MyBuilder was built on a simple idea - homeowners post jobs, and tradespeople express interest.
But if you've been using it for a while, you may have noticed the cracks: delayed responses, price shoppers and a race to the bottom.
If you’re looking for an alternative to MyBuilder that gives you more control and better-quality work, this article is for you.
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Why Tradespeople Looking for Alternatives to MyBuilder
While MyBuilder can be useful, many tradespeople are frustrated by:
- Unpredictable lead flow: You only get charged if the customer responds — but even then, the job isn’t guaranteed.
- Too much competition: Homeowners often hear from multiple trades and pick the cheapest.
- Hard to build momentum: If you’re new to the platform, it’s tough to compete with long-standing profiles full of reviews.
- No control over quality: You can’t pre-qualify leads — you’re often pitching jobs with minimal info.
Alternatives to MyBuilder
1. Checkatrade
How it works:
- Pay a monthly fee and get matched with leads - can also top up with credits.
Pros:
- Quick to start
- Works for many industries
- Strong brand awareness
Cons:
- Many leads are poor quality - Some reviews from tradespeople reporting multiple leads never answer the phone and questioning legitimacy
- Leads are sold or available to multiple businesses
- Monthly fees can be £80–£150+ even if you don’t win any jobs.
Reviews:
- 4.6 ⭐ on TrustPilot
- ❌ No Review page found on Google
2. 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
3. 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
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