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10 best Zillow alternatives for finding a second home

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Pacaso's Editorial Team
February 18, 2026
Family touring a home they found on a Zillow alternative like Pacaso.
Zillow is the undisputed giant of online real estate, clocking more than 200 million monthly visits. Because of this massive footprint, it is almost always the first click for anyone who feels now is the right time to buy a house. But due to some drawbacks, buyers now look for Zillow alternatives due to inaccurate listing data or confusing price estimates, or spam calls from agents. 
The other problem with general search engines like Zillow is that they often lack curated inventory for nuanced searches. For example, if you're looking to buy a luxury second home, you don't want to be inundated with fixer-uppers. Niche Zillow competitors solve this problem because they list quality over quantity, often without the spammy agents and marketing material. Use this guide to find the Zillow alternative that best aligns with your search for a new or second home.
Realtor.comBest for serious buyers who want accurate MLS data
RedfinBest for saving money with built-in agent support
Homes.comBest for a cleaner, less ad-driven home search
PacasoBest for luxury second homes
Apartments.comBest for renters
NeighborhoodScoutBest for deep neighborhood and crime data
FSBO.comBest for buying directly from owners to save fees
Foreclosure.comBest for finding distressed properties as an investor
LandWatchBest for raw land, farms and rural escapes
OpendoorBest for instant access and self-tours

1. Realtor.com

Image of the Realtor.com logo.
  • Best for: Serious buyers who want accurate MLS data.
  • Site: Realtor.com
Realtor.com is one of the best alternatives to Zillow for home listings due to its size and accuracy. The site has a direct link to the National Association of Realtors and updates its MLS data every 15 minutes. That speed is especially useful in a hot market, where a short delay often means losing a house. You also get a cleaner feed that ignores “pre-foreclosure” bait, so you only see inventory that’s actually available to buy.

2. Redfin

Image of the Redfin logo.
  • Best for: Saving money with built-in agent support.
  • Site: Redfin
Redfin operates as a brokerage, which means it can offer lower listing fees and commission refunds at closing. Plus, you’ll often find the Redfin Estimate is more accurate than ‌Zestimates because it uses active MLS data. The platform also has one of the most efficient home-buying apps for booking tours and getting instant alerts. It’s best suited for major cities, but you might find gaps in coverage if you look in rural or less populated areas.

3. Homes.com

Image of the Homes.com logo.
  • Best for: A cleaner, less ad-driven home search.
  • Site: Homes.com
Homes.com recently cleared out the clutter on its site to give you a cleaner and more functional search experience. What stands out is that you can message the actual listing agent directly, instead of dealing with random salespeople who buy your data. That direct line saves you from the spam calls you get with many other real estate sites like Zillow or other larger platforms. The map feels smooth and easy to use, even if it lacks some of the deeper filters you find elsewhere.

4. Pacaso

Image of the Pacaso logo.
  • Best for: Luxury second homes
  • Site: Pacaso
Most alternatives to Zillow help you find a home, but none make it easy to get a luxury second home. Former Zillow executives founded Pacaso to solve that specific aspect of luxury home ownership. Their vision was to fix the high costs or maintenance headaches of owning a second home with a simple co-ownership model. With the co-ownership model, you purchase an ownership interest ranging from 1/8 to 1/2. This gives you ownership of a true real estate asset — not a timeshare — at a fraction of the cost. They also created a process for managing and selecting second homes, which gives you access to premium properties. For example, you could co-own unique vacation homes with iconic designs at a fraction of the cost.

5. Apartments.com

The Apartment.com logo.
As the name implies, Apartments.com specializes entirely in rentals, which is something of a secondary focus on many sites like Zillow. The site prioritizes managed buildings with verified availability and active property managers. You can filter by specific amenities and view reliable 3D tours to see exactly what you get before you book a visit.

6. NeighborhoodScout

The Neighborhood Scout logo.
Standard listing sites often gloss over safety ratings to keep you browsing, but NeighborhoodScout gives you detailed insights about crime and school quality. It has block-by-block heat maps that show exactly where the safe zones end and the risky areas begin. Certainty like this helps a lot when you’re relocating and can’t visit in person. The reports aren't free, so it makes sense to wait until you’re serious about a place before you pay.

7. FSBO.com

The FSBO.com logo.
  • Best for: Buying directly from owners to save fees.
  • Site: FSBO.com
Zillow hides “for sale by owner” listings under a confusing secondary filter that most buyers miss. FSBO.com puts these off-market homes in one place to help you find deals without agent fees. You speak directly to the seller, so you often get straightforward answers about the house's history. The platform doesn’t offer much support for the paperwork, though. You’ll likely need to hire a real estate attorney to make sure you close the deal safely.

