A Checkatrade alternative for hiring ID-checked trades

If you are looking for a Checkatrade alternative, you can hire on Hiyr. This page is an alternative to Checkatrade for clients who want to post a job, read a profile, and hire the person. Posting and search are free. A fee is charged only when you hire, and it is shown before you confirm. Payment is held until you confirm the work.

• Post the job free: Searching profiles is free.
• Read ID-checked profiles: Choose the person.
• Confirm the work: Payment is held until you confirm the work.

Checkatrade describes itself as an online directory of customer recommended tradespeople. Its pricing page says it helps 72 trade industries. The examples on that page include electricians, gas engineers, plumbers, builders and carpenters.

Once a member matches a customer search, Checkatrade says the customer can book the job through the profile when a priced service is available, call the member, or request a quote.

The Checkatrade pricing page lists a Free plan at £0 per month, described as a profile to collect reviews. Approved is listed at £30 per month. Growth is listed from £59 per month.

The same page says you tell Checkatrade your trade, pick the postcode areas you want, and select how many leads you want each year, for a regular flow of leads at a fixed monthly cost.

On the Growth plan, Checkatrade lists search credit of £100 to £200 and Checkatrade Pay with fees from 1.29% to 1.79%.

Before Checkatrade gives a tradesperson its seal of approval, that tradesperson must pass up to 12 checks: the checks from the set that apply to them. Checkatrade says most of the checks done at onboarding are repeated later. It also says that in some cases the checks differ from the usual process, and that the product page states what was checked.

• Photo identification check. A third party checks that the tradesperson is who they say they are.
• Proof of address. Checkatrade checks where the trade and the business are located.
• Qualifications. Where an accreditation such as Gas Safe or NICEIC is required, Checkatrade checks that it is held and up to date.
• Open-source check. Checkatrade scans public records and news stories.
• Personal CCJ check. Checkatrade checks for unpaid debts owed to customers.
• Business CCJ check. Checkatrade runs that kind of check on the business as well, looking for unresolved issues with a customer.
• Company history check. Checkatrade checks that the business is active, looks for a current threat to strike it off the register, and looks for a pattern of closing and reopening companies.
• Financial checks. Checkatrade checks for bankruptcy and insolvency.
• Duplicate check. Checkatrade checks whether someone was suspended, declined or removed before, and does not let that person back on.
• Enhanced Business Check. For some trades, Checkatrade asks for proof the business has been trading for at least six months.
• Director check. Checkatrade checks for banned or disqualified directors.
• Customer experience check. Checkatrade reviews ratings on other platforms.

The Checkatrade guarantee terms describe a free, discretionary guarantee. It may contribute towards the cost of putting sub-standard work right. The maximum payment per approved claim is £1,000. The terms say you may be eligible if a Checkatrade tradesperson did the work, you contacted that tradesperson through Checkatrade by phone, quote form or message, or you paid with Checkatrade Pay, the issue is sub-standard work, and you contact Checkatrade within 6 months of the work being completed. Checkatrade decides whether to offer support.

Details taken from Checkatrade's public pages on 12 October 2026 and may have changed.

Hiyr is free to post a job and free to search. A fee is charged only when you hire, and that fee is shown before you confirm. Payment is held until you confirm the work.

You choose the person and hire them on Hiyr. Hiyr does not employ the provider. The documents a provider is asked for depend on the category of the work. A profile can be hired when those documents are approved. The lines below use the same labels and descriptions as the Hiyr checks for each category.

• Construction & trades: Photo ID: Government-issued photo ID matching your profile name. Right to work: Passport, BRP, or share code proving UK work eligibility. CSCS card: Valid CSCS card for your trade (front and back). Trade certification: NVQ, apprenticeship, Gas Safe, NICEIC, or equivalent.
• Home services: Photo ID: Government-issued photo ID matching your profile name. Right to work: Passport, BRP, or share code proving UK work eligibility. Relevant qualification: Trade qualification, appliance cert, or recognised training certificate. Public liability insurance: Current public liability insurance certificate.
• Professional services: Photo ID: Government-issued photo ID matching your profile name. Right to work: Passport, BRP, or share code proving UK work eligibility. Professional licence / membership: SRA, ACCA, CIMA, teaching QTS, or industry body membership. Qualifications: Degree, diploma, or professional qualification for your field.
• Creative & digital: Photo ID: Government-issued photo ID matching your profile name. Right to work: Passport, BRP, or share code proving UK work eligibility. Portfolio / credentials: Recognised qualification or a credentials file summarising your experience.
• Care & wellbeing: Photo ID: Government-issued photo ID matching your profile name. Right to work: Passport, BRP, or share code proving UK work eligibility. DBS check: Enhanced or standard DBS certificate (dated within the last 3 years). Care qualifications: Care Certificate, NVQ, or relevant safeguarding training.
• Transport & delivery: Photo ID: Government-issued photo ID matching your profile name. Right to work: Passport, BRP, or share code proving UK work eligibility. Driving licence: Valid UK driving licence for the vehicle classes you offer. Vehicle / hire insurance: Motor insurance covering hire & reward or courier work where required.
• General: Photo ID: Government-issued photo ID matching your profile name. Right to work: Passport, BRP, or share code proving UK work eligibility. Proof of skill: Qualification, certificate, or credentials document for your category.