If you’ve ever typed your address into Zillow or Redfin, you’ve probably seen a number pop up that’s supposed to tell you what your home is worth. It feels helpful, until you check the other site and get a totally different number. Which one should you believe?
That’s the problem. These online estimates often miss the mark, and for sellers, that can lead to pricing mistakes and stress. In this article, we’re breaking down what goes into each estimate, how accurate they really are, and what you should trust when it’s time to sell.
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Redfin vs Zillow Estimates
What Are Zillow and Redfin?
Zillow and Redfin are two of the biggest names in real estate tech. They help people search for homes, track prices, and get a feel for what’s happening in the market, all from their phones or laptops.
Zillow is like the Google of home listings. It covers nearly every home in the U.S., whether it’s for sale or not. You can look up your house, your neighbor’s house, or anything in between. It also lets owners list their homes themselves (FSBO), which draws in lots of traffic from curious buyers and sellers.
Redfin, on the other hand, is a full-on real estate brokerage. That means it has licensed agents and can help you buy or sell directly through the platform. It’s known for being tech-savvy and offering built-in savings on commission fees for sellers.
Both platforms offer pricing estimates for nearly every home in their database. But even though they do similar things, they pull from different data sources and have different goals, which is why their estimates don’t always match up.
Redfin and Zillow’s Estimators
Both Zillow and Redfin offer their own price estimate tools, Zillow calls theirs the Zestimate, and Redfin simply calls theirs the Redfin Estimate. These tools give you a ballpark number of what your home might be worth, based on the info they’ve gathered about it.
So, how do they work?
Zillow’s Zestimate pulls from public records, user-submitted updates, and recent sales nearby. It also includes homes that aren’t on the market, which can sometimes throw off the numbers, especially if your home has upgrades Zillow doesn’t know about.
Redfin’s Estimate relies heavily on MLS data, the stuff real estate agents use, and it updates daily. That gives it an edge in active markets, especially where homes are selling quickly. But if your home isn’t listed or the data is old, it can miss important details too.
In short, both are useful tools for getting a general idea, but they’re not replacements for a real pricing strategy. They give you the “online home value,” not necessarily what a buyer would actually pay.
Comparative Market Analysis vs. Online Estimators
Online estimators are fast, but a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) digs deeper. A CMA is what a real estate professional puts together using hand-picked data from similar homes that recently sold, called comps. It’s tailored to your home, your upgrades, your street, and even your school district.
While Zillow and Redfin rely on formulas and sometimes outdated info, a CMA adds local insight that tech can’t fully capture. Things like a renovated kitchen, corner lot, or nearby construction might not show up in automated tools, but they matter to buyers.
A real estate agent can walk through your home, ask questions, and adjust the price range based on what’s really going on in your neighborhood. That’s something no website can do just yet.
If you’re serious about selling, think of a CMA as your home’s reality check. It’s more work, but way more accurate.
Accuracy Breakdown: Median Error Rates & Local Market Factors
Zillow and Redfin both say their estimates are accurate, but even they admit they can be off by thousands. The best way to look at this is through median error rates, a stat that shows how far off their guesses usually are.
Zillow’s nationwide median error rate is about 2.4 % for homes on the market, and closer to 7.5 % for off-market homes. Redfin says their estimates are within 2.1 % for listed homes. So they’re close, but that gap gets bigger when homes aren’t actively for sale.
Local markets can make a big difference too. In hot areas, where homes are flying off the market, both sites may struggle to keep up with changes. In slower spots, the data can be stale. Renovations or custom features? These tools usually miss them.
That’s why two homes on the same street can get wildly different online estimates, even if they’re almost identical.
Zillow vs. Redfin: Side-by-Side Feature Comparison
If you’re deciding between Zillow and Redfin for checking your home value, it helps to look at how they stack up on key features, not just the final number.
| Feature | Zillow | Redfin |
| Estimator Name | Zestimate | Redfin Estimate |
| Data Source | Public records, MLS, user updates | MLS listings, public records |
| Update Frequency | Several times a week | Daily |
| Off-Market Estimates | Yes | Limited |
| Allows FSBO Listings | Yes | No |
| Licensed Agents | No | Yes (Redfin is a brokerage) |
| Home Search Tools | Broad and user-friendly | Streamlined with agent support |
Zillow covers more homes, including ones not for sale, which can skew accuracy. Redfin is more tied to current listings and agent-fed data, which can make it feel more dialed-in, especially if you’re in a competitive market.
So, while both can give you a quick read, their features and goals are a bit different. Think of Zillow as the big-picture tool and Redfin as the more real-time, agent-backed option.
Reilly’s Two Cents
I’ve worked with plenty of home sellers who felt completely lost after seeing one price on Zillow and a totally different one on Redfin. It’s confusing, and honestly, kind of stressful. You want to believe one of them is right, but the truth is, they’re both just educated guesses.
Here’s what I tell folks: use these tools to get a ballpark, not a bullseye. They’re helpful for spotting general trends, but not for making big pricing decisions. That’s especially true if your home has upgrades that aren’t easy to see from public records, things like a new roof, a remodeled kitchen, or even just better curb appeal.
My advice? Always cross-check your estimate with a comparative market analysis from a local agent or get a verified offer from a buyer who actually knows your area. And if your Zestimate or Redfin Estimate feels way off, you’re not alone. A quick look at the comps or talking to a real person can make a huge difference.
Comparing Estimates
If comparing estimates has your head spinning, you’re not alone. The back-and-forth between Zillow and Redfin can make it feel like pricing your home is a guessing game, and that’s not what you want when thousands of dollars are on the line.
That’s where iBuyer.com comes in. Instead of relying on automated formulas, we look at real-time market data and give you a fair, cash offer backed by facts, not fluff. No listings, no showings, and no waiting for buyers to fall in love with your kitchen backsplash.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Redfin’s estimate usually pulls from MLS data and updates daily, which can make it more current. Zillow’s Zestimate includes off-market homes and updates several times a week. Both can be off, especially for homes with recent upgrades.
Each tool uses different data and methods. Redfin relies more on active listings, while Zillow casts a wider net. That often leads to noticeable differences in your home’s value between the two.
Yes. You can claim your home on Zillow and edit features like square footage, bedrooms, or recent improvements. These updates can improve the accuracy, but they don’t guarantee a big shift.
A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) from a real estate agent is usually more accurate because it factors in local market trends and home conditions that automated tools can’t see.
No. Lenders use appraisals done by licensed professionals, not Zestimates or Redfin Estimates. These online tools are just for reference.
Reilly Dzurick is a seasoned real estate agent at Get Land Florida, bringing over six years of industry experience to the vibrant Vero Beach market. She is known for her deep understanding of local real estate trends and her dedication to helping clients find their dream properties. Reilly’s journey in real estate is complemented by her academic background in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication from the University of North Florida.
