Is Tradehand a Checkatrade alternative for UK trades?

They solve different jobs. Checkatrade is a membership directory where vetted trades pay monthly for a profile and leads on checkatrade.com. Tradehand is a marketplace at tradehand.com where homeowners search and book, plus an assistant that runs the admin under your name. Many trades use a directory for visibility and want the admin done too.

Does Tradehand charge homeowners to search?

No. Searching the marketplace and getting in touch are free for homeowners. They contact one trade and their details stay with that trade. Tradehand does not sell their details on.

What does Tradehand cost a trade compared with Checkatrade?

Checkatrade charges a monthly membership on a 12-month term, quoted by trade and postcode, and its own terms say membership alone does not include leads: those cost extra on a fixed plan or pay as you go. Tradehand has no monthly fee and earns 5% of invoice payments it collects for you after the fee-free allowance. See tradehand.com/pricing for the full breakdown.

Where do Tradehand marketplace listings come from?

Many listings are built from public competent-person register data, such as NICEIC and NAPIT. Trades can claim a listing and run a bookable profile.

Does Checkatrade answer calls and send quotes for you?

No. Checkatrade connects homeowners to your profile; you answer, quote and follow up. Your Tradehand assistant answers calls and messages across phone, SMS, email and web, sends and chases quotes, books visits and collects payment under your brand.

Can I leave Checkatrade for Tradehand?

You can use both. Checkatrade membership renews automatically each year, and its terms say cancelling must be done by phone within the 35 days before your renewal date; stopping the direct debit does not count. Tradehand has no contract. The guide at tradehand.com/guides/how-to-cancel-checkatrade explains the route step by step.

Which is better for a sole trader just starting out?

Checkatrade helps if you want a known directory badge and can commit to a year of membership. Tradehand suits a sole trader who is on the tools and needs calls answered and quotes chased without a monthly software or directory fee.

How does Tradehand get me found?

Three ways: your business is listed on the Tradehand marketplace where homeowners search by trade and area, you get a free website under your own name built to win local searches, and you get hands-on help setting up and optimising your Google Business Profile. The work comes to you under your own brand.

Where can I read more about Tradehand?

Company facts and how the marketplace works are at tradehand.com/about. Trades sign up at tradehand.com/for-trades. Browse electricians, plumbers and other trades on the marketplace from the homepage.

Tradehand vs Checkatrade

Checkatrade rents you a listing. Tradehand gets you found and does the work.

Checkatrade is a long-standing UK directory: members pass checks, build a profile, and pay a monthly membership for search placement and leads. Tradehand is a marketplace where homeowners find and book local trades, and an assistant that answers, quotes, books and collects payment under your own name. No monthly fee, 5% after the fee-free allowance, and only when you are paid.

Blake FolgadoCo-founder, Tradehand

Published 19 August 2026

The short answer

Choose Checkatrade if you want a trusted directory badge and are happy to pay a fixed monthly membership for visibility on their site. Choose Tradehand if you want to be found on the marketplace and have the admin done under your brand, with no monthly fee and 5% on money collected after the fee-free allowance.

Tradehand: Best for sole traders who want the phone answered and payment chased for them
Checkatrade: Best for trades who want a known directory badge and vetting before they appear

Are you renting a listing, or paying for work won?

Checkatrade bills a monthly membership on a fixed term, whether the month is quiet or not. Tradehand bills nothing until a customer pays you. Judge both on what you get for the money, not the headline alone.

An office admin

£25,000 /year

UK office manager starter salary, before NI and pension. Paid whether or not the invoices land.

Source: Office manager salary, £25,000 starter (National Careers Service)

Tradehand

£0 /month

No monthly fee, no setup fee. 5% of invoice payments Tradehand collects after the fee-free allowance.

Checkatrade

Membership

Monthly membership on a 12-month auto-renewing term, priced by trade and postcode. Leads cost extra, on a fixed plan or pay as you go.

Source: Checkatrade master service terms: 12-month auto-renewal, leads cost extra

Salary: National Careers Service. Checkatrade quotes membership during sign-up, and its own terms say membership alone does not include leads. Tradehand earns 5% on payments it collects after the fee-free allowance.

Side by side

	Tradehand	Checkatrade
What it is	TradehandUK marketplace to find and book trades, plus an AI assistant	CheckatradeVetted trade directory with member profiles and reviews
How homeowners find youSource: Checkatrade Approved terms: basic tier shows on name searches only	TradehandSearch the Tradehand marketplace by trade and area	CheckatradeBasic membership shows you on name searches only; wider visibility costs extra
What happens when a homeowner gets in touchSource: Checkatrade, how do I get work: calls, quote requests and bookings	TradehandThey contact one trade; details stay with that trade	CheckatradeThey call, request a quote or book on your profile
Who answers and chases the job	Tradehand✓ An assistant under your name: answers, quotes, books, chases payment	CheckatradeYou answer and follow up; member tools help manage jobs
How you are billedSource: Checkatrade master service terms: 12-month auto-renewal, leads cost extra	Tradehand£0 a month, 5% of collected invoice payments after the fee-free allowance	CheckatradeMonthly membership, plus lead fees on a fixed plan or pay as you go
Minimum termSource: Checkatrade master service terms: 12-month auto-renewal, leads cost extra	TradehandNone, leave whenever you like	CheckatradeMembership runs 12 months and renews automatically
Vetting before you appearSource: Checkatrade vetting: up to 12 checks before a profile goes live	TradehandListings from public registers; claimed profiles verified by email	Checkatrade✓ Up to 12 background checks before a profile goes live

“It has massively gone downhill and I would no longer recommend it.”

A tradesperson on r/ukelectricians, Reddit, on Checkatrade membership

What happens when you miss the call

A homeowner finds your business on Tradehand while you are on a job. Your Tradehand assistant answers every call and message that follows without you stopping work.

On Checkatrade the call lands on your profile and you pick it up. On Tradehand your assistant answers, sends the quote and books the visit under your name.

An honest recommendation

Choose Checkatrade if…

·You want the Checkatrade tick and their member vetting before you appear
·You are happy to pay a monthly membership for directory visibility
·You already answer every call yourself and just need more leads from a known brand

Choose Tradehand if…

✓You want to be found on the marketplace and keep the customer under your name
✓You want missed calls answered, quotes sent and payment chased for you
✓You want no monthly fee and only pay when money lands in your account

Checkatrade beats us on brand recognition with homeowners who already know the name, and on upfront vetting before a profile goes live. Tradehand lists many businesses from public registers and does not repeat those checks itself. If the tick and their guarantee matter most to you, Checkatrade is the better fit.

You can run both while you decide

Keep your Checkatrade membership while you claim your Tradehand listing and turn your assistant on. Drop the directory when you are sure, not before.

Day 1
Find or claim your listing
Search the Tradehand marketplace for your business, or sign up at tradehand.com/for-trades if you are new.
Day 1
Set up your assistant
A person connects your number, rates and diary so your assistant can answer under your name.
Week 1
Run both in parallel
Checkatrade keeps sending directory leads while Tradehand starts answering your line.
When ready
Review your spend
Use tradehand.com/tools/marketplace-roi to see what each won job really costs on Checkatrade, then cancel in your renewal window if Tradehand is filling the diary.

Questions sole traders ask

Sources & References

Hear your assistant answer the phone

Get started. Tradehand takes a call, sends the quote and books the job under a trade's own name. Then compare that with what you pay for a directory listing.

Get started See how it works