Which lead platform should a UK tradesperson or service business use?

UK lead platforms for tradespeople generally fall into three models: pay-per-lead marketplaces where you buy credits or pay a fee only when you contact or win a specific lead (Bark, MyBuilder), membership directories charging a flat monthly or annual fee for a listing and a set or unlimited volume of leads (Checkatrade, Rated People, TrustATrader), and formal endorsement schemes that charge for a structured assessment before granting a trust mark (Which? Trusted Traders). Vetting also varies, from automated checks and reference calls to in-person assessments by a trading standards professional, and platforms differ in how much of that process and pricing they publish openly versus requiring a phone call or sales enquiry.

Last reviewed 13 September 2026

Declare an interest: GetBrent is one of the options below. Every other platform is described from its own published pages or dated independent sources, and each one is linked so you can check it.

GetBrent

This is us

Directory with a direct enquiry form; no charge per lead

Who it is for: UK trades, hire and service businesses; local customers
How to join: Free self-service listing, or claim an existing one
Pricing: Free listing; paid plans add enquiry tools and first placement - see our pricing page. No charge per lead and no commission
Verification: Companies House check the business completes itself, plus owner claim of the listing. No insurance or qualification vetting
Reviews: Yes, with review requests sent to real enquirers, and checked before they appear

Why GetBrent

+Enquiries go to you free - no per-lead or credit cost
+Free listing is permanent, not a trial
+Covers hire and equipment alongside trades

Source

Checkatrade

tiered membership directory with vetting and optional lead volume

Who it is for: UK tradespeople across trades such as electricians, builders, plumbers and roofers
How to join: Apply via join.checkatrade.com: pick your trade, choose the postcode areas you cover and set a desired annual lead volume; profile can go live within 24 hours once verification is complete.
Pricing: Free plan: GBP 0/month (profile plus reviews only). Approved plan: GBP 30/month, no joining fee. Growth plan: prices from GBP 59/month, adds customizable lead volume, GBP 100-200 in search result credit and Checkatrade Pay payment processing at 1.29%-1.79% per transaction.
Verification: States up to 12 checks: photo ID, proof of address, qualifications/accreditations (e.g. Gas Safe), an open-source/negative-news check, personal and business CCJ checks, company trading history, financial/bankruptcy checks, a duplicate-applicant check, a director search, review of the applicant's existing reviews, and an enhanced business check for certain trade categories; says it requests ongoing proof of qualifications after approval.
Reviews: Reviews are published on member profiles. Checkatrade states about 90% of reviews are verified by SMS or phone call to the customer, and that it uses analytics technology to detect and remove suspected fake reviews, removing repeat offenders from the platform.

Strengths

+No joining fee - only a monthly membership charge
+States it runs up to 12 vetting checks before approval, with ongoing monitoring after
+Growth plan lets members set a customizable lead volume rather than paying per lead

Limitations

-Approved and Growth plans charge a fixed monthly fee regardless of how many jobs a member wins that month
-VAT is added on top of the published membership fees
-Checkatrade Pay payment processing carries an additional 1.29%-1.79% transaction fee on the Growth plan

Source

Bark

pay-per-lead marketplace using purchased credits

Who it is for: professionals across more than 50 service categories, including trades, in the UK and other countries
How to join: Sign up free on bark.com as a professional; Bark then sends matching leads and the professional buys a credit pack to unlock and contact the ones they want.
Pricing: Not published - you have to contact them. Bark states the cost of contacting a customer is calculated per lead based on the service type, job size/value, location and local demand, and that credits are valid for 3 months from purchase; no fixed credit-pack price or per-lead price list is published on its own pages.
Verification: Joining itself has no stated vetting requirement. A separate, optional 'Bark Verified' badge involves photo ID with facial recognition, a background check, an active/fraudulent-card check, and confirmation of registered company status where applicable; Bark states not all professionals carry this badge.
Reviews: Reviews are shown on profiles. Bark states only buyers with a confirmed interaction through Bark can leave a review, submissions are run through automated spam/content filters, imported Google reviews require a connected verified Google Business Profile, and reported reviews are monitored; sellers may not incentivize reviews.

