Is Rated People Worth It for Tradespeople? (Honest 2026 Assessment)
An honest breakdown of Rated People's costs, lead quality, and whether the return justifies the spend \u2014 plus the strategy that replaces rented leads entirely.
Rated People charges £15-£25/month plus £3-£25 per lead. Here's whether the leads justify the spend — and the £9/month alternative that builds an asset you own.
Key Takeaways
- Rated People costs roughly £100-£300+/month with membership and per-lead fees combined
- Leads are shared with up to 3 tradespeople — expect to win roughly 1 in 3 contactable leads
- Reviews stay on Rated People and don't appear on Google or help your local search ranking
- Best used as a short-term bridge while building Google Reviews for long-term direct enquiries
- Track your ROI for 8 weeks — if it's below 3:1, invest in Google Reviews instead
Rated People keeps calling. They've offered you a "free trial" or a credit to get started. A mate says he gets work from it, another says it's a waste of money. The leads look promising on paper — homeowners in your area who need exactly what you do. But then you see the monthly fees and the per-lead charges, and you're wondering whether those leads actually turn into paying jobs.
Here's the honest breakdown of what Rated People costs, how the leads compare to other platforms, and whether the return justifies the spend.
How Rated People works
Rated People is a lead generation platform. Homeowners post jobs, and the platform sells those leads to tradespeople. Unlike MyBuilder where you're shortlisted before paying, Rated People works on a pay-per-lead model — you buy leads directly.
You pay a monthly membership fee plus a per-lead charge. The lead includes the homeowner's contact details and job description. You then contact the customer, arrange a site visit, and quote the job. The same lead is typically sold to up to three tradespeople, so you're always competing with at least one or two others.
The real cost
Rated People's pricing has changed multiple times, but as of 2026 the typical structure looks like this.
Monthly membership sits around £15–£25 per month depending on your trade and area, though this varies and some tradespeople report being quoted higher. Per-lead fees range from £3 to £25+ based on estimated job value. Small jobs (a dripping tap, a broken lock) cost less; larger jobs (bathroom refits, rewires, extensions) cost more.
The challenge is that per-lead fees stack up fast. If you buy 20 leads in a month at an average of £12 each, that's £240 in lead fees plus your membership — £265 per month, or roughly £3,180 per year.
How many of those 20 leads turn into work? Tradespeople on the Screwfix Community Forum consistently report that lead quality is mixed. Many report that roughly half of leads don't respond to contact attempts. Of the ones who do respond, you're competing with two other tradespeople, so you might win one in three. The realistic outcome: 20 leads → 10 contactable → 3-4 jobs.
If those jobs average £600, you're generating £1,800–£2,400 in revenue from £265 in fees. That's a workable return — but only if the jobs are profitable after materials and time.
What Rated People does well
Volume of leads. Rated People has strong brand recognition and significant advertising spend. They attract a large number of homeowners posting jobs, which means reasonable lead volume in most areas and trades.
Easy to pause or adjust. You can pause your membership or adjust your lead preferences if things aren't working. This flexibility is genuinely useful — it lets you scale back during busy periods when you don't need leads.
Reviews build credibility. Like MyBuilder, your Rated People profile accumulates reviews from completed jobs. Tradespeople with strong profiles and lots of positive reviews get first pick of leads and higher win rates.
Where Rated People falls short
You pay for leads, not jobs. This is the fundamental issue. You pay £12 for a lead — but the homeowner might not pick up the phone, might ghost you after a site visit, might go with the cheapest quote, or might decide not to do the work at all. Every dead lead still costs you the fee.
Lead quality is inconsistent. The most common complaint on trade forums is that Rated People leads are often tyre-kickers — homeowners shopping around for quotes with no real urgency or commitment. Some tradespeople describe spending hours chasing leads that go nowhere.
Your reviews are trapped on the platform. Just like MyBuilder, reviews collected through Rated People stay on Rated People. They don't appear on Google. They don't help you rank in the local map pack. They don't show up when a homeowner searches "electrician near me." You're building Rated People's asset, not your own.
Cancellation hassle. Multiple tradespeople on the Screwfix Community Forum report difficulty cancelling Rated People subscriptions. Some describe continued charges after requesting cancellation, and the process isn't always straightforward.
