Rocket vs Zillow: Who Wins the Super App War?

Handshake between business professionals in office
  • Rocket’s $1.75 billion acquisition of Redfin aims to challenge Zillow’s home-search dominance.
  • Zillow leads in web traffic with 221 million visitors in 2024, far ahead of Rocket + Redfin’s 58 million combined.
  • Rocket’s $913 million marketing budget outpaces Zillow’s $175 million, signaling an aggressive push for market share.
  • Zillow’s mortgage business grew 51% year-over-year, but Rocket remains the top lender with 15,000 loan officers compared to Zillow’s 330.
  • The real estate super app war could redefine home buying, impacting real estate agents, closing processes, and mortgage accessibility.

The Battle for the Ultimate Real Estate Super App

The race to build the most powerful real estate super app is transforming the housing industry. Rocket Companies, a mortgage powerhouse, recently acquired Redfin to counter Zillow’s dominance in online home search. Both companies are competing to create an all-in-one home buying platform that integrates property search, transactions, mortgage services, title processing, and closing. But which platform is best positioned to win? And how will this battle affect consumers, real estate agents, and investors, especially in fast-paced housing markets like Las Vegas?

Person using smartphone to browse home listings

What Is a Real Estate Super App?

A real estate super app consolidates every step of the home-buying process into one seamless digital platform. Historically, purchasing a home required juggling multiple service providers: real estate agents, mortgage lenders, title companies, and attorneys. A super app eliminates that fragmentation by centralizing these functions in one place.

Zillow pioneered the vision of a super app in 2022 when it shifted its business model after shutting down its iBuying division. The company doubled down on financial services and renter-to-homeowner conversion, creating an integrated platform that connects homebuyers with agents, mortgage options, and closing services.

Rocket, primarily known for mortgage lending, is now pushing aggressively into the super app space. Its $1.75 billion acquisition of Redfin brings home search capabilities into its ecosystem, allowing Rocket to offer a full-service experience, from browsing listings to securing mortgages and closing deals.

This digital evolution aims to make buying a home as seamless as booking a vacation online. However, the companies leading this shift are battling for dominance—and their advantages differ significantly.

Zillow’s Traffic Advantage: A Massive Consumer Funnel

Home shoppers begin their search online, and Zillow dominates in this arena. The company’s brand is almost synonymous with home searches, giving it a natural edge in influencing consumer decisions.

Website Traffic Comparison

  • 2023 Monthly Visitors:
    • Zillow: 214 million
    • Rocket Homes: 1.5 million
    • Redfin: 49 million
  • 2024 Monthly Visitors (Post-Redfin Acquisition):
    • Zillow: 221 million
    • Rocket + Redfin: 58 million

Zillow’s massive traffic advantage allows the company to generate leads more efficiently, feeding its mortgage and agent referral networks. Even with Rocket’s acquisition of Redfin, the combined entity trails significantly behind Zillow’s user base.

Why Traffic Matters

  • Lead Generation: More visitors mean more potential buyers and sellers interacting with Zillow’s platform.
  • Advertising & Agent Referrals: Zillow monetizes its traffic by charging real estate agents for leads and advertising opportunities.
  • Consumer Trust & Brand Recognition: Zillow’s dominance in online real estate search makes it the first choice for many buyers.

Despite Redfin’s respectable monthly visitors, Zillow remains the clear leader in attracting home shoppers—giving it a crucial advantage in the race to become the dominant real estate super app.

Mortgage loan officer reviewing documents

Rocket’s Edge: Mortgage Expertise and Scale

While Zillow may own the home search experience, Rocket dominates the mortgage space. The company has long been the largest mortgage lender in the U.S., and its financial services are deeply embedded in the home-buying process.

Mortgage Sector Comparison

  • Loan Officers in Q1 2025:
    • Rocket/Redfin: 15,000
    • Zillow: 330
  • Mortgage Revenue Growth (2023-2024):
    • Zillow’s mortgage business increased 51% year-over-year, generating $145 million in revenue.
    • Rocket has struggled with lower purchase loan volumes but sees the Redfin acquisition as a tool to drive new mortgage applications.

