Both use AI. The difference is what happens after the call.
Powered Now combines a mature UK job-management app with an AI Receptionist add-on. Tradehand gives you an assistant that carries the call, the quote, the booking and the payment follow-up. Free includes the manual tools and the Assistant with £1 of usage a month: 5% of each payment Tradehand takes, card fees included. Paid plans from £25 a month add automation and more usage. Basic payment fees on your own jobs: From 1.25% + 20p, deducted automatically when the customer pays. Grow and Advanced have lower Tradehand payment fees.
Tradehand
Powered Now
The short answer
Powered Now is a solid choice for a mature UK app with a certificate library and an optional AI receptionist. Choose Tradehand if you want one assistant carrying the call through quoting, booking and payment follow-up. Free includes the manual tools and the Assistant with £1 of usage a month: 5% of each payment Tradehand takes, card fees included. Paid plans from £25 a month add automation and more usage. Basic payment fees on your own jobs: From 1.25% + 20p, deducted automatically when the customer pays. Grow and Advanced have lower Tradehand payment fees.
An honest recommendation
Choose Powered Now if…
- You want a mature UK app with a deep certificate and forms library
- You want VAT returns and CIS handled inside the same app
- You're happy to draft quotes, invoices and certificates yourself
Choose Tradehand if…
- You want the call carried through quoting, booking and payment follow-up
- You want Free tools with the Assistant or a paid plan for automation, with unlimited team members
- You want certificates included and the admin done, not another app
Where Powered Now earns its place: years of refinement on UK certificates and forms, plus Making Tax Digital and VAT returns in the app. Tradehand includes certificates too, but pushes to Xero and QuickBooks one way only.
Are you buying a tidier app, or more work won?
Both clear admin well, and neither fills a thin diary on its own. Judge them on the office job: answering, quoting, booking, chasing. That is a person's job.
UK office manager starter salary, before NI and pension. Paid whether or not the invoices land.
Source: Office manager salary (National Careers)
TradehandFree, or paid plans from £19 a month billed yearly
Salary: National Careers Service. Powered Now bills per user per month, so hiring raises the bill, and its AI receptionist is a separate add-on. Tradehand includes the Assistant on Free and bills a subscription for automation and more usage.
See pricingSide by side
| What matters |  Tradehand |  Powered Now |
|---|---|---|
| Answers missed callsSource: Powered Now AI Receptionist | Tradehand✓ Included, no add-on | Powered Now✓ AI Receptionist, a separate add-on |
| Carries the call into quoting and bookingSource: Powered Now AI Receptionist | Tradehand✓ Quote and booking off the same call | Powered NowPricing page says diary booking. Receptionist page says account sync is coming soon |
| Chases what is owedSource: Powered Now pricing (powerednow.com) | Tradehand✓ Quotes, invoices and customers who went quiet | Powered NowAutomatic Invoice and Quote Chasing, Premium |
| Digital certificatesSource: Powered Now pricing (powerednow.com) | Tradehand✓ Ten published types, signed PDF. Countersign only when a supervisor signs | Powered Now✓ Forms and Certificates, Professional and up |
| How you are billedSource: Powered Now pricing (powerednow.com) | TradehandFree, or paid plans from £19 a month billed yearly | Powered NowMonthly per user, plus the receptionist add-on |
| Quotes and invoicesSource: Powered Now pricing (powerednow.com) | Tradehand✓ Drafted for you, held for approval if you ask | Powered NowApp tools you drive, auto-chasing on Premium |
| UK tax and accountingSource: Powered Now pricing (powerednow.com) | TradehandOne way push to Xero and QuickBooks, plus CSV | Powered Now✓ Making Tax Digital, VAT returns from Professional |
| ContractSource: Powered Now pricing (powerednow.com) | TradehandNone, leave whenever you like | Powered NowPer user subscription |
What "does the admin" looks like
A Tuesday morning. You're under a sink and can't pick up. Nothing below required your phone.
Powered Now captures the lead and gives you mature job-management tools. The Tradehand distinction is an assistant carrying that call through the quote, booking and payment follow-up.
Move new work over without losing your old records
Run both side by side. Keep Powered Now as your history until you are comfortable moving new work to Tradehand.
- Day 1
Prepare your data
Export the customer and price-list data you want to keep from Powered Now.
- Day 1
A person does the import
A person imports your customers and price list, then sets up your number, rates and diary. Historic jobs are not imported.
- Day 2–6
Run both in parallel
Calls to the Tradehand business number ring the saved staff phone first. A missed mobile gets one text in the business name. A missed landline reaches the assistant. Tradehand does not take over a number the business already uses. Powered Now keeps running.
- When ready
Move new work across
Cancel Powered Now only when you no longer need it for active jobs or reference history.
Your questions
Is Tradehand a good Powered Now alternative for UK sole traders?
Yes, if you want one assistant to carry calls and messages through quoting, booking and payment follow-up. Free includes the manual tools and the Assistant with £1 of usage a month: 5% of each payment Tradehand takes, card fees included. Paid plans from £25 a month add automation and more usage. Basic payment fees on your own jobs: From 1.25% + 20p, deducted automatically when the customer pays. Grow and Advanced have lower Tradehand payment fees. Powered Now remains a fair pick for its mature app and certificate library.
Does Tradehand do certificates like Powered Now?
Yes. Tradehand includes ten published certificate types and a signed PDF. A supervisor countersigns only when one signs. Powered Now puts Forms and Certificates on its Professional tier and above.
What's the real difference between them?
Powered Now's pricing page says the receptionist answers and books jobs into the diary. The receptionist page says full account sync is coming soon, and current enquiries arrive as a phone notification. Checked 29 September 2026. Tradehand drafts a quote from the rates and holds it when approval is required.
Does the Powered Now AI Receptionist book the job?
Powered Now's pricing page says the receptionist answers and books jobs into the diary. The receptionist page says full account sync is coming soon, and current enquiries arrive as a phone notification. Checked 29 September 2026. Tradehand drafts a quote from the rates and holds it when approval is required. An agreed slot is the one that is booked.
What can I import from Powered Now?
A person imports your customers and price list into Tradehand. Historic jobs are not imported, so keep your Powered Now export or account available for reference.
How much does Tradehand cost?
Free includes the manual tools and the Assistant with £1 of usage a month: 5% of each payment Tradehand takes, card fees included. Paid plans from £25 a month add automation and more usage. Basic payment fees on your own jobs: From 1.25% + 20p, deducted automatically when the customer pays. Grow and Advanced have lower Tradehand payment fees.
Does Tradehand work with Xero or QuickBooks?
Tradehand pushes invoices one way into Xero and QuickBooks, plus a CSV export. That push is not a sync, and not yet available for VAT registered companies.
Is there a contract or minimum term?
No contract, no minimum, no cancellation fee. Export your data and leave whenever you like.
Sources & references
More comparisons
Hear your assistant answer the phone
Get started. Your assistant takes the call, sends the quote and chases the payment. Then decide.
