Quick Answer
GetQuickHelp is completely free for both homeowners and tradespeople — no membership fees, no lead charges, no subscription. Checkatrade charges tradespeople £1,000–£2,000+ per year for membership before they can receive any enquiries. For homeowners, both are free to use, but GetQuickHelp gets you matched faster with no account required.
If you're a homeowner looking for a plumber, electrician, builder or gas engineer in the UK, you've probably heard of Checkatrade. It's been around since 1998 and has built a recognisable brand — the blue and white van stickers, the TV ads, the promise of vetted tradespeople.
But in 2026, Checkatrade isn't the only option. GetQuickHelp takes a fundamentally different approach — and for many homeowners and tradespeople, it's a better one. This article breaks down exactly how the two platforms compare across every dimension that matters.
In this comparison
How Each Platform Works
How Checkatrade Works
Checkatrade is a directory model. Tradespeople pay to be listed on the platform, undergo background checks, and are then searchable by homeowners in their area. When you search for "plumber in London" on Checkatrade, you see a list of paying members with their profile, reviews, and contact details.
You then contact the tradesperson directly — Checkatrade isn't involved in the actual matching beyond providing the directory listing. You browse, you choose, you contact. It's essentially a paid Yellow Pages with vetting.
How GetQuickHelp Works
GetQuickHelp is a job-matching model. You post your job (free, no account needed), describe what you need, and the platform instantly matches your job to registered tradespeople covering your postcode. Those tradespeople are alerted by email and contact you directly. You don't browse — tradespeople come to you.
This reverses the dynamic: instead of you chasing tradespeople, they compete for your job. You can also browse the public jobs board to see what's being posted in your area.
| Feature | GetQuickHelp | Checkatrade |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Job-matching (post a job, tradespeople contact you) | Directory (search and contact tradespeople yourself) |
| Account required (homeowner) | No — post anonymously | No account to search; contact info may require login |
| How long to get matched | Minutes (instant alert to matching trades) | Depends on how many tradespeople you contact |
| Who controls the process | You post once; tradespeople come to you | You search and contact each tradesperson individually |
| Spam protection | Cloudflare Turnstile + honeypots on all forms | Standard — relies on tradesperson behaviour |
Cost for Homeowners
For homeowners, both platforms are free to use. You can search Checkatrade's directory and post a job on GetQuickHelp without paying anything.
The difference is in experience. On Checkatrade, you're doing the legwork — searching, reading profiles, contacting tradespeople one by one. On GetQuickHelp, you post once and matching tradespeople contact you. Neither charges the homeowner a fee.
| Homeowner Cost | GetQuickHelp | Checkatrade |
|---|---|---|
| Posting a job | Free — no account needed | N/A — you search the directory instead |
| Account requirement | None | No account to browse; some features require registration |
| Getting quotes | Free — tradespeople contact you | Free — you contact tradespeople |
| Hidden costs | None | None for homeowners |
| Time investment | Low (post once, wait for contacts) | Higher (search, compare profiles, contact individually) |
Cost for Tradespeople: The Biggest Difference
This is where the two platforms are dramatically different, and it matters for homeowners too — because tradesperson costs eventually feed into your quote.
Checkatrade Tradesperson Fees
To be listed on Checkatrade, tradespeople pay a membership fee. Checkatrade's pricing varies by trade, region, and the membership tier chosen, but reported costs from tradespeople in 2025–2026 typically run:
- Standard membership: £800–£1,200 per year
- Premium/featured listings: £1,500–£2,500+ per year
- Initial joining fee in some cases: £100–£300
This means a sole trader electrician or plumber pays at minimum around £1,000/year just to appear in Checkatrade's directory — before a single enquiry comes in. For tradespeople in competitive areas or trades, the ROI can be good if Checkatrade delivers sufficient leads. But it's a significant upfront cost, particularly for newer tradespeople or those in less competitive trades.
GetQuickHelp Tradesperson Fees
GetQuickHelp is completely free for tradespeople. No subscription, no monthly fee, no joining fee, no lead charges. Tradespeople register once and receive email alerts when jobs matching their trade and postcode are posted. There are no credits to buy, no tiers to upgrade to.
This is possible because GetQuickHelp is built on a genuinely free model during its growth phase — not a "freemium" model where key features are paywalled. Tradespeople can register free here.
| Tradesperson Cost | GetQuickHelp | Checkatrade |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 | £800–£2,500+/year |
| Joining fee | £0 | £0–£300 (varies) |
| Per-lead cost | £0 | £0 (covered by membership) |
| Profile listing | Free | Included in membership |
| Lead notifications | Free (instant email alert) | Enquiries via profile listing |
| Cancellation penalty | None | Contract terms apply |
The practical implication: a tradesperson on GetQuickHelp can pass on their lower overhead costs in their quotes to you. A tradesperson spending £1,500/year on Checkatrade membership needs to recoup that cost somewhere.
