Compare Real Estate Brokerages in Ontario: Every Model, Ranked by Who It Suits
By Summitly Editorial·Updated
Recruitment questions? Talk to our Broker of Record, Waqar Afzal or book a confidential conversation.
The short answer
No public data ranks Ontario brokerages for agents, so compare models, then offers. New agents usually do best at a supportive split brokerage; steady producers at a capped plan; established self-generating agents at a 100% commission plan; recruiters at a cloud model with revenue share. Get each shortlisted brokerage's split, fees and cap in writing.
Comparing brokerages: key facts
- No official ranking
- RECO registers brokerages; it does not rank them. Treat any "top 10" as opinion.
- Every agent pays RECO
- $356 to register, $350 to renew, $500 + tax a year for mandatory insurance (2026–27).
- What differs
- Split, monthly fee, transaction fee, cap, royalty, and what is provided.
- Summitly's terms
- Summitly (Coldwell Banker Summit Realty) has two packages for your own business. Package A is a 95/5 split with a $200 + HST monthly fee and $799 + HST on each of your first 4 completed transactions in a calendar year. Package B is 90/10 with $125 + HST a month and $499 + HST on the first 4, moving to 95/5 for the rest of the year after $100,000 GCI. A $500 minimum brokerage share applies per completed transaction, starting with transaction 5 in each calendar year; see your agreement for tax treatment and details. To receive brokerage leads, agents join the Leads Plan: $299 + HST a month, no transaction fees, 90/10 on their own deals, and 50/50 on deals from leads the brokerage provides.
Feature by feature: yes or no
Our column comes from our published terms. Fill in the others from what each brokerage tells you in writing.
| Feature | Summitly From our terms | Brokerage A You fill in | Brokerage B You fill in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-to-1 mentor for every agentNot only for new agents | Yes | ||
| Weekly trainingIn person, virtual where available | Yes | ||
| Coaching on closing, not only on leads | Yes | ||
| Brokerage-provided leadsWarm, one agent each, 50/50 on close | Yes | ||
| No charge per leadOn the Leads Plan, $299 + HST a month | Yes | ||
| Published split and feesOn the website, before HST | Yes | ||
| Annual capPackage split applies all year | No | ||
| Physical office, 24/7 accessVaughan | Yes | ||
| AI virtual agent for clients (24/7)Zara | Yes | ||
| CRM included, with training | Yes | ||
| Branded graphics for every listing | Yes | ||
| National brandColdwell Banker | Yes | ||
| Luxury and commercial programsGlobal Luxury, Commercial | Yes | ||
| Teams and assistants allowed | Yes | ||
| E&O coverage beyond RECO's programNot published | Ask us | ||
| Onboarding length publishedNot published | Ask us | ||
| Yes answers | 13 of 16 | 0 of 16 | 0 of 16 |
Your answers stay in this browser. On a phone, compare one brokerage at a time. “Ask us” means we haven’t published it yet; we’ll put it in writing on request.
Commission split brokerage comparison: published plans side by side
Only brokerages that publish their split and fees appear here, quoted from their own pages with the source. Fixed fees matter as much as the split — twelve monthly fees and per-deal fees can outweigh a few points.
