Choosing the right real estate data API depends on your specific use case. This comparison looks at ZipMarketData and PropStream across coverage, freshness, pricing, and developer experience.
At a Glance
| Feature | ZipMarketData | PropStream |
|---|---|---|
| Investment metrics (cap rate, yield) | ✓ Built-in | Requires manual calc |
| Owner/contact skip tracing | No | ✓ |
| Off-market lead lists | No | ✓ |
| Affordability by metro | ✓ | No |
| API access | ✓ REST | Limited |
| Free tier | ✓ | No |
ZipMarketData Strengths
- Open API access with standard REST endpoints
- Free tier available — no subscription required to prototype
- Purpose-built investment metrics (cap rate, CoC, yield) in responses
- No per-record charges — predictable request-based pricing
PropStream Strengths
- Skip tracing and owner contact information
- Off-market and pre-foreclosure lead lists
- Property history: listings, sales, ownership chain
- Mobile app for field use
Use Case Recommendation
PropStream is a lead generation and due-diligence platform — best for finding off-market deals and researching ownership history. ZipMarketData is a market analytics API — best for screening markets, comparing yields, and building investment tools.
Developer NoteZipMarketData's free tier includes 100 requests/day with no credit card required — ideal for prototyping. Interactive docs are available at /docs.