Strengths

+Free to join and receive leads; credits are only spent when a professional chooses to contact a specific lead
+Money-back guarantee: returns credits if the first credit pack does not win business
+Optional 'Bark Verified' badge (ID, background and fraud checks) available to build trust

Limitations

-Exact credit and per-lead prices are not published - cost is only shown per lead at the point of purchase
-Credits expire 3 months after purchase
-ID/background verification is optional, so not every professional on the platform carries it

Source

MyBuilder

pay-per-lead marketplace charging a shortlist fee when contact details are exchanged

Who it is for: UK tradespeople and homeowners posting home improvement jobs
How to join: Register as a tradesperson at mybuilder.com/register-as-tradesman. MyBuilder states a team screens new tradespeople and reviews jobs before they are posted on the site.
Pricing: No joining or membership fees. A non-refundable Shortlist Fee, typically GBP 2 to GBP 35 depending on job size, value and location, is charged when a homeowner's contact details are shared with the tradesperson, whether or not the job is won; optional paid sponsored placement is also available. Sending an introduction message to a homeowner is free.
Verification: Terms and conditions state tradespeople must complete identity verification, right-to-work confirmation, criminal record checks, licence/qualification checks and insurance verification, and must keep this information current and provide evidence on request; MyBuilder also states it screens new tradespeople and reviews jobs before posting.
Reviews: Reviews policy states a review can generally only be submitted if it is linked to a job posted on the platform, the tradesperson was hired for that job via MyBuilder, and the homeowner is logged in when posting; reviews from jobs won outside the platform are allowed only with a copy of the paid invoice, published once received. Automatic checks flag suspected fraudulent reviews.

Strengths

+No joining or membership fee - cost is only the per-lead shortlist fee
+Introduction messages to homeowners are free before any fee is charged
+States a formal identity, right-to-work, criminal record, qualification and insurance verification requirement in its terms

Limitations

-Shortlist fee is payable once contact details are shared, whether or not the job is won
-Late payment of shortlist fee invoices incurs interest (4% above Bank of England base rate) plus a GBP 20 + VAT admin fee
-Account credit issued by MyBuilder expires 12 months from issue

Source

Rated People

lead platform, now operating under Checkatrade Group, offering a subscription or pay-as-you-go leads

Who it is for: UK tradespeople across more than 30 specialist trades, matched with homeowners posting jobs
How to join: Sign up online (described as taking a few minutes) or contact the sales team; tradespeople choose between a subscription plan or a pay-as-you-go Opportunities Board account, which is free to create.
Pricing: Not published - you have to contact them. Rated People offers an Unlimited Plan (flat monthly fee for unlimited quotes on jobs under GBP 4,000) and an Agent Verified option for larger projects (average GBP 8,000+) using purchased credits, plus a pay-as-you-go Opportunities Board where the account is free and fees apply only when a lead is unlocked; no fixed monthly or per-lead figures are published on its own pages, and fixed-plan subscriptions run on a 12-month term.
Verification: States tradespeople join what it calls 'the UK's largest network of vetted trades' since joining Checkatrade Group, and highlights TrustMark (a government-endorsed scheme) registration where a tradesperson holds it; specific vetting steps and criteria are not set out in detail on its own pages.
Reviews: States that ratings and reviews on a profile relate to real jobs posted by real homeowners on the platform, and that only homeowners who found their tradesperson through the site can leave feedback, covering quality of work, reliability and value for money.

Strengths

+Opportunities Board account is free to create; fees only apply when a lead is unlocked
+Now backed by Checkatrade Group's vetted-network branding
+Unlimited Plan offers a flat monthly fee for unlimited quotes on jobs under GBP 4,000

Limitations

-Exact subscription and per-lead prices are not published - you must contact sales
-Fixed subscription plans carry a 12-month term
-Detailed vetting criteria are not set out on its own pages beyond a general vetted-network claim and an optional TrustMark badge

Source

TrustATrader

annual membership directory with reference and insurance checks, no per-lead or commission charges

