If you run a trade business, you already know the frustration.

You can do excellent work, collect good reviews and still have quiet weeks because local customers never find you. That is why directories such as Checkatrade and TrustATrader are so tempting.

They put your business in front of people who are already looking for a tradesperson.

But they are not the same. They differ on price, lead volume, competition and contract risk.

Which gets more work: Checkatrade or TrustATrader?

Checkatrade usually wins on lead volume because more homeowners know the name. TrustATrader usually costs less and can bring less crowded enquiries. Neither replaces your website, Google Business Profile, or follow-up process, so choice depends on budget and capacity.

The honest answer is that neither platform guarantees a full diary.

Your results depend on:

  • Your trade
  • Your postcode area
  • The number of other members nearby
  • How quickly you respond
  • Your reviews and profile
  • The type and value of work you accept

A directory can help you get started. It should not be your only source of enquiries.

How much does Checkatrade cost compared with TrustATrader?

Checkatrade typically sits at £199–£399 a month and often involves a 12-month contract, with subscription and possible per-lead costs. TrustATrader is commonly reported at £20–£55 a month on rolling terms, but get pricing directly for your trade and postcode area.

That price difference is significant for a sole trader or small team.

Checkatrade may make sense if you have enough margin to absorb a higher monthly fee and can handle a steady flow of enquiries. It is the higher-volume option, but the commitment can be harder to manage if work slows down.

TrustATrader is more affordable for many smaller businesses. Its lower monthly cost can make it easier to test, especially if the terms offered to you are genuinely rolling.

Before you agree to anything, ask for the full cost in writing.

Confirm:

  • The monthly fee
  • VAT
  • Any setup costs
  • Whether leads are included
  • Any per-lead charges
  • The minimum term
  • Cancellation rules
  • What happens when the agreement renews

Do not rely on a headline price alone. Ask what you will actually pay for your trade and service area.

A simple visual comparison of higher lead volume and more focused local enquiries

Which platform gives better-quality leads?

Checkatrade is more likely to produce a higher number of enquiries, but some may involve strong competition or price shopping. TrustATrader tends to offer fewer enquiries, potentially with less competition. Treat those as patterns, not promises: your local demand matters most.

More leads do not automatically mean more profit.

A Checkatrade enquiry may be sent to several businesses at once. That can create a race to respond first, explain your value and provide a competitive quote.

This model can work well if:

  • You answer calls quickly
  • You return messages within minutes
  • You have strong reviews
  • You quote clearly
  • You can take on smaller jobs
  • You are comfortable competing with other local trades

TrustATrader may suit you better if you would rather have fewer, more focused enquiries. Its membership model is promoted around limited membership in an area and no commission on leads. You can read the current claims and member information on the TrustATrader website.

However, a “quality lead” still needs to be measured properly.

Track every enquiry for at least a few months:

  • Where did it come from?
  • What was the job worth?
  • Did the customer answer?
  • How many competitors were quoting?
  • Did you win the work?
  • What was your profit after the directory fee?

That gives you a useful answer for your business, rather than relying on another trader’s experience.

Is Checkatrade worth the 12-month commitment?

Checkatrade is usually the higher-commitment choice because paid membership is often tied to a 12-month term. TrustATrader is generally more flexible on the reported rolling model, but you should confirm cancellation rules, minimum terms, and renewal details before paying anything.

A long contract is not automatically bad.

If Checkatrade consistently produces profitable work, the commitment may be worthwhile. The problem comes when the fee continues during a quiet period and you cannot leave without paying the remaining term.

Before signing, work out your break-even point.

For example, if your total monthly cost is £300 and your average gross profit from a job is £600, you need to win at least one suitable job every month just to cover the platform fee.

That does not include:

  • Your time spent responding
  • Site visits
  • Written quotations
  • Travel
  • Materials
  • Admin
  • Unsuccessful enquiries

Ask the sales team direct questions. Do not accept vague answers about cancellation or lead numbers.

