Purplebricks vs estate agents
Who should you choose?
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Estate agent or Purplebricks - it’s like comparing ‘apples to apples,’ right? Well, not quite. While both are technically estate agents, they offer very different services, from what they provide to how they structure their fees.
Not sure whether to sell with an estate agent or Purplebricks? Want to be clued up on what they both offer? You’re in the right palace! We’ll break down the key differences, highlight the pros and cons of each, and help you decide which is the better option for your situation.
Jonny Christie, Co-Founder and CEO of The Property Buying Company, sums it up perfectly:
“Purplebricks can be a great option if you’re looking for a cheaper way to sell your home and don’t mind taking on more of the work yourself. But their fixed fee model means you’ll pay even if your house doesn’t sell, which isn’t ideal for everyone. Selling a house is about more than just saving money – it’s about trust and finding the right solution for you.”
What's in this guide?
What's the difference between Purplebricks and estate agents?
Purplebricks are classed as an ‘online estate agent’, meaning they will value your property and get you set up with an advert on Rightmove or Zoopla, two of the UK’s biggest property portals, but then will leave most of the selling process to you.
If you want additional extras such as Purplebricks’ hosted viewings, or improved adverts, these come at an additional cost.
High street estate agents have a more ‘hands on’ role in selling your home, with accompanied viewings, photos, floorplans, online listings & end-to-end support as part of their normal estate agent package.
As of January 2025, Purplebricks offers three main selling packages. If you choose one of the packages that has a cost, this will be paid as a fixed fee – instead of an estate agent commission which is paid entirely once the house sells.
Here are their packages:
Free package
This package provides the bare basics needed to sell a house, with no cost, except a £80 Anti-Money Laundering fee:
House valuation.
Local area report.
Listing on Rightmove.
Property negotiations.
Customer care.
Boost package (£999 + £80 AML fee)
Aimed at increasing the speed of sale.
Property photos.
360° virtual tour.
Floorplan.
Premium Rightmove listing.
Purplebricks Mortgage advice (£149 extra).
Full house package (£1,499+ £80 AML fee)
All of the features in the Boost, plus:
Hosted viewings.
Regardless of the package chosen, sellers can also choose from any of the features within the packages for a bonus fee:
Hosted viewings: £899.
Rigmove listings: £125.
Featured property: £149.
Photos, floorplan, virtual tour: £699.
Energy Performance Certificate: £119.
Elevated photography: £99.
Drone photography: £199.
As you can see, Purplebricks’ “sell your house for free” tag line doesn’t really add up! Yes, you could sell your house for free, but you are paying for an extremely pulled back estate agency service – and if your house doesn’t sell, you’ve still paid.
Most high street estate agents on the other hand, offer a ‘no sale no fee’ option, meaning they won’t take payment until your property completes. The payment that is taken will be an agreed percentage of the sale price and is known as a commission fee (normally 1% to 3%+VAT).
Purplebricks makes customers pay a fixed fee, and has three different payment options for the Boost & Full House packages; pay now, pay in 3, pay on completion. If you got any additional extras, these will need to be paid upfront.
Is Purplebricks good?
When trying to decide whether you should go with an estate agent or Purplebricks, you first need to know what each party can offer you and what the ‘good and bad bits’ are for each option.
To help you decide, let’s break down the good, the bad, and the ugly of Purplebricks:
The good
The sale might be cheaper
Purplebricks’ biggest attraction is their free service, and even their fixed fees. This is mainly because it might be far cheaper than the percentage based commission high street estate agents charge, especially if your property is on the higher end of the market.
According to Home Owners Alliance, the average estate agent fee in 2025 is 1.42%. If you sold a house for £280,000, that means you could end up paying £3,976 inc VAT. That’s £2,477 more than Purplebricks’ most expensive package. If your main goal is to save money, their fixed-fee model could leave more cash in your pocket.
Control over your sale
Purplebricks gives you 24/7 access through their website and app. You can manage viewings, offers and feedback whenever it suits you. You can even talk directly to potential buyers, which can speed up the process and make it more personal (if you’re comfortable with it).
If you like being hands on and want the flexibility, Purplebricks gives you the tools to manage your sale your way.
The 4.5 star rating on the Apple Store shows that iOS users generally have a good experience with the app, finding it reliable, easy to use and helpful. However, the much lower 3 star rating on the Google Play Store points to Android users facing more issues, from technical glitches, to fake buyers, to features not working as well.
