SIDE BY SIDE
Real vs eXp: how the two models compare
Short answer
Real and eXp are both cloud brokerages with a cap, a revenue share program and stock for agents. Real splits 85/15 up to a $12,000 cap and has no monthly fee. eXp splits 80/20 up to a $16,000 cap and charges $85 a month. Each company's own pages are linked below, so you can check every line yourself.
Who they are
Real agents join Real Broker, LLC. Its parent, The Real Brokerage Inc., became part of Real REMAX Group Inc. on August 24, 2026. Real REMAX Group trades on Nasdaq as REAX.
eXp agents join eXp Realty. Its parent was renamed from eXp World Holdings, Inc. to AGNT, Inc. in June 2026 and trades on Nasdaq as AGNT. AGNT also owns NextHome.
Both companies reported their size for the quarter ended June 30, 2026. Real reported 35,348 agents on its platform. AGNT reported 87,338 agents and brokers across its whole platform, which includes NextHome, not eXp alone.
The numbers side by side
| Item | Real | eXp |
|---|---|---|
| Split until cap | 85% to you, 15% to Real | 80% to you, 20% to eXp |
| Yearly cap | $12,000 for individual agents and team leaders | $16,000 |
| One-time start fee | $249 sign-up fee | $149 sign-up fee, which includes the first month's $85 fee |
| Monthly fee | None | $85 cloud brokerage fee |
| Fees on each deal before cap | $50 CBR fee, plus a $900 yearly brokerage fee collected as $300 on each of your first 3 deals | $25 broker review fee and $60 risk management fee (risk management is capped at $750 a year on non-commercial deals) |
| Fees after cap | $285 per sale or $125 per lease, or 15% if that is less ($100 for Elite agents) | 20% of GCI or $250 per deal, whichever is less, until $5,000 is paid, then $75 per deal |
| Revenue share | 5 tiers, from 5% down to 1% of a sponsored agent's GCI, paid out of Real's 15% and stopping once that agent caps | eXp says it shares 50% of its company dollar (the 20%) with sponsoring agents; it is not paid on deals by agents who have capped |
| Stock for agents | Optional purchase plan (5% of net commission before cap, 10% after) with bonus shares, plus awards for capping, attracting agents and Elite status | Equity earned through production milestones such as a first deal and capping; awards vest over time |
| Source | Real support center and SEC filings | eXp income page and eXp's August 2026 policies filed with the SEC |
Last checked October 2, 2026 on each company's own published pages. Both companies can change their fees at any time. Team members, Canada and some states have different terms.
Things that work differently
- Mentor programs. eXp says agents in its Mentor Program pay an extra 20% split on their first three transactions. Check Real's current onboarding and team options for how support works there.
- Revenue share tiers. Real publishes its tier rates and unlock rules in its support center. eXp publishes its program on its income page and in its policies. Read the current rules from each company, since both have changed in the past.
- Stock awards. Both companies pay stock awards that vest over time. At Real, capping and attraction awards vest over 3 years, and you need to stay with Real through the vesting period to own them outright.
- Income disclosure. eXp publishes a yearly income disclosure on its income page. It is worth reading before you put any weight on revenue share at either company.
How to compare them for your own business
The headline split is only part of the cost. Add up a full year at your real production: the split until you cap, every fee per deal, any monthly fee and the fees after cap. Use the same deal count and the same average commission for both.
Then look at what you get for it. Ask each company about training, broker support, transaction help and what your team setup would look like. A lower cost doesn't help much if the model doesn't fit how you work.
Run your Real numbersReal's full fee list12 questions to ask any brokerage
FAQ
Common questions
Sources
- Real: What does it cost to hang my license with Real (US)?
- Real: What is the commission split at Real?
- Real: What is the Post-Cap Transaction Fee?
- Real: How is revenue share calculated?
- Real: How do I earn equity (stock) at Real?
- Real: Can I transfer my cap to Real?
- The Real Brokerage Inc., Q2 2026 MD&A (SEC, filed August 6, 2026)
- Real REMAX Group, completion of business combination (SEC, August 24, 2026)
- eXp Realty income and fee disclosure
- eXp Realty (USA) Policies and Procedures, August 2026 (SEC exhibit)
- AGNT, Inc. Q2 2026 results (SEC, August 4, 2026)
- AGNT, Inc. name change (SEC, June 11, 2026)
Last checked October 2, 2026. Companies can change their fees and policies at any time.
Ready to apply
Check the numbers, then decide
Real's application opens on Real's own site. Nothing is final until you review and sign your independent contractor agreement.
Sponsor on this link: Sean McConnell. You choose your sponsor on the application.