8. Foreclosure.com

The Foreclosure.com logo.
  • Best for: Finding distressed properties as an investor.
  • Site: Foreclosure.com
Foreclosure.com is the leading search engine for investors hunting for distressed real estate. It aggregates messy public records into a clean list of tax deeds, bankruptcies or sheriff sales. Standard sites miss these opportunities because they rely on agent feeds rather than court filings. It also lists the specific name of the trustee or asset manager, so you know exactly who to call to make a deal. Access to detailed listings requires a subscription fee, which is most practical once you are seriously evaluating distressed properties.

9. LandWatch

The Land Watch logo.
  • Best for: Undeveloped land, farms and rural escapes.
  • Site: LandWatch
LandWatch specializes in rural real estate, farms and hunting properties. Homesteaders and investors check here when they want 10 or more acres instead of a standard subdivision with an HOA like on Zillow. You can filter by specific needs that standard sites ignore, such as mineral rights, timberland or water access. The search tools also let you hunt for auctions, owner financing deals or land with existing structures like barns and cabins.

10. Opendoor

The Opendoor logo.
  • Best for: Instant access and self-tours.
  • Site: Opendoor
Opendoor owns the homes it sells, so you never have to coordinate schedules with a seller or an agent. You simply book a tour and unlock the front door with their app. Browsing without a salesperson hovering over your shoulder makes the experience free from pressure. The platform also has a trade-in service that lets you line up your sale and purchase perfectly to avoid paying two mortgages. You’re limited to their specific inventory for these features, but the convenience can be appealing.

How to choose the right Zillow alternative for your needs

Your specific goal when searching for a property should dictate which app you open first. Primary home buyers need speed and accurate data, like Redfin and Realtor.com, to beat the competition in hot markets. Renters should prioritize verified platforms that filter out expired or fake listings. Buyers and renters should use multiple apps to see every available property and compare similar listings across platforms.Buying a vacation home requires a different approach entirely. Financial hurdles often block the dream, since a traditional luxury second home down payment is usually much higher than for a primary residence. Co-ownership models help you bypass that barrier by lowering the entry cost upfront. You can buy into a luxury property at a fraction of the cost, and for that, you need a specialist like Pacaso, not a generalist like Zillow, Realtor.com or Redfin. 
Tip: Don’t rely on just one home search siteMost buyers get better results by using two or three Zillow alternatives at the same time. Pair a data-accurate platform like Realtor.com with a neighborhood-focused site like NeighborhoodScout, then explore options like Pacaso if you’re considering a second home or co-ownership.

Finding the right home starts with the right platform

You now have a good list of Zillow alternatives to help you find exactly what you need. Next, you need to keep in mind all the factors to consider when buying your dream home before you go searching, as this will help you narrow down what to look for. When you are ready to move from searching to co-owning, Pacaso can help with the entire process. We handle the inspections, interior design and ongoing management so you can focus on enjoying the home rather than maintaining it. Plus, programs like PacasoNow make second home ownership less intimidating by letting you temporarily commit to Pacaso to see if it’s a good long-term fit.

Zillow alternatives FAQs

01: Which platforms have the most accurate MLS data?

Redfin and Realtor.com generally have the most accurate MLS data because they maintain direct digital feeds from local MLS databases. They can update listings in near real time, so you see new homes as soon as agents list them.

02: Are there Zillow alternatives for shared ownership?

Pacaso is the best alternative for shared ownership, designed specifically to simplify co-ownership for luxury buyers. With us, you can own a true real estate asset rather than a timeshare, with full property management.

03: Do I still need a real estate agent?

You still need a real estate agent because apps can’t interpret tricky inspection reports or negotiate complex closing contracts.

04: Where to find verified rental listings with 3D tours

Apartments.com is the best source for verified listings and 3D tours because it prioritizes scam filtering and visual verification.

05: What’s the best Zillow alternative for second-home buyers?

Pacaso is the best for second-home buyers. They take the concept of co-ownership property and turn it into an actual investment, letting you own a share of a luxury home for a fraction of the cost.

06: What is Zillow’s biggest competitor?

Realtor.com is the heavy hitter among the top Zillow alternatives due to its massive inventory. Backing from the National Association of Realtors gives it an extra layer of industry credibility.

07: What is more accurate than Zillow?

Redfin beats Zillow on value estimates because it operates as an active brokerage with immediate access to data. Their algorithm pulls from live MLS feeds to reflect market shifts faster than a Zestimate.

08: What is the best online real estate site?

The best site depends on your specific goal. Use Redfin for data, Realtor.com for inventory or Pacaso for co-ownership.

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