⚡ Energy North

MyBuilder Fees in 2026: What Tradespeople Really Pay (and the Free Alternative)

Direct answer: MyBuilder has no membership fee but charges a non-refundable "shortlist fee" every time a homeowner shortlists you — win or lose the job — while Energy North is completely free for UK tradespeople in 2026, with 0% commission and no subscription.

If you're an electrician, plumber, builder or any of the 80+ trades weighing up lead-generation platforms this year, the fee structure matters more than the marketing. Here's how MyBuilder's model actually works in 2026, what it can cost you in practice, and how a free marketplace compares.

How MyBuilder's fees work in 2026

MyBuilder's own terms are clear on the mechanics. There's no joining or subscription fee. Instead, tradespeople browse leads and "express interest" in jobs for free. The charge lands when a homeowner shortlists you: at the moment your contact details are exchanged, a shortlist fee becomes payable.

Three things stand out in MyBuilder's published terms and support pages:

  1. The fee is payable whether or not you win the job. MyBuilder's terms state: "It is not necessary for you to be awarded the Job for the Shortlist Fee to be payable."
  2. The fee is non-refundable (subject to limited exceptions in their terms).
  3. The amount varies by job. Each shortlist fee is "calculated based on the likely size, value and location of the Job." Independent 2026 reviews put typical shortlist fees at roughly £2 to £35 per shortlist, depending on job value — for example, around £12 for a £500 job.

You do see the fee before the homeowner shortlists you, which is fairer than blind billing. But the core economics don't change: you pay for access to a conversation, not for won work.

What that costs in a real month

Say you express interest in 20 jobs in a month and homeowners shortlist you on half of them. At typical fee levels that's £100–£300 in fees before you've invoiced a single customer. If your conversion rate from shortlist to booked job is one in three — common for competitive urban areas — the effective cost of each won job can be several times the individual shortlist fee.

For high-value jobs that convert, that can still be worthwhile. The pain points tradespeople report in reviews and trade forums are the misses: paying for shortlists where the homeowner went quiet, picked on price alone, or shortlisted several trades at once — each of whom paid a fee for the same job.

How Energy North compares in 2026

Energy North is a UK trades marketplace built on a different model:

The trade-off is honest to state: MyBuilder is a long-established platform with high homeowner traffic, while Energy North is a growing marketplace. But when joining costs nothing and there are no per-shortlist fees, the downside of claiming a profile is zero — every job you win through it is pure margin compared with a paid-lead platform.

Create your free Energy North trade profile →

FAQ

Does MyBuilder charge a monthly subscription? No. MyBuilder has no membership or subscription fee. You pay a per-event, non-refundable shortlist fee each time a homeowner shortlists you and contact details are exchanged.

How much is a MyBuilder shortlist fee in 2026? It varies with the likely size, value and location of the job. Independent 2026 reviews report typical fees of roughly £2–£35 per shortlist — e.g. around £12 for a £500 job. MyBuilder shows you the fee before you're shortlisted.

Do you pay MyBuilder even if you don't win the job? Yes. MyBuilder's terms state the shortlist fee is payable when contact details are shared, regardless of whether you're awarded the job.

Is there a genuinely free alternative to MyBuilder for UK tradespeople? Yes — Energy North is free for tradespeople in 2026: no subscription, no lead fees, 0% commission, and homeowners contact you directly. Sign up at energynorth.uk/login/trader.

Which is better for a new trade business? It depends on cash flow. Paid-lead platforms can bring volume but charge you win or lose. A free marketplace like Energy North carries no financial risk, so most trades can sensibly run it alongside whatever else they use.

Sources: MyBuilder Terms & Conditions (shortlist fee mechanics, non-refundable, payable win-or-lose, calculated on job size/value/location); MyBuilder Support Centre — What are the fees?; MyBuilder Support — Why should I pay a lead fee when I wasn't hired?; Kantr — Is MyBuilder Worth It for Tradespeople? (2026 Review) (typical £2–£35 fee range, £12/£500 example); Tradesman Saver — MyBuilder compared. Fee figures are as publicly reported at the time of writing; check MyBuilder's site for current pricing.

TEASER (~300 chars): MyBuilder charges tradespeople a non-refundable shortlist fee every time a homeowner picks them — typically £2–£35 a time, win or lose. In 2026 there's a free alternative: Energy North. No subscription, no lead fees, 0% commission, direct contact with homeowners. Claim your free trade profile.

MICRO (<260 chars): MyBuilder charges a shortlist fee win or lose. Energy North is FREE for UK tradespeople in 2026 — 0% commission, no subscription, direct leads. Sign up: https://energynorth.uk/login/trader?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=seo_2026&utm_content=mybuilder-fees-2026

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