Zillow vs Redfin: Which is Better for Buying Property Online?

Choosing between Zillow and Redfin can feel like picking sides in a family argument—everyone has an opinion, and the stakes are high. If you're trying to buy a house online and want things to go smoothly, you'll notice quickly that both sites look similar at first glance, but their differences can really change your experience.

Both Zillow and Redfin let you search for homes across the U.S. without leaving your couch. You can set filters like price, size, and school districts so you don’t waste time scrolling through things you’d never consider. But what matters even more is how up-to-date their info is. Imagine getting excited about the perfect house, only to find out it sold a week ago. Annoying, right?

Here’s the kicker—these two companies tackle the real estate world with different tools and business models. Zillow shines with sheer volume, listing nearly every home that hits the market (even some that aren’t). Redfin, on the other hand, pulls listings directly from the multiple listing services (MLS), so their updates usually happen faster. That means fewer letdowns when you spot ‘the one.’

• How Zillow and Redfin Work
• Home Search Experience
• Listing Accuracy and Updates
• Agent Connections and Tools
• Extra Features Worth Noticing
• Which Suits Your Needs Best?

How Zillow and Redfin Work

Both Zillow and Redfin want to be your go-to stop for real estate, but they work a little differently under the hood. Knowing how they pull together all those home listings can save you time—and possibly spare you a headache or two.

Zillow acts like a huge real estate search engine. It covers almost every home you could imagine, including homes for sale, homes for rent, and even properties that aren’t officially on the market (think: “Make Me Move” listings). Zillow scoops up data from a bunch of sources: it pulls directly from public property records, MLS feeds, brokerage partners, and even lets homeowners post their own listings. This gives you a massive database to search, but sometimes the info isn’t current or totally accurate. That’s why you might see homes pop up that already sold, or price info that’s a few weeks behind reality.

Redfin comes at it differently. They’re a real estate brokerage first, and a search site second. Their listings come straight from local MLS systems—the same source agents use to find homes for clients. That makes updates faster and more accurate compared to Zillow. If a home goes off the market, Redfin’s usually the first to reflect that change. Plus, Redfin uses their own team of agents, so if you click “schedule tour,” you’ll get a licensed Redfin employee, not a random agent who paid for a lead.

When you browse these sites, expect to see:

• Big maps with homes plotted out (helpful for comparing neighborhoods in seconds)
• Price filters, school ratings, commute times, and other tools to narrow your search
• Extra data on home values and market trends—Zillow’s “Zestimate” vs. Redfin’s “Estimate” (spoiler: neither is perfect, but both give a ballpark figure)

At the end of the day, think of Zillow as the biggest listing site and Redfin as a broker with a solid search tool. The way each platform works shapes everything—from how fast you see new homes to who gets your info if you want to tour a property.

Home Search Experience

Trying to find the right place is where both Zillow and Redfin flex their tech muscles, but they go about it in different ways. The main keyword here is Zillow, and you’ll probably notice it’s everywhere if you start your search online. Their app and site are clean and super easy to use—even if you've never looked for a house before, you'll figure out filters, map searches, and saved searches in ten minutes flat.

Zillow makes it simple to swipe through huge photo galleries, 3D tours, neighborhood maps, and even drone shots for some listings. You can heart your favorites and set alerts that pop up fast when something new matches what you want. There's also a Zestimate tool that tries to guess what every house is worth, which can be fun to compare—just don’t treat it as gospel.

Redfin’s search experience is really polished too, but you’ll spot some key differences. The Redfin map pins are sharper, showing price drops and open houses at a glance. When you pick filters like price or school rating, the updates are instant—you don’t even need to reload the page. Redfin’s ‘Hot Home’ feature uses an algorithm to predict which properties will sell fast—helpful if you hate missing out.

If you’re comparing listings side by side, you might see that Redfin’s info feels more accurate and less cluttered with ads. Every home comes with a walk score, transit score, and Redfin Estimate, plus a schedule button to book a tour in a few clicks. If you go to a city with tons of action, Redfin’s mobile app even buzzes you when new listings are live so you’re less likely to miss out, especially in wild markets like Seattle or San Diego.

Here’s a tip: If you like exploring random homes for fun or want the widest possible choice, you’ll probably be happier on Zillow. If you want accuracy, speed, and less spam in your inbox, give Redfin a serious look—especially in hot housing markets.

Listing Accuracy and Updates

If you’ve ever fallen in love with a house online just to find out it’s already sold, you’re not alone. The speed and accuracy of listings can make or break your search. This is where Zillow and Redfin take pretty different paths.

Redfin pulls its home data straight from local MLS databases. That means they update new listings, price changes, and pending or sold homes every five minutes in many markets. Zillow isn’t as fast. While it does use MLS in some places, for-sale-by-owner homes and rental listings usually come from outside sources or get added manually by the seller. Sometimes Zillow’s info can lag by up to 24 hours or more. That might not seem like a huge delay, but in a hot market, hours matter.

Real estate pros have actually put the two sites to the test. In a 2023 survey of major U.S. cities, Redfin showed about 70% of its listings as active and correct, while Zillow lagged behind at around 55%. Here’s a quick look:

If speed and accuracy are deal-breakers, Redfin is the safer bet for the freshest listings and fewer let-downs. Zillow wins when you want to scan a wider range of home types, including places not on the MLS. So, if you’re open to more DIY or pocket listings, Zillow’s extra coverage comes in handy, but be ready to double-check with your agent or a local MLS before you get too far ahead.

