Platform Comparison

HiPages vs Airtasker vs CoYoTrade: what is the real difference?

Three platforms, three different models. Here is an honest breakdown of what each actually costs and which works best for Australian tradies in 2026.

HiPages and Airtasker both use a shared-lead model — you pay per lead and compete against other tradies for the same job. CoYoTrade uses a membership model — flat monthly fee, customers contact you directly and exclusively, no per-lead charges, you keep everything you earn. The model is the difference.

How HiPages works

HiPages is Australia's largest tradie-specific lead platform. Customers post a job, HiPages sends the details to several tradies in that category, and each tradie pays to receive the lead and respond. The monthly subscription gets you access to the platform. Each lead costs extra on top.

The structural problem is that every lead goes to multiple tradies simultaneously. You are not buying a job — you are buying the chance to quote against others who paid the same amount for the same enquiry. At $30 to $80 per lead with a typical 1-in-5 win rate, the real cost per booked job lands at $150 to $400 before your subscription. And nothing you spend is ever yours — stop paying and the work stops instantly.

How Airtasker works

Airtasker is a general task marketplace, not a tradie-specific platform. Customers post any kind of task — furniture assembly, lawn mowing, plumbing, painting — and providers bid on it. There is no subscription fee but Airtasker takes a service fee from both sides of the transaction.

For tradies, Airtasker works best at the smaller-job end of the market. Average job values are lower than HiPages, and the platform attracts price-sensitive customers who are often choosing the cheapest bid. It is useful for filling gaps between bigger jobs but rarely builds a sustainable primary pipeline for a serious trade business.

How CoYoTrade works

CoYoTrade is a membership-based platform built around direct customer contact. Tradies sign up on a Free, Pro ($49/month) or Crew ($149/month) membership. Customers search for service providers, find a tradie's profile, and contact them directly through the platform via GPS tracking and in-app messaging. That contact is exclusive — it is not sold to multiple tradies at once.

There are no per-lead fees and no per-job fees. Every dollar a customer pays for a job goes to the tradie. CoYoTrade earns only on membership. GPS tracking lets customers follow a tradie's arrival in real time. Auto-status updates keep customers informed without the tradie lifting a finger. Verified badges confirm licensing and credentials.

Side-by-side comparison

Which is right for your trade business?

HiPages makes sense when you are starting out with no network, convert quotes well, and have the margin to absorb lead costs. It can generate early momentum. But most experienced tradies find the economics get worse over time as more providers join and lead prices rise.

Airtasker suits tradies who want to fill gaps with smaller jobs or test a new service area. It is not a primary pipeline for a trade business with serious volume targets.

CoYoTrade suits tradies who want to own their customer relationships, stop paying per lead, and build a pipeline that compounds rather than resets every month. The flat membership model means the platform's incentive is to make you successful enough to keep paying — not to sell your lead to as many people as possible.