Mybuilder vs Rated People vs Checkatrade for Gas Engineers: Which Is Worth It?

All three platforms connect homeowners with tradespeople, but their models differ in ways that affect gas engineers specifically.

• Mybuilder — homeowners post a job description and tradespeople buy lead credits to express interest. You pay when you decide to contact a lead, not when the homeowner posts. Sole traders and small teams find this model useful because you control which leads you pursue. Lead prices vary by job type and competition in your area.
• Rated People — similar lead-credit model. Homeowners post jobs and up to three tradespeople can respond per job. You pay to send your interest and, if the homeowner responds, you proceed to quoting. The three-quote cap gives each respondent a reasonable chance of converting, unlike open-bid platforms where dozens of engineers contact the same homeowner.
• Checkatrade — operates on an annual membership subscription rather than a per-lead credit model. You pay a flat annual fee for a listing, and customers find you directly through the Checkatrade directory. Checkatrade verifies your Gas Safe registration, insurance, and identity as part of the membership process. Once listed, you receive enquiries without paying per lead.

The fundamental difference: Mybuilder and Rated People charge you to chase leads. Checkatrade charges you to be found. Both models have merit depending on your situation.

Gas engineering has a requirement that distinguishes it from most other trades on these platforms: Gas Safe registration is a legal requirement for any work on gas appliances and installations in the UK. All three platforms handle this differently.

• Checkatrade — requires Gas Safe registration verification as part of the membership application. Your listing will show your verified Gas Safe number and the categories covered by your registration. This is a significant trust signal — customers searching Checkatrade for a gas engineer can see your registration is confirmed by the platform, not self-declared.
• Mybuilder — allows you to upload your Gas Safe certificate to your profile. Verification is carried out by the platform's checks team. Profiles with verified credentials display a badge; unverified profiles compete at a disadvantage because customers have no basis for trust.
• Rated People — similarly allows credential uploads. Gas Safe verification appears on your profile once confirmed.

On all three platforms, upload your current Gas Safe certificate immediately and keep it updated annually when you renew. An expired or missing Gas Safe badge will cost you leads to competitors who have current verification displayed.

Not all gas engineering work generates leads equally across these platforms. Understanding the job mix on each platform helps you decide which is worth your subscription or credit spend.

• Boiler servicing and CP12 certificates — common on all three platforms, particularly in autumn and winter. Checkatrade generates a consistent volume of annual service bookings because customers searching by category find your profile directly. Mybuilder and Rated People also surface these, though lead competition can be high for standard service jobs.
• Boiler replacements — higher-value jobs that appear on all platforms. On Mybuilder and Rated People, these attract more competition (multiple engineers paying to contact the same homeowner). On Checkatrade, a well-reviewed profile with boiler installation examples stands out clearly.
• Emergency gas callouts — rarely convert well through lead generation platforms. Homeowners with a gas emergency call a number they already have, search Google for immediate results, or call the National Gas Emergency Service (0800 111 999). They do not typically post a job on Mybuilder while smelling gas. Do not expect lead platforms to fill your emergency callout pipeline.
• Heat pump installations — growing category. Appears on all platforms as homeowners research options for replacing old gas boilers under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Requires MCS certification for BUS-eligible work; state your MCS status clearly on your profile if you hold it.
• Landlord CP12 portfolio work — occasionally appears on platforms, but most landlords who need multiple certificates for a managed portfolio find their contractor through direct search or referral, not a lead platform. Platforms are better suited to individual homeowner jobs than portfolio work.

Lead quality is the most common complaint about all three platforms. Here is an honest view of what to expect:

• Mybuilder lead costs — credit prices vary by job value and area. A boiler replacement lead costs more credits than a basic service enquiry. The core frustration is paying for a lead where the homeowner never responds after your initial message. Mybuilder offers partial refunds for non-responsive leads under certain conditions, but managing this is an ongoing admin task.
• Rated People lead costs — similar credit-based model with similar frustrations. The three-engineer cap per job means less noise for the homeowner, which can improve response rates. However, you are still paying for leads that may not convert even after the homeowner responds — they may have decided to use a friend's recommendation, or have gone with the first engineer who called them.
• Checkatrade annual membership — the subscription model removes per-lead anxiety because you have already paid for the year. The downside is that the annual fee (which varies by trade and area) is committed upfront regardless of how many jobs it generates. The platform's value depends heavily on how competitive your area is and how well your profile is built. A well-reviewed Checkatrade profile in an underserved area generates strong returns. The same subscription in a saturated urban area with many competing gas engineers performs less well.

The recurring honest feedback from gas engineers across all platforms: lead quality is inconsistent, and platforms work better as one channel among many rather than as your primary source of work.

All three platforms are competitive. Here is what actually differentiates the gas engineers who win jobs from those who lose them:

• Response speed — on Mybuilder and Rated People, the first engineer to respond to an interested homeowner has a significant advantage. Set up notifications and respond within minutes during working hours. Many homeowners book the first qualified person who calls them back.
• Review count and recency — on Checkatrade especially, a profile with 80 reviews at 9.8/10 dominates over a profile with 12 reviews at 9.5/10. Actively collect reviews from every completed job, not just the large ones. Annual service customers are easier to collect reviews from than emergency callout customers.
• Profile completeness — fill out every field. List all the specific job types you cover (boiler servicing, CP12, boiler installation, system upgrades, heat pumps, gas repairs). Add photos of completed work. Write a genuine bio that describes your experience, your Gas Safe registration, and the areas you cover. Incomplete profiles lose out to complete ones consistently.
• Pricing transparency — on platforms where homeowners are comparing quotes, engineers who provide clear, structured quotes (parts, labour, certification costs clearly separated) win more jobs than those who provide a single round number. Show the customer you know what you are doing by itemising the work.

Lead generation platforms create a dependency: the moment you stop paying, the enquiries stop. Building your own customer base creates an asset that compounds over time — past customers book annual services, refer friends and family, and require no ongoing platform fee to retain.

The most effective own-base building activities for gas engineers:

• Google Business Profile — free, and the most important digital asset a local gas engineer can have. A well-optimised GBP with 50+ reviews appears prominently in local search when people search "gas engineer [area]." Once established, it generates enquiries without any ongoing cost.
• Review collection habit — send every completed customer a direct link to leave a Google review within 24 hours of job completion. Automate this through your job management software if possible. A consistent review collection habit builds your review count faster than any other activity.
• Annual service reminders — send a proactive text or email to every past customer in August/September reminding them their annual service is due. A database of 150 past customers generating 50–60% annual retention produces a predictable pipeline that no lead platform can match.
• Referral incentive — invite every satisfied customer to refer a friend: "If you know anyone who needs a boiler service or installation, I'd really appreciate the recommendation — and I'll give them £25 off their first job." The timing of the ask (right after a job well done) determines conversion.

The practical recommendation: use lead generation platforms in your first 12–24 months to establish your review base and fill early diary gaps. Simultaneously invest in your Google Business Profile and annual service database. Taper platform dependence as your own pipeline matures.