Is Rated People worth it for a sole trader?

It depends on whether a fixed monthly cost suits your flow of work. Rated People sells a monthly subscription; its Unlimited plan is one flat fee to quote for as many leads as you want, and leads can go to up to three tradespeople. Tradelynx needs no subscription and takes no commission. Our comparison gives sources and dates.

By Mike Fellows, Founder, Tradelynx · IT and service management backgroundPublished 17 September 2026Last reviewed 17 September 2026

A free Rated People alternative for tradespeople

Rated People sells a monthly subscription to tradespeople: on its Unlimited plan you quote for as many leads as you want for one flat monthly fee (not offered for every trade), and no more than three tradespeople can take the same lead. 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 Rated People, side by side

How Tradelynx and Rated People compare, as of August 2026. Rated People details from Rated People for tradespeople; check their site for current terms.
TradelynxRated People
ModelA workflow, not a directory or a lead auction. One job is routed to one verified trader at a time.A monthly subscription. Its Unlimited plan is one flat monthly fee to quote for as many leads as you want, positioned for tradespeople who regularly quote under £4,000; Rated People says Unlimited is not available for some trades.
FeesNothing to pay to receive jobs: no membership, no per-lead charges, no commission on jobs. Card payment processing is passed through at cost.A recurring monthly fee whether or not work comes in. Where Unlimited is not offered for a trade, leads are paid for individually (as of August 2026, from Rated People's own tradespeople page).
Your leadOne job goes to one trader. Your lead is never sold to several tradespeople to compete over.Rated People states that no more than three tradespeople can buy the same lead, so you're typically competing with two others who also paid for it.
Your booksTradelynx 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 Rated People might be the better fit

If you quote a lot of smaller jobs and want a low monthly subscription with leads available to buy, Rated People's model may suit.

Rated People alternative: FAQs

Is there a free alternative to Rated People?

Yes. Tradelynx is free for tradespeople: no subscription needed to receive jobs, no lead fees and no commission on jobs.

Does Rated People charge a subscription?

Rated People charges a monthly subscription; its Unlimited plan is one flat monthly fee for as many leads as you want to quote for (as of August 2026). Tradelynx needs no subscription to receive jobs. It's free to join, with no commission on jobs.

What's the difference between Tradelynx and Rated People?

Rated People charges a monthly subscription for leads that up to three pros can take. Tradelynx routes one job to one trader, free, with no commission.

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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