The bad
You’re doing a lot yourself
Unless you pay extra, you’ll be handling all the viewings yourself. This makes it time-consuming, and you may not be the best salesperson, meaning you’re not able to ‘sell’ your house to viewers as well as a knowledgeable expert could.
You will also be told that the person who will value your property will be a local property expert, but the truth is these ‘local property experts’ may be one expert covering a very broad area. One expert may be asked to cover a 30–40-mile radius, meaning their local knowledge will be limited.
If you don’t have the time, confidence or experience to manage viewings and negotiations, Purplebricks’ hands-off approach could feel like hard work.
Fees regardless of sale
Unlike a traditional estate agent, you won’t be able to get a no sale no fee option. Purplebricks only provide you with the option of ‘pay in 3’, ‘pay now’ or ‘pay later’. The pay now option is very straightforward where you pay upfront.
The pay later is where you will pay after your house sells or after you have been selling with Purplebricks for 10 months, depending on which is sooner. Or if you are to back out and no longer want to sell your house with Purplebricks, you will still have to pay the fee.
Extra costs for necessary add-ons
Don’t want to handle viewings? You’ll need to pay an extra £899!
Most normal estate agents include floorplans, estate agent photography and hosted viewings within their normal service, some hybrid estate agents (like our sister company), include this within their free offering.
The ugly
A shaky reputation
At its peak, Purplebricks was a giant in the online estate agency world, valued at a staggering £1.3 billion. Fast forward to 2023, and the company’s value had plummeted to just £30 million before being sold to competitor Strike for the symbolic price of £1.
This dramatic downfall largely stemmed from their controversial business model (which they haven’t moved on from). Purplebricks charged customers upfront fees, whether or not their property was actually sold. Unsurprisingly, this left many feeling frustrated and dissatisfied, especially those whose homes sat on the market unsold.
The fixed-free approach, coupled with complaints about poor service and a lack of accountability, ended up working against them. What started as a promising disruptor in the housing market ultimately left customers — and the company itself – disappointed.
Decline in service
Back in February 2024, Purplebricks had a pretty solid Trustpilot rating of 4.1 with lots of customers praising their service. But over the past year, their rating has dropped by 9.76% to 3.7 stars.
A big reason for the decline seems to be frustration over their “sell with Purplebricks for free” claim, which many customers feel isn’t entirely honest. Complaints about unexpected fees and a lack of clarity have been on the increase.
Less motivation to get you the best price
Unlike commission based estate agents, who have a financial incentive to secure the highest price, Purplebricks earns the same fee regardless of how much your home sells for. While you might save on fees, they may not be as motivated to push for your best sale price – or even get your sale across the finish line.
Similarly, properties which are a bit different or unusual may struggle to sell with Purplebricks and may need the help of a local estate agent’s knowledge and sales experience, which you won't get at Purplebricks.
Estate agent or Purplebricks – which should you choose?
Choosing between a traditional estate agent and Purplebricks isn’t always easy – it really depends on your situation and what matters most to you.
Think of it like this; Using an estate agent is like hiring someone to hand pick the best apples and deliver them right to your door. It’s easy, hassle free and you’re likely to get great results without lifting a finger.
Purplebricks on the other hand, is more like going to an orchard to pick the apples yourself. It might seem cheaper at first, but you’ll need to pay for things like a ladder, petrol, and an apple picker. You could end up with some amazing apples, but it takes time, effort and a bit of knowing how to avoid the bad ones and dodge disappointment.
Estate agents are great for providing local expertise and guiding you through the entire process, often working hard to get you the best price. Purplebricks, meanwhile, is usually cheaper and more flexible, but you’ll need to take on more of the work yourself. It’s all about what works best for you.
That said, it’s worth noting a key difference: Purplebricks charges a fixed fee whether or not your house sells, while traditional estate agents only get paid if they successfully sell your home. This means estate agents are often more motivated to get the sale over the line, while Purplebricks might not have that same incentive.
Which is best for your situation?
