MyBuilder vs Rated People vs Checkatrade for HVAC Engineers: Which Is Worth It?

Before comparing costs and lead quality, it helps to understand what each platform actually does:

Checkatrade

Checkatrade is a membership directory. You pay an annual fee to maintain a profile, and customers find you through search. Checkatrade also forwards some enquiries directly. Reviews are verified against actual submitted jobs, which gives them more credibility than unverified platforms. Joining requires vetting: Checkatrade checks your qualifications and insurance before approving your listing.

MyBuilder

MyBuilder is a pay-per-lead platform. It is free to create a profile. When a customer posts a job, you pay to express interest (called "quoting"). If the customer selects you, MyBuilder connects you. There is no annual membership fee: you only pay when you actively pursue a lead. Reviews are collected after completed work.

Rated People

Rated People operates similarly to MyBuilder. Customers post jobs, tradespeople pay to receive the customer's contact details and submit a quote. There is a credit-based system: you buy credits and spend them on leads. Like MyBuilder, there is no mandatory annual fee, though some subscription tiers exist. Reviews are collected post-job.

HVAC work covers a wide range of job types, and platform performance differs significantly by job type:

Emergency heating calls (boiler breakdown, no hot water):

• These leads are time-sensitive. Customers want someone today or tomorrow
• MyBuilder and Rated People both receive emergency postings, but the lead-buying model means response lag. If you're not monitoring the platform actively, another engineer will claim the lead first
• Checkatrade receives emergency enquiries too and can forward them quickly to members with matching postcodes
• For genuine emergencies, Google Business Profile (customers call directly) and Google Local Services Ads outperform all three platforms because customers call rather than fill in forms

Boiler replacement installations:

• Higher job values (typically £2,000–£5,000+), customers do compare multiple quotes
• All three platforms receive installation enquiries
• Checkatrade's verification and review system gives it a trust advantage for this job type. Customers spending significant sums want reassurance

Heat pump installations:

• Growing market, driven partly by government grant schemes
• Customers doing heat pump research often go to the MCS installer directory before general trade platforms
• All three platforms receive heat pump enquiries, but volume is lower than boiler work. The MCS directory is a better primary channel for this job type

Annual boiler servicing:

• Lower job value (£70–£120 typical), good for filling gaps
• MyBuilder and Rated People are rarely cost-effective for servicing work. The cost of buying a lead can exceed the margin on a single service
• Checkatrade's directory model makes more sense for servicing because you're not paying per lead

Understanding costs clearly is essential before committing to any platform:

Checkatrade

• Membership: Checkatrade publishes three tiers: Free at £0/month, Approved at £30/month, and Growth from £59/month; Growth's exact price is quoted by trade category, postcode and lead volume through its own calculator
• Cost is fixed regardless of how many jobs you win
• Some plans include lead credits; additional leads may cost extra
• Requires vetting upfront. Need valid Gas Safe registration, public liability insurance

MyBuilder

• Free to create a profile and browse jobs
• Pay a fee only once you're shortlisted for a job; MyBuilder doesn't publish a fixed per-quote price
• Cost only arises when you actively pursue a lead
• No guaranteed exclusivity. Multiple engineers can quote the same job

Rated People

• Credit-based system; Rated People doesn't publish per-lead credit pricing
• Subscription tiers available that include a monthly credit allowance
• Credits are spent when you receive a customer's contact details, regardless of whether you win the job
• No annual membership required at the basic level

The key difference: Checkatrade is a fixed-cost model, useful if you win many jobs. MyBuilder and Rated People are variable-cost models, useful if you're selective about which leads you pursue. For HVAC engineers who are cautious about upfront spend, starting with MyBuilder or Rated People and paying only for leads you actively want is lower risk.

Raw traffic matters less than whether a platform attracts the right customers for your specific HVAC services:

Checkatrade has the largest consumer brand awareness in the UK. Its heating category is one of its most active. For domestic boiler work specifically. Servicing, repairs, and replacement. Checkatrade has strong reach. It is less effective for commercial HVAC work, which rarely comes through consumer directories.

MyBuilder tends to attract customers with more complex or larger jobs. The job-posting model encourages customers to describe what they need in detail, which can yield better-qualified leads for larger HVAC projects. Emergency and urgent jobs are also posted, but the response model is slower than a direct Google search.

Rated People has solid volume across heating categories. It tends to attract price-conscious customers who post jobs and compare multiple quotes carefully. Conversion rates for Rated People heating leads can be lower than Checkatrade because the platform culture encourages comparison shopping.

MCS Installer Directory (free alternative): For heat pump and renewable heating work specifically, the MCS directory outperforms all three paid platforms in lead quality. Customers finding you through MCS are specifically looking for certified engineers and have already done research. The MCS directory is free and requires only that you hold MCS certification.

There is no single right answer. The best platform depends on your business situation:

Start with MyBuilder or Rated People if:

• You are a new business with limited capital and want to test lead quality before committing to an annual fee
• You have variable capacity and want to cherry-pick leads rather than pay a flat rate for a directory slot
• You want to build your review count across multiple platforms before deciding on a primary membership

Move to or add Checkatrade if:

• You have consistent capacity to fill and want a stable stream of domestic enquiries
• You have enough reviews (ideally 30+) to make your profile competitive on the platform
• Your jobs are skewing toward higher-value replacements and installations where Checkatrade's verified review system adds genuine trust

Consider dropping platforms and investing in owned channels when:

• Your Google review count exceeds 40 and your rating is 4.8+
• Referrals account for 30%+ of your incoming work
• Service contract revenue is growing, reducing the need for constant new-customer acquisition

All three platforms focus on domestic, consumer-initiated enquiries. If your HVAC work is skewing toward commercial (offices, hospitality, schools, social housing) the most valuable relationships are direct and are not built through consumer directories.

Facilities management companies: FM companies manage heating, ventilation, and air conditioning for commercial properties under planned maintenance contracts. Getting on an FM company's approved contractor list requires demonstrating relevant qualifications (F-Gas, Gas Safe, REFCOM for refrigerants) and insurance, but provides recurring work without platform fees.

Property management agents: Agents managing residential blocks and commercial units often need HVAC contractors for reactive and planned maintenance. A direct relationship with one agent managing 50 properties is worth more than 50 Checkatrade leads.

New build contractors: Construction companies installing heating systems in new residential or commercial builds subcontract HVAC work. These relationships require relevant qualifications and often Constructionline or similar contractor vetting, but deliver consistent, project-based work.

LinkedIn for B2B HVAC: For commercial HVAC specifically, LinkedIn is an underused channel. Facilities managers, property managers, and construction procurement leads are reachable directly. A professional LinkedIn profile showing your qualifications and project experience will generate more relevant commercial enquiries than any consumer directory.