UpNest is an online platform connecting home sellers and buyers with high-quality real estate agents. UpNest doesn't guarantee listing fee savings, so it's best for sellers who don't mind paying full price or who are comfortable negotiating with an agent on their own.
Based on a survey of online UpNest reviews, UpNest has a fairly good reputation among customers. Many UpNest reviews from satisfied customers repeatedly cited UpNest agents’ excellent customer service and an overall fast, easy sale. Only a few reviewers raised concerns, mentioning issues with communication and support from agents they were matched with.
Ultimately, your experience with UpNest depends on the quality of the agent they match you with. We recommend comparing UpNest to a few other low-commission real estate brokerages to decide which service to use. Read on for our in-depth UpNest review to decide if UpNest is the right one for you.
Looking for a reliable, low-commission option with guaranteed savings? Clever offers a pre-negotiated 1.5% listing fee, significantly lower than the industry average, without compromising on service quality. Fill out this form to match with top-rated agents near you!
Listing Fee
Buyer Savings
Active Since
Editor's take
Overview
Locations
UpNest lets you choose from multiple vetted agents, so there’s a good chance you’ll find a realtor that fits your needs. But it falls short on savings and customer service.
Pros
- Easy-to-use online dashboard.
- Choose from multiple agents.
- Agents offer full service and support.
Cons
- No guaranteed savings on realtor fees.
- Customers report difficulty with UpNest's customer service.
- No clear agent vetting requirements.
Our UpNest review rating
| ⭐️ UpNest: Overall score | 3.1 🟡 |
| Service quality | 5.0 🟢 |
| Savings | 2.0 🔴 |
| Customer experience | 3.7 🟡 |
| Agent expertise | 1.5 🔴 |
We gave UpNest high marks for service quality. Its agents offer a full-service customer experience and full support throughout the transaction. UpNest also has good customer ratings, with most reviewers praising the platform for connecting them with quality real estate agents.
But there are some downsides to consider. There's no UpNest discount because UpNest doesn't offer major built-in real estate commission savings. When you work with an UpNest agent, there's no guarantee that the agent will charge a fee lower than the average listing fee (2.74%) that most realtors charge nationwide. UpNest agents compete with each other to win your business, but there’s no guarantee of the lowest commission you’re offered.
In addition, UpNest doesn't have clear vetting requirements for its agents. Any realtor with a valid real estate license and a NAR (National Association of Realtors) membership can join the brokerage. This means that you could be matched with an agent who has limited experience or lacks expertise in your local market—a concern reflected in some negative reviews.
Is UpNest the right real estate company for you?
UpNest is best if you're struggling to find a real estate agent and want to quickly assess your options. The platform is free to use, so there's no harm in signing up to see who you get matched with. It’s also good for quickly getting competing offers from multiple agents.
Customer reviews show that UpNest often hits the mark with matching your needs to an agent. However, it's pretty easy for agents to join UpNest's network, so there’s also a chance you get matched with an agent who doesn't have much experience selling in your area or provides subpar customer service.
Is there an UpNest discount?
Where UpNest really falls short is in savings. There's no UpNest discount because UpNest agents set their own rates, so there's no guarantee that you'll pay a lower listing fee than you would with a conventional agent.
Other agent-matching services offer much better rates. For example, Ideal Agent’s listing fee is 2%, and Clever Real Estate's is 1.5%. So you could save thousands more with Clever than with UpNest while still getting a full-service seller experience from a top local real estate agent. Get matched with top-rated agents at Clever Real Estate today and start saving with our 1.5% listing fee.
What is UpNest like for buyers?
According to UpNest, it helps buyers by providing three to five quotes from local agents within 24 hours. Many of these agents may offer a portion of their commission as a rebate, allowing buyers to receive significant cash back if they choose a competitive offer.
This system has proven timely in light of the recent real estate commission changes resulting from a federal class-action lawsuit against NAR. Under the new rules from the settlement, sellers are no longer required to offer a set buyer’s agent commission, and buyer agents must now disclose their fees upfront to clients.[1]
While experts anticipate that most sellers will still offer a “buyer’s agent concession”—and that buyer’s agent commission will gradually decrease over the next decade—buyers are responsible for paying their own agent’s commission if there’s no concession offered. For those buyers, a company like UpNest could give them a way to find the best deal on a buyer’s agent.
UpNest vs. alternatives
When you're looking to find a real estate agent, it's helpful to compare your options. We recommend starting with a service that pre-negotiates lower rates with its agents, like Clever or Ideal Agent. These agents will offer a similar level of service as UpNest agents, but your savings will be locked in.
You could also opt for a discount brokerage like Redfin, which offers a 1.5% listing fee (1% if you both sell and buy with them). Because Redfin uses teams of salaried agents to handle sales, you’ll probably get less personalized attention from a Redfin agent than you would with an UpNest agent. But again, your savings with Redfin would be locked in from the start.
