that your pot plants are the source of the problem, consider trying this 36-pack of Sticky Traps from Garsum. They have a 4.4-star rating, which is based on more than 50,000 reviews. These traps are designed to press directly into the soil of your potted plants, attracting bugs that may be a nuisance or cause them harm. Each trap is both UV-resistant and waterproof and features an eco-friendly and odorless design. The traps are bright yellow to help them attract pests, and their sticky surface will help keep the bugs trapped, preventing them from laying more eggs in the damp soil of your houseplants.

The majority of customers who have tried these fruit fly traps are pleased with their performance, and 85% of users have given them either a 4- or 5-star rating. Many mentioned the ease of use, value, and catch rate in their product review. One pleased customer wrote: "Such a simple yet highly effective solution. Attracted the fruit flies almost immediately. No toxic sprays, just a great design! Highly recommend!"

With a 4.5-star rating based on more than 26,000 reviews, this Flowtron Bug Zapper seems to have a lot of potential for solving a fly problem. The hanging lantern, which is designed for outdoor use, can provide coverage for up to one acre. It attracts flies and other pesky insects using a UV black light and then zaps them with the high-powered kill grate, eliminating the source of your problems. The design of the lantern even prevents bugs from getting stuck inside of it. Instead, they drop to the ground so you don't have to worry about cleanup.

Nearly three-quarters of reviewers gave this bug zapper a 5-star rating. Many were pleased with its ability to kill bugs and make their yards a more enjoyable place. One reviewer shared, "The Bug Zapper has been doing a great job keeping our yard clear of mosquitoes and flies. It covers a large area and the 40W bulb with the 5600V killing grid really packs a punch. I have to admit, the zapping sound when bugs get caught is oddly satisfying."

The 4.6-star rating, based on the feedback of nearly 500 customers, of the Rescue! Indoor Hanging Fly TrapStik separates it from many of its competitors, landing it third in our roundup. It also separates the product from the deck and patio trap by the same brand listed above, with this indoor version earning more promising feedback. The trap offers a hanging design, allowing you to position it in the kitchen, bathroom, or any other room where something is attracting flies (if you can't identify what's luring them, here's a guide on common issues in your home and garden that might be attracting flies). As the bugs flock to the enticing pattern, the sticky coating grabs them and prevents them from escaping. The effectiveness of this VisiLure technology also means that this trap doesn't have to rely on the strong odors that other manufacturers add to their traps.

Beyond the overall high 4.6-star average rating, nearly 90% of reviewers gave this trap 4 or 5 stars. A few of the features that were highlighted across several reviews include the functionality, ease of use, and catch rate of the trap. "So glad we purchased these fly traps. After seeing more and more flies in our backyard, decided to try this product. And boy it does the job very well. We are seeing flies and other bugs getting stuck to them. Will buy them again for sure!" shared one pleased customer.

Trick flies into getting stuck as they buzz around your window with this 50-pack of Window Fly Traps from LFSYS. Nearly 5,000 customers have given them an average 4.7-star rating. The clear traps are designed to attach to the inside of a window, luring flies into the sticky glue that coats them. The traps are coated with a non-toxic glue, providing some peace of mind if you want to be able to use them around children or pets.

An impressive 84% of customers gave these traps a 5-star rating. The traps' ability to catch flies, their ease of application and removal, and their neutral odor were some of the features that several reviewers highlighted. One wrote, "We use these every year. We put them in the window before fly season, and it's amazing to see all the baby flies we catch before they are able to mature and lay more eggs. With these, we haven't had a fly problem in our house for several summers now, even with five kids in and out."

These Rescue! Outdoor Disposable Hanging Fly Traps earn the top spot in our roundup. They have 4.7 stars based on feedback from more than 14,000 customers — and are easy to use. Simply open up the trap entrance (following the directions from the manufacturer), activate the bait by adding some water, and hang the trap outside. The bait will attract flies to the trap, encouraging them to pass through the small opening in the cap, where they'll subsequently be caught and stuck in the water. Because the bait in these traps attracts flies with its strong odor, the manufacturer does recommend hanging them a minimum of 20 feet away from areas of the yard where people gather.

More than 82% of reviewers gave these traps a 5-star rating with 10% giving them 4 stars. Overall, customers were impressed with how effectively the traps caught flies and kept their problems under control. One satisfied user shared, "These work so well. We were inundated with flies that would hover by our door. Every time we opened the door at least 10 flies would come inside. After hanging this in a tree near our front door, the difference was amazing. If you keep the water level up by adding extra water as needed they are effective for three weeks. In all we must have trapped at least 1,000 flies the first two weeks. Great value as well. It does have a strong smell so don't put too close to a sitting area."

We closely considered customer feedback when ranking the fly traps listed above, evaluating reviews to ascertain the likely effectiveness of each trap. In addition to looking at the overall star rating for each product, we also factored in the number of reviews as well as the percentage of customers who gave each fly trap a 4- or 5-star rating (and how many gave each only a 1-, 2-, or 3-star rating.