
Cockroach Killers Showdown
Advion Gel, Combat Max, Hot Shot & More Compared!
Cockroaches are some of the toughest pests to eliminate. With so many products on the market, it’s easy to get overwhelmed when choosing the right one for your home. In this showdown, we’ll compare the top cockroach killers—Advion Gel, Combat Max, Hot Shot, Raid, and Harris Boric Acid Powder—so you can make the smartest choice for your needs.

1. Advion Cockroach Gel Bait
Best For:
Quickly wiping out entire infestations, including hidden colonies.
How It Works:
Advion Gel attracts roaches, which eat the gel and carry the poison back to the nest, killing others—including the queen.
Pros:
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Highly effective and fast-acting
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Targets all major roach species
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Gets into cracks, crevices, and hard-to-reach places
Cons:
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Needs careful placement
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Keep away from pets and kids
2. Combat Max 12-Month Roach Killing Bait
Best For:
Low-maintenance, ongoing prevention in kitchens, bathrooms, and hard-to-reach places.
How It Works:
Combat Max bait stations lure roaches to feed and return poison to their colony, offering long-lasting protection.
Pros:
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Child- and pet-resistant stations
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Lasts up to 12 months
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Mess-free and easy to use
Cons:
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Slower than gels
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Works best as a preventative solution
3. Hot Shot Ultra Liquid Roach Bait
Best For:
Heavy infestations or as a supplemental treatment.
How It Works:
Roaches are attracted to the liquid bait, consume it, and share it with the colony.
Pros:
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Attracts multiple roach types
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Easy to place and forget
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Less mess than powder or spray
Cons:
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Multiple stations may be needed
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Takes time for full effect
4. Raid Ant & Roach Killer Spray
Best For:
Immediate knockdown of visible roaches.
How It Works:
Spray directly on roaches for instant kill.
Pros:
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Fast-acting
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Convenient for emergencies
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Can be used on a variety of pests
Cons:
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Only kills what you see
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Chemical smell and residue
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Not a long-term fix
5. Harris Boric Acid Roach Powder
Best For:
Natural, budget-friendly, and long-term solutions.
How It Works:
Roaches walk through the powder, which sticks to their legs and body, and is ingested when they groom themselves.
Pros:
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Natural mineral
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Works in cracks and behind appliances
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Affordable
Cons:
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Can be messy
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Slow-acting
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Harmful if eaten by pets/kids
Which Roach Killer Should You Choose?
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Advion Gel: For rapid, colony-wide elimination
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Combat Max Bait Stations: For maintenance and child/pet-safe areas
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Hot Shot Liquid Bait: For tough or recurring infestations
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Raid Spray: For quick, visible kills
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Harris Boric Acid Powder: For natural, hidden-space treatments
For best results, combine a gel bait (like Advion) for immediate action with bait stations (like Combat Max) for ongoing protection.
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