Is Rated People Worth It for Tradespeople?

2026 Review

Rated People has been around since 2005.

It promises a steady stream of local job leads, a simple sign-up, and more work in your inbox.

But does it bring in money? Or are you paying for leads that go nowhere?

Here's an honest look at what Rated People really costs in 2026, what other tradespeople are saying, and whether there are better options.

1. How Does Rated People Work?

Rated People is a pay-per-lead marketplace.

Homeowners post jobs. Rated People alerts relevant trades. You pay to buy the lead and get their contact details so you can quote.

The key difference from Bark: a maximum of 3 tradespeople can buy each lead. The average is 1-2. That's less competition than some platforms.

You pay a monthly membership fee that includes a credit allowance for buying leads. Spend your credit, and you can buy more leads individually until next month's credit resets.

There's also an Unlimited plan - a fixed monthly fee for unlimited access to leads on jobs up to £2,000 in value.

2. What Does Rated People Actually Cost?

This is where it gets murky. There's two fees. A subscription fee and then lead fees.

Subscription fee

Rated People tailors it based on how many leads you're looking to buy. Reports from tradespeople put typical monthly fees somewhere between £45 and £150+.

Lead fees

Range from £2 to £65+ VAT depending on the job type, location, and trade.

Here's the problem: you pay whether the customer replies or not.

No refund. No credit. Just a loss.

3. Common Complaints from Tradespeople

Rated People sits at 3.9/5 on Trustpilot, which is pretty decent. However that's a mix of customers and tradespeople.

The tradesperson-specific reviews and a pattern emerges:

• Low-intent leads - customers "just getting prices" with no intention of booking
• No refund policy - if a customer ignores you after you've bought the lead, you lose the money
• Poor customer service - tradespeople report no phone number, no complaints form, just an unhelpful AI
• Cancellation issues - multiple reports of money being taken months after cancelling

That said, some trades do make it work - particularly in less competitive areas or niche services where fewer trades are competing for the same leads.

4. Is Rated People Worth It?

It depends on your situation.

Rated People can suit you if you:

• Can respond to leads within minutes during working hours
• Operate in a trade or location with lower competition
• Have the margin to absorb the cost of leads you don't win

It's harder to justify if you:

• Miss calls while you're on site
• Work in a competitive trade (electrical, building, plumbing) where every lead gets multiple quotes
• Are already paying for Checkatrade or another platform

The core frustration is familiar: you're paying for demand you don't own, competing with two other tradespeople for every job, and carrying all the risk if the customer goes quiet.

5. Alternatives to Rated People

Kantr (convert the traffic you already have)

If you've got a website, there's a good chance visitors are already landing on it (from Google, your Google Business Profile, social media, or word of mouth) and then leaving without getting in touch.

Kantr is a sales assistant that sits on your website, answers visitor questions instantly, and captures leads while you're busy on the tools.

• No shared leads - every enquiry is yours
• Works 24/7, even out of hours
• From £39/month, with a 90-day money-back guarantee
• 10-minute setup

Instead of paying for someone else's leads, you start converting the traffic you're already getting.

Google Business Profile (free)

A well-optimised Google Business Profile with strong reviews can generate consistent, high-intent leads for free.

People searching "plumber near me" or "electrician [town]" are ready to book. Show up there, and they'll contact you directly - no middleman, no lead fee.

Referrals and social proof

Word of mouth still wins.

Encourage happy customers to leave reviews on Google and Facebook. Post your work regularly. Build a reputation in your area.

It takes longer to build, but it compounds over time and costs you nothing per lead.

6. Final Thoughts

For some tradespeople in the right location and trade, it generates real work.

But the costs add up fast. And if you're already struggling to respond quickly, or operating in a competitive trade, the maths rarely works in your favour.

If you want to stop paying for shared leads and start winning more jobs from your own website, Kantr is worth a look. See how we compare to traditional lead platforms in our Rated People alternatives guide.