The best real estate lead sources differ mainly by lead type, exclusivity, contract length and total monthly cost, so match the source to your market. Zillow Premier Agent and Realtor.com Connections Plus suit agents who want active buyer inquiries from large portals, while REDX suits agents who prefer to call expired listings and owners selling by themselves. REDX starts at $60 per month for expired leads, Sierra Interactive starts at $299.95 per month on annual billing, and Real Geeks starts at $399 per month plus a $500 one-time setup fee.
We compared 8 options for best real estate lead sources. Each profile below lists the price, free plan, pros and cons as published by the company.
On this page
Best real estate lead sources: comparison table
Swipe the table sideways on a phone to see every column.
| # | Name | Best for | Starting price | Free plan / trial | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zillow Premier Agent | Active buyer connections from a large portal | $223 per connection on average in major… | Not applicable | Visit |
| 2 | Realtor.com Connections Plus | Buyer leads by ZIP code with self-serve buying | quote only | Not applicable | Visit |
| 3 | Homes.com | Listing-led buyer inquiries sent to the listing agent | quote only | Not applicable | Visit |
| 4 | REDX | Expired listings and owner sellers by phone | $60 per month | Not applicable | Visit |
| 5 | Sierra Interactive | Teams that want a website, CRM and advertising in one place | $299.95 per month | Not applicable | Visit |
| 6 | Real Geeks | Agents who want a website, CRM and lead packages from one vendor | $399 per month | Not applicable | Visit |
| 7 | Market Leader | Exclusive monthly leads with a CRM and website | quote only | Not applicable | Visit |
| 8 | Ylopo | Managed advertising with AI follow-up | quote only | Not applicable | Visit |
The 8 best best real estate lead sources, in detail
Zillow Premier Agent
Best for: Active buyer connections from a large portal
Zillow Premier Agent connects agents with buyers who contact an agent or request a tour on Zillow, Trulia, StreetEasy and Hotpads. Zillow states that the average cost per connection is $223 in major metro areas and $139 in non-major metro areas, and that price varies by market, home values and expected connections. Contracts are not required, with a six month contract offered as the minimum recommendation for value.
- It suits agents who want volume and who can respond to new contacts within minutes.
- The main limit is competition and cost control.
- Pricing is set by ZIP code and share of voice, so a popular ZIP code can cost far more than a quieter one, and the same inquiry can reach more than on
- Ask for a written estimate for each ZIP code, set a monthly cap, track how many connections turn into tours, and test one or two ZIP codes before buyi
Pros
- Large buyer audience
- live call, email and tour connections
- no contract required for month to month use
Cons
- Price varies by market and ZIP code
- connections are shared with other agents in the same area
Realtor.com Connections Plus
Best for: Buyer leads by ZIP code with self-serve buying
Realtor.com Connections Plus is the subscription lead program from Realtor.com for individual agents and small teams. The Online Store page states that agents can browse live lead availability, see pricing for their ZIP code and buy without a sales call. That self-serve model suits agents who want to check a small area first, rather than commit to a large territory.
- The program also includes email and text follow-up tools and a dashboard record of each contact.
- The main limit is that the price depends on your ZIP code, so two agents in different markets can receive very different quotes.
- Ask for the current contract term in writing, ask how leads are shared in each ZIP code, and test a small area with a clear follow-up plan for the fir
Pros
- ZIP code level buying through an online store
- automated email and text follow-up tools
- leads from buyers acting on listings
Cons
- No flat monthly price is published on the main product page
- shared leads can reach more than one agent
Homes.com
Best for: Listing-led buyer inquiries sent to the listing agent
Homes.com is a home search portal owned by CoStar Group, built around the idea that the listing agent should receive inquiries on that listing. Its agent page states that membership is a one year subscription, that every listing and agent brand is upgraded to Silver on joining, and that membership gives access to Matterport tours in select markets. The page also lists performance analytics, retargeting and a Platinum tier available only through a sales representative.
- The main limit is price transparency.
