If you're using Checkatrade to win work, you've probably felt the squeeze: rising fees, more competition, and less control over your leads.
You're not alone — many tradespeople are starting to look elsewhere for better value and more predictable work.
In this article, we'll look at why trades are moving away from Checkatrade, compare some alternatives, and show you a smarter option that gives you control of your pipeline and means you're not starting off competing with half-a-dozen other businesses for the same work.
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Why Tradespeople Are Leaving Checkatrade
Checkatrade was once the go-to platform for many trades, but cracks have started to show:
- Rising costs: Monthly fees can be £80–£150+ even if you don't win any jobs.
- No guarantee of work: You pay for presence, not performance.
- Heavy competition: Dozens of trades are listed in each area.
- Low-quality leads: Homeowners often just want quotes — and then disappear.
If you're tired of feeling like you're "just another listing," here are some alternatives worth considering.
Alternatives to Checkatrade
1. Rated People
How it works:
- Monthly fee and buy credits to bid on jobs posted by homeowners.
Pros:
- More control — only pay for jobs you want
- Easy to browse available work
Cons:
- Rated people sell the same lead to up to 3 companies
- Monthly fee up to £200+
- Credits can go fast with little return at prices of £65+
- Some reviews from tradespeople reporting multiple leads never answer the phone
Reviews:
- 4.3 ⭐ on TrustPilot
- 2.0 ⭐ on Google Reviews
2. MyBuilder
How it works:
- Homeowners choose from interested tradespeople.
Pros:
- Free to express interest
- Review system builds trust
Cons:
- You pay up to £50+ if shortlisted by a property — but still no guarantee of the job
- You're bundled in to compete against multiple other businesses (reports of 8+ businesses quoting for the same job)
Reviews:
- 4.5 ⭐ on TrustPilot
- 3.7 ⭐ on Google Reviews
3. Bark
How it works:
- You get matched with leads and pay to contact them.
Pros:
- Quick to start
- Works for many industries
Cons:
- Many leads are poor quality - Some reviews from tradespeople reporting multiple leads never answer the phone and questioning legitimacy
- Often sold to multiple businesses
- Expensive — £10 to £40+ per lead
Reviews:
- 4.1 ⭐ on TrustPilot
- ❌ No Review page found on Google
4. HomeBuyerLeads
How it works:
You see a list of recently purchased properties in your local area, updated every month.
Use this to get letters through the door of the homeowner shortly after they move in, at a point when they spend the most money on improvements but before they've started Googling quotes or put a job out on Checkatrade.
Pros:
- Be first through the door
- Reach homeowners spending an average of £30k on improvements
- 80% open rate using physical mail
- Zero competition as leads aren't shared
- No social media, no pay-per-lead nonsense – Just consistent, qualified opportunities delivered monthly.
Cons:
- You're responsible for sending the letters. Some tradespeople handwrite envelopes and sign each letter for maximum impact.
- Outreach is self-managed, You do the follow-up and quoting, not us. That's how we keep the cost low and leads exclusive.
Pricing: £30/month per postcode district plus postage fees
With the appointments I've got booked, it's pushing me to start thinking about taking on a team of installers... It's obvious it works.
Final Verdict
Most tradespeople try everything — job sites, ads, Instagram, referrals. But the problem is always the same:
You're either paying to compete with everyone else or don't know who you're getting in front of.
HomeBuyerLeads flips that.
- You get the addresses of properties most likely to spend
- You reach them before your competitors
- You establish yourself as the go-to tradesperson in your area
- You build your own lead engine