Keller Williams vs Compass: what an agent pays
Neither publishes a company-wide fee schedule. Keller Williams offices set their own split and cap, and agents keep 100% after they cap. Compass negotiates each agent's split and has no public cap. Get both offers in writing and run them side by side.
Keller Williams and Compass fees, line by line
Each company's own published numbers. Where a company publishes nothing, we say so instead of guessing. AXEN is shown for reference.
| Fee | Keller Williams | Compass | AXEN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commission split | Set by each market center | Negotiated agent by agent | None. Flat $500 per closing (Pro plan; less on smaller deals) |
| Yearly cap | Set by each market center | No public cap | $6,000 (Pro) or $12,000 (Elite) |
| After the cap, per deal | Set by each market center | Not published | $0 |
| Per-file fees | Not published | Not published | $295 admin fee; a transaction coordinator is included on every file |
| Monthly or yearly fee | Not published | Not published | $50 a month |
| Sign-up fee | Not published | Not published | $0 |
- Keller Williams is a franchise. Its own magazine says market centers are independently owned and that the owner decides the commission split. After an agent caps, they keep 100% for the rest of their anniversary year.
- Compass negotiates splits agent by agent and publishes no fee schedule. It bought Anywhere Real Estate (Coldwell Banker, Century 21, Sotheby's International Realty, Corcoran) in January 2026.
How to choose between them
- Ask each for its full fee schedule in writing. Every per-file, monthly, technology and E&O fee, not just the split.
- Run your own year. Your number of deals and your average commission decide which one costs less. A low cap matters most if you close a lot; a low per-deal fee matters most if you close a few.
- Count what the fee buys. Transaction coordination, lead tools and training cost money wherever they are not included.
- Read the exit terms. How you are paid on deals that close after you leave is in the contract.
More on each:
Where AXEN fits
No commission split. You keep 100% and pay a flat fee per closing.
AXEN charges a flat fee per closing ($500 on the Pro plan; less on smaller deals) that caps at $6,000 a year, or $12,000 on the Elite plan, plus a $295 per-file admin fee and a $50 a month platform fee. A transaction coordinator is included on every file.
AXEN is not the cheapest on fees alone for every agent, and we say so in the math. Revenue share and equity depend on plan and participation. Earnings examples are illustrations, not guarantees.
See AXEN vs eXp vs Real, how to transfer your license, or look inside the AXEN portal for free.
Sources
- Keller Williams: KW Outfront, October 30, 2025.
- Compass: no agent fee schedule is published. The Anywhere Real Estate purchase closed January 2026.
- AXEN fee schedule: axenrealty.com/join (September 2026).
Costs only, not an earnings claim. Fees as published by each company as of September 2026; each may change its fees at any time, so confirm current fees with each company in writing before you decide. Keller Williams, Compass are trademarks of their owners, who do not endorse this page.
Keller Williams vs Compass questions
Which costs an agent less, Keller Williams or Compass?
Neither publishes a company-wide fee schedule. Keller Williams offices set their own split and cap, and agents keep 100% after they cap. Compass negotiates each agent's split and has no public cap. Get both offers in writing and run them side by side.
What is Keller Williams's commission split and cap?
Keller Williams: split Set by each market center; cap Set by each market center, as published September 2026.
What is Compass's commission split and cap?
Compass: split Negotiated agent by agent; cap No public cap, as published September 2026.
How does AXEN compare?
AXEN has no commission split: a flat $500 per closing on the Pro plan, capped at $6,000 a year, plus a $295 admin fee per file and $50 a month, with a transaction coordinator on every file.