Ugh...I HATE fleas and ticks...
I had used the Seresto collars for years, they are pricier but worked better than everything else I had tried...BUT, they must have changed something because the last collars that I had ordered a few years ago didn't work well AT ALL! So, after trying a few other things, we finally settled on using Revolution PLUS for the cats because it protects against heartworms, ear mites, hookworms, a well as the fleas and ticks. Again, it is pricier, as well, BUT if you can order it for the first time at one of the sites like PetMeds or Chewy, you can often use a coupon or get an online offer for first time buyers and get a great discount and just stock up on it
For our dog we use the NexGard chewables for flea and tick prevention...again, something that you would want to try to get a good deal on by using a coupon.
I know it isn't helpful that these are more expensive than the cheaper alternatives, but the cheaper alternatives just never worked well for us out here in the Alabama country