Checkatrade, MyBuilder, Rated People, and Bark: UK Trade Platform Statistics Compared (2026)

Every major UK trade platform compared by the numbers: tradespeople listed, reviews, traffic, costs, and the one metric that changes everything — whether you own your reviews.

Checkatrade has 48,000+ tradespeople and 6.2M reviews. MyBuilder has 257,000+. But Google controls 81-90% of all review volume. Here's every platform compared by the numbers.

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Key Takeaways

Checkatrade, MyBuilder, Rated People, and Bark: UK Trade Platform Statistics Compared (2026)

If you're a UK tradesperson deciding where to invest your marketing budget, the numbers matter more than the sales pitch. How many tradespeople are on each platform? How much traffic do they actually get? What do they charge? And how do their review ecosystems compare to Google?

We've compiled the published statistics for every major UK trade platform — Checkatrade, MyBuilder, Rated People, TrustATrader, Bark, and Which? Trusted Traders — plus Google Reviews for comparison. All figures are sourced and dated so you can make your own assessment.

For the full picture on reviews and revenue, see: Google Reviews statistics for UK tradespeople (2026).

TL;DR

Platform-by-platform breakdown

Checkatrade

Active tradespeople 48,000+ (100,000+ represented) Checkatrade, 2024 Total verified reviews 6.2 million+ Checkatrade, Q3 2024 Reviews verified per year 600,000+ Checkatrade, Q3 2024 Total jobs on record 10.5 million+ Checkatrade, Q3 2024 Jobs in Q3 2024 alone 2.7 million Checkatrade press release Monthly website visits 4.2 million (Nov 2024) Similarweb Trustpilot rating 4.6/5 from 77,628 reviews Trustpilot, 2025/2026 Rogue traders blocked (H1 2024) 668 (+13% YoY) Checkatrade, Jul 2024 Vetting checks per tradesperson Up to 12 Checkatrade, 2024 Consumer guarantee Up to £1,000 on booked work Checkatrade, 2024 Ownership Brookfield Corporation (via HomeServe acquisition, 2022) Multiple

Pricing: Subscription-based, typically £90–£140+/month depending on trade and area. Some trades report costs of £200–£400/month including add-ons and premium listings.

Key insight: Checkatrade is the most established UK trade directory with the strongest brand recognition. Their 2024 UK Trade Skills Index (with Capital Economics) is a major industry data source. However, their review ecosystem is closed — if you leave Checkatrade, your 6.2 million reviews stay on Checkatrade, not on your Google profile.

For a full head-to-head, see: Checkatrade reviews vs Google Reviews.

MyBuilder

Tradespeople listed 257,000+ Markel Direct UK, 2025 Monthly website visits 1.8 million (Nov 2024) Similarweb Business model Pay-per-lead MyBuilder Ownership Angi/HomeAdvisor (acquired 2021) Multiple

Pricing: Membership fee plus per-lead charges. Costs vary by trade and area, with leads typically £2–£25 depending on job type and whether you're shortlisted.

Key insight: MyBuilder has the largest tradesperson base of any UK platform (257,000+), but the reviews stay within MyBuilder's walled garden. The pay-per-lead model means costs scale with how many leads you pursue — which can add up quickly for popular trades. Since the Angi acquisition in 2021, MyBuilder operates as part of a global home services network.

For our full assessment: is MyBuilder worth it for tradespeople?

Rated People

Tradespeople listed 50,000+ (10,000+ rated) Rated People, 2024 Total ratings 1 million+ Rated People, 2024 Monthly website visits 302,400 (Nov 2024) Similarweb Business model Subscription + per-lead Rated People

Pricing: Typically £15–£25/month subscription plus £3–£25 per lead depending on job type. Some reports indicate total monthly costs of £80–£300+.

Key insight: Rated People sits between Checkatrade's subscription model and MyBuilder's pay-per-lead model. Traffic is significantly lower than either (302K vs 4.2M for Checkatrade and 1.8M for MyBuilder). Like all platforms, reviews don't transfer to Google.

