Trusted Matches vs Checkatrade for UK trades

Trusted Matches uses flexible pay-per-lead credits with no subscription requirement. Checkatrade offers free and paid membership tiers, with paid fixed plans combining directory visibility, tools and a selected level of enquiries.

Join with 10 free credits See transparent pricing

Trusted Matches is best for

Businesses that do not want a monthly membership commitment
Professionals who want to preview individual leads before paying
Teams that want unused lead credits to remain available indefinitely

Checkatrade may suit

Trades that value Checkatrade’s established directory brand
Businesses wanting a vetting badge and bundled job-management tools
Teams seeking a planned annual volume of enquiries

Side-by-side

Trusted Matches vs Checkatrade

FeatureTrusted MatchesCheckatrade

Charging model

Trusted MatchesOptional credit packs; pay per chosen lead

CheckatradeFree and paid memberships; fixed plans can include enquiry volume

Published starting price

Trusted Matches£25 for 25 credits

Checkatrade£0 free tier, £30/month Approved, fixed plans from £59/month

Commitment

Trusted MatchesNo subscription or contract

CheckatradeFixed plan memberships are for 12 months

Unused balance

Trusted MatchesPurchased credits do not expire

CheckatradeMembership benefits and enquiry allocation depend on the selected plan

Lead control

Trusted MatchesPreview and choose each lead before unlocking

CheckatradeChoose a plan based on desired annual enquiry volume

Business verification

Trusted MatchesOptional Approved Pro verification plus lead checks

CheckatradeUp to 12 membership checks for the Checkatrade tick

Customer cost

Trusted MatchesFree for customers

CheckatradeFree for customers to search and request quotes

The practical difference

Flexible spend or Checkatrade?

Checkatrade may suit established trades that want its recognised directory presence, vetting badge and job-management tools. Its published pricing includes a free tier, an Approved tier at £30 per month and fixed plans from £59 per month, with 12-month terms applying to fixed plan memberships.

Trusted Matches is the flexible option: there is no required subscription, purchased credits do not expire, and the exact cost is visible before a professional unlocks a lead. New requests use verification signals, duplicate detection, quality scoring and AI-assisted checks. Screening reduces avoidable noise but cannot guarantee that a customer will reply or hire.

Check the details

Official sources

Competitor features and terms change. Review the current source pages before making a purchasing decision.

Information checked 27 July 2026. Checkatrade is a trademark of its respective owner. Trusted Matches is not affiliated with or endorsed by Checkatrade.

Questions answered

Checkatrade comparison FAQs

Does Checkatrade require a contract?

Checkatrade states that its fixed plan memberships are for 12 months. It also advertises free and Approved membership options. Trusted Matches does not require a subscription or fixed-term contract.

Is Checkatrade or Trusted Matches better for a new sole trader?

It depends on your goal. Trusted Matches suits businesses wanting to test pay-per-lead demand without a recurring commitment. Checkatrade may suit trades that place more value on its directory badge, vetting and bundled business tools.

Can I join Trusted Matches if I already use Checkatrade?

Yes. Trusted Matches has no exclusivity requirement. You can use it as an additional source of work and only spend credits on leads you choose.

How are Trusted Matches leads checked?

Requests use contact and postcode verification signals, completeness and quality scoring, duplicate detection and AI-assisted checks. These checks improve screening but do not guarantee that a customer will hire.

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