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The Site Book
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Honest comparison

The Site Book vs HandsHQ

Two good tools for different types of business. Here is how they compare so you can make the right choice.

HandsHQ is a serious platform

HandsHQ is an award-winning compliance platform trusted by some of the biggest names in UK construction. It has been around for years, has a proven track record, and is built for mid-to-large contractors who need enterprise-grade features, team collaboration, and deep integration with their existing workflows.

If you are running a firm with 10, 50, or 500 people and you have a dedicated health and safety manager, HandsHQ is likely on your shortlist already — and for good reason.

But if you are a sole trader fitting a kitchen, or a two-person firm doing loft conversions, HandsHQ probably is not designed with you in mind. That is not a criticism — it is just a different market. The Site Book was built specifically for the smaller end of construction, where you need professional compliance documents but do not have an H&S department to produce them.

Feature comparison

Different tools for different scales of business.

Feature
The Site Book
HandsHQ
Target audience
Small builders, sole traders
Mid-large contractors, enterprise
RAMS
AI-created
Template library with editor
CPP
Yes
Yes
Pricing
Free tier, from £30/mo
Contact for pricing (enterprise)
Setup
Sign up and go
Demo + onboarding
AI
Yes, creates from description
Library-based
Mobile
Fully mobile-friendly
Desktop-focused
Team size sweet spot
1–10 people
10+ people
COSHH assessments
✅ Included
✅ Yes
Incident log
✅ Included
❌ No
Permits to work
✅ Included
❌ No
Site diary
✅ Included
❌ No
Worker cert tracking
Included
❌ No
Subcontractor tracking
✅ Included
❌ No
PCPP import (AI)
✅ Included
❌ No
Document quality checking
Included
❌ No
Toolbox talks
✅ 90 topics included
❌ No

When to choose HandsHQ

HandsHQ is the better choice for larger organisations with more complex compliance needs. Here are some situations where it makes sense:

  • You are a mid-to-large contractor with 10 or more people producing compliance documents regularly.
  • You have a dedicated health and safety manager or team who will own the compliance workflow.
  • You need enterprise features such as team collaboration, approval workflows, and detailed reporting.
  • You want a large, curated template library with an editor to customise documents in detail.
  • You prefer a demo and guided onboarding process with dedicated support.
  • Budget is less of a concern than features and scale — you are happy with enterprise pricing.

When to choose The Site Book

The Site Book is designed for the other end of the market — sole traders and small builders who need professional compliance without the enterprise overhead. Here is when it is the better fit:

  • You are a sole trader or small builder with a team of 1 to 10 people.
  • You want to sign up and start creating documents today — no demo required, no waiting for onboarding.
  • You want transparent pricing you can see on the website, starting from £30 per month with a free tier to try first.
  • You want site-specific documents created from a plain English job description, not picked from a template library.
  • You need the full document suite — CPP, RAMS, site inductions, COSHH, emergency plan, F10 — all in one place.
  • You work on your phone or tablet on site and need a fully mobile-friendly platform.
  • You do not have an H&S manager and need the tool itself to guide you through compliance.

Different tools for different businesses

This is not really an either/or decision. HandsHQ and The Site Book serve different segments of the construction industry. HandsHQ is built for the enterprise end — larger teams, complex projects, dedicated H&S staff. The Site Book is built for the trades end — sole traders, small firms, domestic projects where you are the builder and the compliance manager rolled into one. Features like worker cert tracking, site diary and permits, and AI document quality checking are all included at no extra cost.

See a sample RAMS created by The Site Book →

If you are not sure which camp you fall into, think about this: do you have someone in your business whose full-time job is health and safety? If yes, HandsHQ is probably the right call. If you are the person doing the work and the paperwork, The Site Book is designed for you.

The best way to find out is to try. The Site Book has a free tier with no credit card required, so you can create your first documents and see if it fits before spending anything.

Frequently asked questions

Is HandsHQ or The Site Book better for small builders?

The Site Book is designed specifically for sole traders and small builders with teams of 1 to 10 people. It offers transparent pricing starting from £39/mo (u00a330/mo on annual plan) with a free tier, and you can sign up and start creating documents immediately without a demo or onboarding process. HandsHQ is built for mid-to-large contractors with dedicated health and safety teams — it is a more powerful platform but comes with enterprise pricing and a more involved setup process.

How much does HandsHQ cost?

HandsHQ does not publish its pricing publicly — you need to book a demo and get a quote based on your team size and requirements. This is typical of enterprise software. The Site Book takes the opposite approach with transparent pricing on the website: a free tier to get started, then paid plans from £39/mo (u00a330/mo on annual plan). If knowing exactly what you will pay before signing up matters to you, The Site Book is the more straightforward option.

Can I try The Site Book before committing?

Yes. The Site Book has a free tier that lets you create your first project and create documents — including your CPP, RAMS, and site induction — without entering a credit card. You can see exactly what the platform produces before deciding whether to upgrade to a paid plan.

See also

vs RAMs App

Job-specific vs template-based RAMS.

vs CDM Wizard

From learning to producing.

RAMs App Alternatives

All the options compared.

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