Checkatrade vs MyBuilder 2026: Which is Better for UK Tradespeople?
Checkatrade charges a large upfront fee. MyBuilder charges per lead. Neither includes invoicing or payments. Here's an honest breakdown — and a third option worth knowing about.
Checkatrade and MyBuilder are the two biggest names in UK tradesman lead generation. If you're a tradesperson deciding where to spend your marketing budget, you've almost certainly compared them. This article breaks down the key differences honestly — including where both fall short.
The Core Difference: How They Charge You
The most important difference between Checkatrade and MyBuilder is their pricing model.
Checkatrade charges an annual membership fee — typically £600–£1,200 per year depending on your trade and the region you're covering. You pay this upfront before you receive a single lead. In return, you get a listing, the Checkatrade badge, and access to job requests from customers.
MyBuilder operates on a pay-per-lead credit system. You buy credits and spend them to express interest in specific jobs. You only pay when you actively choose to pursue a lead. However — and this is crucial — you spend credits whether or not you win the job.
Neither model is inherently better. It depends on your conversion rate, your trade, and how predictable you need your costs to be.
Pricing Comparison
| Factor | Checkatrade | MyBuilder |
|---|---|---|
| Annual commitment | ~£600–£1,200 | None required |
| Cost per lead viewed | Included in membership | Credits (variable) |
| Cost if you don't win the job | Nothing extra | Credits spent anyway |
| Monthly predictability | High (flat fee) | Variable |
| Minimum entry cost | ~£50/month equivalent | Cost of first credit pack |
Lead Quality and Volume
Checkatrade has invested heavily in consumer marketing over the years — TV advertising, radio, online. As a result, homeowners are more likely to recognise and trust the Checkatrade name when they see it on a tradesperson's website or van. For certain trades (gas engineers, electricians) where trust is particularly important, this recognition has genuine value.
MyBuilder has a solid UK presence built since 2004 and generates good volume of leads across most trade categories. Lead quality is generally decent, though — as with all platforms — it varies by region and trade type.
Both platforms attract homeowners who are actively seeking tradespeople, so you're generally dealing with genuine intent rather than casual browsers.
Features Beyond Lead Generation
This is where both platforms show their age.
Neither Checkatrade nor MyBuilder includes invoicing, payment collection, or quoting tools. They are, at their core, directories and lead generation services. To run your actual business — create quotes, send invoices, chase payments — you need separate software.
For a sole-trader tradesperson in 2026, this means managing at least two or three separate tools: a lead platform, an invoicing app, and possibly a quotes tool. That's admin overhead that takes time away from billable work.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Checkatrade if:
- You're in a trade where the brand name matters to customers (gas, electrical, roofing)
- You have budget for upfront investment and expect strong lead volume in your area
- You want predictable monthly costs once you've paid the membership
Choose MyBuilder if:
- You want to test lead quality before committing to a large annual fee
- You have a high conversion rate on the jobs you quote for
- You prefer paying per lead over a flat membership
Is There a Better Alternative?
If you're frustrated by platforms that charge large fees without including the tools you actually need to run your business, it's worth looking at Sleepless Tradesman.
Sleepless Tradesman is built for UK tradespeople and includes job leads alongside invoicing, AI-powered remote quoting, and card payment collection — all in one app. There's no annual joining fee and no per-lead credits. You pay a flat subscription and can quote on as many jobs as you like.
It's a newer platform (meaning the lead database is smaller than Checkatrade's or MyBuilder's right now), but the all-in-one approach saves significant time and money for tradespeople who are tired of juggling multiple tools.
For many tradespeople, the smart move in 2026 is to use two platforms simultaneously — for example, MyBuilder for immediate leads while building your reputation on a platform like Sleepless Tradesman for the long term. Read our guide on how to find tradesman work without paying per lead for more strategies.
Final Verdict
Checkatrade and MyBuilder both do their core job well: connecting tradespeople with homeowners. The choice between them mainly comes down to your attitude to upfront cost versus pay-per-lead risk. Neither is dramatically better than the other — they're solving the same problem in different ways.
The bigger question for 2026 is whether lead-generation-only platforms still represent the best use of your marketing budget, or whether all-in-one platforms that also handle your business admin offer better overall value.
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