If you run an independent estate agency in the UK, you know the reality: Rightmove and Zoopla are non-negotiable. You need to be on both portals to sell properties.
But what you do behind the scenes — managing clients, tracking properties, automating follow-ups — that's where you have a choice. And that choice directly affects your profitability.
Most independent agents are either using outdated software or paying over the odds for enterprise systems designed for large chains. There's a middle ground.
What you actually need from agency software
Before we compare systems, let's be clear about what matters:
- Property portal integration — automatic uploads to Rightmove, Zoopla, OnTheMarket
- CRM — manage clients, track interactions, automate follow-ups
- Lettings compliance — if you do lettings, HMRC requirements and Client Money Protection (CMP)
- Document management — contracts, surveys, chain management
- Reporting — see which properties are selling, pipeline health, agent performance
Too many systems add bloat you don't need. You want fast, reliable, portable.
The main contenders
Reapit (Dominant in mid-to-large agencies)
Cost: Tiered pricing, roughly £500–£2,000+/month depending on agency size and modules
What it does:
- Full CRM (prospects, vendors, tenants, landlords)
- Property management (sales and lettings)
- Automatic portal uploading (Rightmove, Zoopla, OnTheMarket)
- Lettings compliance and CMP audit trails
- Document management
- Reporting and analytics
- Integrations with conveyancers and third-party systems
Why it's popular:
- Dominant CRM in UK mid-to-large agencies
- Comprehensive (covers sales, lettings, compliance)
- Good integrations with conveyancers and brokers
- Strong reporting
Strengths:
- Covers everything (you don't need bolted-on systems)
- HMRC compliant for lettings
- CMP audit trails built-in
- Industry-standard (agencies know it)
Weaknesses:
- Expensive for solo agents or very small teams
- Can be overcomplicated for simple operations
- Steep learning curve
- High switching costs (data migration is complex)
Best for: Agencies with 5+ staff, agencies doing significant lettings volume
Verdict: Industry standard for larger independent agencies. If you're running a real operation (not solo), this is probably your best bet despite the cost.
Jupix (Cloud-based, Popular with independents)
Cost: Flexible pricing, roughly £300–£1,200/month depending on features
What it does:
- CRM (prospects and vendors)
- Property management
- Automatic portal uploading
- Lettings support (including CMP)
- Document storage
- Basic reporting
- Mobile access
Why it's popular:
- Cloud-native (no expensive servers)
- Designed for independent agents (not overly enterprise-y)
- Good value for small-to-medium agencies
- Simpler UI than Reapit
Strengths:
- Good balance of features and simplicity
- Reasonable price for independents
- Cloud-based (always up, automatic backups)
- Decent lettings support
- Good mobile app
Weaknesses:
- Fewer integrations than Reapit
- Reporting is less detailed
- Less customisable than Reapit
- Smaller user base (less peer knowledge)
Best for: Independent agents with 2–4 staff, agencies wanting cloud-based simplicity
Verdict: Strong choice for independents wanting a solid system without Reapit's complexity and cost.
Dezrez (UK-built, Strong for lettings)
Cost: Tiered pricing, roughly £400–£1,500/month
What it does:
- Full CRM (sales and lettings)
- Property management
- Automatic portal uploading
- Strong lettings compliance features
- Document management
- Accounting integration (QuickBooks, Xero)
- Reporting
Why it's popular:
- Built in the UK (understands UK requirements)
- Particularly strong for lettings
- Good accounting integration
- Growing market share among independents
Strengths:
- UK-native (HMRC lettings, CMP, deposit protection)
- Excellent for lettings-focused agencies
- Good accounting integrations (saves accountant fees)
- Clear pricing
Weaknesses:
- Less dominant than Reapit (fewer case studies)
- Fewer integrations with conveyancers
- Smaller user community
Best for: Lettings-heavy agencies, agencies wanting accounting integration, UK-focused independents
Verdict: Excellent for lettings. If you do significant lettings, it's worth comparing against Reapit.
