If you’re weighing up Rated People against Checkatrade, you’re asking the right question. Both platforms promise more work — but they operate very differently, and the costs can catch you off guard if you don’t know what you’re signing up for.
The short answer: Rated People charges per lead you quote on; Checkatrade charges a flat monthly subscription. Neither is automatically better. Which one works for you depends on your trade, your area, and how many jobs you’re already turning away.
Key Takeaways
- Rated People uses a pay-per-lead model — you pay credits to quote on each job, typically £2–£15 per lead depending on trade and job size
- Checkatrade charges a flat monthly subscription, typically £199–£399/month depending on your trade and region
- Rated People’s cost-per-job is more predictable when you’re starting out; Checkatrade’s subscription model only pays off if you convert enough leads to cover the monthly fee
- Both platforms take a cut of your visibility — cancel and your profile disappears
- Lead quality varies significantly by area and trade on both platforms; customer reviews on forums lean towards Rated People leads being higher intent
- Neither platform builds your Google presence — that only comes from your own website
How Each Platform Works
Rated People is a job posting site where homeowners post jobs and tradespeople pay credits to quote. You buy a pack of credits, then spend them to access the contact details for jobs that interest you. Each job typically allows three tradespeople to quote, which keeps competition manageable.
Checkatrade is a directory-based subscription. You pay monthly to appear in their search results when homeowners look for tradespeople in your area. Checkatrade vets members, displays your reviews, and adds a ‘Checkatrade Approved’ badge to your profile.
The models are genuinely different — one is transactional, one is a directory rental.
Cost Comparison
This is where it gets real. Here’s how the two platforms compare on cost:
| Factor | Rated People | Checkatrade |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | Variable (credits used) | £199–£399/month fixed |
| Cost per lead | £2–£15 per lead quoted | Included in subscription |
| Annual spend (mid-range) | ~£50–£200/month if selective | £2,400–£4,800/year |
| Contract length | None — pay as you go | 12-month contract typical |
| What you control | Which jobs you quote on | Which search terms/area you appear for |
| Cancel and leave | Stop buying credits | Profile removed, no refund |
According to Tradesman Saver’s 2026 analysis of trade platform costs, Checkatrade subscriptions have increased significantly over recent years, with some trades now paying upwards of £350/month in competitive urban areas.
A Checkatrade subscription at £299/month means you’re spending £3,588/year. To break even, you’d need to win enough work from that platform to justify the spend — typically 4–6 jobs per month depending on your trade and average job value.
Rated People’s pay-per-lead model is cheaper upfront. If you’re selective and quote only on strong matches, you could spend £50–£100/month. The risk is that you spend credits on leads that don’t convert.
Lead Quality: What Tradespeople Actually Say
This is where community feedback is most useful. Forum discussions and review threads from UK tradespeople (Reddit r/DIYUK, r/tradespeople, and trade Facebook groups) generally report:
Rated People leads:
- Homeowners have posted a specific job and are actively looking for quotes
- Three tradespeople per job limits the competition
- Leads vary in quality — some are just price shopping, others are ready to book
- Jobs are often smaller domestic works (repairs, installations, one-day jobs)
Checkatrade leads:
- Enquiries come through your profile — quality depends on your reviews and position in results
- Competition can be fierce in areas with many listed tradespeople
- The Checkatrade brand carries recognition with older demographics who specifically search the platform
- Larger jobs (renovations, full installations) appear more frequently
Neither platform is consistently better on lead quality. Trade, area, and the individual tradesperson’s profile strength all affect results. According to BrightLocal’s 2024 Local Consumer Review Survey, 81% of consumers use online reviews as frequently as personal recommendations when choosing a local service provider — which means your review count matters more than which platform you’re on.
