Comparing tradie job lead sites: best alternatives to hipages

Naturally, you’ll be searching for an option that’s cost-effective, easy to use, and showcases your work to its full potential. Each one will differ based on the quoting process, pricing structure, and types of businesses that can advertise on their site. 

To help you make the right choice, we’ve compared the pros and cons of the most popular sites below, so you can spend more time on the tools.

Article Summary

• Service.com.au
• Hipages
• Oneflare
• Service Seeking
• Final Thoughts

Service.com.au

• Number of quotes per job: Recommends the top 3
• Pricing structure: Membership fee only (no cost per lead)
• Type of business: Tradies and other service providers
• Additional advertising: Dedicated directory page to advertise your business and share your reviews

Originally launched in 2012, Service.com.au has been long-renowned for their dedication to the businesses they work with, and an approach that values transparency, support, and quality outcomes for both trades and customers. Some of the most popular jobs include carpentry, landscaping and painting, with many more to choose from.

As it’s one of the only marketplaces without job lead charges in Australia, Service.com.au is known for being the best alternative to hipages, a similar platform that lets tradespeople quote on jobs, but has a pay-per-lead pricing structure.

This makes Service.com.au a cost-effective solution for tradies wanting to find more work locally, with a user-friendly interface that makes quoting easy — meaning more time getting jobs done, and less time doing admin.

hipages

• Number of quotes per job: Up to 3 tradies 
• Pricing structure: Pay-per-lead
• Type of business: Only for tradies
• Additional advertising: Dedicated directory page to advertise your business and share your reviews

While Service.com.au features a wide range of services from construction to snake removal and web design, hipages, or “Home Improvement Pages”, is focused on exactly what its name implies, with some of its most popular categories being plumbing, electrical and gardening.

As mentioned above, the main difference between these two sites is that you’re required to purchase lead credit on hipages, while Service.com.au charges only a subscription fee which allows you to quote on an unlimited number of job leads. 

The average cost of each lead on hipages is approximately $21 according to their website, which means that you need to be more selective about which jobs you request contact details for. Even if you don’t win the job, you’re burning through your credit.

Oneflare

• Number of quotes per job: Up to 3 tradies 
• Pricing structure: Pay-per-lead 
• Type of business: Tradies and other service providers
• Additional advertising: No directory page unless paying extra

When it comes to other similar services to hipages in Australia, Oneflare is also a pay-per-lead trades platform. Their website states that demand, location and job attributes influence the cost of each lead.

Although Oneflare and Service.com.au both offer a wide range of service providers, one significant difference is that with your Service.com.au subscription, you also get to create a free directory listing that showcases all of your business details, including photos of your work, website link, and your customer reviews. 

This offers customers another avenue to contact you directly for jobs, so you’re gaining extra exposure outside of only those that you’ve quoted on. In contrast, a directory listing with Oneflare will incur an additional charge to what you’re already paying for leads. 

ServiceSeeking

• Number of quotes per job: Unlimited
• Pricing structure: Pay-per-lead 
• Type of business: Tradies and other service providers
• Additional advertising: Dedicated directory page to advertise your business and share your reviews

ServiceSeeking is another platform that offers a wide range of categories, from builders to hairdressers and photographers. 

Like hipages and Oneflare, this site charges for each lead you choose to pursue. If a lead isn’t a genuine job (for example, provides an incorrect/disconnected phone number, or is posted in the wrong category), you can apply for a credit refund.

This process adds extra steps to gaining more work, while in contrast using a platform like Service.com.au that lets you quote on unlimited leads, you won’t have to worry about wasting any of them and dealing with additional hassle.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, each home improvement site has a slightly different way of operating, with Service.com.au, hipages, Oneflare and ServiceSeeking each making a name for themselves in the Australian services industry.

If you're looking for free job lead platforms or an alternative to hipages, plus a straightforward solution to finding extra work, Service.com.au delivers on this, plus a dedicated support team, detailed directory listing, and simple user interface.

To find out how to elevate your income, discover how to list your business today.

Further Reading

• Safeguarding Your Trade Business: Understanding Business Insurance in Australia
• Tax Tips for Tradies
• How to Grow Your Small Business