"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 about Checkatrade's published model; 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 does not publish its prices on its website — membership is quoted through a sales process and varies by trade and area (as of June 2026), and some trades are also charged per lead. For the current figure, you would need to ask Checkatrade directly.
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 main alternatives fall into two camps: pay-per-lead marketplaces (you pay for each enquiry, often shared with others) and newer models that only charge when you actually get paid. We've written a straight, side-by-side Checkatrade alternative comparison, plus comparisons for MyBuilder, Bark and Rated People.
For the record: Tradelynx is free to join with no lead fees and a flat 2% only on completed jobs — a different model to a recurring membership.
So, is it worth it?
Checkatrade is worth it if the work it brings in comfortably clears its recurring cost in your trade and area — 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 →