Who it is for: UK tradespeople across trades such as plumbers, electricians, roofers and builders
How to join: Apply online via the join-us form or call TrustATrader; a representative explains the process and the applicant submits required documentation online or by post, with advertising typically live within 2-3 weeks. Membership numbers are limited per trade and area, with waiting lists in some regions.
Pricing: Yearly membership fee (exact amount not published on its own pages - you have to contact them). TrustATrader states there are no commission rates and members never pay for individual leads.
Verification: Requires a minimum of 5 references from previous customers, copies of insurance documentation, a minimum of 2 years' trade experience, the qualifications required by law for the trade, and proof of certification for regulated trades (e.g. NICEIC, Part P, Gas Safe Register); applicants must also agree to TrustATrader's terms and complaints procedure. States it will not admit a trader if reference feedback is not good enough.
Reviews: States a trader's place on the website depends on their quality of service and invites customers to leave a review; its own pages do not set out a specific technical process for verifying that individual reviews are genuine.

Strengths

+No commission and no per-lead charges - leads are covered by the annual membership fee
+Requires a minimum of 5 customer references and 2 years' trade experience before approval
+Limits membership numbers per trade and area to control how many members compete for the same leads

Limitations

-Exact annual membership fee is not published - you have to contact them
-Membership is limited per trade/area, so waiting lists apply in some regions
-Its own pages do not describe a specific method for verifying that published reviews are genuine

Source

Which? Trusted Traders

endorsement scheme with a paid assessment and ongoing membership fee

Who it is for: UK-based home improvement and motor servicing businesses trading for 6 months or more
How to join: Complete an online form to request a callback or call the scheme directly. Applicants pay the assessment fee, submit documents, undergo background checks and a roughly 90-minute assessment, then receive a feedback report before an endorsement decision; target time from application to endorsement is 30 working days.
Pricing: Assessment fee: GBP 248 (inc VAT), non-refundable. Ongoing membership by business size (employees plus subcontractors): 0-3 people, GBP 66/month or GBP 797/year; 4-9 people, GBP 86/month or GBP 1,029/year; 10-19 people, GBP 114/month or GBP 1,363/year; 20+ people, call for a quote. A reassessment fee of GBP 200 + VAT may apply if a revisit is needed, and a GBP 240 + VAT fee applies if its Dispute Resolution service rules in the consumer's favour.
Verification: Assessment includes a credit report, customer reference checks with a selection of the trader's most recent customers, review of business and administrative procedures, and a roughly 90-minute assessment (in person or remote) with a Which? Trusted Traders trading standards professional. Required documents include public liability insurance, a sample quote and invoice, photo ID, a utility bill and a DBS certificate for business leadership. Excludes businesses using doorstep selling, with CCJs under 2 years old, unspent convictions, or a previous scheme refusal.
Reviews: States a team of moderators uses a range of resources to check that reviews meet its user-generated content terms and conditions, with further verification if authenticity is in doubt; negative reviews are not automatically removed and traders can reply to give their side.

Strengths

+Publishes exact assessment and membership fees by business size
+Assessment includes a credit report, customer reference checks and a roughly 90-minute in-person or remote review by a trading standards professional
+Runs a Dispute Resolution service for consumer complaints

Limitations

-Assessment fee (GBP 248) is non-refundable even if the application is unsuccessful
-Ongoing membership fee is charged monthly or annually regardless of how many jobs a trader wins
-A GBP 200 + VAT reassessment fee or a GBP 240 + VAT dispute fee can apply on top of membership

Source

What the table actually says

•Only Checkatrade and Which? Trusted Traders publish exact membership/assessment fees on their own pages; Bark, Rated People and TrustATrader require contacting them for pricing.
•Bark and MyBuilder charge per lead (via credits or a shortlist fee) rather than a flat membership fee, so cost scales with how many leads a business chooses to unlock.
•Which? Trusted Traders is the only scheme here that states it conducts an in-person or remote assessment (about 90 minutes) with a trading standards professional as part of vetting.

Every figure here was taken from the named company's own published pages on the review date shown, and is linked. Pricing and features change - check the source before making a decision. Company names are the trademarks of their owners, used here to identify the services they refer to. If you run one of these and something is wrong or out of date, tell us and we will correct it.