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Listing your house on the MLS is a proven way to increase exposure and attract more buyers, with 88% of sellers using it.[1] Traditionally, a real estate agent lists your home on the MLS for a 3% commission. Only licensed realtors have access.
If you're selling without a realtor, you can still get on the MLS through a flat fee MLS listing service. These companies have licensed brokers who list your home on the MLS for a few hundred dollars. But they typically provide minimal support beyond the listing itself.
To help you navigate your options, we’ve reviewed the seven best flat fee MLS services based on cost, reliability, and features.
Flat fee MLS companies offer a budget-friendly way to get your home listed without hiring a full-service agent. If you're comfortable managing your own sale, this approach could save you thousands.
Want to get your home listed on the MLS without paying a full-service agent? Houzeo offers flat fee MLS packages starting at just $249 upfront, plus 0.5% at closing — giving you nationwide exposure on sites like Zillow and Realtor.com, plus digital tools to manage your sale from start to finish.
The best flat fee MLS listing services
Flat fee MLS listing reviews
🏆 Top pick: Houzeo
Listing Fee
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Editor's Take
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Houzeo is a smart choice for most FSBO sellers.
The company is one of the most well-known flat fee MLS services. Its stand-out feature is its incredibly user-friendly listing platform. You can easily create and update your listing online. The process is intuitive, and Houzeo offers tips for maximizing your listing as you fill in info.
Another major advantage is its range of service tiers. You can pick a lower-cost basic plan if you're a confident DIY seller, or you can get virtual full service for a much lower price than full service from a traditional agent typically costs. Most other flat fee MLS companies don't have a full-service option. Get started with Houzeo's top-rated listing service.
Pros
- User-friendly platform
- Highly rated by thousands of customers
- Flexible service levels
Cons
- Higher fees than some competitors
- Listing handled by a third-party broker
- Call forwarding not included in lower-tier plans
Other top flat fee MLS listing services
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Editor's Take
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Homecoin is a good option for DIY sellers. But if you need more support, you'll likely want to look elsewhere.
The company has some of the most affordable basic plans of any flat fee MLS service. You get essential features for around just $150. Services include call forwarding, so you're not dependent on a broker to respond to buyer leads, and having the maximum number of photos possible on your listing, which will help draw the attention of potential buyers. Many competitors have higher price tags for these kinds of crucial services.
However, you won't get much support beyond the basics. There's no option with support from a licensed broker, which you'll likely need if you're not a highly experienced seller.
Pros
- Great value for basic plans
- Maximum photos for all plans
- Comparable sales report to help price your home
Cons
- Very limited support
- No contract review or negotiation assistance
- Pricey add-ons
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Editor's Take
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Beycome is definitely worth considering for DIY sellers and those wanting more marketing support. Its basic plans offer exceptional value compared to competitors, but its premium plan is likely not worth the cost.
Its basic plans charge a flat $99 or $399 with no percentage due at closing, unlike many competitors. The $99 plan includes more features at a lower price than comparable options, while the $399 plan adds high-value marketing tools like professional photos, social media promotion, and a virtual tour — often unavailable or costly elsewhere. Both plans also offer an easy-to-use platform and a longer listing term than most competitors.
However, the Concierge plan is pricey for what you get. While it offers more hands-on support, it still isn’t full service, and you’ll pay $599 plus 1% at closing. At that price point, a full-service, low-commission agent may be the better value.
Pros
- Affordable basic plans
- Long listing term on all plans
- User-friendly platform
Cons
- Highest tier is expensive and still not full service
- Some complaints about poor customer service
- Lockbox not available on any plans or as an add-on
Listing Fee
Editor's Take
Service packages
Locations
HomeZu stands out in the flat fee MLS market with its high customer satisfaction ratings. It typically offers a single MLS package across most states, but some areas benefit from an upgraded premium option, which notably includes a contract review by a licensed agent.
