If Checkatrade isn't delivering the ROI you need, here's a better way to get local customers — one you own permanently.
Checkatrade built its reputation on trust — and for many years it delivered. But the model has fundamentally changed since its acquisition by HomeServe. Subscription costs in London and the South East now regularly reach £399/month, and renewal price increases of 50–100% are commonly reported across trade forums, Reddit, and Trustpilot.
The deeper problem is structural. Every review you collect on Checkatrade, every job you win, every relationship you build — it all lives on their platform, not yours. Cancel your subscription and it vanishes. You are renting your reputation, not building it.
One platform you rent. One reputation you own.
| What matters | Try Review Bloom | Checkatrade |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | ✓ £297 — fixed, no surprises | ✗ £199–£399 + annual hike at renewal |
| Contract | ✓ No contract — cancel any time | ✗ 12-month annual contract, exit fees apply |
| What you own | ✓ Google reviews — yours forever | ✗ Checkatrade reviews — vanish if you cancel |
| Where leads come from | ✓ Google Maps — 8 billion searches/day | ✗ Checkatrade platform only |
| Shared leads | ✓ No — customers find you exclusively on Google | ✗ Yes — same lead sent to multiple competitors |
| Price at renewal | ✓ Fixed £297 — no surprises | ✗ Regularly increases 50–100% at renewal |
| Review visibility | ✓ Google search, Maps, AI recommendations | ✗ Checkatrade platform only |
| Setup fee | ✓ None | ✗ Varies — often included in first year cost |
Instead of paying to appear on someone else's platform, Try Review Bloom builds your Google presence permanently — automated review requests after every job, AI replies to every review, full GBP management, and citation management.
Every completed job triggers a personalised SMS and email to your customer. No chasing. No forgetting.
Every Google review gets a professional, personalised response automatically. Keeps your GBP active 24/7.
Weekly posts, photos, category optimisation, heatmap tracking. Your Google profile working for you constantly.
Your business listed consistently across 50+ directories. Google uses this to verify who you are and where you work.
Yes — many tradespeople start by running both in parallel. As your Google reviews grow and your Map Pack ranking improves, you'll find you need Checkatrade less. Most switch fully within 3–6 months.
They stay on Checkatrade's platform but are no longer linked to you as an active member. Customers visiting your profile may see a lapsed or inactive badge. This is exactly why building Google reviews in parallel — reviews you own permanently — matters.
Most clients see their first new Google reviews within 24 hours of their reactivation campaign launching. Map Pack ranking improvements typically begin within 2–4 weeks depending on local competition.
In most cases, yes — and you're building something you own rather than renting visibility that disappears if you cancel. London Checkatrade members typically pay £299–£399/month, making Try Review Bloom comparable or cheaper with a fundamentally better long-term outcome.
No. Try Review Bloom works with or without a website. Your Google Business Profile is your primary storefront — we fully manage and optimise it so customers find you directly on Google Maps.
£297/month. No contract. First reviews arrive within 24 hours. Every review lives on your Google profile permanently.