Checkatrade vs InvoiceAdept (2026): stop renting a badge, own your admin
Checkatrade vs InvoiceAdept (2026): stop renting a badge, own your admin
By InvoiceAdept1 September 2026Updated 1 September 20262 min read
In this article
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The short answer
Checkatrade costs roughly £30/month + VAT for rented lead generation. InvoiceAdept is free forever and includes a free trade-directory listing plus everything you need to invoice, get paid and stay MTD-compliant. For a tradesperson who wants to own their customer relationships, InvoiceAdept is the better value — and you keep about £360 a year.
How much does Checkatrade actually cost?
Checkatrade membership is roughly £30/month + VAT (£360+/year), and renewals have been rising for years. You're renting visibility and leads — you don't own the customer, the leads, or the reviews. If the leads dry up, you still pay.
If you need the paperwork side too, see our guide to best accounting software for tradespeople.
Checkatrade vs InvoiceAdept: side by side
InvoiceAdept | Checkatrade | |
|---|---|---|
Monthly cost | £0 | ~£30+/mo + VAT |
Invoicing | Unlimited, free | No (directory only) |
Card payments | Stripe link in every invoice | No |
MTD ITSA-ready records | Yes | No |
Directory listing | Free | The membership is the listing |
You own the customer | Yes | Rented |
Learn more: invoicing features · pricing.
Why owning the customer beats renting a badge
A Checkatrade badge is a marketing channel. It works while you pay — but the moment you stop, the leads stop. With InvoiceAdept you build directly: every invoice is a touchpoint, every review is yours, and your trade directory listing brings customers without a monthly fee. You own the whole relationship.
MTD: the hidden cost of a directory
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax lands 6 April 2026 for self-employed sole traders earning over £50,000 — and £30,000+ from 2027. Checkatrade doesn't help with this; it's a directory, not record-keeping. InvoiceAdept keeps your records digital and MTD-ready from the first invoice, for free (gov.uk MTD guidance).
Worth pairing this with how to invoice for the first time in the UK.
FAQs
Is InvoiceAdept a directory like Checkatrade?
Yes — InvoiceAdept has a free UK trade directory (4,793 businesses across 676 trades) included free with the invoicing platform, so customers find you without paying for a separate badge.
For the tax angle, read best invoicing apps for UK tradespeople.
Can I use Checkatrade and InvoiceAdept together?
Yes — many tradespeople keep a Checkatrade badge for leads and use InvoiceAdept for all the admin (invoicing, payments, MTD records). InvoiceAdept is free, so there's no downside.
What's the cheapest way to get found online?
A free InvoiceAdept trade-directory listing plus consistent local SEO and your own Google Business Profile gives you owned visibility without a monthly membership. Checkatrade is a paid add-on on top.
The bottom line
Renting a badge is a marketing choice; paying for invoicing software you don't need isn't. With InvoiceAdept you get the admin, payments, MTD compliance and a directory listing free — and you keep around £360 a year. Start free in 30 seconds →
Ready to get started?
InvoiceAdept helps UK tradespeople send invoices, track payments, and stay compliant — all from one place.
No credit card required
Ready to get started?
InvoiceAdept helps UK tradespeople send invoices, track payments, and stay compliant — all from one place.
Start for freeNo credit card required