Finding the ideal real estate listing platform can significantly affect the length of time you spend advertising your property and the quality of buyers or tenants you attract.
However, the number of property advertising websites has increased greatly in recent years. This makes it overwhelming for property sellers and buyers to establish which platform is best for them.
Zillow is a popular search portal designed with lead management in the sector of property trading. It applies a mobile-first approach for real estate buyers and sellers to promptly grab opportunities when they arise from their smartphones.
Redfin, Trulia, LoopNet are some other property platforms that have gone popular in the recent times. However, the best Zillow alternative is BiggerPockets which is a great resource to make informed real estate decisions. It also offers very useful tools for property advertising.
More about Zillow and the need to look for alternatives
Zillow acts as a unified solution for advertising properties, engaging customers, and managing interactions through a slickly operating workflow.
Its strength is its extensive consumer reach via its search engine. Over the years, it has proven to appeal to buyers and sellers in a virtuous cycle.
In addition, you can use the Zillow API Network to pull data from Zillow and store it locally for your website visitors.
On the flip side, Zillow’s property valuation feature is often erroneous. This will misinform you and make your search more difficult.
Again, the cost of subscribing to Premier Agent is high, and you may spend a lot to list your properties.
If these Zillow drawbacks put you off, or you have failed to strike a deal through it, other realtor websites offer better services.
Below is a list of some of the best alternatives to Zillow you can consider in your property search.
We have highlighted the essential features of each website; thus, you don’t have to roam all over the internet to establish what these websites do.
Also Read: Best Commercial Real Estate WordPress Themes
Best Zillow Alternatives
1. Redfin
Redfin is a popular realtor platform that is on a mission to redesign property trading. It has multiple strengths that make it a viable alternative to Zillow.
First, it has almost a similar user interface and design as Zillow, allowing you to search for homes via a map-based tool.
After entering the ZIP code or city of your choice, Redfin offers extensive information on listed properties. For example, you will see the property’s value, appreciation, measurements, year built, estate service charges, construction materials, sewage system specifications, and more.
Unlike Zillow, Redfin has a team of realtor agents rated by Redfin users. The agents are compensated according to their ratings.
On top of that, Redfin refunds a portion of the property commissions to buyers, making its services cost-effective.
However, the company doesn’t disclose specific addresses of some cities and property value information if agents choose to hide them.
Lastly, while Redfin might not provide all the information, it has multiple tech tools that list properties every 15 minutes.
Check Out: Fantastic Real Estate Envelope Designs
2. Compass Real Estate Homes
Compass Real Estate Homes is owned and managed by the Compass brokerage. It’s a good website to use, especially when you need the help of an agent to buy or sell a property.
Its app uses Bluetooth to link to Compass’ signals and draw information about adjacent home listings from Compass agents.
Compass Real Estate Homes lets you view all listed assets and their respective agents. If you scroll to the bottom, you will see unlisted homes their agents will list soon.
Compass agents take the responsibility of finding homes for buyers. They don’t waste time looking for irrelevant listings because they have buyer specifications at hand and understand their assignment.
The platform has access to data for properties under sale, which you will rarely find on other realtor sites, broadening buyers’ options.
Compass Real Estate stands out from Zillow and other websites because of the extra services they offer to clients. For instance, they provide concierge services, such as kitchen upgrades, decluttering, painting, and roofing repairs to property sellers.
Because this company heavily leverages technology to provide satisfactory services to agents and consumers, they invest more in creating new trading and marketing features.
And since we live in a digital age, their quest to be real estate leaders in data collection, storage, and analytics is justifiable.
3. NeighborhoodScout
This real estate website offers users data regarding neighborhoods in the US.
You can view neighborhood data through the NeighborhoodScout search bar by keying in the city or ZIP code of your choice. Its search bar is pretty cool as it enables you to choose the criteria you would like to use.
For instance, if your search priority of finding a neighborhood is how much your property will appreciate in the future, you can use the property appreciation parameter to narrow down your search.
Like Zillow, you will access extensive reports, such as property data, learning institutions, population, crime rates, traffic, and nearby markets.
While you will access most of this data free of charge, you must subscribe to NeighborhoodScout’s detailed data package. Subscriptions for school performance reports, crime rates, property trends, and property appreciation rates start from $39.99 per month.
Again, if you want to run several reports or use extra features, such as Neighborhood Match and Ideal Neighborhood, you need to subscribe to NeighborhoodScout’s monthly plans of $49.99, $99.99, or $119.99.
However, NeighborhoodScout’s subscription service data is not available in Zillow and other realtors; thus, you will see the value for your money.
4. Trulia
Trulia is one of the best realtor platforms that comes close to being one of the best Zillow alternatives. It offers a ton of data regarding the available properties for you to make an informed decision.
Like Zillow, it has data about the neighborhoods, like learning institutions and market centers. The Trulia mobile app provides important notifications about newly listed homes.
Furthermore, the app has financial calculators to give you a clear clue about a property’s cost and whether it’s worth purchasing it in the present market conditions.
It goes beyond what Zillow does by allowing you to use your fingers to sketch customized maps of your physical location. In addition, Trulia has multiple filters for narrowing down searches.
