If you're a tradesperson using Checkatrade you already know the deal:
- You pay monthly fees even if you don't win any jobs
- You compete with multiple other trades for the same leads
- You can do everything right and still lose to "who replied first"
And that last point matters more than most realise.
Studies consistently show that someone is up to 21× more likely to become a lead if they receive a response within the first five minutes.
That's why marketplaces can be so frustrating.
Speed matters, but you're fighting five other trades at the same time.
In 2026, more trades are looking for alternatives.
How Do Other Lead Gen Services Compare to Checkatrade?
With a lot of the alternatives, you're likely to suffer from the same problems as Checkatrade.
Below, we'll take a look at Rated People, MyBuilder and Checkatrade to see how they compare.
➡️ Rated People
The Problem: Shared leads, generic job requests, and a race to the bottom on price.
- Rated People sell the same lead to up to 3 companies
- Monthly fee up to £200+
- Credits can go fast with little return at prices of £65+
- Some reviews from tradespeople reporting multiple leads never answer the phone
Reviews:
- 4.3 ⭐ on TrustPilot
- 2.0 ⭐ on Google Reviews
➡️ MyBuilder
The Problem: You pay to express interest, even if the homeowner never replies.
- You pay up to £50+ if shortlisted by a property — but still no guarantee of the job
- You're bundled in to compete against multiple other businesses (reports of 8+ businesses quoting for the same job)
Reviews:
- 4.5 ⭐ on TrustPilot
- 3.7 ⭐ on Google Reviews
➡️ Bark
The Problem: Vague jobs, fake leads, and poor targeting.
- Many leads are poor quality - Some reviews from tradespeople reporting multiple leads never answer the phone and questioning legitimacy
- Often sold to multiple businesses
- Expensive — £10 to £40+ per lead
Reviews:
- 4.1 ⭐ on TrustPilot
- ❌ No Review page found on Google
What is Kantr?
Trades spend a huge amount of time and money getting people to their website, from ads and social media to reviews and word of mouth.
When someone lands on your site, their intent is at its highest. That's the moment they're most likely to become a customer. So they fill out a form, send an email, or leave a voicemail.
And then they wait.
78% of homeowners hire the first business to respond. Not the best. Not the company with the highest Google rating. The first to get back to them.
Kantr makes sure that's always you. It's a 24/7 Sales Assistant that lives on your website and knows your business inside out.
It responds instantly to every enquiry, answers common questions about your services and coverage area, and captures exactly the details you need, leaving you with a ready-to-quote lead while you're still out on the tools.
No missed jobs. No desk required.
Who It's For
- Window and Glazing Installers
- Kitchen and Bathroom Fitters
- Insulation Installers
- Landscape Gardeners
- Painters and Decorators
- Builders
- Cleaners
- Plumbers
- Electricians
- Gas Engineers
- HVAC Technicians
- Handymen
- Carpenters
- Joiners
- Any trade that gets enquiries through a website
Final Verdict
Checkatrade and similar platforms can generate work — but they come with shared competition, rising costs, and a reliance on manual speed.
Kantr is a different type of alternative.
It helps you convert more of your existing website traffic into qualified, quote-ready enquiries by responding instantly and filtering time-wasters, automatically, 24/7.
This article is an independent review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Checkatrade. All trademarks and brand names mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author based on publicly available information, customer feedback, and industry experience. Readers are encouraged to carry out their own research before making any business decisions.