Speed of Getting Matched
Speed matters most when something's gone wrong — a boiler breakdown, a leak, an electrical fault. But even for planned work, time spent searching is time wasted.
On Checkatrade, the process is: search for a trade → browse profiles → check reviews → contact tradesperson → wait for them to respond → arrange a survey → get a quote. This process typically takes 1–5 days minimum for a response from multiple tradespeople.
On GetQuickHelp, you post your job (takes 2–3 minutes), and tradespeople covering your postcode are instantly alerted. You start receiving contacts within hours, sometimes within minutes for urgent jobs. The time saving is significant.
Quality and Vetting
Checkatrade Vetting
Checkatrade conducts background checks on member tradespeople, including:
- Identity verification
- Insurance check (public liability)
- Qualification and accreditation check (Gas Safe, NICEIC, etc.)
- Criminal record checks in some cases
These checks are a genuine quality filter. However, checks are carried out at the point of joining and not all are repeated annually. For in-depth guidance on verifying a tradesperson's qualifications yourself, read our guide on how to check if a tradesperson is qualified in the UK.
GetQuickHelp Vetting
GetQuickHelp verifies tradespeople on registration and allows manual admin verification (a verified badge on their profile). The platform focuses on connecting you with local tradespeople and letting reviews from real jobs build over time. As with any platform, we recommend always checking trade-specific accreditation directly — Gas Safe registration for gas engineers, NICEIC or NAPIT for electricians, FMB membership for builders.
| Vetting Check | GetQuickHelp | Checkatrade |
|---|---|---|
| Identity verification | On registration | Yes, at joining |
| Insurance check | Manual verification available | Yes, required for membership |
| Qualification checks (Gas Safe etc.) | Advised — check directly | Yes, checked at joining |
| Criminal record checks | Not standard | Some membership tiers |
| Ongoing annual re-vetting | Not standard | Partial re-checks |
| Customer reviews | From verified matched jobs | From verified customers only |
Reviews and Trust Signals
Checkatrade has a significant advantage in review volume — it has been collecting reviews since 1998 and some tradespeople have hundreds or thousands of verified reviews. This is a genuine strength of the platform and makes it easier to assess an unfamiliar tradesperson.
GetQuickHelp is a newer platform and its review base is growing. The reviews that exist are from genuine matched customers. As the platform grows, so does the review quality. For now, the honest advice is: use GetQuickHelp for fast matching and cost-free access, then do your own due diligence on the tradesperson — ask for references, check their trade registration, and ask the right questions before hiring. Our guide on questions to ask before hiring any tradesperson will help with this.
Which Should You Use?
| Situation | Best Platform | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You need a tradesperson urgently today | GetQuickHelp | Post once, matched tradespeople contact you in minutes |
| You want the most established review system | Checkatrade | 26+ years of verified customer reviews |
| You want to keep costs low (tradesperson) | GetQuickHelp | Completely free — no annual membership fee |
| You want to browse and compare profiles | Checkatrade | Full directory with profile pages and reviews |
| You're a new tradesperson starting out | GetQuickHelp | No upfront cost while building your client base |
| You want the most vetted tradespeople | Checkatrade | More thorough upfront vetting process |
| You want no spam/cold calls as a homeowner | GetQuickHelp | Turnstile spam protection; matched trades only |
For most homeowners, the practical recommendation is to start with GetQuickHelp — it's faster, free for both sides, and gets quotes coming to you rather than you chasing tradespeople. Once you have contacts, do your own vetting using the guides below. If you specifically want a tradesperson with a long established review history on a single platform, Checkatrade gives you that depth.
Ready to find a tradesperson the free way?
Post your job on GetQuickHelp — no account needed. Matched tradespeople contact you within hours.
Post a Job Free →Frequently Asked Questions
Is GetQuickHelp really free?
Yes — completely free for homeowners and tradespeople. There are no subscription fees, no lead charges, and no premium tiers. Homeowners post jobs free with no account. Tradespeople register free and receive job alerts at no cost.
Does Checkatrade charge tradespeople?
Yes. Checkatrade charges tradespeople an annual membership fee to be listed in its directory. Reported costs in 2025–2026 range from around £800 to £2,500+ per year depending on trade, region, and membership tier.
Can I use both GetQuickHelp and Checkatrade?
Yes. As a homeowner, you can post on GetQuickHelp and also search Checkatrade — they're not exclusive. Using both gives you a wider pool of tradespeople to choose from. As a tradesperson, being on both platforms increases your visibility.
Is Checkatrade better for finding qualified tradespeople?
Checkatrade's vetting process is more established and thorough for checking qualifications and insurance at the point of joining. However, for regulated trades like gas engineering and electrical work, you should always verify qualifications directly — check the Gas Safe Register at gassaferegister.co.uk and NICEIC or NAPIT for electricians regardless of which platform you use.
How long does it take to find a tradesperson on GetQuickHelp?
Most homeowners start receiving contacts from matched tradespeople within a few hours. For urgent jobs, mark the job as urgent when posting and tradespeople are alerted immediately.