Compass vs Sotheby's International Realty
Tech-forward brokerage with proprietary listing-marketing platform vs Luxury-focused global brand under Anywhere Real Estate.
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
Sotheby's International Realty
$72,000
estimated net take-home
Feature matrix
| Feature | Compass | Sotheby's |
|---|---|---|
| Commission model | split | split |
| Default split | 80/20 | 60/40 |
| Annual cap | — | — |
| Monthly fee | — | — |
| Per-transaction fee | — | — |
| Royalty fee | — | — |
| Training program | standard | extensive |
| Lead program | optional | optional |
| Stock awards | — | — |
| Profit share | — | — |
| Sponsorship residual | — | — |
| Publicly traded | COMP | HOUS |
| Approx agent count | 29,000 | 26,000 |
| Headquarters | New York, NY | Madison, NJ |
| Founded | $2,012 | $1,976 |
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 Sotheby's
Best for: Luxury-segment agents in major metros; global referral network
Worst for: Entry-level / sub-$500K market agents — brand requires luxury inventory
FAQ
What's the biggest difference between Compass and Sotheby's International Realty?+
Compass runs on a split model (80/20 split) while Sotheby's International Realty runs on a split model (60/40 split).
Which is better for new agents?+
Newer agents typically benefit more from extensive training + lead programs. Compass: standard training, optional leads. Sotheby's International Realty: extensive training, optional 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. Neither 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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