An honest, no-affiliate comparison of the three biggest lead generation platforms for UK electricians. Real costs, real lead quality, and practical advice on which suits your business — whether you are just starting out or looking to fill quiet periods.
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Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Guidance Note 3 and the IET On-Site Guide.
1,000+
UK electricians
“Replaced three separate apps with Elec-Mate. Certs, quotes, and scheduling all in one place.”
Daniel Palmer — DP Electrical
When you start a new electrical business, you have no Google reviews, no track record, and no referral network. Lead generation platforms solve the cold-start problem by connecting you with homeowners who are actively looking for an electrician right now.
The three major platforms in the UK market are Checkatrade, MyBuilder, and Bark. Each has a different pricing model, vetting process, and customer base. Choosing the right one (or combination) depends on your budget, your area, and the type of work you want.
This comparison is written specifically for electricians, based on real costs and real experiences. We have no affiliation with any platform — the goal is to help you make an informed decision about where to invest your marketing budget.
Reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, with hands-on experience of running an electrical platform business and working with electricians who use each platform.
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Checkatrade is the most recognised lead generation platform in the UK. Founded in 1998, it has strong brand awareness among homeowners — many customers specifically search "Checkatrade electrician" rather than just "electrician near me".
Best for: Electricians who want to build credibility quickly, are willing to commit to a monthly fee, and operate in areas where Checkatrade has strong homeowner awareness. Particularly effective for domestic work — consumer unit upgrades, rewires, additional circuits, and EICRs.
MyBuilder takes a different approach — homeowners post detailed job descriptions, and tradespeople pay a fee to express interest. There is no monthly membership. You only spend money when you see a job you want.
Best for: Electricians who want to control their spending, prefer to choose which jobs to pursue, and are disciplined about responding quickly. Particularly effective for larger jobs (rewires, extensions, new builds) where the job description gives enough detail to assess profitability before committing.
Bark operates across hundreds of service categories — from electricians to personal trainers to wedding photographers. It uses a credit system where you purchase credits upfront and spend them to contact leads.
Best for: Electricians who want supplementary leads alongside another platform or their own marketing. Bark works best when you respond instantly (the first responder has a significant advantage) and when you are selective about which leads you pursue. Not recommended as a sole lead source.
The headline costs do not tell the full story. Here is a realistic comparison of what an electrician in a medium-sized UK town might spend over 12 months.
| Feature | Checkatrade | MyBuilder | Bark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | £60–£120/month | £0 | £0 |
| Contract length | 12 months (typical) | None | None (credits) |
| Vetting | Yes — quals, insurance, refs | Partial | No |
| Lead cost range | £60–£120 base + credits | £5–£30 per lead | £5–£20 per lead |
| Est. win rate | ~25% | ~22% | ~15% |
| Best for | New businesses, credibility | Budget control, specialist jobs | Supplementary leads |
Use these to calculate your own return on platform spend. A single consumer unit upgrade can more than cover a month of Checkatrade membership; an EICR is typically breakeven on one MyBuilder lead.
These are indicative figures — your actual results will depend on your location, response speed, quote quality, reviews, and the type of work you target. The key insight is that Checkatrade delivers more volume at a lower cost per customer, but requires a monthly commitment. MyBuilder and Bark give more spending flexibility but at a higher cost per acquired customer.
Hidden costs: Do not forget to factor in the time you spend responding to leads, travelling to site visits for quotes you do not win, and preparing quotes. If you spend 30 minutes per lead (response, phone call, site visit, quote) and your time is worth £35/hour, each lead costs you an additional £17.50 in time — regardless of which platform it comes from.
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The number of leads matters less than the quality. A high-quality lead is a homeowner who has a genuine need, a realistic budget, and is ready to proceed. A low-quality lead is someone casually browsing, collecting quotes with no intention of proceeding, or looking for the cheapest possible price regardless of quality.
There is no single best platform — it depends on where you are in your business journey and what type of work you want.
Recommendation: Checkatrade + MyBuilder. Use Checkatrade for the credibility badge and steady enquiries. Use MyBuilder to cherry-pick higher-value jobs. Focus aggressively on collecting Google reviews from every customer on both platforms. This combination gives you both volume and flexibility.
Recommendation: MyBuilder only. No monthly commitment means you control costs precisely. Spend £100 to £200 per month on leads, targeting jobs with the best profit potential. Invest the money you save (vs Checkatrade membership) into Google Ads for your local area.
Recommendation: Checkatrade. If you already have reviews and credentials but hit a quiet patch, Checkatrade delivers the most consistent volume. Your existing reviews and qualifications will make your profile stand out immediately.
Recommendation: MyBuilder. For specialised work such as EV charger installation, battery storage, or commercial fit-outs, MyBuilder's detailed job descriptions let you identify the right opportunities and verify scope before committing — important because EV charger installations must comply with BS 7671 Section 722 and the IET Code of Practice for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation. Checkatrade and Bark are better suited to general domestic enquiries.
Same-day certification matters. Every EICR, consumer unit upgrade, or EV charger job won through these platforms requires documentation on the day — Elec-Mate issues EICRs, EICs, and Minor Works certificates directly on site from your phone. Arriving with professional paperwork ready to hand over is a practical edge when your customer found you through a comparison platform.
The smartest electricians use lead platforms as a launchpad, not a crutch. Every platform customer should be converted into a direct relationship — a Google review, a referral source, or a repeat customer who contacts you directly next time.
The goal is to build a business that generates its own leads. Platforms are a tool to get you there — not the destination.
Switch from Checkatrade in 2026. Elec-Mate cuts admin by 60%, automates quotes and certs, keeps you compliant with BS 7671:2018+A4:2026. No platform fees.
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Elec-Mate is my go to app for business and electrical work. It's feature rich without feeling cluttered. A true all in one app for quotes, certs, calculations, RAMS, EICRs, and more. I use it every day without fail, and it makes my workflow much smoother since I'm not jumping between apps anymore. The price-to-feature ratio is excellent. Any issues I've had, the developer responds within the hour and usually fixes them the same day. 100% recommend.
I've used the app and the web based version for a while now and it's well worth the investment. If you're an apprentice or experienced Spark give it a go, you won't be disappointed.
I've been using Elec-Mate for a while now, and honestly, it's one of the best apps I've ever downloaded. Every aspect of it feels thoughtfully designed, from the clean and intuitive interface to the powerful features that make everything so easy to manage. It's clear that a lot of care and attention went into building this app, and it shows in every detail.
Real feedback from real sparks
“Replaced three separate apps with Elec-Mate. Certs, quotes, and scheduling all in one place.”
Daniel Palmer
Sole Trader · DP Electrical
“I've won two contracts this month because I could turn quotes around same-day with the AI cost engineer.”
Nathan Perry
Electrician · NP Electrical Services
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“Replaced three separate apps with Elec-Mate. Certs, quotes, and scheduling all in one place.”
Daniel Palmer, DP Electrical
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