Because UpNest agents set their own rates, you may be able to find a full-service, experienced UpNest agent who offers savings comparable to Clever or Redfin. However, you’ll have to do some comparison shopping and possibly some one-on-one negotiation. If you’re comfortable doing that, UpNest deserves a look.
How UpNest stacks up
UpNest customer reviews
📊 Our rating: 3.7/5
- Majority of reviews are positive
- Customers had a generally good experience with their agents, with some exceptions
- Company does not respond to negative reviews
UpNest has a decent overall rating: 4.6 out of 5 based on over 8,000 total reviews between Shopper Approved, Google, and Better Business Bureau.
Most reviewers say that they had a positive experience with their agent. Satisfied UpNest customers generally thought the company gave them a solid list of realtors to choose from, experienced a fast, easy sale and were happy with the customer service they received.
However, negative reviews specifically criticized UpNest's customer service, stating that its agents were hard to contact, unresponsive, and sometimes disappeared entirely after their initial meeting. Some UpNest agents also complained about the quality of leads they received, suggesting that UpNest doesn’t vet agents or leads.
✍️ Editor's Note: We did not include UpNest's Facebook reviews in our overall rating, as many appeared to be from non-authentic sources. Most of the remaining reviews were from realtors using UpNest as a platform, rather than from home buyers or sellers.
Here's what customers had to say about their experience with UpNest:
Great experience with an agent
In an UpNest review on Google, Anitha M. said in May 2024 that UpNest offered “a great service, gave many options” and showed a “reliable and excellent follow up.”
In a five-star ShopperApproved UpNest review from September 2024, Erik O. from Minnesota said “[Agent] sold our house quickly. He listened to our needs and put us first.”
Taylor in Texas, in another September 2024 UpNest review on ShopperApproved, said that “[Agent] was amazing and made the process so easy! Our home sold in a little under 2 weeks & I would recommend her to anyone trying to sell their home.” They went on to say that the agent handled the entire sale, making for a “smooth and painless process.”
Poor or non-responsive customer service
But other customers had a negative experience with UpNest in the same timeframe.
In September 2024, Sandra in Wisconsin left a one-star UpNest review on ShopperApproved saying that she “regret[ted] the service from this realtor.” She went on to say that the agent was a poor communicator, wasn’t flexible, and that he seemed to mislead her. “His introduction was very good and I think that's what makes us use his services,” Sandra said. “But after that, we never see him again, not even at the closing.”
This feeling of being underserved and abandoned was a recurring theme in many negative UpNest reviews. Another UpNest reviewer in September 2024, in Ohio, echoed many of Sandra in Wisconsin’s complaints.
“Too many issues to list. Seen her once. Did not even show up to closing. Everything was done through text. Would not recommend.”
Realtors aren't matched with verified customers
A handful of reviews from real estate agents who work with UpNest also mention poor customer service and low-quality (or nonexistent) leads.
In August 2024, Three Suns Services said in a one-star UpNest review that “[UpNest] is the worst lead generation ever. They do not verify the leads.”
In a similar one-star review from July 2024, Laura M. said that despite completing her agent profile on UpNest, “I have been waiting for my first lead for more than a month.”
Also in September 2023, agent Amber S. said “so far this is not a useful platform,” saying that she hadn’t received any useful leads through UpNest. She rated the company one star.
UpNest service quality
📊 Our rating: 5/5
- Agents offer full service
- It's easy to get matched with an agent
UpNest expects all of its partner agents to offer full service and support to their clients. For sellers, that means your agent should:
- Meet with you in person and physically visit your home
- Guide you through due diligence (inspections, appraisal, financing)
- Help you evaluate offers and negotiate terms as needed, and accompany you to the closing
A standard full-service package should also include a comparative market analysis (CMA), help pricing your home, staging advice, professional photography, an MLS listing, a for-sale sign, and a lockbox for buyer's agents.
That said, UpNest allows each agent to create their own proposal for potential clients — so make sure to ask your agent what services they do (and don’t) offer. If you want extra services like drone footage, open houses, or help staging your home, you must work that out with the agent.
How does UpNest work?
- On the UpNest site, you'll sign up by entering basic information about your sale or purchase, including location, timeline, property type, and estimated value.
- You’ll arrive at your customer dashboard, where you can compare different agent proposals. You may get one to two proposals instantly, while others may take minutes, hours, or even days.
- An UpNest Advisor will call and email you to explain the process and ask about your preferences for an agent.
- You'll select which agents you want to interview and sign with your preferred one.
- If you dislike your agent matches, you can request more or simply walk away with no commitment.
UpNest savings
📊 Our rating: 2/5
- No guaranteed discount for sellers or buyers
- Minimal savings
- No transparency around minimum fees
Most discount brokers create savings in one of two ways. Some directly employ their own agents, who offer a discounted listing fee (salaried Redfin agents charge 1.5%), while others pre-negotiate a discount listing fee with local agents (Clever pre-negotiates a 1.5% listing fee with agents in its network, who agree to work for a lower fee in exchange for access to high quality leads).
