Redfin, Zillow, and Trulia are three of the most popular real estate websites. They all let you browse listings, save favorites, set alerts, and research neighborhoods, but they’re not the same.
The biggest differences come down to how each site sources and updates listing data, what tools they prioritize, and how (or whether) they connect you with real estate agents.
Our guide breaks down what each platform does best, where they fall short, and when it makes sense to use more than one. In general, Zillow is the “big marketplace” experience, Redfin is a search site plus brokerage services, and Trulia is best as a neighborhood research tool (and often overlaps with Zillow on listings).
All three also offer automated home value estimates (Zestimate, Redfin Estimate), which can be helpful for early research. But these numbers are best used as rough benchmarks, since they rely on public records and available data that may be incomplete.
Just want to know your home's true fair market value? There's no substitute for a full comparative market analysis (CMA) from an experienced local realtor. (Get a free home valuation from a top local realtor now.)
Redfin vs. Zillow vs. Trulia summary
| Feature | Zillow | Redfin | Trulia |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Real estate marketplace | Brokerage + search site | Marketplace owned by Zillow |
| Best for | Browsing huge volume of listings | Buyers and sellers who want search tools plus agent services | Neighborhood vibe checks and rentals |
| Home value estimates | Zestimates | Redfin Estimates | Zestimates |
| Strengths | Lots of listings, rentals, and filters | Strong map search, brokerage tools, tour scheduling | Neighborhood details (crime, commute, school reviews) |
| Weaknesses | Agent quality varies because agents pay for leads | Service can feel more team based and higher volume | Less unique inventory versus Zillow |
Here’s the simplest way to choose between them: match the site to what you’re trying to do.
- Use Zillow if you want the widest selection and you're in early research mode.
- Use Redfin when you want cleaner search tools and you're moving closer to touring homes or selling, since it also offers agent services.
- Use Trulia if neighborhood feel is your main question, especially for rentals, but expect a lot of overlap with Zillow on the listings themselves.
Your best move? We think it makes the most sense to check listings on both Zillow and Redfin, and then use Trulia as a neighborhood research layer if needed.
What is Redfin?
Redfin is a low commission real estate company that offers discounted listing fees for home sellers and rebates for buyers. But, while its core business is helping people buy and sell homes, Redfin is probably better known for its house hunting app and website.
With Redfin, you can research homes for sale nationwide. It pulls data directly from the local multiple listing service (MLS), ensuring property information is as accurate and up-to-date as possible. Unlike Zillow, though, you won't find many "for sale by owner" (FSBO) listings because Redfin doesn't allow sellers to post listings themselves.
All listings feature a Redfin Estimate, the company's best guess of the property's current value. It’s based on property details, local market data, and public records, such as tax assessments. Redfin Estimates are available for many homes, but their accuracy depends on how complete and current the underlying data for that property is.
You can use Redfin to browse listings nationwide, but Redfin agents can’t directly help in every area. If a home is outside Redfin’s service area, Redfin may connect you with a Partner Agent instead.[1]
👉 MORE: Are Redfin agents worth it?
How accurate is my Redfin Estimate?
Redfin Estimates are fairly accurate, but they're no substitute for a professional home value report or appraisal.
According to Redfin's website, its estimates have a median error rate of 2.01% for on-market homes and 7.73% for off-market properties.[2]
What a “small” margin of error really means
The margin of error on Redfin Estimates might seem pretty small, but it makes a huge difference when you're trying to figure out what a house is really worth! For the median U.S. home, a Redfin Estimate could be off by thousands of dollars, depending on whether it's currently listed for sale.[2]
If the home is listed (on-market): 2.01% is equal to about $10,050
If the home isn’t listed (off-market): 7.73% is equal to about $38,650
Put those numbers next to each other, and it’s clear why online estimates work for a quick gut check, not a pricing decision you’re basing a listing on.
If you’re using Redfin’s estimate to get a quick ballpark, it can help you understand whether your home is closer to $300,000 or $350,000. But it’s not precise enough to set a list price or decide what to offer on a home.
When real money is on the line, you want pricing based on local comps and current market demand, not a model that may be working off incomplete or outdated data. A local agent can run a CMA, walk you through what similar homes actually sold for, what buyers are paying right now, and how to price and negotiate based on your goals. Get connected to local agents for a free CMA today.
How good are Redfin agents?
In addition to its house-hunting tools, Redfin also connects buyers and sellers through its team of in-house agents. This can work well if your main goal is to pay a lower listing fee and you're comfortable with a more team-based, higher-volume service model.
Redfin often advertises a 1.5% listing fee, with a deeper discount (1%) if you both sell and buy with Redfin. The exact rate and any minimum fee depend on your market, so confirm the fee in writing for your ZIP code before you sign. Also, compare a few top low commission realtors since other companies offer similar pricing with different service levels.
While Redfin's business model creates savings, it also carries a few service-quality risks.
Our Redfin review revealed that sellers report feeling less personal attention because Redfin agents often manage more clients at once and may rely on a team to handle parts of the listing, like showings and scheduling.
The best way to avoid surprises is to ask who will handle your listing day to day, how communication works, and what support you'll get during pricing, negotiations, and closing.
MORE: Redfin agent vs traditional realtors - which offers better value?
What is Zillow?
Zillow is one of the largest real estate marketplaces in the U.S., averaging over 200 million monthly visits.[3] It lets buyers browse for-sale listings, explore neighborhood data, and use filters to narrow down homes that fit their budget and needs.
For sellers, Zillow is one of the best websites to post "for sale by owner" listings. Zillow also offers a home value estimate called the Zestimate, which is generated by an automated model using public records and market data.
