Lead generation · United Kingdom · Head-to-head
Bark (UK) vs Checkatrade
Two United Kingdom lead generation options, compared side by side for United Kingdom trades.
Which should you choose?
Bark (UK) carries a reputation warning (see below) and Checkatrade does not. Read the warning before you choose Bark (UK).
Bark (UK)
Tier F · Reputation warningLondon-based services marketplace where pros spend credits to respond to customer requests, with up to five pros per request
⚠ Bark's BBB profile shows no BBB accreditation for the company that runs Bark's UK site. The profile, for Bark.com Global Limited under an Austin, Texas address, showed 85 complaints closed in the last three years when checked on 30 September 2026. Under Bark's UK terms you spend credits to respond before you can reach the customer, up to five professionals can contact the same customer, and credits are returned only if you report invalid contact details within 7 days.
Bark is an online services marketplace founded in the UK by Kai Feller and Andrew Michael, launched in January 2015 and headquartered in London; private equity firm EMK Capital acquired a majority stake in April 2022. The UK site covers business, events, health, home and lessons categories, including plumbing, electrical, roofing and landscaping. Customers post a request and professionals spend credits to respond, and Bark's terms say a maximum of five professionals will contact the customer on a general request.
Pros
- + No commission on jobs you win, and follow-up messages are free
- + UK site covering trades and many other service categories
- + If your first credit pack wins no business, Bark returns the credits once
Cons
- − You spend credits to respond before you know whether the customer will answer
- − Up to five professionals can contact the same customer
- − No pound prices on the UK pricing page; VAT is added on top and credits expire after 3 months
- − Credits returned only for invalid contact details reported within 7 days
United Kingdom note
The UK is Bark's home market: the operator, Bark.com Global Limited, is registered in England and Wales. The UK pricing page explains the credit system but lists no pound prices, and Bark's terms say VAT is payable on top of its fees.
Checkatrade
Tier S · Published pricesUK trades directory with a free profile, a £30/month Approved plan and lead plans from £59/month
Checkatrade is a UK trades directory and lead service run by Vetted Limited in London. Tradespeople can list free, pay £30 a month for the Approved plan with the Checkatrade tick after ID, address and documentation checks, or take a Growth plan from £59 a month that adds a chosen volume of customer enquiries, direct booking and search credit. Checkatrade says memberships are for 12 months and it covers 72 trade industries. In September 2026 Checkatrade Group bought the Rated People brand and website, and jobs posted on Rated People are now matched with Checkatrade members.
Pros
- + Free profile to collect and show reviews
- + Published prices: Approved £30/month, Growth from £59/month
- + You choose your postcode areas and yearly lead volume
- + Members also get jobs posted on Rated People since September 2026
Cons
- − Memberships are for 12 months
- − Only a 'from' price is published for Growth lead plans
- − The pricing page does not say whether VAT is included
- − Checkatrade Pay card payments carry fees of 1.29%-1.79%
United Kingdom note
You pick the UK postcode areas you work in and, on lead plans, how many leads you want a year. The Checkatrade tick needs ID, address and documentation checks. Since September 2026 Checkatrade members also receive jobs posted on Rated People, whose brand and website Checkatrade Group bought after Rated People Limited went into liquidation.
More United Kingdom options
See all United Kingdom lead generation vendors and the rest of the United Kingdom directory.