Comparison · Updated November 2026

Tradie Pulse
vs hipages

hipages is a lead marketplace: homeowners post a job, several tradies can respond, and you pay through a subscription and job credits. Tradie Pulse is a marketing agency that runs Facebook and Instagram ads in your own ad account, so every lead comes only to you, straight into your CRM. hipages suits tradies who want jobs without running any marketing. Tradie Pulse suits tradies who want exclusive leads, to choose the jobs they win, and to build their own brand. Plenty of tradies use both for a while.

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01 — Side by Side

How They Compare

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	hipages	Tradie Pulse
What it is	Online marketplace connecting homeowners with tradies	Marketing agency running your own Facebook & Instagram ads, CRM and AI follow-up
Where leads come from	Homeowners posting jobs on hipages	Homeowners seeing your ads in your chosen area
Shared with other tradies?	Jobs can go to several tradies	No. Every lead is yours alone.
How you pay	Subscription plus credits for jobs (check hipages for current prices)	Monthly management + your own ad spend (see packages)
Choose the jobs you get?	You pick from jobs that are posted	Yes. Ads target the exact jobs and suburbs you want.
What you keep if you stop	Your hipages profile and reviews stay on hipages	Your ad account, ads, audience, CRM data and brand
Setup time	Fast. Jobs are already there.	A few days. Leads usually start 1–3 days after launch.
Your brand	Customers find you through hipages	Customers see your business, your work, your face

Tradie Pulse is not affiliated with hipages. hipages details are a general summary as of November 2026; check hipages for its current terms and pricing.

02 — Fair Call

When Each Makes Sense

hipages makes sense when

You need a job this week and have no marketing set up
You’re just starting out and want to build reviews
You don’t want to film anything or think about ads

Your own ads make sense when

You’re tired of quoting against 3 or 4 others for the same job
You want more of a specific job: decks, bathrooms, driveways, switchboards
You want to build a brand people search for by name
You want to grow a team on your own work, not subbie work

03 — Tradies Who Switched

From Shared Leads to Their Own

Raz Built Construction

Central Coast. Was paying lead-buying platforms whose leads went to 2–3 other businesses. Moved to his own ads: $80K in the first 2 months.

Mr. Builds

Gold Coast. Relied on shared lead platforms and letterbox drops. Now runs a crew of 8 on his own jobs. One early lead was a $10K handrail job.

TMC Construction

Dubbo. Had only ever used lead-buying platforms. First ads: $20K+ in door replacements from $556 in ad spend.

Handy Tradie 4 U

Wollongong solo operator. $85K won and $300K quoted from under $3K in ads.

04 — FAQs

hipages Questions

Is hipages worth it for tradies?

It can be when you need work quickly with no marketing in place. The trade-off is that jobs can go to several tradies, so you often compete on price, and you’re building hipages’ brand rather than your own. Tradies who want exclusive leads usually move to their own ads.

What is the best alternative to hipages for tradies?

Running your own Facebook and Instagram ads is the most common alternative, because the leads are exclusive to you. Add a verified Google Business Profile with reviews, a website that shows your work, and referrals. Tradie Pulse sets up and runs the ads and CRM for you.

How much does hipages cost?

hipages charges a subscription plus credits to respond to jobs, and the cost varies by trade and area. Check hipages for current pricing. With your own ads you pay Meta directly. Across 148 tradie ad accounts connected to the Tradie Pulse Business Manager, the median cost per lead was $26.92.

Can I use hipages and my own ads at the same time?

Yes. Many tradies keep a platform running while their own ads ramp up, then cut back once their own leads are steady.

Are leads from Tradie Pulse ads shared?

No. The ads run in your own ad account, under your business name, and every enquiry comes only to you.

More: How to choose a tradie marketing agency → · What Facebook ads cost tradies →

Tradie Pulsevs hipages