One thing Zillow no longer does: it no longer runs its own iBuyer program. Zillow shut down Zillow Offers in 2021, so it isn't directly buying homes for cash the way it briefly did during that period.[4]
How accurate are Zillow Zestimates?
Zillow says that its Zestimates have a median error rate of 1.83% for on-market homes and 7.01% for off-market homes. That makes Zestimates slightly more accurate than Redfin Estimates, but they're still off by an average of $7,500–$28,800, based on a median home value of $410,800.[5][6]
As with Redfin Estimates, Zestimates can give you a general idea of what your home is worth, but you shouldn't rely on them during an actual real estate transaction.
In fact, Zillow co-founder Spencer Rascoff famously sold a house for 40% below its Zestimate. Then, when Rascoff purchased a new home in 2020, he paid 30% above the Zestimate.[7][8]
How good are Zillow agents?
Unlike Redfin, Zillow doesn't actually employ its own agents — it makes money by charging realtors to advertise on its website. If you click "Contact Agent" on a Zillow listing, the company will send your information to an agent who pays Zillow to connect them with customers.
That setup can still work, but it puts more responsibility on you to vet the agent. The agent you reach may be highly experienced, or they may be newer to the business.
Before you commit, ask about the agent's local track record, recent sales in your neighborhood, availability, and how they communicate during a transaction.
What is Trulia?
Trulia is another popular real estate website. It's owned by Zillow, so both websites display the same listings and property information.
The main difference between Redfin, Zillow, and Trulia is that Trulia offers much more information about individual neighborhoods — including reviews from people who live there — making it a better resource for buyers and renters moving to an unfamiliar area.
How accurate are Trulia estimates?
Since Zillow owns Trulia, both websites feature the same data.[9] This means Trulia's home value estimates are identical to Zillow's Zestimates, with a median error rate of 7.01% for off-market homes.
Note: You may not see an estimate on every Trulia listing or page, depending on what data is available for that home and how the listing is displayed.
Why are Redfin and Zillow estimates so different?
Although Redfin and Zillow both have fairly accurate home valuation tools, they'll sometimes calculate drastically different price estimates for the same house.
This usually happens when one of the companies bases an estimate on faulty or incomplete data. For example, if you've renovated your home since your last tax assessment, your Zillow Zestimate or Redfin Estimate may be based on outdated information.
Both websites allow you to "claim" your home profile and submit updated details, which should bring your Redfin Estimate and Zillow Zestimate closer to your home's true value.
» MORE: Get a comparative market analysis for an accurate home valuation
Is Redfin better than Zillow (or is Trulia the best)?
Redfin, Zillow, and Trulia all offer useful tools for home buyers and sellers, but none of them is a one-size-fits-all solution. Deciding whether Redfin vs Zillow vs Trulia is best for you depends on where you're at on your real estate journey.
When you're buying a home, Zillow has the most listings, while Trulia offers tools that make it easier to compare neighborhoods when buying long distance.
If you're selling, Redfin offers discounted listing fees when you work with one of its agents. That's a better deal than you'll likely find with an agent you meet through Zillow or Trulia.
The best alternatives to Redfin, Zillow, and Trulia
There's much more to the buying or selling process than computer-generated estimates and house hunting apps. These are the best alternatives to help you find the perfect home — or save thousands when you sell.
Top alternatives for buyers
When you're looking at homes for sale online, it's hard to beat the convenience of Zillow, Redfin, and Trulia. But, there's no harm in trying alternative websites, especially if you're open to non-conventional properties like foreclosures or houses for sale by owner.
Some of the top home buying websites like Zillow, include:
- Realtor.com
- Homes.com
- NewHomeSource.com (for new construction listings)
- ForSaleByOwner.com (for FSBO listings)
- Homepath.FannieMae.com (government/REO inventory)
But, no matter where you browse real estate listings, you should enlist the support of a top real estate agent once you're ready to start touring homes in person. The right agent has the local market knowledge to help you find competitively-priced properties that you'll love — and avoid costly home-buying mistakes along the way.
Top alternatives for sellers
If you're looking for an agent to sell your home, it’s usually better to start with a short list of local agents you’ve vetted than to click “contact agent” on a listing site and hope you get a good match. Instead, look for a discount real estate broker who offers full-service support and steep commission discounts.
These companies offer many of the same core services as a traditional agent, like pricing guidance, MLS exposure, negotiation, and help from listing through closing, but at a lower listing fee (often a percentage discount or a flat fee structure).
FAQ
Is Redfin the most accurate real estate website?
No. Redfin's home value estimates are slightly less accurate than Zillow Zestimates, based on company-supplied data. Both Redfin and Zillow can give you a rough idea of what your home is worth, but no real estate website can gauge a property's value with 100% accuracy. The Redfin Estimate and Zillow Zestimate both have a median error rate of around 7-8% for homes that aren't currently for sale — or about $20,000, on average. To find out what your home is actually worth, find an experienced real estate agent and request a professional home valuation.
Is Zillow or Redfin more popular?
Zillow is the most popular home buying website because it's available throughout the U.S. and includes lots of details on off market properties, while the Redfin app only displays listings in select markets. However, better options exist if you're looking for a low cost realtor or want to earn a home buyer rebate.
Is Trulia or Zillow better?
Zillow and Trulia are owned by the same company, so they offer a fairly similar experience overall. Zillow is generally better for home buyers and sellers, but Trulia offers excellent tools for researching rental listings. That said, neither Zillow nor Trulia is a great place to find a real estate agent, especially if you want to save on realtor commission or earn a cash-back refund when you buy.