The basic package is well-regarded for its value, allowing for over 25 photos, free cancellations, and listing adjustments. However, extending the listing to 12 months incurs an additional $99 fee. While the contract review option is priced competitively, it's worth noting that only one review is included, with each subsequent review costing $100, potentially adding up for those requiring multiple reviews.
Additionally, HomeZu takes a small percentage (0.1%) of the buyer's agent commission.
Pros
- High customer ratings
- High photo allowance and lead forwarding
- Free listing modifications and cancellation
Cons
- Premium features can be costly
- Contract Review package isn’t available everywhere
- Retains a small percentage of the buyer's agent fee
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Editor's Take
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ISoldMyHouse.com's $399 Get SOLD plan may work for DIY sellers who don't need any support beyond a basic MLS listing.
Its $299 Get LISTED plan doesn't make sense for most sellers. It has an extremely limited photo allowance. Photography is crucial to attract buyers, and you'll want enough listing photos to fully showcase your home.
Pros
- Affordable basic listings
- Transparent pricing
- Both plans include unlimited listing changes and call forwarding
Cons
- Get LISTED plan allows only 6–10 photos
- Short listing terms
- Very limited support
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Editor's Take
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Fizber is another budget-friendly option for DIY sellers, offering MLS packages that cover the basics. However, of its three listing options, the Premium MLS Boost is really the only one worth considering.
The entry-level plan doesn’t even include an MLS listing, and the price difference between the MLS Boost and Premium MLS Boost plans is just $25. For that small upgrade, you get twice the listing term, more than double the number of photos, and useful extras like a showing scheduler and a virtual tour — making the premium plan a much better value overall.
Pros
- Affordable basic plans
- User-friendly online tools
- Both MLS plans include unlimited listing changes and lead forwarding
Cons
- No broker support
- Less transparent pricing
- Limited photos and listing term on MLS Boost plan
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Editor's Take
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Unreal Estate could be right for FSBO sellers who want to test the waters. Its Starter plan gets you on the MLS at no upfront cost — you only pay if your house sells. That’s rare for flat fee MLS companies, which typically charge at least $100 to list.
Its other plans offer incremental upgrades. Call forwarding and a high photo limit are important basic services that Unreal Estate only offers with its higher-tier plans. Its premium plan includes unlimited listing changes and assistance with paperwork, which adds more flexibility and peace of mind.
However, we recommend comparing Unreal Estate with competitors, because several companies provide more services at lower price points.
Pros
- No upfront fee for Starter plan
- User-friendly online platform
- All plans include email access to a licensed broker
Cons
- Every plan has a percentage fee at closing
- Three of four plans limit listing changes and photos
- No pricing, marketing, or negotiation support
Flat fee MLS listing services near me
There are hundreds (if not thousands) of flat fee MLS companies in the United States. Some offer services nationwide, while others are local.
A regional service may provide more local market knowledge, more control over your listing, and better communication.
Also, many national services refer you to a local realtor or brokerage. So you might as well skip the intermediary and work directly with a flat fee listing service in your area.
Find your state below to compare flat fee MLS listing services near you.
Should I use a flat fee MLS listing service?
A flat fee MLS listing service may be the right fit if:
- You're a highly experienced seller
- You want a hands-on, DIY sale
- You're in a hot seller's market
- Your home is very desirable because of its location, renovations, etc.
This service is likely not the right fit if:
- You don't have much experience with home sales
- You don't have a lot of time and energy to dedicate to the sale
- You're in a buyer's market, and homes are harder to sell
If you have the know-how to sell for sale by owner (FSBO), a flat fee MLS service can be a valuable tool. This approach offers financial benefits and grants you complete control over the sale process from start to finish.
But if your primary goal is to save money, consider the advantages of using a low-commission agent instead. You can save thousands on realtor commission while still getting full support. You'll have an expert negotiator advocating for your best interests, likely getting you a higher sale price and better terms than you could achieve on your own.
» Find the best low-cost agents near you.
Which flat fee MLS listing service should I use?