To help you figure out which option is right for you – or if another approach might be better – we’ve broken it down by situation:
| Circumstance | Estate agent | Purplebricks | Other selling option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selling a high value property (£1 million+) | Estate agents know the market and can connect you with serious high-end buyers. | Purplebricks has been known to undervalue high end homes, which could mean leaving money on the table. | Luxury property auctions or private off market sales could connect you with high net worth buyers directly. |
| Average family home (£280,000) | Estate agents aim to get you the best price and manage the process from start to finish. | Purplebricks save you money if you’re happy to handle some parts of the sale yourself. | Modern agents like The Property Selling Company can offer free options while still achieving a fair market price. |
| Home struggling to sell on the open market | A new estate agent can re-energise your listing and bring fresh buyers, though success isn’t guaranteed. | Purplebricks’ 24/7 platform lets you take control of your listing and tweak it to attract new interest. | A cash buyer like The Property Buying Company can guarantee a sale in as little as 7 days. |
| Inherited property | Estate agents can handle solicitors and find buyers even while probate is ongoing, though sales can take 6+ months. | Purplebricks’ app makes it easier to keep multiple inheritors in the loop, though the process takes just as long. | A cash buyer or auction can sell the property as soon as probate is granted, saving you months of waiting. |
| Buy To Let | Estate agents often have strong networks of landlords and investors ready to buy. | Purplebricks’ pay on completion option is great for minimising upfront costs, though you’ll manage the sale. | The Property Buying Company can purchase Buy To Let properties directly and quickly. |
| Chain break property | Estate agents work on a no sale, no fee basis, so they’ll push to find a new buyer if the chain collapses. | Purplebricks’ premium listings and add ons might help attract new buyers faster, though these come at extra cost. | Cash buyers can step in and buy in as little as 7 days, or even 48 hours in urgent cases. |
| Problem property | Estate agents may struggle to sell properties that are unmortgageable or need work, as most buyers rely on mortgages. | Purplebricks faces the same issues with mortgage buyers, unless targeting cash buyers. | A cash buyer will buy directly or find an investor who’s ready to buy, no matter the condition. |
| You need to release cash quickly | Not ideal as selling on the open market takes 6 to 12 months. | Also not ideal, as the process with Purplebricks is just as lengthy. | Cash buyers can complete the sale in as little as 7 days, with funds in your account within 48 hours of completion. |
No matter which route you take, it’s important to know that a sale isn’t always guaranteed with an estate agent or Purplebricks. In fact, between 2018 and 2023, an average of 30.5% of house sales fell through.
So, if certainty and speed are your priorities, you might want to consider a cash buying company. We can offer a guaranteed sale, often within just a few days, giving you peace of mind and flexibility.
Sell your house to us!
Throwing it back to the apple analogy from the introduction, choosing between an estate agent and Purplebricks really is like picking between two slightly imperfect apples. Sure, Purplebricks is technically an estate agent, but they come with their own quirks – whether it's the services they offer or the way they structure their fees.
But here’s the good news – you don’t have to choose between them. Instead, you have The Property Buying Company – a simpler, faster and completely stress free way to sell your home. Why settle for an imperfect apple when you could skip the hassle altogether?
We’re not your typical cash buyer. Since 2012, we’ve been helping homeowners with a friendly, straightforward approach backed by over 200 years of combined property experience. Whether you’re a quick, guaranteed sale or something a little more traditional, we’re here to help you take the hassle out of selling your home.
Two flexible ways to sell:
We are first and foremost a cash buyer, and will buy your house directly for cash, offering you around 80.39% of your market value, and completing the sale 2.5 months faster than any estate agent.
Want a higher return? Our online estate agency helps you achieve an average of 93.14% of your market value, often finding a buyer in 28 days.
Trusted & Transparent:
We’re members of The Property Ombudsman and the National Association of Property Buyers, so you can trust us to follow strict rules and treat you fairly. Plus, with over 2,500 reviews on Trustpilot and an exciting rating, it’s clear that you are in safe hands.
Stress free process
Selling your home is often overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Our friendly team will guide you every step of the way, with start-to-end support, handling the tricky stuff so you don’t have to. And, if any hiccups pop up, we’ll work hard to sort them out for you.
Forest the estate agent vs Purplebricks debate – we’re the better alternative. Call us or fill out our online form today to get a no-obligation cash offer. Once you accept, we could have the funds in your account within 48 hours of completion.
With The Property Buying Company, you get a fair, flexible and stress free way to sell your home. Why settle for slightly imperfect apples when you can have the whole fruit basket?
Why choose The Property Buying Company?
At The Property Buying Company, we’re passionate about helping homeowners achieve fast, hassle-free house sales. While we aim to assist with every enquiry, we’ve found that our ideal property purchases fall within the £45,000 to £500,000 range, extending up to £700,000 in London.
If your house falls outside these values – especially for higher value homes – we’re still happy to explore your options. In fact, we occasionally buy such properties, particularly if they’re HMOs or Buy To Let investments. However, in some cases, a bricks and mortar estate agent may be better suited to achieve your goals.
We’re always here to offer transparent advice and guide you toward the best solution for your situation, whether that’s working with us or exploring alternative routes. Let us help you take your next step in your selling journey.
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