Apps for plumbers to find work: how UK platforms charge

Plumber apps in the UK compared, October 2026

Each platform charges plumbers differently. Figures come from their own pricing, help and terms pages, read on 17 October 2026. "Not published" means no public page gives the price, and most don't say whether VAT is included. Fill My Day for plumbers is the last row.

How each platform works

Checkatrade

Checkatrade has several ways in. Its pricing page lists a free profile for collecting reviews, an Approved tier at £30 a month, and Growth from £59 a month. Checkatrade's own trade blog describes membership prices as plus VAT. Its pages disagree on whether Approved puts you in category search; the Approved terms say your profile shows when someone searches your business name. Treat Approved as a vetted listing, and expect to need Growth, a Fixed Plan or pay per lead for enquiries.

A Fixed Plan gives you an estimated number of leads a year for a fixed monthly cost, over 12 months. Pay per lead charges for each call, message, quote request or website click, up to 120% of a budget you set. The Opportunities Board lets members spend credits on leads they choose, though several trades can unlock the same one. None of these prices is published. Approved renews automatically, and cancelling means phoning, no earlier than 35 days before renewal. Its master terms also allow a £250 plus VAT application fee for vetting, worded as one it "may charge". Its 2024 blog said there's no joining fee, so it may not be applied in practice.

What it does well: up to 12 vetting checks, from ID to qualifications, and many routes to work. Its plumbers page currently advertises a first month free.

Checkatrade Express

Express is Checkatrade's on-demand booking service, with product terms in force from 1 October 2026. The customer books a fixed-price job and pays through Checkatrade Pay. The booking goes to one matched trade, who accepts or declines. Checkatrade keeps a percentage of the job price, shown before you accept. Plumbing isn't clearly listed on the Express pages yet, though Checkatrade's priced services cover jobs like blocked sinks and tap fitting. What it does well: each booking goes to one trade, so there are no competing quotes, and the fee comes out of a job you've already won.

MyBuilder

MyBuilder has no membership. A homeowner posts a job, matching trades are alerted, and sending an interest message is free. You pay a shortlist fee, from £2 to £35 depending on the size of the job, when the homeowner shortlists you and contact details are exchanged. Its terms say you pay that fee whether or not you win the work. There's no minimum term. What it does well: you choose each job and see the fee first, with nothing to pay in quiet months.

Bark

Bark is free to join and leads are free to view. You spend credits to contact a customer, and the number of credits a lead costs is shown before you confirm. Its help centre puts a credit at £1.80, with bigger packs cheaper per credit. Bark doesn't publish how many credits a plumbing lead takes, or how many pros can respond to one lead. Credits bought since 1 November 2025 expire after three months. What it does well: no commission, no contract on one-off packs, and a Get Hired Guarantee on your first Starter Pack that returns used credits if you aren't hired, subject to its conditions.

TrustATrader

TrustATrader is an annual directory membership, with no lead fees and no commission. It doesn't publish a price; you apply online or by phone. One third-party guide, Whito, reports members saying they pay roughly £600 to £1,000 or more a year, but treat that as anecdotal and ask. Its terms set a 12-month term paid in advance, with no early cancellation and no refunds. What it does well: membership doesn't renew automatically, places are limited in each area, and it advertises on TV and radio.

Which? Trusted Traders

Which? Trusted Traders is an endorsement, not a lead service. After a £248 assessment fee, the monthly fee depends on headcount: £69 for 0 to 3 people, £89 for 4 to 9 and £124 for 10 to 14. An offer of half off the assessment and first six months, for eligible firms, ends on 11 November 2026. The contract rolls, with three months' notice. What it does well: a thorough assessment, including a session of about 90 minutes with a trading standards professional, and the Which? endorsement on your profile.

MyJobQuote

MyJobQuote offers monthly memberships or pay-as-you-go credits with no monthly fee, but prices only show inside your account. Staff check each job, then send it to matched local trades by email and text (text alerts cost extra), and the homeowner compares up to three quotes. Its fees page, last reviewed in July 2024, says credits expire after six months. What it does well: no contract, a one-month free trial, and a cap of three quotes per job.

Houzz Pro

Houzz has a free listing, a Pro software plan at £139 a month after a 30-day trial, and advertising from £119 a month. Pro is business software: estimates, invoicing, a CRM and a 3D floor planner. What it does well: it suits plumbers who fit bathrooms and kitchens more than those doing reactive repairs.

What happened to Rated People

Rated People no longer runs its own trade memberships. Its announcement of 17 September 2026 says Checkatrade Group bought the brand and website, memberships have ended, and every new Rated People job is matched to a Checkatrade member. If you were a Rated People member, the route in now is through Checkatrade.

Fill My Day

Fill My Day works differently: you set a window when you're free, with a starting point and a distance, and only jobs that fit are sent to you. It's free at launch, with no lead fees, subscription or commission. It's Bristol only and isn't live yet, so it can't bring you work today. Read how it works for plumbers.

What to ask before you pay for leads

Whether you want a Checkatrade alternative or your first platform, what you get for a lead matters more than its price. Before you sign up, ask:

• What counts as a lead? A call, a click, a shortlist or a booking can all be charged.
• Do I pay if I don't win the job? On several platforms, you do.
• How many others get the same job? Some cap it, some don't say.
• How long is the contract, and how do I cancel? Look for auto-renewal and notice periods.
• Do credits expire? Unused credit can run out in months.
• Is VAT included? Most pricing pages don't say.
• Are the jobs near where I'll be? A cheap lead across the city can cost more in travel than it earns.

Where these figures come from

• Checkatrade, trade pricing (modified 9 February 2026)
• Checkatrade, membership ROI blog (updated May 2026)
• Checkatrade, plumbers page (modified 6 October 2026)
• Checkatrade, master service terms (updated 13 October 2026)
• Checkatrade, Approved product terms (updated 8 May 2026)
• Checkatrade, Fixed Plan product terms (updated 19 December 2024)
• Checkatrade, pay-as-you-go product terms (updated 20 February 2026)
• Checkatrade, Opportunities Board terms (effective 15 May 2026)
• Checkatrade, priced services (modified 8 March 2026)
• Checkatrade Express product terms (effective 1 October 2026)
• MyBuilder, register as a tradesperson (undated, read 17 October 2026)
• MyBuilder, terms and conditions (updated 4 March 2026)
• Bark, what a credit costs (updated 10 June 2026)
• Bark, understanding lead pricing (updated 8 June 2026)
• Bark, credit pack subscriptions (updated 8 June 2026)
• Bark, Get Hired Guarantee (updated 9 June 2026)
• TrustATrader, FAQs (undated, read 17 October 2026)
• TrustATrader, trader terms (dated 15 February 2023)
• Whito, plumber lead platform costs (updated 17 September 2026)
• Which? Trusted Traders, join (undated; offer ends 11 November 2026)
• Which? Trusted Traders, FAQs (undated, read 17 October 2026)
• MyJobQuote, fees and charges (reviewed 26 July 2024)
• MyJobQuote, for plumbers (undated, read 17 October 2026)
• Houzz Pro, UK pricing (undated, read 17 October 2026)
• Rated People joins Checkatrade Group (17 September 2026)