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Three and a half minutes. With our Tradecert template prepared, that is how quickly we have reached the point of starting the Ze test. That is paperwork preparation, not the time taken to inspect and test an installation. For Faithful Spark Electricians, Tradecert is the best electrical certification software for the way our business actually works.
We have used CertSuite and NICEIC certification software, tried SpeedCert and looked into the other options. If reducing paperwork is your priority, Tradecert is the package we would suggest trying first.
Our verdict in short
Best overall for reducing paperwork: Tradecert, at £18 monthly plus VAT.
Best value on the headline price: SpeedCert, at £10 monthly, and much improved since we first tried it.
Best if you own a Megger MFT X1: CertSuite, although direct transfer did not save us time.
Disclosure: we are not paid to promote Tradecert and we have no affiliate arrangement with any package here. We are sharing our own experience. Supplier features and prices were checked on 20 September 2026.
Time is money, and the amount of time we have saved on paperwork has been huge. The developers listen when we suggest changes and help us find the easiest way to work. Now that Tradecert includes PAT testing, we no longer need a second certification package.
Why Tradecert has made such a difference to our paperwork
The frustration with certification software is rarely the certificate itself. It is having to enter familiar information again, work through awkward screens or spend too long building a circuit schedule.
Templates remove the repetitive setup
We have set up templates containing the generic information we would otherwise keep entering. That gives us a prepared starting point when we open a suitable certificate.
We also protect the template itself. Once we have created it, we put it into the “In QS” status. In our setup, the team can copy it for each job but cannot edit that saved template.
That gives us a simple routine:
- Create the master certificate with the generic information already filled in.
- Put that template into “In QS”.
- Copy it when starting a new job.
- Enter the current installation details and results into the copy.
This saves the template from being overwritten. The next person can start from the same prepared version, rather than a certificate somebody has accidentally changed for another property.
With that setup in place, we have reached the point of testing Ze in around 3.5 minutes. It is our experience using an existing template, rather than a promised time for every electrician or installation.
A template still needs care. Company details and suitable administrative information can be reused, while installation details, observations and readings belong to the job in front of you.
Quick Add is often faster than AI on smaller installations
This might surprise anyone choosing software mainly because it has AI. For smaller installations, we often find Tradecert’s Quick Add faster.
We use both options to build circuit schedules. Sometimes AI is useful. Sometimes there are only a few circuits, and straightforward entry gets us where we need to be sooner.
That choice matters. We want to use whichever method makes the job easier, without feeling obliged to use AI simply because it is available.
When comparing imports, include the time spent checking and correcting the result. Reading a board photograph quickly is useful only if the information lands in the right place and you can amend it easily.
Tradecert’s demonstrations cover imports, circuit editing, templates and certificate checking. Try those editing tasks yourself. Being able to correct one circuit comfortably can matter more than an impressive opening demonstration.
Observations update the schedule of inspections as we work
Tradecert saves us recording our findings twice. We can add an observation at any point, and Tradecert automatically updates the relevant inspection entries in the schedule.
That means we can begin with the schedule already filled in and let it change as we record our findings. We do not have to keep stopping to enter the same issue in both places.
For us, the remaining manual adjustments are mainly details specific to the installation, such as whether it has a secondary power supply. The completed schedule still needs to reflect the inspection findings and the installation.
The paperwork follows the inspection more naturally. We can record what we find when we find it, with less going back through the form afterwards.
The developers listen and help us find a quicker way
Support is another reason we stay with Tradecert. The developers listen to our feedback and try to accommodate the changes we suggest.
Tradecert has a team of nine and hires only senior developers. In our experience, they are always on hand to help us find the easiest and fastest way to work. We can explain where a change might help and know that someone is willing to listen.
Instant syncing across all devices
Tradecert syncs changes instantly across connected devices. For an Apple user, that means updating a certificate on an iPhone and finding the iPad already in step.
You can move between devices and carry on with the same certificate. Whether you prefer a phone, tablet or computer, the information stays up to date without having to enter it again.
PAT testing means we can now use one package
The addition of PAT testing settled another part of the decision for us. Tradecert now covers all of our certification needs, so we have stopped paying for a second package.
That matters when your work involves both installation testing and appliance testing. A package might be excellent for EICRs and still leave you needing something else for PAT records. Faithful Spark is certified by NICEIC for portable appliance testing alongside our installation work, so both sit inside the same weekly routine.
