Feature Comparison
| Feature | Sparky | Rated People |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Tell an AI assistant about your electrical problem — it handles everything from there | Post a job, receive quotes from interested tradespeople, choose one yourself |
| Trade coverage | Electricians only (specialist focus) | Broad range of trades including electricians, plumbers, roofers, and more |
| Geographic coverage | London-focused at time of writing | UK-wide coverage |
| Quoting process | AI presents one matched electrician with a quote | Receive up to 3 quotes from interested tradespeople to compare |
| Communication | AI manages all contact — chat, SMS, email, and AI voice calls with the electrician | You manage conversations with each tradesperson who quotes |
| Payment | Hold-then-capture via Stripe Connect with 24hr review period before payout | No integrated payment — you pay the tradesperson directly |
| Cost to customer | 10% fee-on-top of quoted price | Free to post jobs and receive quotes |
| Cost to professional | No lead fees or subscriptions | Tradespeople buy leads to quote on jobs (pay-per-lead model) |
| Accreditation | Tracks NICEIC, NAPIT, Part P, ECA, and OLEV accreditations | Tradespeople can display qualifications; customer reviews serve as primary trust signal |
| Job scoping | AI trained on UK electrical regulations helps define what work is needed | Customer describes the job; tradespeople interpret and quote accordingly |
Pros & Cons
Sparky
Pros
- + AI handles all communication — no managing conversations with multiple tradespeople
- + Specialist electrical knowledge ensures accurate job scoping
- + Accreditations on file and displayed on profiles, not hidden
- + Integrated payment protection on every job
- + No lead fees for electricians means pricing is not inflated by acquisition costs
Cons
- - One match presented rather than multiple quotes to compare
- - London-only at time of writing
- - Newer platform with a smaller electrician network than Rated People
Rated People
Pros
- + Receive multiple quotes to compare pricing and approach
- + Established platform with a large UK-wide network of tradespeople
- + Covers many trade categories beyond electrical
- + Free for customers to post jobs and receive quotes
Cons
- - You manage all conversations and decisions yourself
- - Pay-per-lead costs for tradespeople can inflate the quotes you receive
- - No specialist electrical expertise built into the platform
Key Differences
Managed service vs quote comparison
Rated People gives you multiple quotes to compare, putting you in control of the decision. Sparky takes a fundamentally different approach — its AI evaluates your problem, identifies the right electrician, and presents one option. With Rated People, you are the decision-maker reviewing competing offers. With Sparky, the AI is the decision-maker, and you approve or reject its recommendation. This is the difference between a comparison tool and a concierge service.
Communication burden
On Rated People, when you receive three quotes, you are effectively managing three separate conversations — discussing availability, asking questions, negotiating terms. Sparky's AI handles all communication with electricians on your behalf via chat, SMS, email, and even AI-powered voice calls. For busy customers, this can be the deciding factor. For customers who want direct relationships with tradespeople, Rated People's model is preferable.
Lead economics and pricing
Rated People uses a pay-per-lead model where tradespeople pay to quote on your job. This cost is a business expense that professionals may factor into their pricing. Sparky charges no fees to electricians — the 10% service fee is charged directly to the customer on top of the quoted price. The Sparky model makes the cost transparent and removes the hidden inflation from lead fees, though it does add a visible fee that Rated People customers do not pay.
Electrical expertise and scoping
Sparky's AI understands Part P building regulations, 18th Edition wiring standards, NICEIC requirements, and 11 other electrical knowledge domains. This means it can help determine whether your flickering lights need a simple fix or a consumer unit upgrade, and match you with an electrician who has the appropriate qualifications. Rated People relies on customers to describe their job accurately, and on tradespeople to interpret those descriptions when quoting.
Our Verdict
Rated People is a solid choice if you want to compare quotes from multiple tradespeople, prefer being in control of the hiring decision, and need access to trades beyond electrical work across the UK. Its established network and free-to-use model are clear advantages. Sparky is the stronger option if you have an electrical problem in London and want to avoid the work of managing multiple conversations and evaluating competing quotes. The AI's electrical expertise, accreditation tracking, and built-in payment protection offer a more comprehensive service — but you trade comparison shopping for convenience and a smaller network.
