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Lead generation sites promise the same thing: customers who need your trade, sent to you. Where they differ is how they charge, how many other trades get the same job, and what you're signing up to. Those three things decide whether a site makes you money or quietly drains it.
This comparison covers the four big UK platforms still taking trade sign-ups in October 2026, plus what's happened to Rated People.
The quick comparison
Four ways to pay for leads. The model matters more than the brand.
| Checkatrade | MyBuilder | Bark | TrustATrader | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Monthly membership | Fee when shortlisted | Credits per contact | Yearly membership |
| Joining fee | None | Free to join | Free to join | Not published |
| Typical price | From £30 + VAT a month, lead plans quoted | Lead fees "can start from £7" | Varies by job and area | Quoted per trade and area |
| Contract | 12 months, renews automatically | None found | None. Credits last 3 months | Annual |
| Trades per job | Not published | Not published | Up to 5 | Capped members per area |
| Best for | Steady volume | Testing with little risk | Wide range of services | Low-competition listing |
Prices are what each platform publishes, as of October 2026. Most quote per trade and postcode, so always get a written quote for your area.
Checkatrade
Checkatrade is the biggest name, with "over 48,000 tradespeople" according to its own figures. There's no joining fee. The basic plan starts from £30 plus VAT a month and doesn't send leads, it just lists you. Lead plans are priced by trade, postcode, competition and the number of leads you choose.
The catch is the contract. Fixed lead plans run for 12 months and renew automatically, and you can only cancel in the month before renewal. Reviews you collect stay with Checkatrade if you leave.
Best for trades who want steady volume in a competitive area and are confident they'll win enough leads to cover a year. Our full Checkatrade review walks through the break-even sum.
MyBuilder
MyBuilder is free to join and free to express interest in jobs. You pay a non-refundable shortlist fee when a customer shortlists you and shares their contact details. The fee depends on the likely size, value and location of the job, it's shown before you commit, and MyBuilder says lead fees "can start from £7".
The catch is that you pay to be shortlisted, not for winning the job. If the customer goes elsewhere, the fee is gone.
Best for trades who want to test a platform without a subscription, and who are good at turning a shortlist into a booking.
Bark
Bark covers far more than trades, from plumbers to wedding photographers. It's free to join. You buy packs of credits and spend them to contact customers. The cost of each lead depends on the service, the job's value and local supply and demand. Bark takes no commission on the work, credits last three months, and it offers a "get hired guarantee" that refunds credits if your first pack wins no work.
The catch is competition. Bark's UK terms say a request goes to up to five professionals, so you're often one of five quotes.
Best for trades who respond fast and are comfortable competing on a quote. Speed matters more on Bark than anywhere else.
How many trades can chase the same job. Only Bark publishes a number.
TrustATrader
TrustATrader charges a yearly membership fee. Its selling point is that membership is capped per trade per area, with waiting lists in some places. Fewer members means less competition for each customer who searches.
The catch is the upfront commitment and that TrustATrader doesn't publish prices. You'll need a quote, and in a busy area you may be waiting for a space.
Best for established trades who'd rather pay once a year to stand out among fewer competitors.
What happened to Rated People
Rated People was one of the big four for years. On 16 September 2026, Rated People Ltd entered creditors' voluntary liquidation and its tradesperson accounts closed. Two days later, Checkatrade Group announced it had bought the Rated People brand and website.
Rated People in September 2026. Jobs posted there now go to Checkatrade members.
Rated People's own help page now says it has "closed all memberships". To get those leads, trades need to join Checkatrade, either on a fixed lead plan or through Checkatrade's free Opportunities Board, where you pay per lead you unlock. Existing Rated People reviews "stay where they are".
If you were a Rated People member, the lesson is hard to miss. Years of profile, reviews and leads can disappear in a week when the platform does. We wrote more about that in Stop renting your leads.
How to choose
Match the model to where your business is.
- Just starting out, or testing a new area? Start with a pay-as-you-go site like MyBuilder or Bark. Keep spend small and track every lead.
- Need a full diary fast? A Checkatrade lead plan gives volume, but only sign once you've done the sums for a full year.
- Established, with a good reputation? TrustATrader's capped listing or a basic directory profile may be enough, with most work coming direct.
- Whatever you choose, track cost per job, not cost per lead. A cheap lead you never win is the most expensive kind.
Make every platform lead count twice
The smartest trades treat lead sites as a way to meet customers, not to keep them. Every job is a chance to turn a platform customer into your customer.
- Ask for a Google review after every job. It stays with you whichever platform you leave.
- Leave your own details. A card, a sticker on the consumer unit or boiler, your website address on the invoice.
- Follow up at the right time. A text a year later for a service or safety check brings repeat work without a lead fee.
- Send them to your website. Make sure it's easy for a returning customer to find you without going back through the platform.
Questions people ask
Which is cheapest, Checkatrade or MyBuilder?
MyBuilder has no subscription and lead fees that can start from £7, so it's usually cheaper to try. Checkatrade costs more upfront but can work out better per job if you win a good share of its leads. It depends on your win rate.
Is Bark legit for tradespeople?
Bark is a real, established platform. The main complaint from trades is competition, since requests go to up to five professionals. Respond quickly and quote clearly to stand out.
Is Rated People still running?
The website is, but as part of Checkatrade Group. Rated People closed its trade memberships in September 2026, and jobs posted there now go to Checkatrade members.
Can I use more than one platform?
Yes, and many trades do. Track where each job comes from so you can drop the ones that don't pay.