Having thousands of listings at your disposal is only beneficial if you have a way of filtering the searches. Trulia contains multiple search filters, such as property types, measurements, and house information like the number of bedrooms.
It’s worth noting that Trulia is a subsidiary of Zillow. In this regard, you can’t list your properties directly with Trulia.
5. Realtor.com
News Corp owns and manages the Realtor.com platform. Although the website has the latest real estate information, it is more general and lacks exceptional tools for someone deeply engaged in the real estate business.
Nonetheless, it’s linked with multiple listing services with the most recent market listings and is a great website to start a property search.
Realtor.com contains a messaging feature for smooth communication between buyers and sellers. Above all, you can use its pricing tool to see how other home tools, like Garage, contribute to the charges.
After finding a property listing that matches your needs, you can leverage a unified and customized approach to search for that property on other realtor platforms. This will help you to find a comprehensive report about a property.
Listings differ with the information you enter, but the company seems strict and detailed. For example, you can know the age of a home, its measurements, value, previous sales, and tax records.
Unlike Zillow, it also offers free data on the neighborhood. For instance, you can know the populations of the adjacent learning institutions, noise levels, and the occurrence of natural disasters.
6. LoopNet
LoopNet has been in the real estate business for almost three decades.
Search no more if you are searching for a Zillow alternative specializing in commercial real estate. LoopNet only lists commercial properties, which you will rarely find on other websites.
The platform saves time for high-net-worth investors who are not interested in long and tiresome lists of all types of properties. It has cool filter criteria for listings, which you will find quite useful.
LoopNet allows you to save searches after modifying your filters. This eradicates the need to repeatedly enter the same target’s search criteria.
Again, you can easily contact the seller via a single click if you need more information regarding their listing.
You also have access to real pictures of assets, 3D street views, neighborhood statistics, and asset value appreciation information to guide you accordingly in the decision-making process.
LoopNet allows you to search properties by location and intention – in other words, are you a buyer or a seller?
Generally, LoopNet is the best website for commercial property dealers. It also contains an effective notification system since time is money in the commercial property business.
7. Homesnap
Homesnap is another Zillow alternative that is well-known for its intuitive map-based search portal and extensive property information. Like Zillow, its search engine is user-friendly.
What distinguishes Homesnap from the rest is its mobile application. You can take real-time pictures of your property and seek listing help from customer support.
The Homesnap app goes the extra mile to show you the values of unlisted properties in neighborhoods currently off the market.
Besides, the app is available in several versions, including Android, iPhone, and Apple Watch.
Homesnap agents partner with multiple listing services to capture and display real-time information feeds on the Homesnap app for your customers to view properties available on the market. This transforms your clients’ search experience, as they are not fed with outdated data common on other real estate websites.
Homesnap’s in-app messaging feature will enable you to share new listings and chats with clients in one message thread instead of breaking it into texts and emails.
As a Homesnap seller, you can evaluate how your property sale is fairing and adjust your offer or revamp your marketing campaigns to achieve a better outcome.
Though buyers can use Homesnap free of charge, you will pay $49.99 per month if you are a property agent.
8. Apartments.com
Apartments.com is among the best Zillow alternatives that let you directly apply for an asset or connect with the owner or dealer internally. Potential clients receive a ton of information regarding the home they wish to acquire, enabling them to make informed decisions.
Apartments.com features apartments, studios, townhouses, and condo properties, unlike LoopNet. You also contact the agent or homeowner directly through internal messaging.
Its search filters cater to all groups of people as they offer a clue of whether the property is ideal for people living with disabilities and if pets are allowed in the neighborhood.
Apartments.com has an internal research team that regularly updates property listings on its website. Their professionally-taken photos and videos are attention-drawing, making this website emerge among the best Zillow alternatives.
It also has a rich list of properties and search capacities, making it the go-to website for individuals who don’t want to use Zillow.
Though you can list properties for free, you need to subscribe to their Silver or Gold packages at $199 and $399 per month, respectively, to avoid burying your listing beneath paid listings.
Besides, you can’t access the screening and rent collection tools without subscribing to one of the above packages.
9. Century 21 Local
Century 21 Local is a popular real estate brokerage company that has been in operation for a while. If you want to tap into their agency services, the Century 21 Local mobile app will help you.
It offers search filters by narrowing down numerous listings. Besides, you can contact their agents when you love any of their listings.
The Century 21 Local app has a note section for users, distinguishing itself significantly from Zillow. You can monitor all the assets you are interested in under the note section.
Above all, the application will offer you all the information you need even when searching for properties outside their list.
The application draws information from other realtor websites, like Zillow, though sometimes the information may be outdated, resulting in inaccuracies.
The Century 21 Locale platform uses agents and professionals to feed users’ input.
10. Estately
This website’s reach in the US is extensive and comprises listing data from every state. It connects you with the ideal property dealer from your search locality and provides you with a broad selection of properties.
Importantly, the Estately app allows you to use their property tool to find finer financial details, like taxes and service charges. The app also offers a rich account of the surroundings like adjacent institutions, population demographics, shopping centers, and more.