If PAT forms a large part of your business, try that side properly before switching. Add a representative batch of appliances, correct a record and look at the finished output. Check any instrument connections or asset imports you depend on.
Our experience tells you why Tradecert suits us. Your own PAT workload should decide whether it can replace your existing package too.
Why we chose Tradecert over the other certification packages
We have used Tradecert, CertSuite, NICEIC certification software and SpeedCert. Our FastTest comparison is based on its published specification rather than our own use of it.
| Software | What matters in our comparison |
|---|---|
| Tradecert | Our recommendation for reducing paperwork, with protected templates, linked observations, helpful support and PAT |
| SpeedCert | Much improved, with wider business tools; we still prefer Tradecert for our certificate work |
| NAPIT FastTest | Codebreakers, ProDesign integration and AI tools; assessed here on published features |
| Megger CertSuite | MFT X1 integration is available, but we find entering readings manually quicker |
| NICEIC certification software | Scheme forms and notifications; our experience with it prompted us to look elsewhere |
The alternatives have strengths, but the deciding factor for us is how much work the software removes. Tradecert has made the clearest difference to our paperwork.
SpeedCert has improved but we still prefer Tradecert
SpeedCert has improved dramatically since we first used it. It deserves proper consideration, even though we have chosen to stay with Tradecert.
Its published tools include extracting circuits from board photographs, importing existing EICR PDFs, voice entry and reusable installation details. It also advertises offline mobile working and collaboration between team members.
There is more to its offering than certificates. SpeedCert describes quoting, invoicing, scheduling and ServiceM8 integration, which could appeal if you want help with the administration around each job. Its website says job scheduling features will be priced separately in due course.
Our priority is completing the certificate efficiently. Tradecert suits how we prepare and complete our paperwork, and the support has reinforced that choice.
FastTest offers useful connections for NAPIT contractors
NAPIT FastTest now includes AI board and circuit creation from images. It can populate circuit information where available, so it belongs in any discussion about AI certification tools.
Its published features also include Codebreakers, cloud syncing and Trimble ProDesign integration. The app listing describes certificate validation and board tools, while NAPIT members can access additional scheme features, including branded certificates and notifications.
Check the device requirements. The advertised base licence includes one Windows licence and two mobile licences. NAPIT states that FastTest is not compatible with macOS, so Mac users should confirm the supported options before buying.
We have not timed FastTest against Tradecert on the same installation. Those integrations may matter to your business, but our recommendation comes from the time Tradecert saves us in everyday use.
Why MFT X1 integration did not save us time
We own a Megger MFT X1, so the appeal of transferring readings straight into a certificate is something we understand. Megger offers Bluetooth transfer from that tester into CertSuite Installation, alongside offline working, unlimited certificates and collaboration.
In practice, we have found that scrolling to the correct circuit to add the reading takes longer than entering it ourselves. The connection is available, but it has not made that task quicker for us.
That is an important distinction when comparing electrical certification software. Transferring a result automatically still involves getting it into the right place. The time spent finding that place belongs in the comparison too.
We also found CertSuite long winded for the way we wanted to complete our paperwork. Owning a compatible tester has not changed our preference for Tradecert.
Other electricians may prefer direct transfer, and CertSuite provides that option. For our work, manual entry within a package that makes the rest of the certificate easier has proved more useful. We choose Tradecert because of the time saved across the whole report.
NICEIC software was frustrating for us
Our experience with NICEIC certification software was frustrating. Updates often seemed to make the paperwork harder rather than easier, which was the opposite of what we needed.
That is our experience of using it. NICEIC currently offers two distinct electronic options: its Online Certification System, known as NOCS, and Clik’s NICEIC Cert Software.
NOCS provides official NICEIC forms, Code Assist and direct notifications for applicable work. It also advertises offline support for its most recent forms. There is no platform fee, with charges for certificates and notifications used.
Those features may suit a registered business that values those connections. Compare the forms you issue and how often you issue them when working out the cost.
Faithful Spark remains a NICEIC Approved Contractor. Our software preference comes down to how efficiently we can prepare and complete our reports while maintaining the standard of the work behind them.
Compare the time saved as well as the subscription
The monthly fee is easy to compare. The time spent using the software is where the decision gets interesting.
