Choosing between UpNest and Clever Real Estate? Both services operate nationwide and offer free, easy access to experienced real estate agents whether you’re buying or selling. However, when it comes to savings and customer service, we think Clever is the clear winner.
Why Clever over UpNest? Clever guarantees substantial savings with a low 1.5% listing fee, potentially saving sellers an average of $7,000 compared to UpNest’s higher 2.2% average fee. Plus, Clever buyers enjoy a bonus cash-back after closing—a perk UpNest doesn’t offer.
Both platforms connect you with reputable agents from leading brokerages like Keller Williams and Century 21. But despite UpNest’s competitive marketplace, the promised rate reductions often mirror what you could find on your own.
Our recommendation: Start with Clever for its better rates and benefits. If it’s not a match, UpNest and other services are just a click away. Fill out this short quiz to get matched to top-rated local agents and take control over your home sale!
Clever vs. UpNest: At a glance
Clever vs. UpNest: In-depth breakdown
Clever and UpNest are both nationwide, free services that help home sellers and buyers connect with local agents from well-known brokerages like Keller Williams and Century 21. You provide details about your real estate needs, they recommend agents, and you choose who’s best for you.
The biggest difference: Clever has the advantage of pre-negotiated low rates (1.5%) due to the steady business it provides to its network agents. This ensures consistent savings for all users without the need to negotiate.
UpNest tries to lower costs by having agents compete for business by submitting proposals. While this marketplace approach is intended to reduce rates and offer rebates, the actual savings are often comparable to what you might find independently.
» COMPARE: Best low commission real estate companies
Clever vs. UpNest vs. alternatives
When you compare Clever and UpNest to other top alternatives, Clever is still the clear winner. Clever offers the best overall savings and service of any nationwide full-service real estate company. UpNest scores high on the agent quality and selection front, but its average rates fall short of Clever (1.5%), Redfin (1.5%), and Ideal Agent (2%).
For those prioritizing commission savings, we recommend starting with Clever and exploring other options as needed. If the level of hands-on service is a crucial factor, you might want to reconsider Redfin’s position on your list due to its technology-driven, less personalized service model.
In contrast, Clever and UpNest provide a traditional one-on-one realtor experience, ensuring personalized customer support. Clever not only matches Redfin’s 1.5% fee but also provides robust agent support, setting it apart as a preferable option.
⚡️ Quick tip: Shop around for the best value!
Clever, UpNest, Ideal Agent, and Redfin are all free to use, and there's no obligation to move forward with an agent. There’s absolutely zero harm in reaching out to a few brands (or all of them) and giving yourself more options. We recommend starting with the brand offering the most value (Clever) and working your way down the list. But more options are always better. Shop around, compare rates and agents (experience, personality), and pick the best fit. Finding the right agent for the job will ultimately be more important than saving a fraction of a percentage on your listing fee.
» GET STARTED: Learn about Clever, try it free with no obligation today!
Clever vs. UpNest: More details
Pricing and savings
| Commission fees | 🏆 Clever | UpNest |
|---|---|---|
| Listing fee | 1.5% | 2.2% |
| Buyer’s agent fee | 2.5–3% | 2.5–3% |
| Total commission rate | 3.5–4% | 4.7–5.2% |
Clever’s seller fees and average savings are among the best of any nationwide, full-service real estate brand. Clever pre-negotiates 1.5% listing fees for sellers nationwide, meaning you’d pay half the price compared to if you’d found that same agent on your own.
UpNest’s rates vary by market and home sale, making it hard to pin down an actual price point. But based on mystery shopping and data on UpNest’s website, expect an average listing fee of about 2.2% — pretty similar to the typical market rate of 2.5–3%.
For someone selling a $500,000 home, choosing between Clever and UpNest could significantly impact the total commission costs:
- Clever: With a 1.5% listing fee, you would pay $7,500 for listing the property. If the buyer's agent fee is between 2.5% and 3%, this adds another $12,500 to $15,000, respectively. Therefore, your total commission costs would range from $20,000-22,500, about 4% to 4.5% of the sale price.
- UpNest: Assuming an average listing fee of 2.2%, the cost would be $11,000. Combined with the buyer's agent fee of 2.5% to 3% ($12,500-15,000), the total commission would be between $23,500-26,000, or about 4.7% to 5.2% of the sale price.
So, selling through Clever could save you between $3,000 to $3,500 in commission fees compared to UpNest, based on these rates for a $500,000 home.
⚠️ Expect to cover the buyer's agent fee too!
Regardless of whether you sell through Clever, UpNest, another low-commission service, or a traditional real estate agent, you may need to account for a buyer's agent commission in addition to the listing fee.
Following the recent real estate commission changes resulting from the NAR lawsuit, the practice of listing buyer's agent commissions (BAC) on multiple listing services (MLS) has ended, making BAC negotiation a critical aspect of selling your home.
The change introduces more flexibility and transparency into the transaction process, albeit with added complexity. Yet, despite these changes, real estate professionals have indicated that it's still common for sellers to pay the buyer’s agent fee.
While rates can vary and are negotiable, a typical BAC is around 2.5–3%. A recent Redfin survey reported the average buyer's agent commission at 2.55%, dropping to 2.11% for homes over $1 million.[1]
With Clever, your total commission could be about 4–4.5%, significantly lower than the standard 5–6%. Conversely, UpNest's average total commission of 5.2% aligns closely with market norms, offering minimal savings.
