Compass vs Re/MAX
Tech-forward brokerage with proprietary listing-marketing platform vs 100%-commission franchise with monthly desk fees.
Reviewed by SofaBrain Editorial Team
Editorial Team · Last reviewed 2026-05-20
Net-income side by side
Computed at the realtor median: $120,000 annual GCI ÷ 12 transactions per year. Adjust the inputs on the live commission calculator.
Compass
$96,000
estimated net take-home
Re/MAX
$90,000
estimated net take-home
Feature matrix
| Feature | Compass | Re/MAX |
|---|---|---|
| Commission model | split | 100-commission |
| Default split | 80/20 | 95/5 |
| Annual cap | — | — |
| Monthly fee | — | $2,000 |
| Per-transaction fee | — | — |
| Royalty fee | — | — |
| Training program | standard | standard |
| Lead program | optional | agent-sourced |
| Stock awards | — | — |
| Profit share | — | — |
| Sponsorship residual | — | — |
| Publicly traded | COMP | RMAX |
| Approx agent count | 29,000 | 145,000 |
| Headquarters | New York, NY | Denver, CO |
| Founded | $2,012 | $1,973 |
Best/worst fit for Compass
Best for: Productive agents in major metros wanting premium tech + strong brand
Worst for: Rural / small-market agents (limited Compass footprint outside major metros)
Best/worst fit for Re/MAX
Best for: High-volume producers who can absorb the monthly desk fee comfortably
Worst for: Newer agents with <12 transactions/year — the desk fee eats the margin
FAQ
What's the biggest difference between Compass and Re/MAX?+
Compass runs on a split model (80/20 split) while Re/MAX runs on a 100-commission model (95/5 split).
Which is better for new agents?+
Newer agents typically benefit more from extensive training + lead programs. Compass: standard training, optional leads. Re/MAX: standard training, agent-sourced leads. The brokerage with more brokerage-provided leads + extensive training is usually the safer first move.
Which is better at high volume?+
At high volume (30+ transactions/year), cap-based and 100%-commission brokerages outperform split-based ones because the brokerage's share is capped while your output keeps growing. Re/MAX is the cap/100%-commission option in this pair.
Does this comparison include lender/title splits?+
No. We model the brokerage's cut of your gross commission income (GCI) after the buyer-broker / seller-broker split between firms. Lender, title, and ancillary splits vary deal-to-deal and aren't modeled here.
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