For our full assessment: is Rated People worth it for tradespeople?

TrustATrader

Tradespeople listed Not disclosed (limited per area) TrustATrader Monthly website visits 282,700 (Nov 2024) Similarweb Business model Subscription (exclusive listings per area) TrustATrader Joining fee £699+VAT ElectricianCourses4U, 2024

Pricing: High upfront joining fee (£699+VAT) plus ongoing subscription. The exclusivity model means fewer competitors per area, but the upfront cost is a barrier for many sole traders.

Key insight: TrustATrader's exclusivity model means less competition within the platform, but it also means less overall traffic compared to Checkatrade or MyBuilder. The £699 joining fee plus monthly subscription makes it one of the more expensive options for tradespeople.

Bark

Professionals listed 1.5 million+ (global, 9 countries) Bark/Wikipedia, 2024 Trustpilot reviews 108,143 Trustpilot, 2024 Business model Pay-per-lead (credit system) Bark Ownership EMK Capital (PE investment, May 2022) Multiple

Pricing: Credit-based system. You buy credits and spend them to respond to leads. Costs typically £5–£50 per lead depending on job type — with no guarantee the customer responds to you.

Key insight: Bark is the broadest platform — covering everything from plumbers to photographers — which means less trade-specific focus. The credit system means you pay regardless of outcome. See: is Bark worth it for tradespeople?

Which? Trusted Traders

Tradespeople listed Not disclosed (selective) Which? Business model Assessment fee + annual subscription Which? Assessment fee £240+VAT Which?, 2024 Annual subscription £450–£1,317+VAT Which?, 2024 Consumer trust metric 72% would choose a Which?-recommended product/service Savanta (2,000 customers), Apr 2024

Key insight: Which? Trusted Traders carries strong consumer trust due to the Which? brand, but the selective listing process and high annual costs (£690–£1,557+ including VAT) make it a premium commitment.

Google Reviews: the platform that isn't a platform

The numbers that dwarf everything else

Share of all online review volume 81% (home services: 90%) Birdeye, 2025; Synup, 2024 UK search engine market share 93.51% StatCounter, Jan 2024 Consumers who use Google to read reviews 83% BrightLocal LCRS, 2025 Cost £0 Google Reviews follow your business Yes — forever Google Fake reviews removed in 2024 240 million Google/Search Engine Land, Apr 2025

Google isn't a trade platform — it doesn't vet tradespeople, send leads, or charge subscriptions. But it's where the overwhelming majority of reviews live, where virtually all UK searches happen, and where homeowners look first when they've been given a recommendation.

The key differentiator: you own your Google reviews. They're attached to your Google Business Profile, which is free. If you cancel Checkatrade, your Checkatrade reviews stay on Checkatrade. Your Google reviews stay with you no matter what.

Side-by-side comparison

Google N/A (free) 81% of all volume 93.5% of UK search £0 Yes Checkatrade 48,000+ 6.2M+ 4.2M £90–£400+ No MyBuilder 257,000+ Not disclosed 1.8M Variable (per-lead) No Rated People 50,000+ 1M+ 302K £80–£300+ No TrustATrader Not disclosed Not disclosed 283K £699 joining + monthly No Bark 1.5M+ (global) 108K (Trustpilot) Not disclosed £50–£200+ No Which? TT Selective Not disclosed N/A £690–£1,557+/yr No

The consolidation trend

The UK trade platform market has consolidated significantly in recent years:

This consolidation has several implications for tradespeople. Pricing tends to increase post-acquisition as investors seek returns. Platform priorities shift toward shareholder value rather than tradesperson interests. And your reliance on any single platform becomes riskier when ownership changes can alter terms overnight.

Google, by contrast, is free, universal, and not dependent on any acquisition or business model change. Your Google Business Profile and reviews are the one digital asset you fully control.

The CMA is watching

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published a 2024 consultation on trader recommendation platforms, pushing for stricter vetting standards and anti-fake-review measures. The DMCC Act (effective April 2025) made fake reviews illegal. In July 2025, a CMA sweep found 54 out of 100+ businesses failing to comply with fake review guidance.