| Brokerage · plan | Split | Fixed and per-deal fees | Cap | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summitly (Coldwell Banker Summit Realty) · Package A | 95/5 | $200 + HST a month; $799 + HST on each of the first 4 transactions a year | No annual cap — your package split applies all year; Package B moves to 95/5 after $100,000 GCI | Summitly agent agreement, Schedules B and C |
| Summitly (Coldwell Banker Summit Realty) · Package B | 90/10; 95/5 after $100,000 GCI | $125 + HST a month; $499 + HST on each of the first 4 transactions a year | No annual cap — your package split applies all year; Package B moves to 95/5 after $100,000 GCI | Summitly agent agreement, Schedules B and C |
| Summitly (Coldwell Banker Summit Realty) · Leads Plan | 90/10 on your own deals; 50/50 on deals from brokerage leads | $299 + HST a month; no transaction fees; no charge per lead | No annual cap — your package split applies all year; Package B moves to 95/5 after $100,000 GCI | Summitly Leads Plan terms |
| Right at Home Realty · Published plan | 100% commission plan. | $109/month + HST; $599 flat fee per sale transaction; $250 per lease transaction. | Not published | Right at Home Realty — join |
| Real Broker · Published plan | Canada: 85/15 split. | Canada: $1,200 annual brokerage fee; $375 transaction fee after cap. | Canada: $15,000 cap for solo agents and team leaders ($7,500 team members). | Real Broker support — brokerage and risk management fee (Canada)From Real's Canadian support centre via search summary; confirm with Real |
| eXp Realty · Published plan | US plan: agents keep 80% until a $16,000 annual cap. Canadian terms are not published on eXp's Canadian join site. | US plan: $85/month cloud brokerage fee and a $149 start-up fee. | US plan: $16,000 annual cap. | eXp Realty (US) — agent incomeUS figures; confirm Canadian terms with eXp |
Summitly amounts are before HST. Try your own numbers in the Package A vs Package B take-home calculator, or read how a 95/5 split brokerage works and what a 90/10 split costs in a year.
Brokerage models, ranked by the agent they suit
Ordered from the model that usually suits a brand-new agent to the one that suits an established, self-generating producer. Examples are brokerages whose terms are published; each links to a sourced comparison.
| # | Model | How you pay | Best for | Watch for | Published examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Supportive percentage split | The brokerage keeps a share of every commission; little or no fixed monthly fee. | New agents (years 0–2) who need mentorship, brand and enquiries more than a high share. | What the brokerage's share actually buys — ask for the mentorship plan and lead terms in writing. |
|
| 2 | Team inside a brokerage | A team share on top of the brokerage split, in exchange for leads, coaching and admin. | New agents who want assigned leads and daily structure, and accept less autonomy. | Who keeps the client after closing, and the team share on deals you source yourself. |
|
| 3 | Capped split | A split until the brokerage's share reaches a yearly cap, then (mostly) 100%; fees often continue. | Steady producers who reach the cap early enough in the year to benefit. | When the cap resets and which fees continue after it. |
|
| 4 | Cloud brokerage with revenue share or stock | A split to a published cap plus monthly or annual fees; revenue share for recruiting other agents. | Self-directed agents comfortable without an office, especially those who will recruit. | Revenue share depends on recruiting — eXp discloses its median Tier 1 revenue share is $0. |
|
| 5 | 100% commission, fixed fees | You keep the commission and pay a monthly fee plus a flat fee per deal. | Established agents who generate their own business and need little support. | Twelve months of fees in a slow year, plus the leads, marketing and tools you fund yourself. |
|
| 6 | Franchise brand vs independent | Any of the above; a franchise may pass a royalty on to agents. | Franchise: agents who want a recognized brand and referral networks. Independent: agents who want a local brand. | Whether a franchise royalty is passed on, and what the brand's programs give you in practice. |
|
Go deeper: how each brokerage model works, brokerage fees in Ontario and team vs brokerage.
Summitly vs each brokerage model
What to ask any brokerage
Including us. Get every answer in writing.
Every brokerage comparison
- RE/MAX vs Summitly for agents
- Royal LePage vs Summitly for agents
- Century 21 vs Summitly for agents
- Right at Home Realty vs Summitly for agents
- Forest Hill Real Estate vs Summitly for agents
- Engel & Völkers vs Summitly for agents
- Compass vs Summitly for agents
- eXp Realty vs Summitly for agents
- Faris Team vs Summitly for agents
- Keller Williams vs Summitly for agents
- Sutton Group vs Summitly for agents
- Real Broker vs Summitly for agents
- Property.ca vs Summitly for agents
- Bosley Real Estate vs Summitly for agents
- Chestnut Park vs Summitly for agents
- Sotheby's International Realty Canada vs Summitly for agents
- Harvey Kalles vs Summitly for agents
- PSR Brokerage vs Summitly for agents
- Sage Real Estate vs Summitly for agents
- Wahi vs Summitly for agents
- HomeLife vs Summitly for agents
- Revel Realty vs Summitly for agents
- Former iPro Realty agents: next steps
Comparing the big three franchises? Century 21 vs RE/MAX vs Royal LePage, side by side.