Rocket’s biggest strength is its ability to convert leads into mortgages faster and more efficiently than Zillow. While Zillow is growing rapidly in this sector, it still lacks Rocket’s scale and underwriting expertise.

Moreover, mortgage lending isn’t just about capturing market share—it’s about securing customer loyalty. Homebuyers who secure a loan through Rocket are more likely to stay within its ecosystem for future real estate-related services like refinancing, home equity loans, and insurance.

Financial Firepower: Rocket’s Marketing Muscle

Rocket’s financial strength gives it a decisive edge in marketing and customer acquisition. The company is heavily investing in expanding its brand presence, particularly in digital advertising and direct-to-consumer outreach.

Financial Comparisons in 2024

  • Market Capitalization:
    • Rocket: $28.3 billion
    • Zillow: $16.7 billion
  • Marketing Budgets:
    • Rocket + Redfin: $913 million
    • Zillow: $175 million

Rocket’s marketing dominance suggests it is willing to spend aggressively to compete with Zillow in the real estate search space. This could help Rocket sustain long-term growth by attracting more home shoppers into its ecosystem.

Additionally, with Redfin now under its umbrella, Rocket has access to Redfin’s in-house agents and lead-generation tools, making it more competitive in driving direct-to-consumer home-buying experiences.

Las Vegas skyline at sunset

How This Battle Reshapes Real Estate Markets Like Las Vegas

The Rocket vs. Zillow showdown isn’t just a corporate rivalry—it will have real consequences on local real estate markets, particularly high-volume markets like Las Vegas.

Key Market Implications

  • Reduced Dependence on Traditional Agents: A seamless super app could allow buyers and sellers to interact directly, limiting the role of agents in some transactions.
  • Faster Transactions: Digitizing mortgages, title services, and closings could speed up home purchases, benefiting competitive markets where offers move quickly.
  • More Power in the Hands of Consumers: Easier access to financing, price comparisons, and agent connections could give homebuyers and sellers more control.

Las Vegas is a market where investors and high-frequency transactions dominate, meaning any efficiency improvements from these platforms could create faster closings and more streamlined deals.

However, some top real estate professionals, such as Steve Hawks, may need to adapt their business models to work alongside rather than compete against these digital-first platforms.

The Future Outlook: Consolidation, Competition, and Innovation

Modern city skyline with luxury apartments

What Comes Next?

  • Industry Consolidation: If Rocket and Zillow prove that the real estate super app model works, major banks, real estate firms, and fintech companies may rush to create similar platforms.
  • Regulatory Risks: The centralization of mortgage and home search services could attract regulatory scrutiny if consumer competition is reduced.
  • Agent Adaptation: Real estate agents may need to focus more on high-value transactions and specialized services to differentiate themselves from fully digital platforms.

One of the biggest wildcard factors in this war is whether new challengers enter the market. Companies like Opendoor, Realtor.com, or large financial institutions may try to carve out their own foothold in the digital real estate ecosystem.

What’s clear is that the next five years will completely reshape how homes are bought and sold. The real estate industry is quickly shifting toward a technology-first approach, and Rocket and Zillow are both doubling down on their visions for the ultimate home buying platform.

Final Thoughts

At this stage, Zillow maintains a dominant lead in consumer engagement and home search traffic, while Rocket has an unmatched edge in mortgage lending and financial scale. The Redfin acquisition is Rocket’s attempt to close the gap, but Zillow’s strong digital presence and agent-referral ecosystem keep it ahead for now.

For homebuyers, this battle could result in a more streamlined and efficient experience. For real estate professionals, it signals a shift where tech-driven platforms may take a more central role in transactions.

The war for the real estate super app has just begun, and the winner will redefine the home buying experience for years to come.

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