Checkatrade Alternative: MyBuilder, Bark or Your Own Site
By MarketingToolsProHub Editorial Team | Last updated: | 5 min read
What is the best Checkatrade alternative for UK trades?
It depends on how you want to pay. MyBuilder charges only when a customer shortlists you, Rated People is reported at about £35 a month plus lead fees, and Bark sells credits per lead. Your own website and Google Business Profile cost no fee per enquiry, but take longer to bring work in.
- Checkatrade: no joining fee; its basic plan starts from £30 + VAT a month without leads, with lead-based and bespoke plans above it.
- MyBuilder: free to express interest; you pay a lead fee only once a customer shortlists you.
- Rated People: reported at about £35 + VAT a month on a 12-month contract, plus around £15 + VAT per lead.
- Bark: reported at about £1.20 + VAT per credit, with 5–20 credits per lead.
- Your own website: a one-off cost, no per-enquiry fees, and you own the reviews and contacts.
How do Checkatrade, MyBuilder, Rated People and Bark compare?
| Platform | How you pay | Published or reported cost |
|---|---|---|
| Checkatrade | Monthly membership; no joining fee | From £30 a month (basic, no leads); lead-based and bespoke plans priced individually |
| MyBuilder | Fee when a customer shortlists you | Not published; varies by job |
| Rated People | Monthly membership plus lead fees | Reported about £35 a month, 12-month contract, about £15 per lead |
| Bark | Credits per lead | Reported about £1.20 per credit, 5–20 credits per lead |
| Your own website | One-off build, then hosting | No fee per enquiry |
Lead prices are approximate industry figures at the time of writing, not published price lists. Each platform prices leads by job type, location and competition, so your actual costs depend on your trade, area and settings.
VAT at 20% is added to these fees; if you're VAT-registered, you may be able to reclaim it. For websites built for trades, see our local business website page.
Why do trades look for a Checkatrade alternative?
Usually cost and fit. Checkatrade says its basic plan, from £30 + VAT a month, lets customers find you by searching your name, but provides no sales leads; leads come with its fixed membership, priced on how many you want. Trades that already have steady word of mouth often find they're paying for a listing rather than new work.
Others value the vetting badge and the Checkatrade guarantee on jobs up to £1,000 booked through it (terms apply). If that's what wins you jobs, the membership may be worth keeping alongside your own site.
Are pay-per-lead platforms cheaper than Checkatrade?
Only if you win enough of the leads you pay for. On MyBuilder, expressing interest is free and lead fees apply once you're shortlisted; on Bark, each lead is reported at roughly £7–£40 in credits, paid before you know if the customer will reply. Several trades often pay for the same job.
Track it simply: total spent on a platform in a month, divided by jobs won from it. If that number is higher than the cost of winning the same job through Google, the platform is costing you money.
What does each route cost over two years?
| Route | How it adds up | About two years |
|---|---|---|
| Checkatrade basic (no leads) | 24 × £30 | £720, and no leads included |
| Rated People | 24 × £35 + 240 leads × about £15, less included credit | Up to about £4,400 |
| Bark | 240 leads × about £7–£40 | About £1,700–£9,600 |
| Your own website | One-off build from about £4,000 ($5,000), plus hosting | About £4,000 + hosting, no per-enquiry fees |
A website doesn't bring leads on day one: it works through Google, your Business Profile and reviews, and keeps working after the two years. Many trades run both for a while and cut the platform as direct enquiries grow.
These are approximate figures based on published pricing and industry reports at the time of writing. Your actual cost depends on your scope and will be confirmed after a free discovery call with us.
How does your own website replace lead platforms?
- A Google Business Profile with accurate services, areas and photos. Google says local results are based mainly on relevance, distance and popularity.
- A page for each service and the areas you cover, so you show up for "plumber in [town]".
- Reviews on Google, asked for after every job, shown on your site too.
- Tap-to-call, WhatsApp and a short quote form on every page.
- Clear prices or starting prices where you can, which filters out time-wasters.
Our local business website checklist covers each step, and our guide to small business website costs compares builders, freelancers and agencies.
What does a trade website that brings enquiries look like?
With us, a trade website with service and area pages, a quote form and WhatsApp starts at $5,000 (about £4,000) as a Custom Business Website, with a fixed written quote after a free discovery call. You own the website and domain once paid.
See it in action. Our local business website demo shows services, reviews and a quote request on a phone. It's a demo we built, not a client project. Check your current site with our free local business website grader, and compare US lead platforms in our guide to Angi vs Thumbtack.
Frequently asked questions
Summary
The right Checkatrade alternative depends on how you want to pay: MyBuilder per shortlist, Rated People by membership plus leads, or Bark by credits. Your own website and Google profile have no per-enquiry fee and build something you own. Measure every platform by cost per job won, and grow the direct channel alongside it.
Check your current site with our free local business website grader.
Sources checked
Information checked on . Prices, fees and policies change, so confirm details with the source before relying on them. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.
- Checkatrade: does Checkatrade cost money? (last updated 19 December 2024)
- MyBuilder Support Centre: what is shortlisting?
- Noble Leads: Rated People cost 2026 (reported figures)
- Noble Leads: Bark credits cost 2026 (reported figures)
- GOV.UK: VAT rates
- Google Business Profile Help: tips to improve your local ranking