Platform News

How CoYoTrade is different from every other service directory

There are a lot of service platforms in Australia. Here is an honest structural comparison — HiPages, Airtasker, Mad Paws, and CoYoTrade — what each one costs, how each one works, and what the differences mean for providers.

The fundamental difference is the business model. Every major Australian service platform earns from provider activity — per lead, per job, or per booking. CoYoTrade earns from memberships. That single difference changes every other aspect of the platform.

HiPages: pay per lead, shared with competitors

HiPages charges providers a subscription and then a fee per lead. The same lead — the same customer enquiry — is typically sold to multiple providers simultaneously. You pay $30-80 for a lead, and so do two or three other tradies who received the same enquiry. You quote against each other. The platform wins regardless of who gets the job. Here is a full breakdown of whether HiPages is worth it.

Airtasker: bidding plus commission

Airtasker is a bidding marketplace — providers compete for each job by submitting offers and the customer chooses. The lowest bid typically wins. The platform then takes a service fee of 10-20% from the provider on every completed job. The provider has already lowered their rate to win, and then loses another percentage on top. Here is what Airtasker actually takes from every job.

Mad Paws: commission on every booking

Mad Paws takes a percentage of every pet care booking — approximately 15% from the provider's side. It is a category-specific platform covering pet sitting, dog walking, and boarding. Providers have no way to move clients off the platform without breaching terms, meaning every repeat client continues to cost the provider a percentage indefinitely. Here is what Mad Paws actually costs pet sitters annually.

CoYoTrade: flat membership, no commission, 177+ categories

CoYoTrade charges a flat monthly membership — Free, Pro at $49/month, or Crew at $149/month for teams. No commission on any job. No shared leads. No bidding. Enquiries go directly to the provider. The provider sets their rate, negotiates directly with the client, completes the job, and keeps 100% of the payment.

The platform covers 177+ categories — not just trades, but cleaning, pet care, design, childcare, gardening, NDIS support, and more. GPS tracking, verified badges, auto-status updates, and instant payment are included on every plan. The infrastructure that makes service businesses run is part of the membership — not an additional cost.