Feature Comparison
| Feature | Sparky | Checkatrade |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | AI chat assistant understands your problem and finds a matched electrician for you | Search a directory of vetted tradespeople, read reviews, and contact them directly |
| Trade coverage | Electricians only (specialist focus) | Wide range of trades including electricians, plumbers, builders, and more |
| Geographic coverage | London-focused at time of writing | UK-wide directory |
| Vetting process | Tracks NICEIC, NAPIT, Part P, ECA, and OLEV accreditations on electrician profiles | Background checks, qualification verification, financial checks, and ongoing monitoring |
| Communication | AI manages all communication via chat, SMS, email, and AI voice calls | You contact tradespeople directly by phone or through the platform |
| Payment | Integrated hold-then-capture via Stripe Connect with 24hr review period | Checkatrade Guarantee available on some jobs; otherwise pay tradesperson directly |
| Cost to customer | 10% fee-on-top added to quoted price | Free to search and contact tradespeople |
| Cost to professional | No subscription or membership fees | Monthly membership fee (approximately £50–£120/month at time of writing) |
| Booking | AI books the appointment for you, with calendar sync for repeat customers | You arrange scheduling directly with the tradesperson |
| Regulatory knowledge | AI trained on 14 electrical knowledge domains including Part P and 18th Edition | Directory provides general trade information; no AI-assisted job scoping |
Pros & Cons
Sparky
Pros
- + AI handles everything from problem diagnosis to booking and payment
- + Deep knowledge of UK electrical regulations helps ensure correct job scoping
- + Payment protection with hold-then-capture and 24hr review before payout
- + No membership fees for electricians — keeps their pricing competitive
- + Multi-channel communication means you can interact via chat, SMS, email, or voice
Cons
- - London-focused at time of writing — not yet UK-wide
- - Electricians only — cannot help with other trades
- - Smaller network of electricians compared to Checkatrade's established directory
Checkatrade
Pros
- + Extensive UK-wide directory with strong brand recognition and trust
- + Thorough vetting process including background and financial checks
- + Large volume of verified customer reviews to help inform decisions
- + Covers a wide range of trades — one directory for all home improvement needs
- + Free for customers to browse and contact tradespeople
Cons
- - You must find, contact, and evaluate tradespeople yourself
- - Monthly membership fees for tradespeople may be passed on in pricing
- - No AI assistance with understanding your electrical problem or regulations
Key Differences
Concierge service vs directory
The core difference is the level of service. Sparky acts as a concierge — you describe your electrical problem, and the AI handles finding, vetting, contacting, and booking an electrician, plus managing payment. Checkatrade is a directory — a well-maintained, vetted list of tradespeople where you do the searching, reading reviews, making calls, and arranging the work yourself. Both approaches have merit, but they suit different types of customer.
Vetting approaches
Checkatrade is known for its thorough vetting: background checks, qualification verification, financial standing, insurance validation, and ongoing monitoring with a minimum review score requirement. Sparky tracks the accreditations electricians declare (NICEIC, NAPIT, Part P, ECA, OLEV) and focuses specifically on the credentials that matter for electrical safety and compliance. Both approaches prioritise quality, but Checkatrade's process is broader while Sparky's is deeper on electrical-specific qualifications.
Cost structure
Checkatrade charges tradespeople a monthly membership fee, typically between £50 and £120 per month at time of writing. This ongoing cost can influence how tradespeople price their work. Sparky charges no fees to electricians — instead, customers pay a transparent 10% fee on top of the quoted price. This means Sparky's electricians have no platform overhead to recover, while Sparky's customers pay a clear, visible fee for the managed service.
Job scoping and electrical expertise
Sparky's AI is trained on 14 electrical knowledge domains including Part P building regulations, 18th Edition wiring regulations, and NICEIC standards. This means it can help you understand what your electrical problem actually requires before connecting you with an electrician — useful for customers who are not sure whether they need a simple repair or a full rewire. Checkatrade provides general information about trades but does not offer AI-assisted problem diagnosis.
Our Verdict
Checkatrade is a strong choice if you want to research tradespeople yourself, value extensive customer reviews, and need access to multiple trades across the UK. Its thorough vetting process and brand recognition provide well-earned trust. Sparky is the better fit if you have an electrical problem in London and want someone (or something) to handle the entire process for you — from understanding the issue to booking the right electrician and protecting your payment. The 10% fee pays for a genuine concierge service, but the trade-off is a smaller network and London-only availability at time of writing.
