TrustATrader Subscription Cost: Is the Monthly Fee Worth It?

You pay your monthly fee.

Wait for the phone to ring.

Hope there are enough jobs in your area to make it worthwhile.

That's TrustATrader in a nutshell.

It's a subscription directory.

Not pay-per-lead like Bark or Rated People. But the TrustATrader subscription cost still adds up fast.

1. What Does TrustATrader Actually Cost?

TrustATrader charges a flat monthly subscription rather than per-lead fees.

Typical costs range from £70 to £120 + VAT per month, depending on your trade and location.

That's roughly £840 to £1,440 a year before VAT.

2. How TrustATrader Works

You create a profile, collect reviews, and appear in TrustATrader's directory.

When a homeowner searches for your trade in your area, your profile shows up and they contact you directly.

No credits. No per-lead fees. Just your monthly subscription.

TrustATrader also caps the number of tradespeople per category per area, which limits direct competition on the platform.

One of the pitfalls of pay-per-lead platforms like Checkatrade and MyBuilder is that the same lead can be sent to multiple businesses at once.

3. The Problem with Paying a Flat Fee

Paying per lead is frustrating. But a flat subscription has its own catch: you pay whether the work comes in or not.

If TrustATrader gets you 10 solid enquiries a month, £100 is easily justified.

If you get two, you're overpaying.

Results depend on your trade, location, local competition, profile quality, and review strength.

4. What Tradespeople Are Saying

Public reviews are generally positive, with a 4.7 rating on Trustpilot at the time of writing.

But many reviews are from homeowners, not just tradespeople. Looking specifically at comments from trades, results are mixed:

• Some report generating £10,000 to £15,000 a year in work from TrustATrader
• Others report receiving little or no lead volume over several months

Source: TrustATrader Trustpilot reviews.

5. Is TrustATrader Worth It?

TrustATrader may work for you if:

• You're in a trade with lower local competition on the platform
• Your area gets decent TrustATrader search traffic
• You reply to enquiries quickly with a strong profile and good reviews

For many sole traders and small firms, the core issue is this: you're renting visibility you don't own, at a fixed monthly cost you can't control.

If you're weighing up whether to join or stay, read the full guide to TrustATrader alternatives for tradespeople.

6. What You Can Do Instead

1. Turn Your Existing Website into a Lead Machine

If you've already got website traffic, that is valuable. The goal is converting visitors into leads quickly.

Speed to response is often the biggest reason enquiries turn into booked work or get lost.

2. Google Business Profile and Local SEO

A well-optimised Google Business Profile can put you in front of people searching for your trade nearby with no platform subscription fee.

Strong reviews and regular updates can drive steady enquiries from Maps alone.

3. Referrals and Social Proof

Word-of-mouth and Facebook reviews are still powerful for planned work like landscaping, extensions, and decorating.

A regular stream of photos, reviews, and updates keeps you visible and credible without a monthly platform cost.

The Bottom Line

TrustATrader can be a strong channel for some businesses.

But at £70 to £120 a month, you need consistent and high-quality enquiries to justify the subscription cost.

If you're not getting that return, it's often better to invest in channels you control more directly, like your own website, Google profile, and conversion tools.