Better still, the app rates noise pollution in a locality and related things. Although Zillow and other websites do not capture such information, they may be deal-breakers when you consider them keenly.
Estately lets you plan for a property visit and encourages users to physically inspect properties before committing themselves. As we all know, sometimes looks can be deceiving over the internet.
Besides, Estately only partners with the best property brokers rated by customers. They don’t condone any unethical malpractices from agents and clients alike.
This platform is truly one of the best Zillow alternatives that should be on your radar.
11. Homes.com
Homes.com mobile app has amazing features that make it among the best alternatives to Zillow.
First, you have the liberty to choose whether you are purchasing or renting a house and search precisely.
The app’s notification system is its greatest strength. The system alerts you about the latest offerings to grab the best deals before others.
Homes.com is always working on its user interface to offer you an awesome experience. For example, you can plan a Zoom viewing of your property via the Homes.com app due to restricted movements caused by COVID-19.
If you are more concerned about the legibility of a realtor platform, Homes.com has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
It has shown sound business practices and handled business transactions and commitments with integrity since its inception in 1993.
Unlike Zillow, they provide limited data on neighborhoods. You may need to visit another website to get a clearer picture of the neighborhood.
Still, Homes.com is a good Zillow alternative since it allows you to conduct virtual meetings internally.
12. FSBO.com
FSBO is an abbreviation for ‘For Sale By Owner.’ It’s a realtor platform dealing with properties sold directly by owners, not property agents.
The company makes a profit by providing listing services for homeowners through its two listing packages.
Its first package is known as FSBO. You can list your home for six months and enjoy a free Redfin listing, unrestricted photos, a video upload, and access to the editing or canceling feature.
The website sells yard signs and supplies discretely from the FSBO package. The monthly subscription fee for this package is $99.95.
FSBO.com’s second package is known as the MLS package. It consists of MLS listing for half a year, listing syndication on other realtor platforms, including Zillow, and more tools.
Unlike Zillow, signing on the MLS package includes agent commission (between 2% and 3% of the property’s value). It will cost you $399.95 per month to use the MLS package.
FSBO.com has an exclusive feature that distinguishes it from other realtors – it is owned by the Tribune Publishing Firm. The Tribune’s wide-ranging publicizing and marketing assets enable the company to offer its users the best property listings.
13. Dwellr
This is probably one of the real estate platforms that are highly underrated, although it’s one of the best property listing websites in the US.
It distinguishes itself from Zillow and the other websites discussed in this article by considering client lifestyle as a major factor when buying property. This makes it one of the best alternatives to Zillow, especially for individuals who value their lifestyle more than anything else.
It considers your work, preferred means of transport, learning, property value, sports facilities, nature, and more.
Dwellr has Android and iOS versions. Besides, it offers the best property listings based on your lifestyle preferences.
Indeed, Dwellr is the ideal platform for a lifestyle home hunter. It emphasizes more on making a home a habitable dwelling for every human.
Still, Dwellr offers multiple choices since it understands that each tenant is unique in one way or the other.
However, this website may not be suitable for individuals in the property space as business people.
14. BiggerPockets
This is one of the best Zillow alternatives to learn and engage in the property business. If you are a detail-oriented person who likes knowing the fine details of everything, including the minor details, this platform is ideal for you.
The app offers property data in articles, blogs, eBooks, YouTube videos, podcasts, and how-to guides. If you are deeply interested in the property business, BiggerPockets is the ideal website for you.
Whether you are a seasoned agent or a newbie, you can increase your real estate knowledge and make a decent living through this platform.
By the time you finish reading BiggerPockets’ education resources (mind you, the website keeps uploading new resources weekly), you will have everything it takes to succeed in the property business.
If you are more interested in real estate, you can subscribe to a Pro Membership and enjoy access to finer, pinpointed resources.
The Pro Membership package also includes real estate management and tenant screening tools. As a Pro member, you can promote your business by tactically advertising in trafficked locations, like market centers and business forums, attracting more visitors, leads, and conversions.
15. Xome
Xome is a real estate platform that offers action-packed auctions. If you are looking for better prices for property under sale, Xome will sort you out.
The app has both MLS and internal auctions. Like Zillow, Xome also gives information on neighborhoods and photos of the assets.
On top of that, the app clarifies whether a home is financeable or it requires a cash payment. The Xome notification system alerts you when a new listing that matches your search appears.
Importantly, you can set up an e-contract agreement on Xome to automatically execute deals on your behalf when someone is interested in your offer.
Additionally, it has a “Homes Only” section where you access exclusive peeks into homes owned by financial institutions.
You can bid on these foreclosed offers and acquire them at lower prices before they are open to the public.
Generally, Xome is an amazing platform where you can begin a property business. And by the way, if you acquire a home in Xome’s Home Only section, you will earn more when you sell it later.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are more alternatives to Zillow when buying, selling, and renting properties, but the above are our top 15 picks.
Please have a closer look at each of the best alternatives to Zillow and compare their features. We are confident you will find that one of the alternatives is ideal for you and your business needs.
For us, the best Zillow alternative is BiggerPockets for its rich property resources and management tools.
