"Is Checkatrade worth it?" is one of the most-asked questions in the trades, and the honest answer is: it depends on your trade, your area, and how much work you already get another way. Here is a fair, factual way to decide, not a hit piece.
We build a competing platform, so take our view as informed but not neutral. The facts below are what Checkatrade showed us when we checked in October 2026; the judgement is yours.
How does Checkatrade charge tradespeople?
Checkatrade is a paid membership directory: you pay a recurring fee to be listed, and customers browse and contact members directly. 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 in October 2026 were all on 12 month fixed contracts. For your own figure, ask Checkatrade for the full price and contract terms in writing.
The key point: it is a recurring cost you pay whether or not work comes in: a subscription for visibility and a recognised review profile, not a pay-per-job arrangement.
Who is Checkatrade a good fit for?
It can make sense if:
- You want a long-established consumer brand and a large, public review profile behind your name.
- A fixed monthly cost you can budget for suits you better than pay-as-you-go.
- You are in a trade and area where enough customers use the directory to cover that cost comfortably.
What should you weigh up before committing?
- Work out your break-even. Take the all-in monthly cost (ask for it in writing) and divide by your average job profit. That is how many jobs a month it needs to generate just to pay for itself.
- Watch the contract terms. Check the minimum term and how renewals work before you sign.
- Don't count on exclusivity. A directory listing puts you alongside everyone else who pays; the customer still chooses.
What are the alternatives?
The alternatives charge in different ways: some per lead or per shortlist, some a monthly or yearly membership. We've written a straight, side-by-side Checkatrade alternative comparison, plus comparisons for MyBuilder, Bark, Rated People and TrustATrader.
For the record: Tradelynx is free to join with no lead fees and no commission on jobs, a different model to a recurring membership.
So, is it worth it?
Checkatrade is worth it if the work it brings in for your trade and area comfortably clears its recurring cost, and not if you would be paying a monthly fee for visibility you do not convert. Do the break-even maths on your own numbers before you decide.
Compare Tradelynx and Checkatrade →