Checkatrade vs MyBuilder for Plumbers 2026: Lead Costs, Review Quality and Which Delivers Better ROI

Written by Tom Ellis · Senior Trades Editor

Last updated: July 2026

Quick Answer

Checkatrade vs MyBuilder for plumbers 2026. Checkatrade membership £360/year on Approved (£30/month) or from £708/year on Growth (from £59/month), 12-month terms (as of October 2026). MyBuilder credits £3-20 per lead. Average plumbing job value £150-400. Which generates better ROI for plumbers?

Tradesperson comparing two job management apps on smartphones side by side

A plumber paying £360 a year for Checkatrade's Approved tier needs to win about two plumbing jobs from the platform just to break even, or three to four on Growth at £708 a year or more, before accounting for any time spent quoting or travelling. MyBuilder's credit system sounds cheaper on the surface, but costs vary widely depending on lead quality, your response rate and how competitive your local market is. Both platforms can work well for plumbers, but they suit different business models and stages.

This guide breaks down the real numbers: what each platform actually costs in 2026, how the lead quality compares, what vetting means in practice, and which delivers better return on investment for plumbers at different stages of their business.

The Key Difference: Subscription vs Credits

Checkatrade operates on a 12-month membership model. You pay £30 a month on Approved or from £59 a month on Growth (£360 or from £708 a year), and in return you get unlimited lead visibility, a verified profile with the Checkatrade badge, and access to their review system. You are paying for presence and credibility, not individual leads.

MyBuilder works on a credit system. You buy credits and spend them responding to jobs posted by homeowners — typically £3-20 per lead depending on the size and type of job. You only pay when you choose to respond to a specific lead. There is no annual contract, no fixed monthly fee, and no obligation to keep using it.

Each model suits a different type of plumber. Checkatrade suits those who want consistent visibility and already have enough review history to convert leads reliably. MyBuilder suits plumbers who want to test a new area, try lead generation without commitment, or who do specialist work that does not fit a standard subscription model.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Checkatrade	MyBuilder
Cost model	Annual subscription	Pay-per-lead credits
Annual cost (typical)	£360 (Approved) or from £708 (Growth)	Variable (£300-2,000+)
Cost per lead	Unlimited for fee	£3-20 per lead
Vetting process	Background check + ID	ID + qualifications check
Review system	Verified customer reviews	Customer reviews
Profile visibility	High (brand recognition)	Moderate
Contract required	Yes (annual)	No
Best for	Established plumbers	Testing the market

Checkatrade for Plumbers: Pros and Cons

Pros

Strong brand recognition with homeowners — many customers search specifically for Checkatrade-listed tradespeople, giving you a credibility advantage before you even quote
Good for emergency and reactive plumbing — customers with urgent jobs (burst pipes, boiler failures) often go straight to Checkatrade, meaning higher-value, time-sensitive work
Background vetting builds trust — Checkatrade's vetting process reassures customers who are wary of unverified tradespeople, which can improve your conversion rate on quotes

Cons

Fixed cost regardless of job wins: at £360 a year on Approved or from £708 on Growth, you are paying whether or not you convert any leads that month
Must maintain a strong review score — Checkatrade can suspend or remove listings for poor reviews, so one bad customer interaction can have outsized consequences
Highly competitive in high-density areas — in London and other large cities, you may be competing against dozens of other plumbers on the same platform, driving down response rates

MyBuilder for Plumbers: Pros and Cons

Pros

No long-term contract — you can pause, stop, or ramp up spending based on how busy you are, with no penalty for inactivity
Pay only for leads you want — if a job description looks unprofitable, too far away, or outside your specialism, you simply do not spend credits on it
Good for niche or specialist plumbing work — heating engineers, gas safe specialists, and bathroom fitters often find MyBuilder leads more targeted than Checkatrade's broader pool

Cons

Lead quality varies considerably — some jobs are well-specified with realistic budgets, others are vague or from customers price-shopping with no intention of booking
Need credits before responding — you cannot reply to a promising lead instantly if your credit balance is empty, which can cost you fast-turnaround emergency jobs
Can get expensive for high-volume lead chasing — if you respond to many leads with a low conversion rate, the per-lead costs add up quickly and can exceed what a Checkatrade subscription would cost

Which Is Better for Plumbers? Our Verdict

If you are an established plumber with 50 or more reviews, a strong conversion rate on quotes, and you want a steady volume of local leads with brand credibility behind you, Checkatrade is worth the annual cost. If you are newer to lead generation, testing a new service area, or doing specialist work that benefits from cherry-picking leads, MyBuilder's no-contract model significantly reduces your financial risk. The practical approach is to start with MyBuilder first — it lets you build review history without a long-term commitment — then add Checkatrade once you have enough reviews to make the most of their profile visibility. Track your cost-per-won-job from each platform over three months and let the numbers decide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Checkatrade or MyBuilder better for plumbers?

It depends on your business model. Checkatrade suits established plumbers who want brand credibility and steady lead volume — the membership (£360 a year on Approved, from £708 on Growth) is easier to justify when you convert 1-2 jobs per month from it. MyBuilder suits plumbers who want to test lead quality before committing — you buy credits and only pay for leads you respond to, typically £3-20 per lead. Track your cost-per-job from each platform for 3 months to find your best return.

How much does Checkatrade cost for plumbers in 2026?

Checkatrade publishes a Free listing, Approved at £30 a month (£360 a year) and Growth from £59 a month (from £708 a year), on 12-month memberships. This is a subscription regardless of how many jobs you win — if you win zero jobs in a month, you still pay the annual fee divided across months. On Approved, most plumbers need to win about two jobs a year from Checkatrade to break even on the membership cost, or three to four on Growth.

Does MyBuilder vet plumbers?

MyBuilder does basic vetting — they verify your identity and trade qualifications, and check reviews. The vetting is less thorough than Checkatrade's process, which includes background checks and in some cases mystery shopping. However, MyBuilder's review system is customer-driven and visible, which helps build trust over time. Both platforms require you to maintain a minimum review rating to keep your account active.

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