- The agent page shows no dollar amount for membership, and Platinum pricing is handled by a sales representative, so total cost depends on your market
- Ask for the full one year cost, the cancellation terms and the markets where Matterport tours are included, and check how many listings the membership
Pros
- Inquiries on your listings go to you as the listing agent
- membership includes listing upgrades and tour tools
- listing performance reports are included
Cons
- No dollar price is shown on the agent membership page
- membership is offered as a one year subscription
REDX
Best for: Expired listings and owner sellers by phone
REDX is a prospecting platform for agents who work by phone. Its expired leads page states that expired leads cost $60 per month and include multi-source phone data, expired filters, old expired listings, mobile numbers, email addresses and market trend data. The page also states that more than 40 percent of sellers relist with a new agent within 30 days of a contract expiring, so speed matters.
- REDX also sells FSBO, for rent by owner, pre-foreclosure and GeoLeads lists, and bundles all five in Core at $199 per month, Connect at $299 and Pro a
- The main limit is effort.
- REDX gives you names, numbers and property details, but it does not book appointments for you, and other agents may call the same owners on the same d
- It suits agents who are comfortable with daily calling and repeated follow-up, as REDX notes that most listings do not come from the first call.
Pros
- Low starting price for one lead list
- daily expired listing data with contact details
- no long term contract on single list plans
Cons
- You must do the calling and follow-up yourself
- contacts are not exclusive to one agent
Sierra Interactive
Best for: Teams that want a website, CRM and advertising in one place
Sierra Interactive is an all-in-one platform with an IDX website, a real estate CRM, lead routing and advertising management. Its pricing page states that agent plans start at $299.95 per month and team plans start at $399.95 per month. Starter is $299.95 per month on annual billing, or $359.95 on monthly billing, Essential is $399.95, or $474.95 monthly, and Growth is $599.95, or $724.95 monthly.
- Monthly billing adds a one-time $500 setup fee, and each plan includes one MLS feed, with extra feeds at $25 each per month.
- The main limit is commitment and total cost.
- A 12 month agreement applies, and the dialer is a $100 per month add-on on Starter, while it is included on Essential and Growth.
- Advertising management also needs a minimum monthly budget, so the platform fee is only part of the total.
Pros
- Published tiered pricing
- IDX website, CRM and dialer in one platform
- managed advertising options are available
Cons
- Monthly billing costs more and adds a $500 setup fee
- plans use a 12 month agreement
Real Geeks
Best for: Agents who want a website, CRM and lead packages from one vendor
Real Geeks combines an IDX website, a CRM and optional managed lead packages in a single platform. Its published pricing lists the base platform at $399 per month with two users included, plus a $500 one-time setup fee. Lead packages are sold separately, with Social at $299 per month, Search at $599 and Seller at $599, each on a 12 month term.
- The platform includes calling, texting, email and video tools, drip campaigns and a mobile app, and extra MLS feeds cost $10 per board per month.
- The main limit is that the platform alone does not generate leads without advertising or a lead package.
- A solo agent who buys the platform and the Social Lead Package will spend $698 per month before any advertising budget, so the true monthly cost is hi
- It suits agents who want a simple setup and who are ready to fund lead generation every month.
Pros
- One published platform price with two users included
- IDX website and CRM with dialer
- optional social, search and seller lead packages
Cons
- Lead packages cost extra on top of the platform fee
- terms run for six or twelve months or annually
Market Leader
Best for: Exclusive monthly leads with a CRM and website
Market Leader is an all-in-one platform that bundles a CRM, a customisable IDX website, marketing automation and a committed monthly supply of exclusive leads. It is designed for agents who want a set number of leads each month in their chosen ZIP codes, rather than a variable flow from a portal auction. It includes lead nurture automation, email and text follow-up and a mobile CRM app, so new leads can be contacted and tracked in the same place.
- The main limit is that Market Leader does not publish a flat price for its Professional plan, so the starting cost depends on a quote for your market
- Lead products such as Network Boost are sold separately.
- Ask for a written quote that separates the platform fee, the per-lead cost and any data fee, and confirm the monthly lead commitment and contract term
Pros
- Committed number of exclusive leads each month
- CRM, website and marketing automation in one system
- lead nurture tools are included
Cons
- No flat price is published for the main agent plan
- lead products cost extra on top of the platform fee
Ylopo
Best for: Managed advertising with AI follow-up
Ylopo builds a lead generation system around managed advertising, an IDX website and an AI assistant called rAIya. It runs Facebook and Google advertising, captures leads on the IDX site, and uses the AI assistant to start text and voice conversations, qualify timeline and motivation, and hand warm leads to the agent. Ylopo states that it generates leads across Google advertising, Local Service Ads, Facebook, Instagram and search at about $6 per buyer lead and $25 per seller lead.
