Your own website wins long-term. Checkatrade generates leads quickly but costs £600–£1,200 a year indefinitely, commoditises your services by placing you next to every competitor, and builds no asset you own. A bespoke website costs £499 once, ranks on Google and compounds in value over time. This article lays out the numbers.
The Verdict Upfront
Use Checkatrade short-term while you build your own website. Once your site ranks on Google, reduce or cancel Checkatrade. The goal is to own your lead generation rather than rent it indefinitely.
Checkatrade is a shortcut that works — you get leads quickly without needing Google rankings. But it is a shortcut with a permanent monthly toll. Every year you stay on Checkatrade without your own site, you are paying £600–£1,200 to rent visibility on someone else’s platform. The tradesmen winning in 2026 use Checkatrade as a stepping stone, not a destination.
3-Year Cost Comparison
Checkatrade costs more over 3 years than a bespoke website — and at the end of year 3, you own nothing.
| Cost Factor | Checkatrade | RapidWeb Bespoke Website |
|---|---|---|
| Setup cost | £0 | £499 one-time |
| Monthly fee | £50–£100/month | £0 mandatory |
| Optional ongoing care | N/A — included (locked in) | £40/month optional |
| Year 1 total | £600–£1,200 | £499 |
| Year 2 total (cumulative) | £1,200–£2,400 | £499 |
| Year 3 total (cumulative) | £1,800–£3,600 | £499 |
| What you own at end of year 3 | Nothing. Stop paying = gone. | A live, ranking website. Yours permanently. |
📈 The compounding gap: Every year on Checkatrade widens the cost gap. By year 5, Checkatrade has cost you £3,000–£6,000. Your own website still costs £499. The leads from your site are free. The leads from Checkatrade cost you £50–£100 every single month, forever.
Where the Leads Actually Come From
Checkatrade and your own website attract different types of customer — and that difference matters.
Checkatrade leads
Checkatrade customers are actively comparing tradesmen. They see your profile, your reviews and your price — right next to everyone else in your trade and area. You win the job on reviews and price. This creates downward pressure on your rates over time. You are competing in a race where the platform controls the rules.
Website leads
Google leads are different. Someone searches “plumber Middlesbrough” and your site comes up. They see your brand, your work, your services — before they see anyone else. You are not on a comparison page. You get the call first. These leads convert at a higher rate and are less price-sensitive because the customer chose you, not a platform algorithm.
🔨 Real example: A roofer in Teesside was spending £80/month on Checkatrade. Three months after launching his RapidWeb site, he was getting more enquiries from Google than from Checkatrade — at zero ongoing cost. He cancelled Checkatrade at month four.
Ownership: Renting vs Owning
The fundamental difference between Checkatrade and your own website is ownership.
- Checkatrade: You rent visibility on their platform. The day you stop paying, your profile disappears and all the reviews you built are inaccessible. You built their platform, not yours.
- Your own website: You own the domain, the code and the Google rankings. If RapidWeb closed tomorrow, your site keeps working. Your rankings compound over time. Every backlink, every review, every indexed page adds to an asset that belongs to you.
Google rankings, unlike Checkatrade profiles, get stronger over time without increasing cost. A site that ranks for “plumber Middlesbrough” after 6 months is likely to rank even higher at 18 months. Checkatrade never gets cheaper or more powerful — it just continues to cost the same each month.
The Smart Strategy: Both, Then One
The most effective approach for a tradesman in 2026:
- Launch your bespoke website immediately. It takes 5 working days and costs £499.
- Keep Checkatrade active for 3–6 months while your website builds Google authority.
- Track where your enquiries are coming from. Once your website consistently generates more leads than Checkatrade, reduce or cancel your Checkatrade subscription.
- Reinvest that £50–£100/month into optional Managed Care on your website — ongoing SEO and the Weaver AI chatbot — rather than paying a directory.
Most RapidWeb clients who follow this path are off Checkatrade within 6 months. See how tradesman websites generate consistent enquiries →
Build the Asset You Actually Own
A bespoke website from £499. Live in 5 days. Free demo before you pay. Full refund if you are not happy.
UK-wide • No monthly fees • You own it permanently
Get Your Free Demo Preview →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Checkatrade worth it for tradesmen in 2026?
Short-term, yes — it generates leads quickly for tradesmen without Google rankings. Long-term, no — it costs £600–£1,200/year indefinitely, builds no asset you own and puts you next to every competitor. Use it as a stepping stone, not a permanent strategy.
Should I use Checkatrade or build my own website?
Both short-term, then just your own website. Use Checkatrade while your site builds Google authority. Once your site generates consistent enquiries, reduce or cancel Checkatrade and stop paying £50–£100/month for leads.
How much does Checkatrade cost per year?
Typically £600–£1,200/year depending on trade and region. Over 3 years that is £1,800–£3,600 — compared to £499 one-time for a bespoke website you own permanently.
Can I get jobs without Checkatrade?
Yes. A well-built bespoke website that ranks on Google generates consistent local enquiries with no monthly directory fee. Most RapidWeb clients see enquiries building within 2–3 months of launch.
Does having a Checkatrade profile help with Google?
Their profile pages can rank, but you drive traffic to their domain, not yours. You get the lead, they get the SEO authority. Your own website builds your domain authority permanently.
How quickly can I get work from my own website?
Most RapidWeb clients see Google indexing within days and enquiries building within 2–3 months. Emergency searches (boiler repair, emergency electrician) can generate calls within days of a well-built site going live.
What is better than Checkatrade for getting trade jobs?
A bespoke website ranking on Google. Enquiries come directly to you, you own the platform and there is no monthly fee. You are not competing side-by-side with every other local tradesman on a comparison page.
How much does a tradesman website cost vs Checkatrade?
A bespoke website from RapidWeb costs £499 one-time. Checkatrade costs £600–£1,200/year. Over 3 years, Checkatrade costs £1,800–£3,600. Your own website: £499 total with optional aftercare from £40/month.