Which Trades Do Better on Each Platform?
| Trade | Better on Rated People | Better on Checkatrade |
|---|---|---|
| Electricians | Small repair jobs, PAT testing | Full rewires, consumer unit upgrades |
| Plumbers | Emergency callouts, small repairs | Bathroom installations, boiler work |
| Builders | Extensions, loft conversions | Larger renovations |
| Roofers | Leak repairs, patch work | Full roof replacements |
| Joiners/Carpenters | Small joinery, door fitting | Fitted kitchens, larger custom work |
| Handymen | All types of small work | Less suitable (less specific) |
This isn’t a hard rule — but the pattern is that Rated People tends to attract more jobs that are already scoped and costed in the homeowner’s mind. Checkatrade tends to see higher-value enquiries where homeowners are still in the research phase.
What Each Platform Gives You — and Doesn’t
Both platforms give you access to homeowners who are already looking for a tradesperson. That’s their primary value — the demand is already there.
What they don’t give you:
- No Google presence. When a homeowner searches “plumber Sheffield” on Google, they see Checkatrade and Rated People ranking well. Your individual profile rarely appears in Google results — the authority stays with the platform. Your profile disappears if you cancel.
- No long-term asset. You can’t take your reviews or profile history with you. Every month you pay is renting a position, not building something you own.
- No direct relationship. Customers find you through the platform, so the platform sits between you and potential repeat work.
This isn’t a reason not to use them — it’s just context. Both platforms work best as a way to fill gaps in your schedule while you build something more sustainable.
The Smarter Long-Term Play
The tradespeople who use these platforms most effectively tend to do the same thing: they use them to get initial work and reviews, then invest those early profits into building their own Google presence. We’ve covered this in more detail in our Checkatrade vs your own website guide — but the short version is that your own website builds an asset you keep, whereas a platform profile disappears the moment you cancel.
If you’re not sure where to start with your own digital presence, our guides on marketing for plumbers and what your tradesman website should include walk through the practical steps without the jargon.
Once you have 20-30 five-star Google reviews and a website that ranks for local searches like “electrician Leeds” or “plumber near me”, your reliance on paid platforms drops significantly. The leads that come directly from Google don’t come with a monthly fee.
A professional website that generates one or two jobs per month independently pays for itself many times over compared to a £300/month Checkatrade subscription. Managed website services like Digital Tradies start from £49/month — that includes hosting, SEO foundations, and ongoing support. The website is yours to keep.
That’s not an argument against using Checkatrade or Rated People. It’s an argument for not relying on them as your only source of work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper — Rated People or Checkatrade? Rated People is cheaper if you use it selectively. Pay-per-lead costs typically run £50–£150/month if you quote on 10–20 jobs. Checkatrade’s subscription costs £199–£399/month regardless of how many leads you actually get — so it only becomes cost-effective if you’re converting regularly from the platform.
Can I use both Rated People and Checkatrade at the same time? Yes, and many tradespeople do. They’re not competing platforms in the sense that being on one prevents you from using the other. The practical question is whether the combined spend is worth it — if you’re paying £300/month for Checkatrade and another £100/month on Rated People credits, you need to generate enough work from both to justify £400/month in platform fees.
Do Rated People leads share my details with multiple tradespeople? Up to three tradespeople per job can quote on Rated People. Checkatrade works differently — homeowners contact individual profiles and may reach out to several tradespeople themselves. In practice, three-way competition on Rated People is similar to what happens naturally on any platform.
Is Checkatrade worth the money for a new tradesperson? For someone just starting out, Rated People’s pay-as-you-go model is lower risk. A 12-month Checkatrade contract at £250/month means committing to £3,000 before you’ve built any reviews on the platform. Many tradespeople find it harder to convert Checkatrade leads early on when they have fewer reviews than established competitors.
What’s the best alternative to both platforms? Google Business Profile (free) combined with your own website is the most cost-effective long-term option. It takes 3–6 months to build momentum, but unlike lead generation platforms, the results compound over time and you own the asset permanently.
Building a sustainable trade business means not depending entirely on third-party platforms for work. Whether you use Rated People, Checkatrade, or both, the goal should be to use them as a starting point — then build a direct pipeline through your own Google presence. Digital Tradies helps tradespeople do exactly that, with a professional website live in 3 days from £49/month.