- It integrates with Follow Up Boss, BoldTrail and other CRMs.
- The main limit is total cost and the need for a CRM.
- Ylopo does not publish a rate card, so the platform fee, the advertising budget and any AI add-on must be quoted for your market.
- Third-party reports place the starting platform fee at about $395 per month before advertising spend, so the realistic monthly total is well above the
Pros
- Managed Facebook and Google advertising
- AI assistant follows up by text and voice
- integrates with common real estate CRMs
Cons
- No public rate card is published
- advertising spend is separate from the platform fee
How we chose
We compared lead sources by lead type, exclusivity, pricing transparency, contract terms and follow-up tools. We opened the official product and pricing pages for Zillow Premier Agent, Realtor.com, Homes.com, REDX and Sierra Interactive on 12 November 2026, and we checked Real Geeks, Market Leader and Ylopo against their official pages and current pricing reviews that cite those pages. We listed a price only when it appeared on the provider page or in a breakdown that cited that page, and we wrote quote only when no flat dollar price was published. We did not claim hands-on testing.
What to check before you buy
Ask for the total monthly cost in writing, including the platform fee, the setup fee, the advertising budget, any per-lead charge and any data fee. Confirm the contract length, renewal terms, cancellation notice and any early termination fee. Check whether leads are exclusive or shared, the lead type, the geographic area, data export, CRM integration and lead ownership. Set a 90 day review date, track cost per appointment and cost per closing, and keep only the sources that produce meetings, listings and closings at a cost your business can carry.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest real estate lead source in this list?
REDX is the cheapest starting point in this list, at $60 per month for expired leads on its own product page. That price covers one lead list, with contact data and filters, but you must do the calling yourself. Track how many calls turn into appointments and listings before you judge the value.
Are Zillow Premier Agent leads exclusive?
No, Zillow Premier Agent connections are not exclusive in the usual sense, because pricing is based on share of voice in a ZIP code and more than one agent can buy coverage in the same area. Zillow states that the average cost per connection is $223 in major metro areas and $139 in non-major metro areas. Ask for your ZIP code estimate and check how many agents share that area.
How much should a new agent budget for leads each month?
A new agent should start with a budget they can sustain for at least 90 days, because most online leads need repeated follow-up before they book an appointment. A REDX list at $60 per month is a low cost test, while Sierra Interactive at $299.95 per month on annual billing needs a larger, steady budget. Do not commit to a year-long plan until a short test shows real appointments.
Do I need a CRM to use these lead sources?
You do not need a separate CRM for every source, because several of them include a CRM, a dialer or follow-up tools. REDX includes Vortex for lead management, Sierra Interactive and Real Geeks include a CRM, and Market Leader includes a CRM with its platform. Ylopo works best with a CRM such as Follow Up Boss, so check integration before you buy if you already use one.
What is the difference between a portal lead and an expired listing lead?
A portal lead comes from a buyer who is searching online and contacts an agent or requests a tour, while an expired listing lead is a homeowner whose listing did not sell and who may be looking for a new agent. Portal leads are often earlier in the buying process and may be shared, while expired leads are seller leads that need phone contact and repeated follow-up. Many agents use one of each type.
Should I buy leads from more than one source at once?
You can test two sources at once, but only if you can follow up on both within minutes and track the results separately. Start with one source, set a daily follow-up routine, and record cost per appointment for 30 to 60 days. Add a second source only when the first one is producing meetings.
Sources
- https://www.zillow.com/premier-agent/
- https://www.realtor.com/marketing/online-store/
- https://www.homes.com/advertise/agents/
- https://www.redx.com/products/expired-leads/
- https://go.sierrainteractive.com/pricing
- https://www.realgeeks.com/
- https://www.marketleader.com/
- https://www.ylopo.com/
Prices and features were read on each company’s own website in November 2026. They change often, so confirm the current offer on the official site before you sign up or buy.