Should you choose Checkatrade for volume or TrustATrader for flexibility?

Choose Checkatrade if you have the budget, want more enquiries and can compete quickly. Choose TrustATrader if you want a lower-cost test, fewer competing businesses per enquiry and more flexibility. In both cases, measure booked work and profit rather than enquiry volume.

Here is the simple comparison.

Factor Checkatrade TrustATrader
Typical position Higher lead volume Lower but potentially more focused volume
Reported cost £199–£399 per month £20–£55 per month
Contract Often 12 months Often reported as rolling, but confirm
Competition Can be high on popular jobs Often less crowded
Best for Businesses with capacity and budget Smaller businesses testing directory leads
Main risk Paying for a long commitment Fewer enquiries in some areas

Your location can change the result completely.

A TrustATrader listing may perform well in one town and quietly in another. Checkatrade may produce plenty of enquiries in a busy urban area but fewer suitable jobs in a rural postcode.

Get specific information for your trade and area before choosing.

Do directory leads belong to your business?

Directory leads stop when the subscription stops, and you compete on someone else’s platform. Your Google Business Profile, website, useful service pages, reviews, and quote process can keep working after the campaign. Build those assets alongside any directory test.

This is the part many tradespeople miss.

A directory gives you rented visibility. You pay for access to its audience, under its rules, for as long as your membership remains active.

Owned visibility works differently.

When someone searches for “secondary glazing installer near me”, “roofer in Leeds” or “electrician in Bristol”, your own Google Business Profile and website can attract that customer directly. You are not relying entirely on a directory profile to explain your services.

That does not mean directories are useless. They can be a sensible short-term source of enquiries.

It means you should use them as one channel, not your whole marketing plan.

A local trade business building owned visibility through its website, local search profile and enquiry process

How can you build visibility outside the directories?

Start by checking whether your website and local profile make your service clear. Fix the issues that stop nearby customers finding you, trusting you or requesting a quote.

You do not need a huge marketing project to begin.

Check these basics:

  1. Make sure your business name, phone number and service area match everywhere.
  2. Complete your Google Business Profile.
  3. List the exact services you provide.
  4. Create useful pages for important services and locations.
  5. Add genuine photographs of completed work.
  6. Ask satisfied customers for honest reviews.
  7. Make your phone number easy to find on mobile.
  8. Give visitors a clear way to request a quote.

The free VU1 local SEO audit checks 15 local, on-page and technical signals. It takes under 15 seconds to request — the report lands within a few minutes.

Enter your website, email address and town or service area. Use the plain-English report to identify the fixes most likely to improve your local visibility.

A plain-English local SEO audit dashboard with practical checks for a trade business

Can VU1 replace directory leads?

VU1 is designed to help trade businesses build a direct route from local search to quote requests. The audit shows what is holding visibility back, while the quote widget helps visitors get an estimate and leave their details.

That matters because getting found is only half the job.

A visitor can land on your website and still leave if they cannot quickly understand:

  • What you do
  • Where you work
  • Whether you are trustworthy
  • What the job might cost
  • How to contact you

VU1 combines the visibility checks with a practical conversion route. It is built for UK trade businesses, not generic marketing departments.

The VU1 membership costs £99/month and includes the 15-signal audit, weekly re-audits with change tracking, a hosted site, a quote widget and plain-English guidance. See what the VU1 membership includes.

So, which one should you choose?

Choose Checkatrade if you want higher potential lead volume, have the budget for £199–£399 per month and are comfortable checking a possible 12-month commitment carefully.

Choose TrustATrader if you want a lower reported monthly cost of £20–£55, fewer potentially competing businesses and a more flexible arrangement. Confirm the exact terms before joining.

Whichever platform you test, do three things:

  • Ask for all costs in writing.
  • Track profit, not just enquiries.
  • Build your own local visibility at the same time.

Start by requesting your free audit. Enter your website and service area at https://vu1.com/audit/ and use the report to see what needs fixing first.