When comparing flat fee MLS services, consider your specific needs and goals, because they'll dictate which features matter most to you. We've broken down some of the most important factors when evaluating different companies:
| Feature | Why it's important |
|---|---|
| Cost vs. services | Comparing costs can help you avoid overpaying. Many flat fee MLS listing companies offer similar services at very different price points. And some include extra support at no additional cost, which is especially helpful for first-time sellers. |
| Which MLS? | If the company you choose can't list your home on your local MLS, you may not reach the right audience. You can find out what your local MLS is through the National Association of Realtors. |
| Number of photos | You need comprehensive photos of your home's exterior and interior to market it well. Look for companies that offer 25+ photos. Avoid plans with low limits, like under 10 photos. |
| Listing term | If your house doesn't sell within your initial listing term, you'll have to pay more to keep your MLS listing active. FSBO homes often take longer to sell, so it's wise to have at least a 6-month listing. |
| Help with valuations and home pricing | Some companies help you set a competitive list price, usually via a CMA report. This is a key benefit. Proper pricing requires expertise and local market knowledge, and it's one of the biggest factors in determining how quickly your house sells (or if it sells at all). |
| Ability to make changes to your listing | If you're new to FSBO and still learning how to market your home, being able to change your listing without penalty is helpful. Many companies offer at least some free listing changes. |
| Broker direct or referral service? | Some flat fee MLS companies are just intermediaries that connect you with a local broker. If you work directly with the broker instead, you're more likely to get services and a price consistent with the terms listed when you chose the service. |
| Buyer inquiry forwarding | Some flat fee plans charge extra to automatically forward buyer inquiries to you. Legally, the flat fee MLS company’s contact info must appear on the MLS listing. Without buyer lead forwarding, you'll depend on the company to manually forward buyer inquiries. Lags may cause you to miss out on leads. |
| Cancellation policy | Some MLS listing companies charge a fee to take down your listing. A few also lock you into a listing agreement for a set period of time, which can make it difficult to switch to a full-service agent if you want to. |
| Built-in agent support* | Some companies offer built-in support that can be incredibly valuable to inexperienced home sellers: they'll review contracts, help prepare counteroffers and disclosures, and calculate closing costs. |
| *In states with minimum service requirements, the real estate agent who lists your home on the MLS may be required to provide you with assistance without additional costs. | |
How much does a flat fee MLS listing cost?
The cost of a flat fee MLS listing service depends on what level of service you want. Plans vary, but they may look like this:
| Type of plan | May cost | May include |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $100–400 | 6-month MLS listing 4+ photos Lead forwarding |
| Premium | $400–1,000 | 12-month MLS listing 25+ photos Marketing materials Phone or email support |
| Broker support | $500–1,500 upfront and 0.5–1% at closing | Pricing assistance Help negotiating with buyers Contract review Dedicated agent support |
| Optional add-ons | $25–100 each | "For sale" signs Lockboxes Virtual tours Marketing tools |
The value of each type of plan depends a lot on the company.
For example, ISoldMyHouse.com has a $299 basic plan that includes a 6-month MLS listing, 6–10 photos, and lead forwarding. Homecoin's basic plan costs ~$150, but you get much more: a 12-month listing, unlimited photos, lead forwarding, and state and federal disclosure forms.
As for premium plans, Beycome's enhanced package costs $399 and includes quite a few marketing tools, including professional photos, custom flyers, a yard sign, a virtual tour, and open house support. Unreal Estate, on the other hand, has a deluxe package costing $249 upfront plus 0.5% at closing, and the only marketing support is a yard sign.
How much can I save with a flat fee MLS listing?
You could save thousands of dollars on real estate commissions by using a flat fee MLS listing service.
