Rated People promises a steady stream of jobs - but if you've used the platform you know that it's rarely simple.
You can spend a small fortune on credits, chase half-baked jobs and still walk away empty-handed.
In this article, we’ll compare the most common alternatives to Rated People — and introduce you to a smarter option that gives you full control over your leads (without the bidding war).
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Why Tradespeople Frustrated with Rated People
Rated People allows trades to choose jobs by browsing available listings and spending credits to express interest. But often run into:
- Wasted money on cold leads: You pay to express interest, but the homeowner might not even respond.
- Race against competitors: Up to 3 tradespeople can buy the same lead. You win only if they choose you.
- Low quality enquiries: Some job descriptions are vague, unrealistic, or clearly price shopping.
Alternatives to Rated People
1. 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
2. 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
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