Price competition. Because leads go to multiple tradespeople, homeowners often end up choosing the cheapest quote. If you're pricing fairly for quality work, you may lose jobs to tradespeople willing to cut corners on price. This creates a race to the bottom that doesn't serve good tradespeople well.
Rated People vs Google Reviews: the numbers
Here's what £3,180 per year on Rated People buys you compared to investing in Google Reviews.
Rated People at £265/month: You get a stream of shared leads. Some convert, many don't. When you stop paying, the leads stop. Your reviews stay on their platform.
Google Reviews at £9/month (TapReview): You build a permanent online reputation. 81% of homeowners check Google reviews before hiring. Customers come to you directly — no lead fees, no competition from other tradespeople on the same lead. Your reviews stay with you forever, even if you cancel every tool.
The comparison is stark: £3,180/year for rented leads, or £108/year for an asset you own. The reviews you build on Google continue generating enquiries whether you're paying for any platform or not. That's the fundamental difference between renting leads and owning your reputation.
When Rated People makes sense
Rated People can be useful when you're starting out and need to build a customer base quickly, your diary has gaps you need to fill short-term, or your trade works well with the marketplace model (general builders, multi-trade handymen, and trades with higher job values tend to fare best).
It also works as a supplement — using Rated People to fill quiet weeks while building your Google presence for long-term sustainability.
When it's not worth it
If you're an established tradesperson getting most of your work through word of mouth and Google, Rated People is unlikely to add enough value to justify the cost. The leads are shared, the reviews don't transfer, and you're competing on price in a marketplace — none of which suits a tradesperson with an established reputation.
Track your numbers honestly for eight weeks: total spend, leads received, leads that responded, jobs won, revenue generated. If the return is below 3:1, your money is better spent building Google Reviews and optimising your Google Business Profile.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Rated People cost per lead?
Lead costs range from £3 to £25+ depending on estimated job value and your trade. Smaller jobs are cheaper, larger jobs cost more. Combined with the monthly membership (£15–£25), total monthly costs typically range from £100 to £300+.
Do Rated People reviews show on Google?
No. Reviews collected through Rated People remain on the platform. They don't appear in Google Search or Google Maps results. To build your Google presence, you need to collect Google Reviews separately.
Is Rated People better than MyBuilder?
They're similar but not identical. MyBuilder's shortlist model means you only pay when a homeowner specifically selects you. Rated People's pay-per-lead model means you pay upfront regardless of outcome. Some tradespeople find MyBuilder's approach fairer. We've covered both platforms in detail.
How do I cancel Rated People?
Contact Rated People's support team to request cancellation before your next billing date. Some tradespeople report needing to be persistent. Ensure you get written confirmation of cancellation and check your bank statements to confirm charges have stopped.
Can I use Rated People and Google Reviews together?
Yes — and this is the recommended approach. Win jobs through Rated People, then ask every customer to leave you a Google review. Over time, your Google Reviews generate enough direct enquiries that you can reduce or cancel your Rated People membership entirely.
Related reading
- Is MyBuilder Worth It for Tradespeople?
- Checkatrade Alternatives UK: The Complete Guide
- Checkatrade Reviews vs Google Reviews: Which Gets You More Work?
- How to Get Your First 10 Google Reviews as a New Tradesman
TapReview helps UK tradespeople get more Google reviews with one tap. Try it free →
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Rated People cost per lead?
Lead costs range from £3 to £25+ depending on estimated job value and your trade. Combined with the monthly membership (£15-£25), total monthly costs typically range from £100 to £300+.
Do Rated People reviews show on Google?
No. Reviews collected through Rated People remain on the platform. They don't appear in Google Search or Google Maps. You need to collect Google Reviews separately.
Is Rated People better than MyBuilder?
They're similar but not identical. MyBuilder's shortlist model means you only pay when a homeowner selects you. Rated People's pay-per-lead model means you pay upfront regardless of outcome.
How do I cancel Rated People?
Contact Rated People's support team to request cancellation before your next billing date. Get written confirmation and check your bank statements to confirm charges have stopped.
Can I use Rated People and Google Reviews together?
Yes — win jobs through Rated People, then ask every customer to leave a Google review. Over time, your Google Reviews generate enough direct enquiries to reduce your Rated People spend.