Guide
Checkatrade vs MyBuilder vs Bark: which is best for tradespeople?
Updated 1 October 2026 · 4 minute read
The three biggest lead platforms for UK trades charge in completely different ways: a monthly membership, a fee per shortlist, or credits per lead. Here's how they compare, and how to choose.
Side by side
| Checkatrade | MyBuilder | Bark | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Monthly membership | Fee each time you're shortlisted | Credits to contact each lead |
| Typical cost | £30 a month (Approved) or from £59 (Growth); members report £80 to £500 | About £2 to £35 per shortlist (£15 to £60 for roofing) | About £9 to £36+ per lead |
| Commitment | Usually a fixed 12-month term that auto-renews | None | None, but credits expire after 3 months |
| Pay if you don't win? | Yes, it's a membership | Yes, the fee is non-refundable | Yes, credits are spent on contact |
| Extras | Vetting tick, reviews, booking tools; Rated People leads now come through it | Job board you choose from | Wide range of services, not just trades |
Costs from each platform's own pages where published, and from Local Ladder's UK Trade Lead Cost Tracker (verified 30 September 2026).
Which suits which business
- Checkatrade can suit established trades who want a steady presence and the trust of the tick, and who can commit for a year.
- MyBuilder can suit trades who want to pick jobs one at a time, with no monthly commitment.
- Bark can suit trades testing a new area or service, as long as they watch the cost per job and the three-month credit expiry.
The test that matters
For any platform: total spend divided by jobs actually won. Track it for a couple of months before committing more. Our individual guides go deeper: Checkatrade cost, MyBuilder cost and is Bark worth it.
Don't rely on any one of them
All three put you alongside competitors, and all three can change their prices or rules. Your own Google Business Profile and website are the channels you control. They bring in direct enquiries with no fee per lead, and they help you win the leads you've paid for, because customers look you up before they choose.
See what yours would look like
We'll build a website for your business from your Google listing, free. You only pay £199 if you want to keep it.
Sources
- Checkatrade: pricing for trades
- Checkatrade: how to cancel a Checkatrade membership
- MyBuilder: tradesperson terms and conditions
- Bark Help Centre: how credit expiration works
- Local Ladder: UK Trade Lead Cost Tracker (verified 30 Sept 2026, CC BY 4.0)
- Rated People: joins Checkatrade Group (17 Sept 2026)
Prices change. Figures were checked on the date above; check the provider's site for today's price.