If you've tried to access the Zillow API recently, you've likely run into a wall. Zillow discontinued their public API in 2021 and replaced it with Bridge Interactive, whose MLS listing data requires you to be a paying member or approved vendor of the MLS, with access granted at each MLS's discretion. (Full history in does Zillow have an API in 2026?, and the access details in the Bridge Interactive requirements guide.)
For individual developers, startups, and data analysts who just need property data, this is a dealbreaker. The good news: several strong Zillow API alternatives have emerged. Here's how they compare.
Best Zillow API alternatives (at a glance)
The top Zillow API alternatives for developers in 2026, ranked by ease of self-serve access:
- APIllow — self-serve, free tier (50 req/mo), $0.003/call.
- ATTOM Data — deep property records, starts at $299/mo.
- Estated — single-property lookups, pay-as-you-go.
- Bridge Interactive — official Zillow, requires MLS membership/vendor status; Zillow's own datasets are display-only and capped.
- RapidAPI Zillow scrapers — fastest setup, variable reliability.
What Happened to the Zillow API?
Zillow's original public API gave developers free access to Zestimates, property details, and search results. In 2021, Zillow shut down the public API and transitioned to Bridge Interactive, which is designed for MLS-connected platforms and real estate businesses, not individual developers.
To use Bridge Interactive, you generally need to:
- Be a paying member or approved vendor of the specific MLS whose listing data you want (for MLS data), or apply and pass a use-case review (for Zillow's own datasets)
- Get access at each data provider's discretion — there's no published approval timeline
- Accept restrictive terms — Zillow's Public Records and Zestimate datasets are capped at 1,000 calls/day per dataset and are display-only, so you can't store the data
Bridge itself charges no service fee; any fees are set by the MLS or data provider. The full breakdown is in the Bridge Interactive requirements guide.
If you're building a side project, investment analysis tool, or proptech startup, this isn't practical. Here are the alternatives.
The 5 Best Zillow API Alternatives in 2026
| Provider | Starting Price | Free Tier | Setup Time | Data Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APIllow | $0.003/result | 50 req/month | Instant | Zillow (live) |
| ATTOM Data | $95/month | Trial only | 1-2 days | MLS + public records |
| Estated | $0.10/call | None | Instant | Public records |
| Bridge Interactive | No Bridge fee; MLS fees vary | None | MLS discretion | Zillow/MLS |
| RapidAPI scrapers | $0.002-0.01/call | Varies | Instant | Zillow (scraped) |
1. APIllow
Best for: Developers who want Zillow-specific data without enterprise contracts.
APIllow is a dedicated Zillow property data API that returns 50+ structured fields per property, including Zestimates, price history, tax records, school ratings, agent info, and comparable properties. You can search by city, ZIP code, street address, Zillow URL, or property ID.
What makes it practical:
- Free tier with 50 requests/month, no credit card required
- Instant API key — sign up and start making requests in under a minute
- Pay-as-you-go at $0.003 per result ($9.99/mo for 3,333 requests)
- Simple REST API with one primary endpoint
- MCP server for AI agent integration (Claude, Cursor, etc.)
2. ATTOM Data
Best for: Enterprise users who need comprehensive public records data beyond just Zillow.
ATTOM aggregates data from public records, MLS feeds, and tax assessors across the US. Their coverage is broad: property characteristics, ownership, mortgages, foreclosures, environmental risk, and more. However, they don't have Zestimates (that's Zillow-proprietary) and their starting price of $95/month is designed for businesses, not individual developers.
3. Estated
Best for: Property characteristics and ownership data from public records.
Estated provides a clean API for property details sourced from county assessors and public records. It's solid for basic property attributes (beds, baths, sqft, year built, owner info) but lacks Zillow-specific fields like Zestimates, listing agent info, and user engagement data. At $0.10 per API call, it's also significantly more expensive per request than Zillow-sourced alternatives.
4. Bridge Interactive (Official Zillow)
Best for: Real estate businesses with MLS connections and enterprise budgets.
If you're an MLS member or approved vendor, Bridge Interactive gives you official access to MLS listing data and Zillow Group datasets. The data is comprehensive and comes with legal clarity. The downsides: the MLS-membership requirement for listing data, restrictive terms on Zillow's own datasets (display-only, capped at 1,000 calls/day), and approval at each provider's discretion. Full details in the Bridge Interactive requirements guide.
5. RapidAPI Marketplace Scrapers
Best for: Quick testing and comparison shopping between providers.
Several Zillow scraping APIs are available on the RapidAPI marketplace, including APIllow. The marketplace makes it easy to test multiple providers side-by-side with a unified billing system. Pricing ranges from $0.002 to $0.01 per call depending on the provider and data coverage. Quality varies significantly — check recent reviews and test with your specific use case before committing.
How to Choose
Before you commit, review the full breakdown of Zillow API cost across providers — it covers free-tier reality, setup friction, and true per-call pricing for the main Zillow alternatives side by side.
The right choice depends on your use case:
- Need Zillow-specific data (Zestimates, listing agents, price history)? Use APIllow or a RapidAPI scraper.
- Need public records (ownership, mortgages, tax assessments)? Use ATTOM or Estated.
- Building an MLS platform and hold MLS membership or vendor status? Apply to Bridge Interactive.
- Want to start building today with no approval process? APIllow has a free tier with instant signup.
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Get Your Free API KeyFrequently Asked Questions
Is the Zillow API still available in 2026?
No — Zillow's original public API was discontinued (deprecated) in 2021, and as of 2026 it has not returned. The replacement, Bridge Interactive, requires MLS membership or approved-vendor status for listing data, and its Zillow datasets are display-only and capped, so it is not practical for most individual developers. Third-party APIs like APIllow provide access to Zillow property data without the membership requirement — the unofficial Zillow API guide maps that whole ecosystem, and the Bridge Interactive requirements guide covers its access rules.
Can I get sold home data from a Zillow API alternative?
Yes — last sold price, last sold date, and full price history are available per property. The Zillow sold data API guide covers the fields, the comps workflow, and the sale-date gotcha that trips up page-level scrapers.
Can I still get Zestimate data via API?
Zestimates are Zillow-proprietary valuations. You can access them via Zillow's official channels (Bridge Interactive's Zillow datasets — open to apply for, but display-only and capped at 1,000 calls/day) or through a third-party API like APIllow that returns them as storable JSON. The Zestimate API guide covers the request format and when the field is populated.
What's the cheapest way to get Zillow data?
APIllow offers a free tier with 50 requests/month. Paid plans start at $9.99/month for 3,333 requests ($0.003 per result). This is significantly cheaper than ATTOM ($95/month minimum) or Estated ($0.10/call).