Numerous resources are available to tenants, landlords, and property seekers nowadays, making it easy to get lost in the options. In this article, we will compare two widely used platforms, Ownerly vs. Zillow, to help you know what to expect before committing to either.
Keep reading for our in-depth comparison.
Key Takeaways
- Ownerly focuses more on current and historical property records, while Zillow is primarily a tool for finding up-to-date listing information on homes for sale and rent
- When choosing any real estate platform, it’s important to weigh features against price to determine which solution is best for your needs
What is Ownerly?
Ownerly is a platform designed to empower homeowners and home-seekers with detailed property valuation tools and important insights into properties. It’s a new entrant into the world of online real estate websites.
After its launch in 2018, Ownerly has added tools and features at a steady clip. The platform touts professional-grade data alongside access to property histories, deed and lien information, historical pricing, yearly tax bill costs, and demographics.
What is Zillow?
While Ownerly vies for a foothold as a new player in online real estate information, Zillow has been a steady force in the marketplace for almost 20 years. Starting in Seattle, WA, in 2006, Zillow offers for-sale and rental listings, mortgage resources, comprehensive guidance about foreclosures, and a proprietary property valuation tool called Zestimates.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
While both Ownerly and Zillow offer helpful elements for many aspects of your real estate needs, each platform differs in its strengths and features, meaning one might be more suitable for your specific purpose.
Read on for a feature-by-feature breakdown.
Property Listings
Zillow and Ownerly each offer detailed property data with all of the standard information one might expect, including listing prices, home features, photos, and the contact information of the real estate agent responsible for the listing.
When comparing the two, Zillow functions as more of a resource to find and research for-sale or for-rent listings, and Ownerly skews more towards a research tool aimed at deep dives into the details of a specific property.
If you expect to quickly find information about a property, you may find Zillow’s approach more accessible. For instance, Ownerly users must sign up for an account and pay for a $1 trial (which increases after the introductory period) to access reports.
Zillow
- Property listings provide high-quality images (if available), pricing information, property details, and publicly facing listing details as provided by the listing real estate agent
- Zillow property listings also feature listing price history, sales history, property taxes, and an overview of the neighborhood, including nearby listings
Ownerly
- Property reports from Ownerly provide users with detailed ownership information, property data, AI-powered “Smart Insights” market estimates, and an Ownership Timeline, which lists all current and previous owners of the property
- Ownerly also presents a highly detailed breakdown of neighborhood demographics, liens and deeds on the property, known mortgage information, and a natural hazards breakdown
Property Valuation
While both Ownerly and Zillow provide property valuation estimates, each platform differs in its approach and methodology. Zillow’s Zestimate is a proprietary algorithm that accounts for location, market trends, and home facts.
Ownerly, on the other hand, utilizes an automated valuation model (AVM), which factors past sales, taxes, property values, and additional information into its valuations.
Zillow
- As stated, Zestimates are calculated through a proprietary algorithm that uses property records, recent home sales in the area, and user-submitted information to determine values. The algorithm also considers square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, how long a property has been on the market without selling, and market trends.
- Zillow claims that the accuracy of Zestimates is quite high, with a median error rate for houses on the market of just 1.9%. Their reported error rate for homes not currently on the market is higher at 6.9%.
Ownerly
- Ownerly uses an AI-powered AVM (automated valuation model) based on its in-house algorithm. Like Zillow, they take property details and neighborhood comparisons into account. Their AVM relies more heavily on a forecasting-based model, using available current and historical data to make educated guesses about the value of a property.
- While Ownerly doesn’t provide information about their error rates, AVMs are generally understood to be less accurate than other models and provide more of a “ballpark” than an exact estimate — additionally, multiple reviews on Trustpilot feature users complaining about inaccurate estimates using Ownerly’s tool.
User Experience
Since anyone interested in learning more about a property has so many options, an attractive and intuitive interface is crucial to a positive user experience. Zillow has spent years refining and reworking its website, and the current version is clean and easy to use.
Ownerly, on the other hand, opts for an information-focused, report-based presentation.
Below, we’ll break down both desktop and mobile interfaces.
