If you're a tradesperson, you know the drill: pay for a lead, ring the customer, discover four other trades got the same lead, and lose the job anyway. The money's gone either way. It's no surprise more trades are searching for Checkatrade alternatives — so here's an honest look at the options.

What the big platforms actually cost

Most established platforms charge either a monthly membership, a per-lead fee, or both. Depending on your trade and area, that can add up to hundreds of pounds a month before you've earned a penny. And because leads are sold to multiple trades at once, your conversion rate — not just the lead price — determines what a job really costs you to win.

What to look for in an alternative

• Who pays? If the platform is free for trades, check how it makes money. Transparent customer-side fees are healthier than hidden cuts from your quote.
• Lead exclusivity: are you quoting against three others who paid for the same lead, or responding to a genuine job post?
• Payment protection: does money flow through a secure provider, or are you still chasing cash on the doorstep?
• Review integrity: can anyone leave a review, or only verified completed jobs?

How Phixed does it differently

Phixed is a Bristol-based app founded by a plumber and a designer who were fed up with the lead-fee model. The difference is structural: leads are completely free for trades. Homeowners post real jobs, you get notified when one lands in your working radius, and you quote only for jobs you actually want. Phixed adds a small service fee on the homeowner's side — if you quote £500, you get £500.

On top of that: payments are handled through Stripe and released within 48 hours, invoices are generated automatically, reviews only come from completed jobs, and — uniquely — you rate the homeowner too.

The honest caveat

Phixed is currently Bristol-only. If you work elsewhere in the UK, the big platforms still have the reach. But if you're a plumber, electrician, carpenter or any other trade working in and around Bristol, there's no cost to trying it — which is rather the point.

Download Phixed on the App Store or Google Play and see the jobs near you.