Checkatrade vs MyBuilder vs Rated People: Which Should You Use?

Checkatrade, MyBuilder and Rated People are three of the best-known ways to find a tradesperson in the UK — but they do not all work the same way. Checkatrade and Rated People let you find local traders and make contact, while MyBuilder matches the job you post to interested tradespeople — and all three are free for homeowners to use. This guide compares them fairly on five practical criteria so you can decide which fits your job. It is current as of 2026, and no platform has paid for its place here.

At a glance — comparison table

All three are free for homeowners — the differences that matter are in how you find a trader and how their reputation is built. The sections below explain each in turn.

How each platform works

The biggest practical difference between these three is the direction of contact: do you go to the trader, or do traders come to you?

Checkatrade — browse vetted local traders

Checkatrade works like a searchable directory. You look up your trade and area, browse the traders who match, read their profiles and reviews, and contact the ones you like directly. It suits homeowners who want to stay in control of who they approach and to see a trader’s track record before getting in touch.

MyBuilder — post a job, get matched, compare interested traders

MyBuilder flips the model. Rather than browsing, you describe your job, and the platform matches it to tradespeople who work in your area and want that kind of work. Interested traders get in touch, and you shortlist from those who respond. It suits people who would rather let suitable traders come to them than search through profiles.

Rated People — post a job and receive responses from local traders

Rated People also works on a post-a-job basis: you describe what you need, and local traders can respond. You then compare the traders who get in touch and choose who to take forward. It has historically focused on smaller, one-off jobs, which we cover in the verdict below.

Vetting and checks

Vetting is the reason most homeowners use a platform rather than picking a name at random, so it is worth understanding what each one does.

Checkatrade states that it carries out a series of checks on traders before they are listed, covering credentials relevant to their trade. MyBuilder runs identity checks and lets a trader’s reputation build through reviews from real jobs completed on the platform. Rated People registers traders with checks and, likewise, leans on its review system to surface reliable traders over time.

The practical takeaway: a directory model like Checkatrade does more of its checking up front, before a trader appears, while the post-a-job platforms place more weight on a trader’s accumulated reviews. Neither approach removes the need for your own checks. Whichever route you use, it is still wise to confirm insurance and the right accreditations yourself — our guide on how to find a tradesman you can trust walks through exactly what to verify.

Guarantees and dispute support

If something goes wrong, what backs you up? This is where the platforms differ in emphasis.

Checkatrade offers a workmanship guarantee scheme, which can provide a layer of protection on covered work up to set limits and conditions. MyBuilder and Rated People both offer resolution support to help if a dispute arises between a homeowner and a trader. As terms, limits and eligibility change over time and vary by job, always read the current details on each platform before relying on any guarantee — treat it as a backstop, not a substitute for hiring carefully in the first place.

Cost to the homeowner

Here is the part homeowners most want spelled out plainly: all three are free to use. You do not pay Checkatrade, MyBuilder or Rated People to find a trader, post a job or read reviews.

The platforms make their money from the tradespeople. Broadly, Checkatrade operates on a membership model — traders pay to be listed — while MyBuilder and Rated People operate on a lead model, where traders pay to contact or quote for jobs. That difference does not cost you anything directly. What it does mean is that the price you are quoted is set entirely by the trader, so the surest way to get a fair figure is to compare several quotes for the same job rather than accepting the first.

Coverage and trade range

All three operate across the UK and cover a wide spread of trades, from plumbers and electricians to builders, roofers and beyond.

Checkatrade and MyBuilder both carry a very broad range of trades and handle small and large jobs alike. Rated People also covers a broad range nationally, with a long-standing emphasis on smaller, one-off jobs. For most common household trades, you will find relevant traders on any of the three; the differences are more about how you connect with them than whether they cover your job at all.

Review systems

Reviews are central to all three platforms, and each ties feedback to jobs in some way.

Checkatrade displays reviews linked to its verified members. MyBuilder and Rated People both collect reviews from jobs completed through the platform, so feedback is connected to real work. The general principle for reading any of them is the same: weight recent reviews and overall volume alongside the headline score, and read the wording for specifics. A strong average across many recent jobs tells you more than a perfect score from a handful. Our explainer on how each platform’s review system works goes deeper on judging reviews well — and spotting ones that do not add up.

Which is best for you?

There is no single winner here — the right choice depends on your job and how you prefer to work.

A big project where vetting matters most

For a large or expensive project, such as an extension or a full renovation, up-front vetting and a track record carry the most weight. A browse-and-choose directory like Checkatrade lets you study profiles, reviews and any guarantee before you make contact. Whichever platform you use, this is the time to be most thorough — and to ask the right questions before you hire.

One specific job where you want traders to come to you

If you would rather describe your job once and let suitable traders get in touch, a post-a-job platform such as MyBuilder fits well. You shortlist from those who respond, which can save time if you do not want to search through profiles yourself.

Small jobs

For smaller, one-off jobs, Rated People has historically focused on exactly this kind of work, while Checkatrade and MyBuilder handle small and large jobs alike. For any small job, getting a couple of quotes to compare is still the safest approach.

A free alternative — compare multiple quotes in one place

There is one more route worth knowing about. Trusted Tradesmen Quotes lets you make a single enquiry and receive up to several quotes from vetted local tradespeople — all free to the homeowner, with no obligation to hire.

It is designed to combine the parts homeowners value most: tradespeople who have been through identity, insurance and qualification checks, genuine reviews, and the ability to compare more than one quote without ringing round yourself. Rather than browsing a directory or fielding responses to a posted job, you tell us the trade and your postcode once, and the quotes come to you. We see it as another option to consider alongside the three platforms above — and, like them, it costs you nothing.

When you are ready, you can find a tradesman near you in a couple of minutes and compare up to five free quotes.

Frequently asked questions

Is Checkatrade or MyBuilder better?

They suit different needs. Checkatrade is best if you want to browse pre-vetted traders and contact them directly, while MyBuilder is best if you would rather post your job and have interested traders come to you. Both are free for homeowners, so the right choice comes down to whether you prefer to search or be matched.

Are these tradesman sites free to use?

Yes — Checkatrade, MyBuilder and Rated People are all free for homeowners. The tradespeople pay, either through membership or per lead. Trusted Tradesmen Quotes is also free to homeowners, so comparing quotes never costs you anything.

Which site is best for small jobs?

Rated People has historically focused on smaller, one-off jobs, while Checkatrade and MyBuilder cover small and large work alike. For any job, large or small, getting a few quotes to compare is the safest approach.

Is it cheaper to use a directory or hire a tradesman directly?

Using a directory is free to you, and the price you are quoted is set by the trader, so a directory does not add cost for the homeowner. The real saving comes from comparing several quotes for the same job — that is what helps you spot a fair price and avoid overpaying.