Lead generation · New Zealand · Head-to-head
FairTrades NZ vs Trade Me Services
Two New Zealand lead generation options, compared side by side for New Zealand trades.
Which should you choose?
FairTrades NZ and Trade Me Services are both Tier S: our check found each one's prices published on its own website, so you can compare their costs before talking to sales. The tier is not a quality ranking: weigh the pros, cons, pricing and New Zealand-specific notes below against your trade and region.
FairTrades NZ
Tier S · Published pricesNZ quote marketplace: homeowners post jobs free, tradies quote with no lead fees or commission
FairTrades is a New Zealand job marketplace where homeowners post a job free, compare quotes side by side and share contact details only after accepting a quote. Tradies build a profile and must pass FairTrades' minimum provider review before quoting; FairTrades says it charges no lead fees and no success commission, and earns from tradie plans instead. Its site lists 28 trades in four groups, and the 6 recent jobs it showed on 30 September 2026 were all in Christchurch.
Pros
- + No lead fees and 0% success commission on every plan
- + Free plan allows up to 3 quotes per rolling 30 days once verified
- + Paid plans do not auto-renew
- + Pro and Business include JobLedger for jobs, reminders and invoices
Cons
- − Operating company not named on the site, terms or privacy policy
- − Recent jobs shown on the site were all in Christchurch
- − More than 3 quotes per 30 days needs a paid plan
- − Plans page does not say whether prices include GST
New Zealand note
FairTrades calls itself Kiwi owned and operated, but its site, terms and privacy policy do not name the company behind it. Its terms say the provider review does not mean every licence, qualification or insurance policy has been checked. The recent jobs shown were all in Christchurch, so check demand in your area before paying for a plan.
Trade Me Services
Tier S · Published pricesServices section of Trade Me, where providers pay $89 to list for 90 days and customers browse by category
Trade Me Services is the services section of Trade Me, the New Zealand online marketplace owned by private equity firm Apax Partners, which was reported in February 2026 to be seeking a buyer. Providers list a service under categories such as trades, domestic services, events and health, and customers browse the listings. On 30 September 2026 the Trades category showed 732 listings, including 280 in building and construction, 39 in electrical and gas, and 16 in plumbing.
Pros
- + Sits inside Trade Me, alongside its Marketplace, Motors and Property sections
- + Published fee: $89 for a 90-day listing
- + Trade categories cover building, electrical and gas, plumbing, roofing, painting and more
- + Low competition in some trades: 16 plumbing listings on 30 September 2026
Cons
- − General services directory: trades sit alongside domestic, events and health services
- − Fees are charged again every 90 days when a listing is extended or relisted
- − Featured placement costs $189 or $209 on top of the listing fee
- − The fees are on Trade Me's help pages, not the Services pages
New Zealand note
Trade Me's help centre lists a $89 fee for a 90-day Services listing, with optional Feature ($189) and Super Feature ($209) upgrades and no other promotional extras; extending or relisting charges the fees again. On 30 September 2026 the web listing page showed a system-upgrade notice asking providers to list through the app or desktop site.
More New Zealand options
See all New Zealand lead generation vendors and the rest of the New Zealand directory.