Want a tip? If you see a home you like on Zillow, grab the address and search for it on Redfin or check your local MLS to make sure it’s really available. Saves you wasted time and some major headaches down the road.

Agent Connections and Tools

When it comes to working with real estate agents, Zillow and Redfin set up buyers in totally different ways. If you click "Contact Agent" on Zillow, you’re mostly getting connected to a third-party agent who pays to be featured on Zillow. Sometimes, you might get bounced through a few responses before someone picks up the phone. This means you can't always tell if the first person who calls really knows the neighborhood or is just next in line for leads.

Redfin does things differently. When you request a tour or more info, you almost always get a salaried Redfin agent. These agents aren’t paid just on commission—they get bonuses based on customer reviews. Some folks like this, because the agents tend to focus more on repeat clients and great service rather than just the next sale. Redfin also uses team-based support, so you might have backup if your main agent is busy. It’s more like a tag team than a lone wolf setup.

Both companies pack their platforms with tools meant to make your life easier, but there are real distinctions:

• Zillow: Handy calculators for mortgages, affordability, and even property taxes. Its "Zestimate" tool gives instant value estimates, though accuracy can swing quite a bit (Zillow says half their Zestimates are within about 2.4% of actual sale price).
• Redfin: Lets you book home tours online with just a couple clicks, and it shows how many people are looking at a property—extra helpful if you hate missing out. Its price estimate tool tends to pull data directly from local MLS, so it’s often spot-on with recent sales nearby.

Here’s a quick side-by-side of how their agent setups and tools compare:

If you like the idea of a single point of contact with solid reviews, Redfin’s model is probably more your speed. If you want more freedom to pick and choose local agents—or just want the biggest selection—Zillow gives you lots of options. It really comes down to the online vibe you’re looking for and how much you care about bonus tools versus fast support.

Extra Features Worth Noticing

Both Zillow and Redfin want to make your life easier, and they throw in some bells and whistles that could tilt your decision. They both have some cool features, but they don’t always overlap, so watch out for what matters most to you.

One thing about Zillow is its Zestimate tool. This gives you a ballpark estimate of a home’s value instantly, right on the listing. But remember, Zestimates aren’t perfect—they update a lot but use national data and can be off, especially in fast-changing markets. Still, it’s useful for a quick gut check. Zillow also has a handy mortgage calculator, a cost-of-living calculator, and even tools for browsing rentals or exploring pre-foreclosure homes.

Redfin brings its own tricks. Their "Book Tour" feature lets you schedule a home tour online with just a couple of clicks, no phone tag required. Redfin also gives you a detailed breakdown of "Redfin Estimates," which are often more accurate in markets where Redfin has a strong presence because they use real-time MLS data. Plus, if you buy with a Redfin agent, they’ll usually send you a refund after closing—on average, buyers get back about $1,500 to $2,500 depending on the home price and state. That’s real money.

• Interactive Maps: Both brands have solid mapping tools. Zillow’s map lets you draw a custom area to search in, while Redfin often shows more boundary info for neighborhoods and school districts.
• Mobile Apps: Want to tour open houses from your phone? Both apps get high ratings, but Redfin gets some extra love for how fast it pushes price drops and status alerts.
• Comparisons & Data: Redfin’s “Hot Homes” flag uses an algorithm to mark homes likely to sell fast. Zillow, on the other hand, has a deeper rental database and more info on foreclosures and off-market properties.

Let’s put some of the big features side by side:

If you’re the kind of person who wants deep price history, school info, and lots of photos, both platforms deliver. But if speed, instant tours, and real cash back sweeten the deal, you’ll want to try Redfin’s extra perks. On the flip side, if you’re more into rentals, "off-market" deals, or just want to use one big real estate app for everything, Zillow is hard to beat.

Which Suits Your Needs Best?

The truth is, picking between Zillow and Redfin really comes down to what you expect out of your house hunt. Both have millions of listings, plenty of filters, and loads of home details, but the devil’s in the details.

If you’re all about finding every possible listing—yes, even those not yet on the open market—then Zillow will give you more sheer options. Zillow also stands out if you’re focused on ‘Zestimates,’ their take on home value, or if you want to check out owner-listed homes and rental properties. In fact, Zillow claims to pull in 220 million monthly unique users, making it the biggest name in online home search.

For more up-to-date listings, deeper neighborhood insights, or if you want a smoother path to getting matched with a local real estate agent, Redfin is often the smarter pick. Their data updates every 5 minutes from the MLS in most markets—this means fewer ghost listings and more accurate info on homes actually available. Redfin users can also see past sale prices, price drops, and have access to built-in agent help if you want it.

• Use Zillow if: You want the widest selection, are curious about off-market homes or rentals, or love playing with home value estimates.
• Use Redfin if: Speed and accuracy matter more, you want to book tours right through the site, or you’d appreciate direct support from a Redfin agent.

To really see the differences, check out this quick side-by-side:

Here’s a pro tip: don’t limit yourself. Lots of buyers check both sites at the same time to double check info and never miss out. Set up saved searches and alerts on each—if one sends you a faster notification, you’re already ahead of the game.