Exactly how much you save depends on your home's sale price. Here are some examples at different price points, with a traditional 3% listing agent commission and $300 for a basic flat fee MLS listing.
| Home sale price | 3% listing agent fee | Flat fee MLS listing | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | $6,000 | $300 | $5,700 |
| $500,000 | $15,000 | $300 | $14,700 |
| $1,000,000 | $30,000 | $300 | $29,700 |
On the surface, these savings look appealing. But remember that homes sold without an agent sell for about $65,000 less on average than homes represented by an agent.[2] So if you sell on your own and save $10,000 in listing agent fees, but you sell for $50,000 less than you would with an agent, you'd walk away with $40,000 less overall.
What are the pros and cons of a flat fee MLS listing?
Pros
- Save money on realtor commission
- Pay only for the services you need
- More control over your sale
Cons
- Homes sold without a realtor make less
- Deals can fall through during negotiations
- Being your own realtor is hard work
Learn more about these benefits and risks
✅ You can save money on realtor commission
You could save thousands of dollars using a flat fee listing service instead of paying a listing agent commission. Most flat fee MLS listing companies charge just a few hundred dollars — and some no-frills options are less than $100.
By comparison, a traditional listing agent charges around 2.5–3% of the final sale price. On a $500,000 home sale, a 3% commission would cost you $15,000. But be aware that selling without a realtor comes with risks that could mean you lose money in the long run.
✅ You can pay just for the services you need
Many flat fee MLS listing companies let you pick the services you need. In addition to an MLS listing, they often offer à-la-carte services like pricing assistance, lockboxes, yard signs, and marketing materials.
You don't have to pay for services you won't use. For example, if you're comfortable negotiating with buyers but want help with closing, you can opt for a plan that includes support with closing but not negotiations.
✅ You have more control over your sale
If you want control over how your home is priced and marketed, selling without a realtor may be appealing. While it’s more work for you, you get the final say over every step of the home-selling process.
This control means you negotiate directly with buyers or buyer's agents. Troy Janes, who sold without a realtor, explains, “We could speak directly with the seller and negotiate the terms of the deal rather than going through the formal, time-consuming process of filling out forms for every little thing.”
❌ Homes sold without a realtor make less
Data from the National Association of Realtors reveals a notable difference in sale prices between homes sold with and without a realtor. On average, sellers using an agent earn over $65,000 more than those who use it alone.[2]
This significant difference in sale prices negates any savings from bypassing the typical 2.5–3% listing agent commission. A realtor's expertise and negotiation skills can be crucial in maximizing your home's sale price.
These homes sell for less for many reasons. DIY sellers can make serious pricing mistakes or fail to negotiate effectively with experienced buyer's agents.
Another factor is buyer agents' reluctance to show flat fee MLS listings. Many assume that working with FSBO sellers is more challenging, as it often requires them to handle tasks typically done by the seller's agent. They may prioritize other listings, resulting in less exposure and competition for FSBO properties, negatively impacting the final sale price.
❌ Deals can fall through during negotiations
Some buyer's agents can be aggressive when negotiating with FSBO sellers. They assume the seller is inexperienced and doesn’t know what a fair deal looks like. As realtor Kristyn Grewell says, “There are some agents that are kind of bulldogs out there, especially when it comes to negotiations after we're under contract, like for repairs.”
Buyer's agents may demand that you make repairs, or they'll walk away. However, if they were dealing with a listing agent, they’d likely show more flexibility. The listing agent could make a counteroffer, such as a home warranty instead of repairs, which sellers are less likely to think of themselves.
Similarly, some FSBO sellers can be too inflexible. Grewell notes: “If you get yourself stuck saying I'm not doing any repairs, and you don't have [an agent] saying, just spend the $1,000 dollars and get this to closing, sometimes [the seller] will get tunnel vision and let a deal go because they're being stubborn.”
❌ Being your own realtor is hard work
When you sell without a realtor, you take on most of the tasks a realtor would do. This includes writing a listing description, pricing your home, taking photos, marketing, hosting showings, negotiating with buyer's agents, and closing.
Even if you choose a pricier flat fee MLS plan with extra support, it'll usually fall short of what you’d get with a full-service realtor. If any issues arise, you'll be responsible for dealing with them. As Grewell says, all of this work can leave FSBO sellers feeling like they’re “just putting out fires and it can be very stressful.”