This regulatory pressure affects all platforms — but it particularly benefits tradespeople who collect genuine reviews. As the enforcement tightens, authentic reviews become more valuable, and platforms with weaker verification face greater scrutiny.

For more on the regulatory landscape: the DMCC Act and Google Reviews: what UK tradespeople need to know.

What the data says about platform choice

The statistics point to a clear hierarchy:

Google Reviews should be your foundation. It's free, controls 81–90% of review volume, and reaches 93.5% of UK searches. Your reviews are portable, permanent, and visible every time someone searches your business or trade. Start here.

Trade platforms can supplement — but shouldn't replace — Google. Checkatrade's 4.2 million monthly visits and brand recognition have value, particularly for newer tradespeople building credibility. MyBuilder and Rated People can generate leads. But every pound spent on platform subscriptions is a pound not invested in an asset you own.

The maths is straightforward. Checkatrade costs £1,080–£4,800+/year. Google Reviews cost £0. TapReview — which automates Google review collection via WhatsApp and SMS — costs £108/year. For the price of one month on Checkatrade, you can run TapReview for an entire year and build a review profile you'll never lose.

Frequently asked questions

Which UK trade platform has the most tradespeople?

MyBuilder has the most at 257,000+ listed tradespeople. Checkatrade has 48,000+ active (100,000+ represented), Rated People has 50,000+, and Bark claims 1.5 million+ professionals globally across 9 countries (not UK-specific).

Which platform gets the most website traffic?

Checkatrade leads with 4.2 million monthly visits, followed by MyBuilder at 1.8 million, Rated People at 302,400, and TrustATrader at 282,700 (all November 2024, Similarweb). But Google dwarfs all of them — 93.5% of UK searches happen on Google.

Do reviews on Checkatrade help my Google ranking?

No. Checkatrade reviews exist only within Checkatrade's ecosystem. They don't appear on Google, don't contribute to your Google star rating, and don't influence your local search ranking. Only Google Reviews affect your Google visibility.

What's the cheapest way to get reviews as a tradesperson?

Google Reviews are free to collect. You can ask customers manually for £0. TapReview automates the process via WhatsApp and SMS for £9/month — sending review requests after every job so you don't have to remember. By comparison, Checkatrade starts at £90/month and Rated People at £15–25/month plus per-lead fees.

Can I use multiple platforms at once?

Yes, and Womply's research shows businesses active on 4+ review platforms earn 18% more revenue. However, Google should always be your primary platform because it controls the most review volume (81-90%) and reaches the most consumers (93.5% UK search share). Use trade platforms as lead supplements, not as your primary review strategy.

Related reading

TapReview helps UK tradespeople get more Google reviews with one tap. Try it free →

Frequently Asked Questions

Which UK trade platform has the most tradespeople?

MyBuilder has the most at 257,000+ listed tradespeople. Checkatrade has 48,000+ active (100,000+ represented), Rated People has 50,000+, and Bark claims 1.5 million+ professionals globally across 9 countries.

Which platform gets the most website traffic?

Checkatrade leads with 4.2 million monthly visits, followed by MyBuilder at 1.8 million, Rated People at 302,400, and TrustATrader at 282,700. But Google dwarfs them all — 93.5% of UK searches happen on Google.

Do reviews on Checkatrade help my Google ranking?

No. Checkatrade reviews exist only within Checkatrade's ecosystem. They don't appear on Google, don't contribute to your Google star rating, and don't influence your local search ranking. Only Google Reviews affect your Google visibility.

What's the cheapest way to get reviews as a tradesperson?

Google Reviews are free to collect manually. TapReview automates the process via WhatsApp and SMS for £9/month. By comparison, Checkatrade starts at £90/month and Rated People at £15-25/month plus per-lead fees.

Can I use multiple platforms at once?

Yes, and research shows businesses active on 4+ review platforms earn 18% more revenue. However, Google should always be your primary platform because it controls 81-90% of review volume and reaches 93.5% of UK searches.