Cost · Updated October 11, 2026
What Zillow costs, and who pays
Browsing and most shopper tools are free. The costs sit with landlords, agents and, indirectly, the market. Here is what we could confirm and what varies.
Buyers and renters
Searching, saving homes, viewing the Zestimate and contacting agents does not cost shoppers money. Renters can search and apply on the platform. Application or screening fees charged by a landlord are separate from Zillow’s own pricing, so read the fine print before paying anything.
Landlords
| Item | What Zillow says or reports |
|---|---|
| Basic rental listing | Free, per Zillow’s Rental Manager page |
| Premium listing | One-time fee; reported at $29.99 for up to 90 days (third-party report, confirm in the posting flow) |
| Tenant screening | Described as free for landlords |
| Rent collection | Described as free; check for payment processing details |
| Apartment advertising | Subscription ads for property managers; price not published |
History note: Zillow began charging for rental listings in 2019 and moved to a free basic listing in 2022, according to landlord-software company Hemlane. Rules for property managers differ from owners.
Agents
Agents pay in one of two ways. Premier Agent is an advertising program whose cost depends on the ZIP codes and share of impressions an agent buys, and it varies widely. Zillow Preferred has no up-front lead cost; Zillow’s FAQ says success fees range from 15% to 40% of the agent’s commission depending on market, paid only if a transaction closes, and a Follow Up Boss subscription is required.
Where the cost really lands
Advertising and referral fees are a cost of doing business for agents. Whether and how that shows up in the commission a client negotiates is up to each agent and brokerage, and we have no data on it. If you are a buyer or seller, ask any agent how they were introduced to you and what you will pay, in writing.
Sources
- Zillow, Zillow Preferred FAQ.
- Zillow, Rental Manager post-a-listing page.
- Hemlane, “Zillow is charging for rentals” (updated Nov. 6, 2025).