Add Summitly to your shortlist
We'll walk you through both packages at your deal count, in the same format as your other offers.
Comparing brokerages: frequently asked questions
What are the top real estate brokerages in Ontario?
There is no official ranking — RECO registers brokerages but does not rank them, and size is not the same as fit. Large Ontario networks include Royal LePage, RE/MAX, Right at Home Realty, Century 21, Sutton and Keller Williams; compare their published terms and choose the model that suits your stage.
What is the best real estate brokerage model for a new agent?
Usually a supportive split brokerage or a good team: a new agent gains more from mentorship, a recognized brand and a source of enquiries than from a higher share of commissions they have not yet earned.
Is a 100% commission brokerage cheaper?
Only at enough volume. Fixed monthly and per-deal fees are cheapest for an established agent who generates their own business, and most expensive in a slow year. Add twelve months of fees and what you would spend on leads and marketing.
How do I compare two brokerage offers?
Estimate your gross commission for the year, apply each split up to its cap, subtract every monthly and per-deal fee and any royalty, then subtract what you would pay yourself for leads, marketing and technology. Compare the net figures.
Where does Summitly fit?
Summitly is the platform of Coldwell Banker Summit Realty, Brokerage — an independently owned Coldwell Banker franchise in Vaughan with an AI platform and 1-to-1 mentorship for every agent. Summitly (Coldwell Banker Summit Realty) has two packages for your own business. Package A is a 95/5 split with a $200 + HST monthly fee and $799 + HST on each of your first 4 completed transactions in a calendar year. Package B is 90/10 with $125 + HST a month and $499 + HST on the first 4, moving to 95/5 for the rest of the year after $100,000 GCI. A $500 minimum brokerage share applies per completed transaction, starting with transaction 5 in each calendar year; see your agreement for tax treatment and details. To receive brokerage leads, agents join the Leads Plan: $299 + HST a month, no transaction fees, 90/10 on their own deals, and 50/50 on deals from leads the brokerage provides.
Sources
- Coldwell Banker Summit Realty, Brokerage — Independent Contractor Agreement, Schedules B, C, K and L (terms confirmed by the brokerage) — checked September 25, 2026
- RECO — Fee schedule (salesperson/broker registration, effective March 1, 2023) — checked September 25, 2026
- RECO — Renew your insurance (professional liability insurance program) — checked September 25, 2026
- RECO — Public register of brokerages and agents — checked September 25, 2026
- Royal LePage — expert training — checked September 25, 2026
- RE/MAX Canada — education — checked September 25, 2026
- Faris Team — careers — checked September 25, 2026
- Keller Williams — profit share — checked September 25, 2026
- Revel Realty — join Revel — checked September 25, 2026
- eXp Realty (US) — agent income — checked September 25, 2026
- Real Broker support — cost to hang your licence with Real (Canada) — checked September 25, 2026
- Right at Home Realty — join — checked September 25, 2026
- Century 21 Canada — company profile — checked September 25, 2026
- Bosley Real Estate — our history — checked September 25, 2026
Summitly is the technology platform of Coldwell Banker Summit Realty, Brokerage, a brokerage registered with the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO), 310-3100 Steeles Ave W, Vaughan, ON L4K 3R1. Each Coldwell Banker office is independently owned and operated. Agents join as self-employed, commission-based independent contractors, not employees; terms are those of the brokerage's agent agreement, and fees are before HST. Verify any brokerage or agent on the RECO public register.
