An hourly rate is not always cheaper. It depends on who carries the risk of the job running long.
Fixed price
You know what you will pay before anything starts. The risk of delay sits with the person doing the work, not with you. It suits predictable jobs: cleaning, assembly, simple replacements.
Hourly rate
It makes sense when nobody can know the size of the problem without opening something up. Leak detection, intermittent electrical faults and repairs in old houses.
The question that settles almost everything
What happens if it takes longer than expected. On a fixed price, the answer is nothing. On an hourly rate, ask for a written cap.
Watch the minimum charge
Many hourly services bill a full hour even for ten minutes of work. That is not sharp practice, it is travel time, but it should be said up front.
Call-out, materials and VAT
Three lines that turn a cheap quote into an expensive one. Always ask for the final figure, everything included.
In the OSCAR app the price is closed before you book, with professionals verified from the start.