The pricing model is unique… but does it actually result in more work?
If you're asking whether MyBuilder is worth it in 2026, you're in good company.
This review covers what it does well, where it falls down, what it really costs, and whether there's a smarter way to get more work.
1. What Is MyBuilder and How Does It Work?
MyBuilder is one of the UK's biggest lead generation platforms for tradespeople, pulling around 3 million monthly visitors. There are no membership fees — you only pay when a homeowner shortlists you.
Here's the model:
- A homeowner posts a job
- You browse available jobs and express interest
- If shortlisted, contact details are exchanged and you pay a fee
- You quote and compete for the work
The homeowner showing interest before you pay is the key difference from other pay-per-lead platforms. In practice, there are some important caveats.
2. How Much Does MyBuilder Actually Cost?
The shortlist fee varies by job size:
- Small jobs (under £75): around £2–£3
- Mid-size jobs (£500–£1,000): around £8–£15
- Larger jobs (£1,000–£3,000): around £20–£35
- Major work (extensions, full rewires): up to £50–£100
Do the maths. If you express interest in 20 jobs and get shortlisted on half. That's potentially £100–£300 in fees before you've won a single job.
The fee is non-refundable. Win or lose, you've paid. With multiple tradespeople shortlisted for the same job, it's entirely normal to pay and walk away with nothing.
3. Is the Lead Quality Any Good?
Lead quality is inconsistent. Common complaints include:
- Tyre-kickers — homeowners browsing for ballpark prices with no intention of hiring
- Ghost enquiries — shortlisted, you pay, they never respond
- Renters without permission — the person requesting quotes can't actually commission the work
- Race to the bottom — three or four tradespeople quoting the same job kills margins
A BBC investigation also uncovered vetting problems — fake profiles and reviews that could be gamed. Tradespeople on forums report the same issues today.
4. What Are Other Tradespeople Saying?
Across Trustpilot, Reviews.io, and trade forums, the patterns are consistent: fake or low-quality jobs, no refunds when customers ghost, too much competition per lead, and poor support when things go wrong.
Tradespeople who do well on MyBuilder tend to be selective about which jobs they chase and experienced enough to spot the time-wasters early.
5. Is MyBuilder Worth It?
MyBuilder can work if you have a strong profile with plenty of reviews, you're disciplined about which leads you pursue, and you use it alongside other channels rather than relying on it.
It's harder to make work if you're new to the platform, in an oversaturated trade category, or expecting consistent qualified leads at a predictable cost.
The fundamental problem isn't MyBuilder specifically, it's the shared lead model. You're always competing on price, always hoping the homeowner shows up, always paying for access rather than results.
6. What's the Alternative?
Every time a tradesperson pays for a shared lead, they're competing for attention they've already paid for — and it usually results in a race to the bottom.
There's a different way to think about this.
You've probably spent real time and money getting people to your website. From Google, ads, reviews, social media or word of mouth.
When someone lands on your site and reaches out, their intent is at its highest. That's the moment they're most likely to become a customer.
And that lead is exclusively yours. No shortlist fee. No competing quotes. No platform taking a cut.
The problem is that most tradespeople don't have the luxury of sitting at a desk all day responding to enquiries.
But if the wait for a response is even just 10 minutes, the chances of a visitor becoming a customer plummet.
Because 78% of homeowners hire the first business to respond.
Not the best.
Not the highest rated.
The first.
That's the gap Kantr fills.
It's a Sales Assistant that lives on your website, responds instantly to every enquiry, answers questions about your services, and sends you a ready-to-quote lead.
All while you're on the tools, in the van, or asleep.
Setup takes under 10 minutes. It costs £29/month — less than a couple of MyBuilder shortlist fees. And if you don't generate more leads within 90 days, you get your money back.
The Bottom Line
MyBuilder can deliver work, but it comes with real costs. Not just shortlist fees, but time spent chasing jobs that go cold and depending on a platform you don't control.
If it's working for you, fair enough. But if you're paying more than you're making back, the shared lead model isn't a foundation for sustainable growth.
The stronger play is owning your lead generation — turning your website into the thing that brings work in directly, without competing for every job.
Want to turn your existing website traffic into direct leads? Get set up in under 10 minutes, £29/month, and every lead is yours.