Savings for home buyers
Clever offers cash back to qualifying buyers in the 42 states that allow commission rebates and cash back incentives for home buyers. Note: Home buyer rebates are legal in 42 out of 50 states and Washington, D.C. Learn more about home buyer rebates.
As a home buyer, you'll get matched with top buyer's agents in your area. You can interview as many agents as you'd like until you find the right fit — or walk away at any time with no obligation. Match with the best buyer's agents in your area today!
UpNest handles buyer savings the same way it handles its listing fee discounts: the agents decide what to offer. Not all UpNest agents will offer rebates, and you’ll have to compare different offerings across different proposals vs. the experience and qualifications of the various agents. Note that these rebates also typically come as credits, which require lender approval and can usually be spent only in certain ways (buy points on the mortgage, cover closing costs, etc.)
Clever vs. UpNest: Customer experience
Clever and UpNest both match you with agents quickly (within a few hours at most) and have easy-to-use platforms. But Clever’s process is more personalized. You can talk to a licensed Clever Concierge who will ask you about your situation to give you better matches. With UpNest, everything is automated, which leads to fewer customized matches. There’s also not much available support if issues arise.
That said, many agents work with both Clever and UpNest. And these agents offer their clients the same service and support through these platforms as they would if a client found them independently. But when you work with Clever and UpNest, you’ll pay less commission. Working through Clever, you’ll pay roughly one-third the listing fee rate that you’ll pay through UpNest.
Agent quality and experience
Agent quality and experience are evenly matched between Clever and UpNest. But Clever applies a more tailored approach to matching clients with agents. That means you're more likely to see agents who align with what you want in your match results. Regardless, sellers and buyers can benefit from shopping around and interviewing top candidates to find a good fit.
Clever and UpNest partner with many of the same real estate professionals, and both agencies set stringent qualification standards. Their criteria include positive customer reviews, responsiveness, exceptional communication, and winning real estate sales backgrounds. In addition, Clever looks for a minimum of five years of experience, while UpNest sets the bar at three years.
Agent selection and availability
Clever and UpNest are equally matched when it comes to market coverage. Both companies have nationwide networks of thousands of realtors. Clever and UpNest both start by matching you with two to three agents. If none are a good fit, you can request more agents to interview. Since agent selection and availability are comparable, Clever wins our vote with its guaranteed, built-in savings.
Customer reviews
| Company | Rating (review count) | Review source |
|---|---|---|
| Clever Real Estate | 5/5 (3,300+ reviews) | Read Clever reviews |
| UpNest | 4.6/5 (8,500+ reviews) | Read UpNest reviews |
Clever beats UpNest in customer satisfaction. Clever has a 5/5 average customer rating versus UpNest’s 4.6/5 average rating. UpNest has more total reviews, but it's also been around longer than Clever.
It’s worth mentioning that a common complaint by UpNest customers is unresponsive customer service. In contrast, Clever’s dedicated concierge team of fully licensed customer service representatives is a key benefit.
Quick summary: Clever vs. UpNest
Although Clever and UpNest are both nationwide agent matching services, Clever offers its customers the most significant and consistent value.
How Clever and UpNest are the same
- Match sellers and buyers with top-rated real estate agents from conventional, name-brand brokerages
- Work with only highly qualified agents with legit track records
- Offer nationwide coverage with a large pool of real estate agents to choose from
- Provide their matching services free of charge with no obligation
- Offer built-in savings for home sellers and buyers as an added benefit
Why we pick Clever over UpNest
- More built-in savings: Clever guarantees the most built-in savings (1.5% listing fee vs. UpNest’s 2.2% average).
- Better customer service: Clever has better customer satisfaction ratings and a dedicated concierge customer support team.
💰 Better agents, better rates, zero hassle.
Try Clever’s free agent matching service today with zero obligation. Learn how much you can save!
Get startedFAQ about Clever vs. UpNest
Who has better rates: Clever or UpNest?
Clever Real Estate has better rates than UpNest. Clever offers full service from a top-producing agent for just 1.5% instead of the usual 2–2.5% rate. UpNest doesn't pre-negotiate or guarantee rates, so your savings will vary depending on your market and the specifics of your sale. UpNest has stated that its average listing fee is 2.2%. Learn more about Clever and UpNest fees and savings.
How are Clever and UpNest different?
Clever and UpNest differ in two key areas: savings and customer service. Clever pre-negotiates a low 1.5% listing fee with the agents in its network. UpNest doesn't pre-negotiate rates — the agents compete for your business, so actual rates and savings vary (and can be marginal). Clever also offers ongoing concierge support throughout your sale or purchase from its in-house team of fully licensed real estate agents. UpNest doesn't offer this service. Read the in-depth breakdown of UpNest vs. Clever.
Which company has the lowest commission fees?
Clever and Redfin offer the lowest commission fees, each with a flat listing fee of 1.5%. UpNest is not far behind, with its average listing fee just north of 2%. Other low commission realtors, such as Houwzer and Prevu, also offer competitive rates, but may not be available in your market. However, selecting a low-commission real estate agent involves more than just looking for the lowest price. It's crucial to find an agent whose service quality, customer ratings, experience, and personality match your needs. View our top picks for low commission real estate agents.
