Most brokers choose between Crexi and LoopNet based on which one their mentor used. The actual 2026 ROI math is almost never done. Here it is.
Crexi charges $299 - $599/month (Pro tier). LoopNet starts at $299 and goes to $749/month for Premium Plus. Both include listing distribution. Neither guarantees lender introductions, buyer lead quality, or deal close rates. What you're paying for is exposure - and exposure isn't uniform across market size.
The Core Difference
| Dimension | Crexi | LoopNet |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing (2026) | $299 - $599/mo (Pro/Enterprise) | $299 - $749/mo (Pro to Premium Plus) |
| Primary audience | Brokers, investors, smaller deals | Institutional buyers, major REITs, $5M+ |
| Market dominance | Sunbelt, secondary markets, growing fast | Primary markets (NYC, LA, Chicago, Dallas) |
| Search traffic (est.) | 4.2M monthly visits (SimilarWeb) | 9.1M monthly visits |
| Listing volume | 500K+ active listings | 1M+ active listings |
| Data layer | Rent comps, sales comps (limited) | Full CoStar data stack (owned by same co) |
| AI features | Basic saved search alerts | None native |
| Analytics | Included Pro tier | Extra cost above base |
| Mobile UX | Strong app with deal flow notifications | Functional but less active mobile base |
| Ownership | Independent (PE-backed) | CoStar Group subsidiary |
ROI by Deal Size
This is the number most brokers don't run before subscribing.
If your average deal is under $3M (small CRE / investor market)
- LoopNet: Institutional buyers on LoopNet aren't looking at $1.5M strip centers in Knoxville. You're paying for traffic that's irrelevant to your deal type.
- Crexi: Sunbelt-weighted buyer base, active investor alerts, and deal-sized audiences that match sub-$5M properties.
- Verdict: Crexi wins at under $3M. Better audience match = faster time-to-offer.
If your average deal is $5M - $25M (mid-market CRE)
- Both platforms have meaningful buyer pools at this range.
- LoopNet's CoStar integration means institutional research teams see your listing.
- Crexi's analytics tier ($200/mo add-on) gives you comp data to price listings with confidence.
- Verdict: Run both for 90 days. Kill whichever generates fewer qualified inquiries.
If your average deal is $25M+ (institutional)
- LoopNet + CoStar is the institutional standard. Pension funds, REITs, and family offices all start research in CoStar.
- Crexi has limited penetration at this size.
- Verdict: LoopNet wins at $25M+. The audience is irreplaceable.
The Hidden Cost Math
Crexi true cost (12-month)
- Base Pro: $299/mo = $3,588/yr
- Analytics add-on: +$200/mo = $2,400/yr
- Total: ~$5,988/yr per broker
LoopNet true cost (12-month)
- Premium Plus: $749/mo = $8,988/yr
- Featured placement upgrades (common): $500 - $2,000/yr additional
- Total: $9,488 - $10,988/yr per broker
Break-even analysis
To justify LoopNet Premium Plus over Crexi Pro + Analytics at full cost:
- Cost delta: ~$5,000/yr
- If your commission rate is 1% and average deal is $5M - one additional deal closed = $50K
- LoopNet pays for itself if it closes even 0.1 more deals per year than Crexi at the $5M+ tier
- Below $3M: the math flips. Crexi's audience match generates faster deal velocity at lower cost.
The Lender Gap Both Platforms Miss
Neither Crexi nor LoopNet solves lender matching. Both are listing and buyer discovery tools - they help you find the buyer, not the capital. Once a deal goes under LOI, you're on your own for financing.
This is where broker teams overpay. They use CoStar for market data, LoopNet for listings exposure, and then spend 2 - 3 weeks manually shopping debt. That's where YieldStack plugs in: AI-assisted lender-fit analysis through a broad lender and loan-program network, with no upfront cost or retainer for borrowers and sponsors. Crexi or LoopNet gets you to LOI. YieldStack gets the deal closed.
Recommended Stack
| Team Type | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Solo broker, deals under $3M | Crexi Pro ($299) + YieldStack financing support |
| Regional brokerage, $3M - $15M | Crexi Pro + LoopNet Pro + YieldStack financing support |
| Institutional team, $15M+ | LoopNet Premium Plus + CoStar + YieldStack financing support |
Bottom Line
Crexi wins Sunbelt and sub-$5M. LoopNet wins institutional and major markets. The only scenario where running both makes sense is a mid-market brokerage with volume across deal sizes.
What neither platform does: match your deal to the right lender quickly. If the debt stack is the bottleneck - and in 2026 with 4.02% delinquency and SOFR-based bridge rates at 9% - 12%, it often is - submit your deal to YieldStack and compare lender-fit options without an upfront retainer.