TradeMatch vs Every Other UK Trade Platform
Choosing the right platform for your tradesperson search matters. Here is how TradeMatch compares with Checkatrade, MyBuilder, Bark, Rated People and the other names you have heard on the radio — across fees, vetting, payment protection and reviews.
Most UK platforms charge tradespeople — those costs end up in your quote.
TradeMatch flips the model: free for homeowners, free profiles for tradespeople, fees only on confirmed work — plus escrow protection on every payment.
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Quick Comparison
| Feature | TradeMatch | Most Others |
|---|---|---|
| Free quotes for homeowners | Free | Varies |
| Escrow-protected payments | Yes | Rare |
| Background-checked tradespeople | Yes | Varies |
| Subscription fees for trades | None | Often paid |
| Verified reviews only | Yes | Varies |
| Trade categories covered | 48 | Varies |
| UK city coverage | 200 | Most |
| Dispute resolution team | Yes | Rare |
Based on April 2026 platform reviews and public terms across the 12 UK platforms covered on this page.
Five Reasons Homeowners Choose TradeMatch
- Escrow protection — Your payment is held safely until the work is done — only released when you sign off. None of the legacy directories offer this.
- No subscription tax — Tradespeople only pay on confirmed work. Other platforms charge £50+ a month or per-lead credits — costs that get passed onto you in higher quotes.
- Verified reviews — Only homeowners with a completed TradeMatch job can leave a review. No fake five-stars, no review-buying, no deletion of negative feedback.
- Five competing quotes — Get up to 5 quotes per job — more competition means lower prices. Most rivals cap you at 3 or send you to browse profiles manually.
- Real dispute resolution — A dedicated team mediates if things go wrong. With most legacy platforms you fall back on chargebacks or small-claims court.
Compare Insights
100%of TradeMatch payments held in escrow
Every job, every payment, every time. Funds held in a segregated client account until you sign off the work.
- Held in escrowFrom the moment the deposit clears until the job is signed off.
- Released on sign-offFunds release within 24 hours of you confirming the work is done to spec.
- Disputed = frozenIf something is wrong, the payment freezes pending review by our resolution team.
TradeMatch escrow operates through FCA-regulated payment providers. Customer funds are segregated from operating accounts and protected under UK consumer law.
The cheapest platform is not the safest one.
Legacy directories built their brand in the early-2000s and the model has not kept up. Tradespeople pay subscriptions or buy leads, then rebuild that cost into your quote — and your money sits unprotected in their bank account. TradeMatch was built for 2026: pay only when work is confirmed, escrow on every payment, verified reviews, real dispute mediation. Compare them in detail using the links above.
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Post your job free. Up to 5 quotes from vetted UK tradespeople, escrow-protected payments and verified reviews.
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