What's the difference between Builderscrack and NoCowboys?
Short answer
Builderscrack is a paid lead platform owned by hipages (Australia). Tradies pay a subscription plus per-job tokens plus a success fee on certain jobs. NoCowboys is a free directory funded by paid premium listings — homeowners post jobs, tradies bid. Both have review systems that homeowners say are easy to game. Both work for small jobs; neither is the dominant choice for big residential builds.
Source: Builderscrack public terms. Updated May 2026.
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Check a builderKey facts
- Builderscrack — paid lead-gen, hipages-owned since 2022
- NoCowboys — free directory with paid premium tiers
- Both rely on user reviews (gameable, not verified)
- Neither verifies the LBP or company status of listed tradies
- Average homeowner uses these for jobs under $20k; bigger jobs come from referrals
How Builderscrack monetises
Subscription fee for tradie membership. Per-job tokens charged to bid on listed jobs. Success fee on certain job tiers. The combined cost can be 7-12% of small job revenue, plus the subscription. The lock-in structure (6-month initial, 12-month auto-renewal) is a frequent complaint on NZ tradie forums.
Quality of leads varies. Some jobs are tyre-kickers; some are real. Established tradies tend to use it as a filler not a primary channel.
How NoCowboys works
Free directory. Homeowners post a job, tradies respond. Premium listings (paid) get higher placement in searches.
Reviews are the main signal. Anyone with a NoCowboys account can leave one — including fake accounts. This has been the structural complaint about the platform for years.
The verification gap
Neither verifies LBP licence status, company registration, or director history of listed tradies. They check a tradie has an email address and a phone number.
That's the gap CheckMyBuilder fills: every listed tradie is verified against the LBP register, Companies Office, and the NZ Gazette before getting a verified badge. The model is no per-lead fees, just a flat monthly subscription.
Knowing the rules is half the job. The other half is knowing who you're hiring. Check any NZ builder against the public record: company status, licensing and insolvency notices, from the official NZ sources.
Related questions
Sources: Builderscrack public terms; NoCowboys public terms; NZ tradie forum discussions. General information for NZ homeowners, not legal advice. Building rules change and vary by council, so confirm critical details on the official source before acting. Last updated 2026-05.