Brokerage comparisonVerified 2026-05-20

eXp Realty vs Re/MAX

Cloud-based brokerage with revenue share + stock awards vs 100%-commission franchise with monthly desk fees.

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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.

eXp Realty

$102,200

estimated net take-home

GCI: $120,000
Brokerage share: −$16,000
Monthly fees (×12): −$1,020
Per-tx fees: −$300
E&O: −$480

Re/MAX

$90,000

estimated net take-home

GCI: $120,000
Brokerage share: −$6,000
Monthly fees (×12): −$24,000

Feature matrix

FeatureeXpRe/MAX
Commission modelcap100-commission
Default split80/2095/5
Annual cap$16,000
Monthly fee$85$2,000
Per-transaction fee$25
Royalty fee
Training programextensivestandard
Lead programagent-sourcedagent-sourced
Stock awards
Profit share
Sponsorship residual
Publicly tradedEXPIRMAX
Approx agent count87,000145,000
HeadquartersBellingham, WADenver, CO
Founded$2,009$1,973

Best/worst fit for eXp

Best for: Self-directed agents who can self-generate leads + want revenue share and stock upside

Worst for: New agents needing local mentorship or a high-touch office environment

Tech stack: kvCORE, eXp World (Frame VR), Skyslope, SuccessKit

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

Tech stack: Booj, kvCORE (regional), Maxworks

FAQ

What's the biggest difference between eXp Realty and Re/MAX?+

eXp Realty runs on a cap model (80/20 split, $16,000 cap) while Re/MAX runs on a 100-commission model (95/5 split). One offers stock awards; the other does not.

Which is better for new agents?+

Newer agents typically benefit more from extensive training + lead programs. eXp Realty: extensive training, agent-sourced 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. eXp Realty 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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Sources