2026 Comparison
Freedom Kitchens vs hipages (DIY Trade Management)
Full-service kitchen company vs hiring your own trades through a marketplace. Which approach delivers better value for a standard kitchen renovation?
Price Comparison
Side-by-side pricing for matching kitchen renovation services
| Service | Freedom Kitchens | hipages (Trade Marketplace) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget Kitchen (Refresh range) | $8,000 | N/A | — |
| Standard Full Kitchen | $22,000 | N/A | — |
| Premium Full Kitchen | $42,000 | N/A | — |
| Stone Benchtop (supply & install) | $5,000 | N/A | — |
| Glass Splashback (supply & install) | $1,600 | N/A | — |
| Appliance Package (oven, cooktop, rangehood) | $4,500 | N/A | — |
| Kitchen Flat Pack Install (via hipages) | N/A | $3,500 | — |
| Custom Cabinetry (via hipages joiner) | N/A | $22,000 | — |
| Benchtop Installation (labour only) | N/A | $700 | — |
| Tile Splashback (via hipages tiler) | N/A | $1,200 | — |
| Kitchen Plumbing (via hipages plumber) | N/A | $1,400 | — |
| Kitchen Electrical (via hipages electrician) | N/A | $1,200 | — |
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Pros & Cons
Freedom Kitchens
- ✓Full design-and-install service — one point of contact for the entire project
- ✓Australian-made cabinetry with quality plywood carcasses on premium ranges
- ✓Dedicated kitchen designer included in the process
- ✓Showrooms in all major cities — see the product before you buy
- ✓Comprehensive warranty and after-sales support
- ✗Pricing is mid-to-high range — not suitable for tight budgets
- ✗Lead times for manufacturing can be 8–14 weeks
- ✗Less design flexibility than fully custom joiners
- ✗Some customers report pressure to upsell during design process
hipages (Trade Marketplace)
- ✓Free to use for homeowners — no fees to post a job or receive quotes
- ✓All tradies are verified with licence checks and reviews
- ✓Competitive quotes from multiple local tradies on every job
- ✓Best option for managing a kitchen renovation with separate trades
- ✓Covers all trades needed for a full kitchen renovation
- ✗No project management — you coordinate all trades yourself
- ✗Quote quality and accuracy varies between tradies
- ✗You need to know what you want before posting jobs
- ✗Not suitable for those wanting a full design-and-install service
Our Verdict
Using hipages to hire your own trades (joiner/kitchen company, plumber, electrician, tiler) can save 15–25% vs a full-service company like Freedom Kitchens. Freedom's premium reflects project management, a single point of contact, and accountability for the finished result. The hipages approach requires you to coordinate 3–5 trades, manage sequencing, and troubleshoot any issues between trades. For experienced renovators, the saving is worth it. For first-timers or time-poor homeowners, Freedom's service is worth the premium.
Choose Freedom Kitchens if this is your first major renovation, you're time-poor, or you want one company accountable for the finished result. Choose the hipages self-managed approach if you've done renovations before, you're comfortable coordinating trades, and you want to save $3,000–$8,000 on a standard kitchen.
Comparison FAQ
hipages (Trade Marketplace) is approximately 64% cheaper on average across comparable services. However, prices vary significantly by service type — always compare the specific service you need.
Freedom Kitchens offers 6 listed services, while hipages (Trade Marketplace) offers 6 listed services.
Choose Freedom Kitchens if this is your first major renovation, you're time-poor, or you want one company accountable for the finished result. Choose the hipages self-managed approach if you've done renovations before, you're comfortable coordinating trades, and you want to save $3,000–$8,000 on a standard kitchen.
Freedom Kitchens covers: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and more. hipages (Trade Marketplace) covers: Australia-wide — all states and territories, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and more.