Is Checkatrade worth it for a sole trader?

It depends on your volume and how you value a big consumer brand. Checkatrade is a paid membership whose prices appear only after you give your details; the plans we were shown in October 2026 were on 12 month fixed contracts. Tradelynx charges nothing to receive work. A sole trader with steady word-of-mouth may need neither.

By Mike Fellows, Founder, Tradelynx · IT and service management backgroundPublished 27 August 2026Last reviewed 19 October 2026

A free Checkatrade alternative for tradespeople

Checkatrade is a long-established membership directory: you pay a recurring fee to be listed, and customers browse and contact members directly. Tradelynx works differently: it’s free for tradespeople, routes one job to one verified trader, and takes no commission on jobs. Card processing is passed through at cost.

Join free: no lead fees

Tradelynx vs Checkatrade, side by side

How Tradelynx and Checkatrade compare, as of October 2026. Checkatrade details from Checkatrade; check their site for current terms.
	Tradelynx	Checkatrade
Model	A workflow, not a directory or a lead auction. One job is routed to one verified trader at a time.	A paid membership directory. You pay a recurring subscription for your listing; customers find and contact you.
Fees	Nothing to pay to receive jobs: no membership, no per-lead charges, no commission on jobs. Card payment processing is passed through at cost.	Recurring membership. Checkatrade doesn't show its prices on its website. You see them after giving your details, and they change with the details you give about your business. The plans we were shown were all on 12 month fixed contracts (as of October 2026). For your own figure, ask Checkatrade for the full price and contract terms in writing.
Your lead	One job goes to one trader. Your lead is never sold to several tradespeople to compete over.	It's a directory rather than a per-lead auction, customers contact you, but you pay the membership whether or not work comes in.
Your books	Tradelynx Pro includes your books, for £15 per month including any VAT that applies, free until we're HMRC-recognised plus three months: MTD-ready records with VAT worked out. It does not file to HMRC yet; you file from the export until recognition.	Not part of the product: accounting software is a separate purchase, usually quoted ex-VAT.

Where Checkatrade might be the better fit

If you want a long-established consumer brand with a large public review profile, and a fixed monthly cost you can budget for, Checkatrade may suit you better than pay-as-you-go.

Checkatrade alternative: FAQs

Is there a free alternative to Checkatrade for tradespeople?

Yes. Tradelynx is free for tradespeople. There's no membership fee, no lead fees and no commission on jobs.

How much does Checkatrade cost?

Checkatrade doesn't show its prices on its website. You see them after giving your details, and they change with the details you give about your business. The plans we were shown were all on 12 month fixed contracts (as of October 2026). Tradelynx is free for tradespeople, with no lead fees and no commission.

What's the difference between Tradelynx and Checkatrade?

Checkatrade is a membership directory you pay to be listed in. Tradelynx is a workflow that routes one job to one verified trader, free to join, with no commission on jobs.

Free for tradespeople. No commission on jobs.

No membership, no per-lead charges, and no subscription needed to receive jobs. One job, one verified trader. Your lead is never sold to several tradespeople to compete over.

Join Tradelynx free

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