Tradespeople Website vs Checkatrade:
The honest comparison for UK trades
Checkatrade charges £600–£1,440 per year to put your business next to your competitors. A bespoke website costs less, ranks on Google, and delivers customers who already want to hire you. Here is the honest comparison.
Reading time: 5 minutes · Last updated: May 2026
The Real Cost of Checkatrade — Over 5 Years
Most tradespeople on Checkatrade have been members for 3–7 years. At £80/month, that is £4,800 over 5 years — for a listing you don't own, next to your competitors, that can be suspended at any time.
A bespoke website is an asset that appreciates over time as it builds domain authority and Google rankings. Checkatrade is a recurring cost that delivers diminishing returns as more tradespeople join the platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Checkatrade actually cost in 2026?
Checkatrade membership costs between £50 and £120 per month depending on your trade and region — that is £600 to £1,440 per year, every year. On top of this, you are competing with 10–20 other tradespeople on the same search results page, and Checkatrade can remove your listing or suspend your account at any time. A bespoke website from Product Systems AI starts from £1,500 — a one-off cost that you own forever.
Do tradespeople need their own website?
Yes — and the reason is Google. When a homeowner searches 'plumber near me' or 'electrician Preston', Google shows the businesses with the strongest local SEO. A Checkatrade listing helps Checkatrade rank on Google — not your business. A bespoke website with your trade, your town, your accreditations, and your reviews will rank directly for these searches and deliver customers who are already sold on your work before they call.
What is the difference between Checkatrade leads and website leads?
Checkatrade leads are price-shoppers. They have submitted the same job to 5 tradespeople simultaneously and are waiting to see who quotes lowest. Website leads are different — they found your website, read about your work, saw your portfolio, and chose to contact you specifically. These customers are far less likely to haggle on price and far more likely to become repeat customers and referrers.
How much does a tradesperson website cost in the UK?
A bespoke tradesperson website from Product Systems AI starts from £1,500. This includes design, development, portfolio pages, accreditation badges (Gas Safe, NICEIC, NAPIT, CHAS, etc.), quote request forms, emergency call-out sections, Google review integration, and full local SEO setup. Compare this to Checkatrade at £600–£1,440 per year — your website pays for itself in the first year and costs nothing after that.
Will a website help my trade business rank on Google?
Yes — significantly. A properly built tradesperson website with local SEO — including your trade and town in the title tag, Google Business Profile integration, schema markup, fast loading times, and mobile optimisation — will rank for searches like 'plumber Preston', 'electrician near me', and 'emergency boiler repair Lancashire'. Checkatrade ranks for itself, not for your specific business.
What pages should a tradesperson website include?
A professional tradesperson website should include: a homepage with your trade, location, accreditations, and a prominent phone number; a services page listing every job type you cover; a portfolio page with before/after photos; a reviews/testimonials page; an about page with your story and qualifications; a coverage area page listing the towns and postcodes you serve; an emergency call-out page (if applicable); and a contact/quote request page. We build all of these as standard.