IDX Broker vs SimplyRETS

The most widely-deployed IDX data provider for US real estate — offers a WordPress plugin plus standalone hosted property-search pages.

$55-85/mo (+ Enterprise)

Visit IDX Broker

SimplyRETS

SimplyRETS is an MLS data API and IDX platform built for developers — turn any website into a property search tool with clean JSON endpoints and an official WordPress plugin.

$49/mo

Visit SimplyRETS

IDX Broker vs SimplyRETS: feature comparison

Feature	IDX Broker	SimplyRETS
WordPress Plugin	✓	✓
Standalone Hosted Pages	✓	✗
Custom CSS / Design Control	✓	✓
Saved Search / Client Alerts	✓	✓
Map-Based Search	✓	✓
Lead Capture Forms	✓	✓
Market Report Widgets	✓	✗
Multi-MLS Coverage	✓	✓

IDX Broker — Pros & Cons

Pros

Widest MLS coverage in the category
Mature WordPress plugin with thousands of deployments
Platinum tier offers deep custom CSS/design control
Standalone hosted pages work on any CMS

Cons

Data/search layer only — not a full website
Platinum tier required for most customization
Learning curve for non-technical agents
Some MLSs require separate setup fees

SimplyRETS — Pros & Cons

Pros

Clean RESTful JSON API with code examples in cURL, Python, PHP, and Node.js — the most developer-friendly MLS data option in the category
Transparent flat-rate pricing ($49–$199/mo) with no long-term contracts or per-seat fees
Multi-MLS add-on lets a single account pull data from multiple markets without separate IDX agreements per region
30-minute listing refresh keeps data current, and sold/closed data is available for market analysis add-ons

Cons

No built-in website, CRM, or admin dashboard — requires a separate tech stack and developer effort before any agent can use it
MLS coverage is not universal; agents in smaller or non-participating markets may find their MLS unsupported
Support is documentation and email only — no phone or live chat when a data feed goes down during a critical client demo
The $99 one-time connection fee per MLS feed compounds quickly for multi-market teams or those switching markets

See all IDX Providers →