AgentPro
Cost: Tiered, roughly £300–£1,000/month
What it does:
- CRM for sales and lettings
- Property management
- Portal integration (Rightmove, Zoopla, OnTheMarket)
- Document management
- Basic compliance features
- Reporting
Strengths:
- Designed for independents
- Affordable
- Decent core features
Weaknesses:
- Less comprehensive than competitors
- Reporting is basic
- Smaller integration ecosystem
- Less established (shorter track record)
Best for: Budget-conscious solo agents or very small teams
Verdict: Adequate for simple operations, but Jupix or Dezrez are probably better value.
Alto (Zoopla-owned, Modern approach)
Cost: Subscription-based, tiered pricing (roughly £200–£1,000+/month)
What it does:
- Modern CRM interface
- Property management
- Zoopla integration (free, owned by Zoopla)
- Basic lettings support
- Document management
- Reporting
- Mobile-first design
Why it's interesting:
- Owned by Zoopla (potential advantage on Zoopla integration)
- Modern, clean interface
- Mobile-first design
- Growing rapidly
Strengths:
- Beautiful, modern UI
- Good mobile experience
- Zoopla integration is seamless
- Designed for independent agents
Weaknesses:
- Newer (less proven track record)
- Not as comprehensive as Reapit or Dezrez
- Lettings support is basic
- Fewer integrations overall
Best for: Tech-forward solo agents or small teams, agencies wanting modern UI
Verdict: Worth watching, but Reapit, Dezrez, and Jupix have more battle-tested features.
Property portal integration matrix
| Software | Rightmove | Zoopla | OnTheMarket | Auto-upload | |----------|-----------|--------|-------------|-------------| | Reapit | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Jupix | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Dezrez | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | AgentPro | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Alto | Yes | Yes (native) | Yes | Yes |
All major systems integrate with all major portals. Don't choose based on this alone.
HMRC Lettings Compliance and CMP
If you do lettings, you need to prove compliance. Here's what matters:
Client Money Protection (CMP): You hold client money (deposits, rent). You need an audit trail proving it's in a protected account.
HMRC Making Tax Digital (MTD): Lettings income must be reported digitally to HMRC.
Who handles this best:
- Reapit (comprehensive, enterprise-grade)
- Dezrez (strong, UK-built with lettings in mind)
- Jupix (adequate, but less detailed)
- Alto (basic only)
If lettings is 30%+ of your revenue, you want Reapit or Dezrez specifically.
Realistic costs for small independent agencies
Solo agent (just you): Alto or Jupix basic tier: £300–£500/month. If you do lettings, Dezrez: £400–£600/month.
Small team (2–4 people): Jupix or Dezrez: £500–£1,000/month. Budget for training.
Larger independent (5+ staff): Reapit: £1,000–£2,000+/month. Industry standard. Get better value as you scale.
Hidden costs to consider
- Portal feeds: Rightmove, Zoopla, OnTheMarket — you pay per month (roughly £200–£500 total)
- Phone systems: Many agents use separate phone systems (another £50–£200/month)
- Email/document signing: eSign integration might be separate (£50–£150)
- Training and support: Budget £500–£1,000 for setup and training
- Migration costs: Switching systems is expensive in time and data
Don't just budget for software. Budget for the whole ecosystem.
My recommendation by agency type
Solo agent, sales only: Alto. Modern interface, affordable, Zoopla integration is excellent.
Small agency, sales + light lettings: Jupix. Solid value, good balance of features and simplicity.
Lettings-focused or mixed: Dezrez. UK-built, strong lettings compliance, good for accountants.
Growing agency (5+ staff): Reapit. Industry standard, comprehensive, worth the cost as you scale.
The honest bit
Reapit is the most powerful system, but it's expensive and can be overkill for independents. Dezrez is excellent if you do lettings. Jupix is the best value for balanced agencies. Alto is worth watching but isn't proven yet.
Whichever you choose, get it set up properly and train your team. A poorly-used system costs money. A well-used one is gold.
Don't switch lightly. The switching costs (time, data migration, retraining) are real. Choose wisely and stick with it for at least 3 years.
Related Guides
- Best Software for Letting Agents UK — Property management for lettings agencies
- Best CRM for Small Businesses UK — General CRM applicable to property services
- Best Software for Mortgage Brokers UK — Related property and financial services integration