realestate.com.au vs Domain: Which Property Platform Is Better?

If you are searching for property in Australia, you have almost certainly used realestate.com.au and Domain — the two dominant property listing platforms in the country. Both serve millions of users and list hundreds of thousands of properties, but they are not identical. Each has strengths, and understanding the differences can help you search more effectively whether you are buying, renting, or researching.

This comparison covers listings coverage, features, property data, suburb insights, mobile apps, pricing for sellers and agents, and which platform to use for different purposes.

Overview: Who Owns What

realestate.com.au (REA Group) is majority-owned by News Corp and is Australia's most-visited property website by a significant margin. It consistently leads in monthly unique visitors and is the default listing platform for most real estate agencies across the country.

Domain is owned by Domain Holdings Australia (majority-owned by Nine Entertainment). While smaller than REA Group in terms of traffic and listings, Domain has a strong presence, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, and has invested heavily in its data and editorial content.

Listings Coverage: Who Has More Properties?

realestate.com.au generally has more listings than Domain across most markets in Australia. The difference is particularly noticeable in regional areas and smaller capital cities (Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Hobart), where REA's dominance is more pronounced.

In Sydney and Melbourne, the gap is narrower — most agents list on both platforms, so for the major metro markets you will find similar coverage. However, some agents choose to list exclusively on one platform based on their subscription agreements, which means checking both platforms is worthwhile.

For off-market or pre-market listings, neither platform is comprehensive. Off-market sales are typically handled through agent networks and are not publicly listed on either site.

Feature Comparison

Search and Filters

Both platforms offer comprehensive search functionality with filters for price range, bedrooms, bathrooms, property type, and keywords. Key differences include:

• Map search: Both offer map-based search. REA's map interface is generally considered faster and more responsive, particularly on mobile.
• Draw-on-map search: REA allows you to draw a custom boundary on the map to define your search area — a useful feature that Domain does not currently offer.
• Auction results: Both platforms display auction results, but REA typically publishes results faster and has more comprehensive auction data.
• Sold prices: Both show sold price histories, though the completeness of data varies by state due to different disclosure requirements.

Property Data and Estimates

Property value estimates are a popular feature on both platforms, though they should be used with caution as automated estimates can be significantly off for individual properties:

• REA: Provides property value estimates powered by PropTrack (REA's data subsidiary). Includes price history, comparable sales, and suburb statistics.
• Domain: Offers property price estimates powered by Domain's own data models. Also includes price history and suburb-level median prices.
• Accuracy: Neither platform's estimates should be treated as valuations. Both are algorithmic estimates based on comparable sales data and can be misleading for unique or renovated properties.

Suburb Insights

Both platforms provide suburb profiles with demographic data, median prices, and market trends:

• REA: Suburb profiles include median prices (houses and units), recent sales, price growth charts, demographics, school information, and neighbourhood insights. REA's suburb data is generally considered more comprehensive.
• Domain: Suburb profiles include similar data plus editorial "suburb reviews" written by local journalists, which can provide useful qualitative insights not available on REA.

For more detailed suburb research beyond what either platform provides, Realestate Lens's AI-powered property research pulls data from multiple sources to generate comprehensive suburb reports including growth projections, infrastructure analysis, and risk assessments.

Saved Searches and Alerts

• REA: Allows saved searches with email and push notification alerts for new listings matching your criteria. Also supports property tracking (watching specific properties for price changes or status updates).
• Domain: Similar saved search and alert functionality. Domain also allows you to track specific properties and receive notifications when they are re-listed or have a price change.

Both platforms perform well in this area, and for serious property searches it is worth setting up alerts on both to ensure you do not miss listings that may appear on one platform before the other.

Mobile Apps

Both REA and Domain have well-designed iOS and Android apps:

• REA app: Consistently rated as one of the top property apps in Australia. Features include map search, augmented reality for viewing property in context, shortlisting, and open home scheduling.
• Domain app: Also well-regarded, with a clean interface and strong integration with Domain's editorial content. The home loan calculator and suburb research tools are integrated into the app experience.

Both apps offer push notifications for saved searches, price changes, and upcoming open inspections. User preference between the two apps often comes down to personal taste, as both are mature, well-maintained products.

Pricing for Sellers and Agents

For sellers, the cost of listing on these platforms is typically handled through your real estate agent's marketing package. The key points to understand:

• Standard listings are included in most agent marketing packages at no additional cost to the seller
• Premium listings (highlighted, featured, or top-of-search placements) cost extra and are charged to sellers as part of the marketing budget. These can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per listing.
• REA premium listings tend to be more expensive than Domain equivalents, reflecting REA's larger audience
• In general, REA commands higher advertising rates due to its larger market share and traffic volume

Ask your agent to break down the marketing costs for each platform so you can make an informed decision about where to invest your marketing budget. For more on agent costs, see our guide to agent commission rates in Australia.

Which Platform Should You Use?

The answer for most people is: use both. Since most agents list on both platforms, you will see significant overlap, but exclusive listings do exist. Here are some guidelines:

• If you only check one platform: realestate.com.au has more listings overall, particularly outside Sydney and Melbourne
• For suburb research: Domain's editorial suburb reviews provide qualitative insights that complement REA's data-driven approach
• For regional areas: REA tends to have better coverage in regional and remote areas
• For rental searches: Check both — rental listings can vary more between platforms than sales listings
• For sold price research: Both have historical data, but cross-referencing ensures more complete coverage

Beyond REA and Domain

While REA and Domain dominate, there are other sources worth checking:

• Agents' own websites: Some exclusive listings appear on agency websites before (or instead of) the major portals
• Facebook Marketplace and local groups: Increasingly used for private sales and rentals
• Council DA trackers: For upcoming developments and new housing supply
• State government price registers: For comprehensive sold price data (NSW Valuer General, VIC Land Registry)