However, UpNest operates differently. It allows agents to set their own fees. UpNest told us over the phone that their agents charge an average of 2.5% listing fee. That's not much less than the average listing fee, but it could still save you money.
UpNest also doesn't offer any guaranteed incentives for buyers. You can ask your agent for perks like cash back or a home buyer rebate, but they might not offer these.
✍️ Editor's Note: UpNest told us that their agents also set their own minimum fees. If your home is below $500,000, ask your UpNest agent about their minimum fees.
» Learn more about how real estate commission fees work
Sell with a top Clever agent, save thousands on commission.
Clever vets agents based on performance from Berkshire Hathaway, Keller Williams, and hundreds of other top brokerages and negotiates lower insider rates on your behalf. When you work with Clever, you can sell for just 1.5%—roughly half the traditional fee.
UpNest agent expertise
📊 Our rating: 1.5/5
- Agents are required to be licensed NAR members
- No other vetting requirements around performance or customer satisfaction
To join UpNest's network, a real estate agent must become licensed through NAR. Your UpNest agent will hold a valid state realtor license and agree to abide by NAR's Code of Ethics. This is a pretty basic requirement, which you'd expect of any realtor you work with.
Because UpNest has no other vetting requirements, there's no guarantee that your agent is a top performer, experienced in your local market, a good communicator, or accustomed to providing decent service. If you find an agent through UpNest, you must vet the agent yourself.
We recommend looking up the agent's Zillow profile and any other social media or web presence. Survey past customer reviews to ensure the agent has a solid reputation, and look at their transaction history to ensure that they have closed a sufficient number of deals in the past 6–12 months in your local market.
UpNest history and news
UpNest was founded in 2013 and was acquired by Realtor.com in 2022 for an undisclosed amount.[2]
UpNest has been recognized on several prestigious lists, including:
- Deloitte's Technology Fast 500™: Recognizes companies that achieved significant revenue growth. UpNest was ranked #116 in 2019, and #85 in 2018.[3]
- Inc. Magazine's Most Successful Companies: Ranks the 5,000 fastest-growing privately held US companies. UpNest was ranked #396 in 2019 and #322 in 2018.[4]
UpNest locations
UpNest is headquartered in San Mateo, California, but its agent-matching service is available to sellers and buyers nationwide.
Next steps: Should I use UpNest?
Your experience with UpNest will largely depend on the agent you're matched with. If matched with a conscientious, experienced agent, you’ll likely receive a satisfactory experience. However, if you have the bad luck of being matched with a negligent or inexperienced agent, you could have the negative experience described in UpNest’s occasional negative reviews.
Because UpNest is free to use, there's no harm in trying it. However, we recommend starting with a platform that pre-negotiates a lower listing fee with its agent network (like Clever or Ideal Agent). If you find an agent you like, you'll save thousands of dollars on realtor fees. If not, you can always fall back on UpNest where you have a chance of getting similar savings.
Looking for an agent? Talk to a Clever expert.
Our fully licensed concierge team will help you choose the best agent for you. This service is free, and there’s no obligation to move forward with us. If you work with Clever, you can sell for just 1.5%—roughly half the traditional fee. Buyers get cash back.
Frequently asked questions about UpNest
How much can I save with UpNest?
How much you can save with UpNest depends on your agent. Unlike its competitors, UpNest doesn’t negotiate discounted fees with realtors on your behalf. Instead, it allows realtors to offer their own discounts. UpNest told us that its agents charge anywhere from a 1.5–3% listing fee (for context, the average listing fee is 2.83%).
How does UpNest work?
When you sign up with UpNest, it will match you with multiple real estate agents in your area. You can then interview these agents and decide which, if any, are right for you. While UpNest claims its model helps reduce realtor commission, we’ve found savings on UpNest are limited (2.5% listing fee vs. 2.89%). Other companies offer much better rates and match you with the same full-service realtors. Find discount real estate agents near you.
What is the UpNest referral fee?
UpNest’s referral fees — the fees agents pay to be on UpNest — are 30% for listing agents and 15% for buyer’s agents for each closed transaction with an UpNest client.
UpNest vs. Clever: What’s the difference?
UpNest and Clever will both match you with a top local real estate agent. The main difference is that whereas UpNest has no guaranteed savings, Clever pre-negotiates discounted listing fees of 1.5% with its partner agents. Clever also vets the agents it works with, so you’ll only be matched with top established agents in your area. UpNest doesn’t vet their agents very thoroughly, if at all. Learn more about how Clever Real Estate works.
UpNest vs Redfin: What’s the difference?
UpNest is an agent matching service, meaning it will match you with a real estate agent, but it doesn’t have its own agents. Redfin is a discount broker that employs its own real estate agents and charges a listing fee of 1.5% — or lower if you choose to sell and buy with Redfin. Read more about UpNest vs. Redfin.