Looking for a Sweep Certificates alternative?
Sweep Certificates is a well-established tool, and for some businesses it's the right one — we say so below. But if you want software that wins you bookings rather than just recording them, or you'd rather not pay a subscription in the months you're quiet, We Sweep takes a different approach. Here's the honest side-by-side. (We build We Sweep, so read accordingly — facts checked against public information in July 2026.)
Sweep Certificates vs We Sweep
| Sweep Certificates | We Sweep | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | From £18.50/month | £0/month — 2% per booking via Stripe |
| Customers book & pay online themselves | Not a headline feature* | Yes — booking widget on your own website, paid upfront |
| Digital sweep certificates | Yes | Yes — with pre/post photos, completed on-site |
| Works offline in the field | Yes | Yes |
| Reminders | Email, SMS and WhatsApp | Email confirmations, 24-hour reminders and annual re-sweep prompts |
| Route optimisation | Not a headline feature* | Yes — each day's jobs ordered to minimise driving |
| Accounting integrations | Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent | Payments settle to your own Stripe account; no direct accounting sync |
| Customer self-service portal | Not a headline feature* | Yes — customers view certificates, photos and manage bookings |
| Technicians included | Priced by plan/users | Unlimited |
*Based on the vendor's public website in July 2026. Features and prices change — always confirm on their site.
When to stay with Sweep Certificates
Genuinely: if your priority is bookkeeping — direct Xero, QuickBooks or FreeAgent sync — or WhatsApp reminders, Sweep Certificates does those things today and does them well. It's associated with the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps and APICS, and plenty of sweeps are happy on it.
When We Sweep is the better fit
- You want customers to book and pay on your website 24/7 — every job lands in your diary already paid, via Stripe.
- You'd rather pay 2% per booking than a fixed monthly fee — a snowed-off January costs you nothing.
- You spend too long planning drive routes — route optimisation orders each day's jobs automatically.
- You want certificates to bring next year's work back — every certificate feeds an automatic annual re-sweep reminder.
Frequently asked questions
Why do sweeps look for a Sweep Certificates alternative?
The two most common reasons we hear: wanting customers to book and pay online themselves rather than managing a diary by hand, and preferring to avoid a fixed monthly subscription in a seasonal trade. We Sweep addresses both — customers self-book with upfront payment, and there's no monthly fee at all.
Is We Sweep cheaper than Sweep Certificates?
It depends on your volume. Sweep Certificates starts at around £18.50/month regardless of workload. We Sweep charges £0/month and 2% per booking — so a quiet month costs nothing, and you'd need roughly £925+ of bookings in a month before the 2% exceeds an £18.50 subscription — and at that point the software is winning you the work it's charging on.
When is Sweep Certificates the better choice?
If direct accounting sync with Xero, QuickBooks or FreeAgent is essential to your bookkeeping, or you rely on WhatsApp reminders, Sweep Certificates has the edge there today. It's an established, well-regarded product associated with the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps and APICS.
Is it risky to switch?
We Sweep is free to join with no contract and no monthly fee, so you can set it up and run it alongside your current tool — nothing to cancel until you're sure.
Weighing more options? See the full UK chimney sweep software comparison or the SmartSweep alternative guide.