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Checkatrade Alternatives for UK Tradespeople: 8 Options Compared

The main alternatives to Checkatrade for UK trades, from MyBuilder and Bark to your own Google profile and website, and how each one charges you.

By Sachin Shah · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read

Quick answer: The main alternatives are TrustATrader, MyBuilder, Rated People, Bark, Which? Trusted Traders, Facebook and Nextdoor, your Google Business Profile and your own website. They charge in very different ways, from yearly memberships to a fee per lead. The two you control and don't pay per lead for are your Google profile, which is free, and your own website.

If Checkatrade isn’t working for you, or you don’t want a 12-month contract, there are other ways to find local work. They don’t all work the same way, so the right choice depends on the size of your jobs and how quickly you need work.

Platforms change their prices often and many don’t publish them. We describe how each one charges rather than quoting figures that will soon be out of date. Always ask for the full price, including VAT, in writing.

How they compare

Option	How you pay	Do you compete for the same lead?	Do you keep your reviews if you leave?
TrustATrader	Membership fee	Sometimes	No
MyBuilder	Fee when a customer shortlists you	Yes	No
Rated People	Monthly membership	Yes	No
Bark	Credits to reply to requests	Yes	No
Which? Trusted Traders	Assessment fee, then membership	Sometimes	No
Facebook groups and Nextdoor	Free (paid ads optional)	Yes	Partly
Google Business Profile	Free	No, they called you	Yes
Your own website	One-off build plus hosting	No, they called you	Yes

1. TrustATrader

A directory where you pay a membership fee to be listed, rather than paying per lead. Customers find you and contact you directly. It checks references and insurance before you join, and in some areas the number of members per trade is limited, so you may have to wait for a place.

Good for: trades who want a vetted badge without paying for each enquiry.

2. MyBuilder

Customers post a job and trades say they’re interested. If the customer shortlists you, you pay a fee to get their contact details. The fee depends on the size and type of job. You pay it whether you win the job or not.

Good for: filling gaps in your diary, as long as you track how many shortlists turn into jobs. We compare it in detail in Checkatrade vs MyBuilder.

3. Rated People

A monthly membership that sends you leads in your trade and area. Several trades are usually sent the same lead, so speed matters. Whoever calls first often wins.

Good for: trades who can reply to enquiries within minutes.

4. Bark

Covers lots of services, not only trades. You buy credits and spend them to reply to customer requests. The number of credits per request depends on the type of job and how much demand there is locally.

Good for: testing demand for a new service. Watch the cost per job carefully.

5. Which? Trusted Traders

You pay for an assessment, which includes checks on your business and a look at your work, then a membership fee. The Which? name carries a lot of trust with older homeowners.

Good for: established firms who want a strong trust badge on their van and website.

6. Facebook groups and Nextdoor

Local community groups are full of “can anyone recommend a plumber?” posts. Joining and replying is free. It takes time, and you’re often one of ten replies, but a recommendation from a neighbour is hard to beat.

Good for: building a local name, especially when you’re starting out. See our guide for startups for more ideas.

7. Your Google Business Profile

This is the listing that shows on Google Maps when someone searches “electrician near me”. Google lets you add or claim your business for free. With good photos, the right services and a steady flow of reviews, it can become your biggest source of calls. Our Google Business Profile guide walks you through it.

Good for: every trade. Do this first.

8. Your own website

A website you own, with a page for each service and each area you cover, sends enquiries straight to you. Nobody else gets the same lead, and there’s no fee per enquiry. It takes a few months to build up on Google, which is why many trades keep a lead site going in the meantime.

Good for: cutting your cost per job over time, and winning bigger jobs where customers want to see your work first.

A sensible plan

1. Set up your Google Business Profile properly. It’s free.
2. Get a simple website with your services, areas, photos and reviews.
3. Keep one lead site while your own enquiries grow.
4. Ask every customer how they found you, and write it down.
5. Drop any platform that costs more per job than it’s worth.

If you’re on Checkatrade now, check what it really costs and how to cancel before your renewal date.

Our trade websites start at £99, and a site of up to 10 pages is £249. See our prices or get a free website check.

Sachin Shah, founder of SS Consultancy Group. Sachin started his career making cold calls and has spent more than ten years helping businesses grow their sales. He now builds websites and sales systems for small businesses in London and across the UK.