❗ Important notice
Homesnap was officially sunsetted in 2023 after CoStar acquired it and decided to focus on Homes.com.[1]
Homesnap was once a popular home search app known for MLS-powered listings and buyer-friendly tools. If you’re a home buyer looking for accurate listings and a good search experience today, check out our list of the best home-buying websites.
What was Homesnap?
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What it was: A mobile-first home search app that showed MLS listings and offered tools for buyers and agents to collaborate during the home search.
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Who it was for: Primarily home buyers who wanted more up-to-date listings than major portals sometimes provide, plus agents who used the app to monitor client activity and communicate.
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How it worked: Homesnap partnered with local MLSs to display listings. Buyers could search and share homes, while agents paid for enhanced visibility and lead access through Homesnap Pro.
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Customer sentiment: Generally positive while active, with praise for its clean interface and faster listing updates, though some users noted limited coverage and paid agent placement.
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Locations: Coverage varied by location and depended on local MLS partnerships.
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Benefits: MLS-powered listings in participating markets, faster status updates than some aggregator sites, strong mobile search and map tools, and easy sharing with agents or family.
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Downsides: Availability depended on MLS partnerships, the experience was mobile-only, and agent matches were based on paid exposure rather than fit.
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Why it shut down: CoStar sunset the Homesnap brand in 2023 and folded its technology and data into Homes.com.
Homesnap alternatives
Homesnap vs. Homes.com
CoStar purchased Homesnap and Homes.com in 2020 and 2021, respectively. At the time, Homesnap had grown 917.2% in three years, with 20 million monthly active users and more than a million agents represented on the app.[2]
While it was extremely popular among agents, Homes.com was getting 10 times the traffic.[3]
Today, Homes.com gets more than 100 million visitors each month.[4]
Like Homesnap, Homes.com is a platform that lets buyers search for properties and connect directly with listings, neighborhoods, and agents. Both pull data directly from the MLS, so you can see what your agent sees. But Homesnap had to partner with individual MLSs, so its coverage was limited in some areas.
While Homesnap offered only a mobile app, Homes.com has both an app and a desktop version, giving you more flexibility in how you look for houses. Homes.com also has sections for new-construction homes and developments, as well as custom homes and lots. You get a detailed look at the town, area, schools, and other information to help you make an informed decision.
Homesnap vs. Zillow
Zillow was an overnight sensation among home search tools. It saw over a million visitors in its first three days in 2006 and has since grown into the world’s largest online real estate marketplace.[5] It reported 221 million monthly users in Q4 of 2025.[6]
Zillow is popular with users for its ease of use and wide selection of homes, but the accuracy of its listings has long been an issue. Not all properties shown on Zillow are available, and the site’s Zestimates are often unreliable — two issues that can be frustrating. So, if you’re going to use Zillow, treat it as a starting point and rely on a realtor for more accurate information.
This accuracy is something former Homesnap users miss. The app pulled info directly from the MLS and let you message a listing agent directly. You could also snap a picture of a home, and the app would identify the property and give you the listing details — something Zillow can’t do.
🔍 See our full list of the best home-buying websites.
When it makes sense to switch from apps to an agent
Home search apps are helpful early on, but once you’re seriously shopping, a local buyer's agent becomes far more valuable than any app.
Accuracy is critical when you’re searching for a home, and the only way to get the most accurate information about a home is to work with an agent. In addition to preparing a comparative market analysis (CMA), which shows a home’s value compared to similar houses that recently sold, an agent will have the inside scoop on the neighborhood.
For instance, an app can’t tell you that the home next door sold for $20,000 less due to foundation issues. An agent can, though, and those are details you’ll definitely need to know.
Home search sites can connect you with a listing agent, but it may not be the right agent for you. The site’s suggested agents typically pay for placement — the recommendation has nothing to do with the agent’s qualifications or track record. A better way to find a real estate agent is to ask family and friends or try a free agent-finding tool.
If you want help finding a buyer’s agent who’s a strong fit — not just whoever paid for ad space — Clever Real Estate can help. Clever matches buyers with top-rated local agents based on relevant experience and performance, not advertising spend. The service is free, and there’s no obligation to move forward.
Clever can connect you with multiple top agents in your area. All agents are vetted based on years of experience, past successful transactions, and customer reviews.
You can compare and interview agents for free — with no strings attached.
Ready to learn more? Click below to take a simple quiz and see your agent matches!
Homesnap reviews: What customers said
| 4.4/5 (493 reviews) | |
| Sitejabber | 3.9/5 (2,163 reviews) |
| Trustpilot | 2.6/5 (343 reviews) |
Homesnap reviews among agents were mixed. Realtors liked that their clients could see the same information, which made working together easier. Negative Homesnap reviewers said they didn’t get many leads and that the company overcharged their credit cards.
There aren’t many reviews available anymore about the site itself from individual users. Most positive Homesnap reviewers instead focused on their agent’s quality and support, though there’s no indication that they found their agent through the app.
How Homesnap worked
- Download the app and set your search preferences. Buyers entered criteria like price range, bedrooms, square footage, and location to start browsing homes in a mobile-first experience.
- Browse MLS-powered listings. In markets with MLS partnerships, Homesnap pulled listings directly from agent data, which often meant more up-to-date status information.
- Refine results with filters and map tools. Buyers could filter by school attendance zones, open houses, and commute time, and view map layers showing property boundaries and satellite imagery.
- Look up homes with a photo search. Buyers could take a photo of a home they passed and instantly view listing details, photos, property history, and estimated value, when available.
- Save, share, and discuss listings. Homes could be saved, shared with a partner or family member, and discussed with an agent using built-in messaging tools.
- Connect with an agent through the app. Agent connections were driven by paid placement, with subscribing agents receiving greater visibility rather than being matched based on fit.
- Work with an agent to tour, offer, and close. Homesnap supported the search and collaboration phase, while agents handled showings, negotiations, and closing.
Homesnap reviews: The bottom line
Homesnap was a popular real estate app that made MLS listings accessible to home buyers and let them connect directly with an agent. The app was also popular among agents, who could use it to advertise their properties and services.
However, Homesnap was sunsetted in 2023 as its parent company focused on Homes.com, which could be a good alternative home search tool. But it’s worth exploring your options, as other search sites can also connect you with realtors who charge lower commissions.
Also, keep in mind that an agent can give you the most accurate listing details. Whatever site you choose, use it only as a starting point.
