| Brokerage | Founded | Business model | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compass | 2012 | Tech-forward traditional brokerage (agents, offices, W-2 support staff) | Agents who want best-in-class technology and a premium brand in major markets |
| Douglas Elliman | 1911 | Traditional luxury brokerage | Luxury agents in the Northeast and Florida who value brand prestige and PR |
| Sotheby's International Realty | 1976 | Franchise / affiliate network | Luxury agents who want a globally recognized brand and international referrals |
| Christie's International Real Estate | 1995 | Invitation-based affiliate network of independent luxury brokerages | Established independent luxury brokerages seeking a prestige global affiliation |
| The Agency | 2011 | Boutique luxury brokerage with a collaborative (non-competitive) culture | Luxury agents who want a modern boutique brand and a collaborative culture |
| Coldwell Banker | 1906 | Franchise | Agents who want an established, stable national franchise with a luxury tier |
| Keller Williams | 1983 | Franchise built around training, a commission cap, and profit share | Agents who value training, the cap model, and profit-share income |
| eXp Realty | 2009 | Cloud brokerage — virtual offices, no brick-and-mortar | Agents who want a low cap, revenue share, equity, and a remote model |
| RE/MAX | 1973 | Franchise built for experienced agents (high split / desk fee) | Experienced high-producers who want to keep more of each commission |
| The Corcoran Group | 1973 | Traditional brokerage + franchise | Agents in New York and resort markets who want a recognized coastal brand |
| Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices | 2013 | Franchise under the Berkshire Hathaway brand | Agents who want a stable, trusted national brand with strong consumer recognition |
Brokerage comparisons
Compare the top real estate brokerages
Side-by-side comparisons of the top real estate brokerages — model, commission splits, technology and luxury focus — to help agents choose where to hang their license.
How do the top real estate brokerages compare?
WealthyBud compares 11 large U.S. brokerages in 12 head-to-head matchups on business model, commission structure, technology and luxury focus. Commission splits are negotiated by office and agent, so use the table to shortlist and confirm terms with each brokerage's local office.
Which brokerage matchups can you compare?
Compass vs Douglas Elliman→Compass vs Keller Williams→Compass vs eXp Realty→Keller Williams vs eXp Realty→Keller Williams vs RE/MAX→Sotheby's International Realty vs Christie's International Real Estate→The Agency vs Compass→Douglas Elliman vs The Corcoran Group→Coldwell Banker vs RE/MAX→Compass vs Sotheby's International Realty→Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices vs Coldwell Banker→The Agency vs Douglas Elliman→
Comparisons are compiled from public information; commission and support terms are negotiated and vary by market and office.