Competition from other spider species, and predation by other spiders as well as insects, other arthropods and some birds plays an important role in controlling hobo spider populations. Some domestic animals, particularly house cats, are fond of playing with and killing hobo spiders as well.

Predatory insects, such as the European praying mantis, Mantis religiosa, have been introduced into the northwestern United States, and will definitely kill and eat hobo spiders: Mantids however are diurnal, hunting and feeding chiefly during the day, while hobo spider activity is almost entirely nocturnal. Some Hymenoptera, such as the black and yellow mud-dauber wasp, Scelifron caementarium, provision their nests with spiders, in a similar fashion to that of the popularized Pepsis wasp or "tarantula hawk", Pepsis spp.. While mud-dauber wasps in the northwestern U.S. and southern Canada almost certainly provision their nests with occasional hobo spiders, nests in Washington state have been reported to contain a high percentage of orb weaving spiders, while nests in Montana contain mostly diurnal spiders, such as the flower crab spider, Misumena vatia: As with the mantis, relatively few hobo spiders are likely to become prey items for wasps due to differing time schedules.

The single most effective natural agent for the control of hobo spiders is the presence of other competing and predatory spider species. No human method or technology can effectively compete in destroying or keeping hobo spiders away from homes, when compared to the activities of competitive/predatory spiders. Most other spider species compete directly with hobo spiders for food, as insects and other small arthropods are the staple diet of both the hobo and most other spider species. Within the current U.S. range of the hobo spider, important food competitors include the crab spiders, Philodromus spp. and Xysticus spp., Pardosa wolf spiders, Pardosa spp. , and jumping spiders of the genera Phidippus and Salticus. Some spider species compete with the hobo for web building sites as well, particularly those native or previously introduced members of the spider family Agelenidae, such as the grass spiders, Agelenopsis spp. and harmless members of the genus Tegenaria. When such competition from one species effectively displaces or prevents another species from becoming established in a particular habitat, that process is termed competitive exclusion.

Spider species which kill and devour hobo spiders include those which are active hunting predators, and web weavers which prey upon hobo spiders that become ensnared in constructed webs. Active predatory species which will feed upon hobo spiders in the U.S. include most jumping spiders, and McCook's wolf spider, Schizocosa mccooki: Large wolf spiders of the genus Lycosa undoubtedly take occasional hobo spiders in inland areas, but are rare in the coastal parts of the hobo's U.S. range.

The relative inability to traverse or escape from sticky surfaces such as webs or glue traps is the "Achilles' heel" of the hobo spider. Tegenaria spp. and other members of the spider family Agelenidae (funnel web weavers) build non-sticky "trip" webs, and are not behaviorally adapted to sticky webs, making them vulnerable as prey to many other spider species. The hobo spider is particularly susceptible to entrapment in webs built close to the ground. Members of the spider family Theridiidae (cob web weavers or comb footed spiders), are particularly successful at catching hobo spiders in webs: The American house spider, Achaearanea tepidariorum (Seattle area specimen pictured at left, envenomating an entrapped hobo spider) commonly ensnares and feeds upon hobo spiders. Spiders of the genus Steatoda, particularly Steatoda hespera (western bud spider) are proving to be a major factor in the natural control of hobo spiders in some inland areas. The western black widow, Latrodectus hesperus, is often found in close proximity with the hobo spider, and undoubtedly feeds upon it when the opportunity presents, as are several Theridion spp., which compete to some extent for both food and web sites with T. agrestis.

Orb web weavers of the spider family Araneidae play a significant role as food competitors to T. agrestis. Those species which sometimes build webs close to the ground or in window wells, such as the greater and lesser "catface" orb weavers, Araneus gemmoides and Larinioides patagiatas respectively, not only compete with hobo spiders for food, but may also ensnare and devour occasional specimens. Long-jawed spiders, Tetragnatha spp., are abundant in many areas, and may be considered as food competitors which probably ensnare and feed upon hobo spiders in rare circumstances. Additional information on some of the more significant competitive and predatory spider species may be found below.

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