Here are the advertised figures we checked on 20 September 2026. The licences cover different users and features, so read the final column before comparing totals.
| Package | Advertised pricing | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Tradecert | £18 monthly plus VAT | £7 per additional user; office users free; 250 monthly AI tokens |
| SpeedCert | £10 monthly for Pro certification | £5 per extra user; unlimited AI advertised; confirm VAT treatment |
| NAPIT FastTest | £195 annually plus VAT | One Windows and two mobile licences; 200 AI credits per licence year |
| CertSuite | £12 monthly or £120 annually, plus VAT, per user | Confirm the product licence and any combined package needed |
| NICEIC NOCS | No platform fee | Certificate and notification charges depend on usage |
Tradecert’s unlimited certificates are separate from its AI allowance. Extra AI tokens are listed at 2p each. FastTest lists additional AI circuit generation credits at 2p each too, but those units should not be assumed equivalent.
Think about a saving of ten minutes on a report. Across thirty reports, that would be five hours. That is an illustration, not a measured result from our business, but it shows why a small subscription difference may matter less than everyday usability.
Include the whole team when working out your bill. Engineer licences, office access, AI use and any extra PAT software all affect the comparison.
How to choose the best electrical certification software for your work
Use a familiar installation for your trial. You will recognise missing information and awkward steps more easily when you already know what the finished report should contain. Try it with whoever normally checks and signs your reports.
Work through the ordinary tasks that can make or spoil a working day:
- Prepare a reusable template with your normal company details.
- Add a small circuit schedule manually, then try an AI import.
- Correct a circuit and add an observation.
- Test offline working on the device you use on site.
- Review the PDF as if you were the customer receiving it.
- Complete PAT records if appliance testing is part of your work.
Time the paperwork, including checking and corrections. Give each package a reasonable setup period so you are comparing usable systems rather than a familiar template against an unfamiliar blank form.
Ask what happens to your records if you leave. You need to know how to export finished reports and whether editable data remains available. A convenient new package should still leave you able to retrieve the paperwork for older jobs.
Our recommendation is Tradecert
If another electrician asks what certification software we recommend, our answer is Tradecert. We have stayed with it because the reduction in paperwork has been huge, and adding PAT means it now covers all of our certification needs.
The time savings come from things we use throughout a job. Our protected template gives us a prepared starting point, Quick Add keeps smaller circuit schedules simple, and observations update the inspection schedule as we go. When we need help, the developers listen.
We are not paid to say that. We want other electricians to know what has worked for us, and Tradecert is where we would suggest starting if paperwork is taking too much of your time.
Try it first: Tradecert advertises a free first month with the code WELCOME. Enter it when subscribing and check the current offer on Tradecert’s website. Use that month to prepare your template and run the tasks you do most often.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best electrical certification software in the UK?
There is no single answer for every business, because the right package depends on the certificates you issue and the devices you use. For our work at Faithful Spark Electricians, Tradecert is the best electrical certification software because it removes the most paperwork time. SpeedCert is the closest alternative we have used, and CertSuite suits contractors who want direct transfer from a Megger MFT X1.
Does AI remove the need to check a certificate?
No. You still need to check the report. A photograph cannot provide measurements you have never taken, and readings from an old certificate must not be presented as results from a new inspection. Review imported details and suggested observations before signing.
How much does electrical certification software cost?
Advertised prices ranged from no platform fee to £195 annually when we checked on 20 September 2026. Tradecert is £18 monthly plus VAT, SpeedCert advertises £10 monthly for Pro certification, and CertSuite is £12 monthly per user. Add extra engineer licences, office users and any separate PAT package before comparing totals.
Can one package cover both EICRs and PAT testing?
Tradecert now covers both, which is why we stopped paying for a second package. Not every package does. If appliance testing is a large part of your work, test that side properly during a trial rather than assuming it matches the installation side.
Is certification software worth it for a sole trader?
Usually yes, because the saving is measured in time rather than licence cost. A sole trader carries the whole administrative load, so ten minutes saved on each report adds up quickly. Start with a familiar installation and time the paperwork honestly, including corrections.
Can I move my records to a different package later?
Ask before you subscribe. You need to know how to export finished reports and whether editable data stays available after you leave. Any package worth moving to should still let you retrieve the paperwork for older jobs.
Electrical testing in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
Software is only ever half the story. The certificate is worth something because of the inspection and testing behind it.
Faithful Spark Electricians provides electrical inspection and testing across Aberdeenshire and commercial electrical services in Aberdeen. We are NICEIC approved, registration number 620239, and we work from Peterhead across Ellon, Mintlaw, Balmedie, Fraserburgh and the surrounding area.
For EICRs, PAT testing or help with your property’s electrical installation, call us on 07304 027013 or get in touch below.