Flat fee MLS listing vs. full-service realtor
Choosing between a flat fee MLS listing service and a full-service realtor comes down to cost and the level of support you want.
Flat fee MLS services are cheaper, offering basic listing access for 6–12 months. However, you miss out on a realtor's expertise and hands-on service. Many FSBO sellers find the process challenging — about 10% eventually hire an agent after struggling to close the deal.
Flat fee MLS companies provide essential services like MLS access and basic marketing, with optional upgrades for more features. While premium packages can include additional support, the costs often add up, making a discount agent a better value if you want hands-on help.
Full-service agents manage every part of the sale, including pricing, marketing, negotiations, and paperwork. They also vet buyers to prevent deals from falling through. For many sellers, the expertise and peace of mind are worth the commission.
Alternatives to a flat fee MLS listing
Suppose you’re looking to save on real estate agent commission but are wary of the heavy lifting that typically comes with an FSBO listing. In that case, there are several alternative options worth considering.
Sell with a discount real estate broker
Discount realtors provide real estate services for a reduced commission or flat fee. They're a good option to avoid the risks of using a flat fee MLS service but also save money on realtor commissions.
Discount real estate brokers are more expensive than flat fee MLS services, but you're more likely to sell for a better price because you’re working with an expert. Many discount realtors offer the same full service as traditional real estate agents, so you don’t need to worry about sacrificing quality for savings.
Sell FSBO without an MLS listing
Technically, you don’t need an MLS listing to sell your house. You can simply advertise it for sale on a few websites. Some of these sites are exclusively for real estate listings, while others have various items for sale.
Free FSBO listing websites include:
- Craigslist
- Facebook Marketplace
- ForSaleByOwner.com
- Zillow
However, selling FSBO without an MLS listing is rarely successful.
Your listing won’t be reposted to other sites like Realtor.com. The only people who see it will be those who visit the particular site you posted on. Also, buyer's agents heavily rely on the MLS to find homes for their clients. If your home isn’t on the MLS, not many buyers or buyer's agents will see it.
Many of the buyers who do visit FSBO websites are real estate investors. They usually want to buy homes for less than market value and flip them for a profit, so they probably won't offer a fair price.
Finally, even if you don't use the MLS, you must still follow local real estate laws and FSBO paperwork requirements.
FAQ about flat fee MLS listing services
What is the best flat fee MLS listing service?
The best flat fee MLS listing service depends on how much experience you have selling homes and how much support you need.
A no-frills plan may be best if you're a highly experienced seller. For example, Homecoin has a ~$150 flat fee plan for sellers who want a more DIY approach.
If you need more support in certain areas, like contracts or pricing, you should see what add-ons or premium plans are available in your area. For example, HomeZu has a contract review package where an agent reviews your sale agreement before you make it final.
Is a flat fee MLS legal?
Flat fee MLS listings are legal, but some states have minimum service laws that require companies to provide more than an MLS listing. Some states require only a little extra support, while others require much more hands-on service. If you live in a minimum service state, flat fee companies may be more expensive.
States and territories with minimum service mandates include AL, DC, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, MO, OR, TX, UT, WA, and WV. Additionally, DE, FL, NV, NM, OH, PA, TN, and WI have minimum service legislation but allow consumers to waive these requirements if they choose to work with a flat fee MLS service.
State laws can change. Consult a realtor or lawyer for the most up-to-date information.
Do you need a flat fee MLS listing service to get your home on Zillow?
No. You can post your home for sale by owner (FSBO) on Zillow for free without working with a real estate agent or paying an MLS listing service to list your home for you.
Do flat fee MLS listings work?
Choosing a flat fee service ensures that the greatest number of interested buyers see your home, and it's an effective way to save on commission costs. However, having your home seen by buyers is only part of the home-selling process.
Unless you're willing to devote the substantial time and effort necessary to sell your home FSBO, you can expect mixed results using a flat fee MLS listing company.