Zillow
- Zillow’s website features a responsive design, meaning both the desktop and mobile presentations are effective, and each listing contains multiple high-resolution images of the properties. Its simple, primary color-focused design scheme makes the site easy to browse for long periods.
- Zillow’s mobile app has been refined over time to provide a pleasant user experience with clear listings, high-quality photos, and the ability to apply for a rental within the app, as long as the listing has this feature enabled.
Ownerly
- Ownerly’s presentation is more barebones and data-driven than Zillow’s since the website is primarily for research. Plus, as a newer company, Ownerly has had less time to refine its website. Since Ownerly opts for an efficient design focused on reports, there are fewer bells and whistles. Users accustomed to sites like Zillow will face a learning curve when attempting to use Ownerly.
- Ownerly does not have a mobile app for either iOS or Android, but the website does feature a responsive design, meaning it’s easy enough to navigate and view reports via a mobile browser.
Pricing and Plans
Each platform takes a different approach to pricing and the services it provides. Since Zillow is a more traditional listing platform that also offers other services, the majority of the site is free to use.
Ownerly, however, is more data-focused and charges for nearly all of its offerings, making pricing one of the key differentiators between Ownerly vs. Zillow.
Zillow
- Viewing and posting listings for properties is free for both rental and for-sale properties. Zillow also offers rental applications, credit and background checks, and other services for landlords, and the only cost would be for the potential renter, as is standard. So, how does Zillow make money? Premium listings are available for a monthly fee of $29.99, which ensures your listing appears closer to the top of a user’s search listings.
Ownerly
- Ownerly has three pricing tiers based on the user’s need, and each tier allows for a finite number of reports. A seven-day trial is available for $1. Pricing after that initial period is as follows:
- $49.99 for 50 reports/month
- $79.99 for 100 reports/month
- $179.99 for 250 reports/month
Finding this information is challenging unless you call Ownerly at 1-888-212-8460.
User Reviews and Ratings: Ownerly vs Zillow
Overall, the general consensus on the effectiveness of each platform is a mixed bag.
Zillow
- Zillow has just a 1.4 (out of 5) overall rating on Trustpilot, with nearly 400 reviews logged. 75% of those ratings are 1 star. Many site users complain about incorrect Zestimates or a lack of clear and communicative customer service. 15% of the reviews are 5-star reviews; the customers who give high marks love the site’s ease-of-use and clear listings.
Ownerly
- Out of 133 reviews on Trustpilot, Ownerly has a 2.2 overall rating out of 5, and 76% of those reviews are 1 star. Many of the 1-star reviews complain about the accuracy of the data in the reports. However, Ownerly’s support team is quite active on Trustpilot and regularly responds to many of the negative comments.
The TurboTenant Advantage
When comparing Ownerly vs. Zillow, it’s important to note that Zillow is a well-established player in the industry, while Ownerly represents the new kid on the block. They both provide crucial data about a property or listing, but neither platform is customized for landlords and tenants in the same way that TurboTenant is.
TurboTenant provides robust landlord software that includes tenant screening reports, rental applications, online rent payments, and additional features that appeal to landlords and tenants alike. Don’t believe us? Check out our 4.6 rating out of over 800 reviews on Reviews.io.
Sign up for a free account today to see how TurboTenant can make managing your rental properties easier than ever.
Ownerly vs Zillow: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ownerly more accurate than Zillow?
Ownerly vs. Zillow accuracy is a matter of some debate. While Zillow publicly posts its median error rate for estimates against actual sales, Ownerly does not publish that information. Based on multiple consumer review sites, Zillow and Ownerly have their challenges regarding accuracy. Overall, Zillow’s track record appears to put them slightly ahead of Ownerly in terms of overall accuracy.
Does Ownerly charge a fee?
Ownerly charges a monthly fee to access its reports. Currently, the pricing is $49.99 for 50 reports per month, $79.99 for 100 reports per month, and $179.99 for 250 reports per month. A $1 seven-day trial, with 25 reports, is available to new users.
What is the most reliable home value site?
While both Ownerly and Zillow offer home valuations, each platform has been known to present valuations that differ from reality. It’s important to compare your listing across multiple tools before making any decisions.