Which UK home services platform is cheapest for small jobs?

TaskRabbit is typically cheapest for small tasks because it charges platform fees to the worker, not a premium to the customer. Checkatrade and MyBuilder charge tradesmen an annual membership which gets passed through to quotes. GeraHome has not launched and takes no bookings today, so it cannot be cheapest for a job yet.

Which platform vets tradesmen most thoroughly?

Checkatrade runs the most thorough vetting (ID + insurance + trade-body membership + reference checks). GeraHome has not vetted any provider yet; thorough checks are its planned launch process. TaskRabbit focuses on ID and insurance. MyBuilder’s vetting is lighter, based on reviews.

Which has the best dispute resolution?

TaskRabbit holds payment until work is complete, giving strong consumer protection. GeraHome takes no payment today and offers no escrow; platform-held payment is a launch plan only. Checkatrade and MyBuilder connect you directly with the tradesman, so payment disputes become your responsibility.

Do I pay the platform or the tradesman?

On TaskRabbit, you pay the platform and it pays the tradesman. GeraHome is not live and takes no payment today. On Checkatrade and MyBuilder, you pay the tradesman directly.

Home Services Platforms Compared: TaskRabbit, Checkatrade, MyBuilder, GeraHome (2026)

The UK has four main home services platforms in 2026. Each solves a slightly different problem. TaskRabbit excels at small tasks with hourly pricing. Checkatrade is built around pre-vetted trades with annual membership. MyBuilder matches larger projects to tradesmen who quote against your brief. GeraHome is a UK marketplace launching soon: it plans to combine a platform payment step with pre-launch provider checks, but bookings are not open and no provider has been vetted yet.

This guide gives you an honest side-by-side so you can pick the right platform for each job.

How does the pricing model differ?

TaskRabbit: hourly rates set by "Taskers". Platform fee (~15%) charged to the Tasker, not you directly (but built into the hourly rate).
Checkatrade: free for customers. Tradesmen pay ~£90/month membership which gets passed through to quotes.
MyBuilder: free for customers. Tradesmen pay £4–£25 per lead + optional membership.
GeraHome: not live yet. The planned launch pricing is a 5% platform fee to the customer on completed bookings; nothing is charged today and no payment is held in escrow.

What about vetting?

TaskRabbit: ID check, criminal record check, independent contractor agreement. Lighter on trade-specific verification.
Checkatrade: rigorous — ID, insurance, trade-body membership, reference checks, ongoing monitoring.
MyBuilder: light-touch — based mostly on customer reviews. Some trade body cross-checking.
GeraHome: no provider vetted yet. The planned launch checks are ID, right-to-work, insurance, trade credentials (Gas Safe/NICEIC/FENSA where applicable), basic DBS, and reference checks with past clients.

How does dispute resolution work?

TaskRabbit: payment held until task completion; refunds possible via support if work is substandard.
Checkatrade: no escrow — customer pays tradesman directly, platform mediates disputes via Resolver partnership.
MyBuilder: similar to Checkatrade; Trust a Trader Guarantee Scheme on some tiers.
GeraHome: not live — no payment is taken today, so there is no escrow and no refund route. Holding payment until you confirm completion is part of the launch design.

Which platform for which job?

Flat-pack assembly, one-off moves, small jobs under £150: TaskRabbit (GeraHome is not live yet)
Large renovation, extension, multi-trade project: Checkatrade for vetting rigour
Medium trades job (bathroom, kitchen, roofing): MyBuilder for competitive quotes
Regular domestic cleaning: a local cleaner or TaskRabbit today; GeraHome plans a subscription at launch
Emergency plumber, 24/7: Checkatrade or direct from a Gas Safe engineer
Trade in a country outside UK: a local platform in that country — GeraHome does not operate outside the UK and has not launched yet

What are the geographic coverage limits?

TaskRabbit covers most major UK cities but is thin in smaller towns. Checkatrade and MyBuilder cover the UK comprehensively. GeraHome has not launched yet and is planned for the UK only; it does not operate in Armenia, Georgia, Kenya or any other country today.

Which is best for customers vs tradesmen?

For customers: TaskRabbit offers platform-held payment and Checkatrade offers the strictest vetting; GeraHome offers neither today because it has not launched. For tradesmen: TaskRabbit take-home is roughly 85%, Checkatrade charges the £90/month membership regardless of jobs, and MyBuilder charges per lead; GeraHome's planned 95% take-home is not available until launch.