Reviews
Part of Reviewing lead networks starts with finding out who actually offers the service
Three lead marketplaces compared on one buyer framework, no scores invented
Compare three lead marketplaces by one buyer framework, with verified operators, documented service models, explicit unknowns and no invented scores.
What to take away
- Bark matches a customer request to a professional, who then spends credits to make contact.
- Checkatrade is a directorythe customer searches a listing and contacts the tradesperson directly.
- MyBuilder posts the job and runs a shortlist, with tradespeople expressing interest.
- No provider publishes one price that fits every trade and postcode, so the figure that matters is the one in your own quote.
- Company registration can be verified today; lead quality cannot, until you run a test.
No provider funded or reviewed this comparison. No lead, account, interface or invoice was tested, so supplier statements below are attributed rather than independently checked.
Who operates each marketplace
Bark's terms name Bark.com Global Limited, whose Companies House filing for company 10614196 shows an active company. Checkatrade is a trading name of Vetted Limited, and the filing for Vetted Limited, company 04285394 is active as well. MyBuilder's operator is MyBuilder Limited, company 05272398.
Registry status confirms a filed company. It says nothing about insurance, accreditation or lead quality, so treat it as a starting check rather than an endorsement.
How the three models differ
For the brand-level view, the Bark, Checkatrade and MyBuilder comparison places the same three side by side before you spend anything.
Bark
- Who acts first
- Customer posts a request
- What the trade pays for
- Credits to contact
- What sets the price
- Credit package size
- Public basis for the model
- Service page and terms
Checkatrade
- Who acts first
- Customer searches a listing
- What the trade pays for
- Membership
- What sets the price
- Tier, term and postcode
- Public basis for the model
- Platform terms
MyBuilder
- Who acts first
- Customer posts a job
- What the trade pays for
- Trade account
- What sets the price
- Account term and area
- Public basis for the model
- Current terms
Buyer framework across three marketplaces
Bark
- Target user
- Customers and professionals
- Source model
- Request matching
- Provenance evidence
- Unknown
- Workflow states
- Not a full dictionary
- Billing unit
- Credits; plan unknown
- Privacy and PECR
- Activity-level assessment
Checkatrade
- Target user
- Customers and tradespeople
- Source model
- Search and contact
- Provenance evidence
- Unknown
- Workflow states
- Not a buyer event map
- Billing unit
- Contract-specific; open
- Privacy and PECR
- Activity-level assessment
MyBuilder
- Target user
- Customers and tradespeople
- Source model
- Job and shortlist
- Provenance evidence
- Unknown
- Workflow states
- Not a buyer event map
- Billing unit
- Contract-specific; open
- Privacy and PECR
- Activity-level assessment
Each model puts the cost in a different place. Bark charges at the point of contact, before a job is won. Checkatrade charges for membership of the directory. MyBuilder charges the trade account while the customer picks from a shortlist.
What each one publishes about price
Bark's own explanation describes credits spent to contact a matched customer. Package size and credit cost are set by trade and contract, so no national rate can be quoted here.
Checkatrade sells trade membership. The tier, term and postcode coverage arrive in a quote, and the contract decides whether any charge attaches to an individual lead.
MyBuilder's public pages describe free job posting for customers and a paid account for trades. The account terms, not a rate card, set what the trade pays.
Because the billing units differ, a like-for-like price table would mislead. Comparing payment events first makes the pricing answerable later: four lead network models compared by payment event shows where each one moves risk onto the buyer.
Example: the billable event test on one finalist
Use one authorised job rather than a live customer enquiry.
Billable event test
- Write down the billable eventa credit spent to contact a customer at Bark, the membership charge at Checkatrade, the trade account charge at MyBuilder.
- Post one job using wording a real customer would use, then record exactly what arrives.
- Submit a duplicate or out-of-area job and record the rejection reason and any credit back.
- Reconcile the invoice against the event log.
- Stop the test if a critical gate fails.
A marketplace that cannot name its billable event in the contract cannot be reconciled against an invoice.
Due diligence checklist before sign-up
- Check that the contracting entity matches the company filing you verified.
- Collect the wording, named recipients and lawful basis for each lead type.
- Record the billable event, the rejection rule and the refund route.
- Confirm notice period, data export and deletion confirmation in writing.
- Test with authorised or synthetic fixtures before going live.
If the quote is vague, contract records that define a lead, its data and its exit are the documents worth requesting first.
Common questions
Which of the three fits a general trade business?
Match the model to how you win work. A business that wants enquiries routed to it should examine Bark's credit-per-contact route, while one that wants to be found should read the Checkatrade membership terms. Tradespeople who prefer quoting for posted jobs should inspect the MyBuilder account.
Can the three be compared on price?
Not from published pages. Credits, membership and a trade account are different units, so the honest comparison is your own cost per won job after a measured test.
What can I verify before signing up?
The operator name, company number and filing status, plus the model described in the terms. Lead volume, exclusivity and refund practice need contract wording or a live test.
