Who is Real?

Real Broker Inc. began in 2014 as a fully cloud-based brokerage and now operates across the United States and Canada. The company recruits high-quality agents with an 85% split, a low cap, and a revenue share model designed to monetize growth.

Management, led by CEO Tamir Poleg, frames Real not as a franchise but as a single brokerage ecosystem that aims to exclude unnecessary middle layers while still honoring multiple listing service rules.

Real’s culture leans on collaboration channels like Workplace and the private Real Academy learning hub.

Who is Compass?

Compass launched in 2012 and quickly became the largest residential real estate company in the country by sales volume.

According to Compass, more than 20,000 principal Compass agents rely on its internal platform to manage marketing, CRM, and listing strategy. CEO Robert Reffkin positions Compass as a tech-forward realty marketplace that pairs an exclusive private network for pocket listings with local offices in many major metros.

Compass hopes the combination of high-touch service and data-heavy tools will recruit top performers while maintaining privacy for high-end sellers.

What is Real’s Commission Structure?

Real keeps its commission math simple: an 85/15 split until an agent hits a $12,000 cap, then the split resets to 100% for the remainder of the anniversary year.

A $225 transaction fee applies until the cap, dropping to $160 afterward, plus $40 for E&O insurance. 

Team members carry a $6,000 cap, giving large teams pricing leverage. There are no monthly desk or franchise fees, a point many brokerages still struggle to match.

What is Compass’s Commission Structure?

Compass negotiates splits case-by-case, but most reports land near an 80/20 structure with room for experienced agents to climb higher.

Some new recruits start closer to 70/30, and elite teams can push beyond 85%. Unlike Real, Compass charges resource or “marketing” fees that vary by office.

While the flexibility appeals to high-volume producers, agents must weigh the net effect on take-home pay when home sales ebb.

What Revenue Share Opportunities Does Real Offer?

Real’s 5-tier revenue share model pays 5% of company revenue from each Tier 1 recruit, scaling to 1% by Tier 5. Annual caps of $4,000 per Tier 1 agent taper down the line, which helps the brokerage sustain fairness and prevent channel damage from aggressive recruiting.

Because payouts are calculated from the 15% brokerage portion, not gross commission, Real maintains compliance with antitrust laws while offering agents a pathway to passive income.

What Revenue Share Opportunities Does Compass Offer?

Compass does not operate a formal revenue share plan.

The brokerage historically leaned on signing bonuses and stock incentives to recruit, but several of those programs were scaled back in recent years. Agents therefore remain primarily dependent on their own listing and buyer transactions for income, a model more typical of a traditional brokerage.

What is Real’s Tech Stack Like?

Real’s proprietary reZEN platform functions as the operational hub: agents open files, deposit commission checks, monitor progress toward the cap, and communicate with the broker of record inside one mobile-first interface. ReZEN ties directly into the multiple listing service to auto-populate data, and the company continues to layer innovation such as instant commission access and integrated analytics.

Many agents praise the single-login approach for keeping the workflow tight and reducing friction on high-stakes closings.

What is Compass’s Tech Stack Like?

Compass’s internal platform has absorbed roughly $1.5 billion in investment, creating tools such as Collections, Marketing Center, Reverse Prospecting, and a robust CRM.

The platform aggregates home listings, buyer search activity, and market analytics so agents can craft a pricing or marketing strategy without leaving the dashboard.

Compass filed dozens of patents to protect this technology, arguing that its private network improves consumer choice by surfacing pocket listings before they hit the MLS feed, though critics claim it could exclude outside buyers.

Which Brokerage Has More Stability and Growth Potential?

Real reported a profit in Q2 2025 with revenue of about $540 million, helped by a sharp jump in its agent count to around 28,000.

Compass, by contrast, posted $2 billion in revenue that same quarter, with $39.4 million in net income and close to 21,000 agents on its roster. On paper, Compass still has the larger business, but Real’s pace of growth is hard to ignore.

Both companies are also facing an uncertain landscape as commission rules and antitrust cases play out, changes that could alter how brokerages earn and distribute revenue.

For agents, it comes down to whether you value the size and scale Compass offers today or the faster trajectory that Real is riding.

What Type of Support Does Each Brokerage Offer?

Real focuses on virtual training through Real Academy, daily masterminds, and mentor groups. Because the brokerage is fully cloud based, support channels live online, but Real supplements with regional events to maintain culture.

Compass leans on concierge services that front renovation costs for sellers, in-house coaching months, and local marketing staff. The brokerage’s affiliate network of photographers, stagers, and ad vendors can streamline production, though fees vary by market.

How Do I Decide Which Brokerage is a Good Fit for Me?

The choice usually comes down to how you run your business.

Start by looking at your transaction volume, the type of listings you focus on, and whether building a downline through recruiting matters to you.

Real’s predictable split, revenue share, and stock plan appeal to agents who want clear numbers and long-term upside.

Compass is built for those who lean on heavy marketing, a polished internal platform, and a private network that plays well in luxury markets.

Both adjust their approach as market conditions shift, so it’s worth running your own numbers on recent deals and weighing which setup leaves you with more flexibility and confidence.

FAQ’s About Real vs Compass

Does Compass offer equity to agents?

Compass agents received stock grants in earlier recruiting waves, and a 2021 equity incentive plan remains in place, but cash bonuses and option packages have been reduced as the brokerage works toward profitability.

How quickly can Real pay out revenue share?

Payouts accrue the moment a recruit closes a deal, and they post to an agent’s reZEN wallet weekly once brokerage processing is complete, subject to tier caps.

Which platform integrates best with third-party CRMs?

Real relies on Zapier and API hooks for flexibility, while Compass’s internal platform is largely closed, prioritizing data security within its ecosystem but limiting outside integrations.

Can I move a pocket listing between brokerages without restarting days on market?

In most MLS regions, once a listing becomes publicly live, days on market follow the property, not the brokerage. Both companies encourage private-exclusive periods to test pricing before full MLS syndication.