The main alternatives to hipages in Australia are ServiceSeeking, Airtasker and Bark, plus your own Google or Facebook ads, an agency, or a service that sends each homeowner to one business only. They differ most in how you pay and how many rival businesses go after the same job. Oneflare closed on 30 June 2026, so it is no longer an option.
This is a comparison of models, not a ranking. Every platform fact below is dated November 2026 and comes from the platform’s own page. Check their pages for current prices and terms.
The comparison
| Option | How you pay | Businesses per job | Contract | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hipages | Monthly subscription, $139 to $649 plus GST, with credits spent per lead. No commission. | Capped at 3 | 6 month introductory term, then 12 months | Leads plus job management tools |
| ServiceSeeking | Paid membership. We could not confirm a price. | Not published where we looked | Terms say future payments can be cancelled at any time | Ability to contact and quote people who post jobs |
| Airtasker | Service fee on earnings, 12.5% to 20% excluding GST by tier | Open to any Tasker who offers | No subscription for the standard fee | A marketplace for tasks, payment through the platform |
| Bark | Credits spent per lead you respond to. No commission. | Not published where we looked | None stated. Credits valid 3 months | Leads you pay to respond to |
| Your own Google or Facebook ads | You pay the platform, plus whoever builds them | Whoever else the homeowner contacts | None with the platform | Enquiries to you, and your own follow up |
| An agency | Usually a monthly fee, set by the agency | Depends on the agency | Set by the agency | Ads and a page run for you |
| PreBuild Systems | Per homeowner, set by trade and job size, quoted in writing | One | No lock-in | Homeowners rung and checked, then sent to you |
What each does well
hipages. Large, with a published cap of 3 businesses per lead and job management tools included. It suits businesses that reply fast and will use the tools. See hipages costs and whether hipages is worth it.
ServiceSeeking. Long-running, and its terms say a paying business can cancel future payments at any time. Refunds are not given at the time of payment, subject to the Australian Consumer Law. See ServiceSeeking for tradies.
Airtasker. You pay a percentage of what you earn, so nothing up front for the standard fee. It suits tasks and smaller jobs more than a large build. See hipages vs Airtasker.
Bark. No subscription and no commission. You see the credit cost before you respond, and it is set by the service, the job’s value, and supply and demand. With any pay-to-respond model you can pay and not win.
Your own ads. You keep everything you learn and pay no middleman, but it is slower to start and you carry the follow up. See Google ads vs buying leads.
An agency. It does the work for you, but you still need to check who gets the enquiry and what you are tied to. See lead generation agencies for builders.
PreBuild Systems. Part of CentriWeb. It runs ads, rings every homeowner who enquires, checks six things and sends each one to one business only. It does not suit small jobs, since it is aimed at work worth $5,000 or more. It does not suit businesses that want to pick from many small jobs, or want a directory listing.
Oneflare has closed
Airtasker’s FY26 ASX release of 26 August 2026 says it retired the Oneflare brand and platform on 30 June 2026 and migrated customers and businesses to Airtasker. If you used it, see what tradies use now.
New Zealand
Two other names come up for New Zealand readers. Builderscrack states a maximum of 3 tradies per job and verifies the homeowner’s mobile and email. NoCowboys charges a flat $999 a year with no commission and no pay per click, but it is a directory and reviews site, so it is not like for like with the others. See also lead generation for NZ tradies.
What to ask before you pay anyone
Whichever you pick, put four questions to the seller and keep the answers in writing. How many businesses can get the same job? What happens if the homeowner never answers? How long is the term, and what does it cost to leave? Who sets the price per lead, and can it change after you have paid? A seller who will not answer these directly is a poor sign.
How to choose
- Large, few jobs: pick on how many rivals you will face.
- Many smaller jobs, quick replies: a subscription or fee model can work.
- Always get the term, the exit cost and the number of businesses per job in writing.
For a wider view, see lead sites for tradies compared and hipages vs PreBuild Systems.
Common questions
What is the best alternative to hipages?
There is no single best one. Your job size, how you want to pay, and how many rival businesses you can accept decide it.
Is Oneflare still an option?
No. Airtasker retired the Oneflare brand and platform on 30 June 2026 and moved its customers to Airtasker.
ServiceSeeking vs hipages, which is cheaper?
We have not compared them, since we could not confirm a ServiceSeeking membership price. Ask each for its cost and the number of businesses per job in writing.
What are the alternatives to hipages in New Zealand?
Builderscrack, owned by hipages, and NoCowboys on a flat annual fee, plus Bark. Read each one’s terms.