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Real Estate · head to head

CoStar vs Hemlane

CoStar logo

CoStar

Real Estate

Commercial real estate data subscription with strict per-seat licensing, sold on multi-year contracts and enforced through active anti-piracy litigation against password sharing

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Hemlane logo

Hemlane

Real Estate

Software plus a network of local agents, aimed at landlords who do not live near their rentals

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: CoStar per-seat licensing with no published rate makes budgeting for headcount growth unpredictable, since adding users typically requires a new negotiation rather than a self-service upgrade.; Hemlane the local agent network is the reason to buy the top tier and its coverage is uneven, so a property in a smaller market may be served by an agent with little capacity or none at all; verify the specific market before signing.
  • They diverge on capability: CoStar covers Property and ownership records, Hemlane covers Local agent network.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CoStar and Hemlane actually diverge.

Attributes where CoStar and Hemlane differ
AttributeCoStarHemlane
Pricing modelquotePer property per month plus a per unit charge
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Real Estate).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in CoStar

  • Property and ownership records
  • Lease and sales comparables
  • Tenant and space data
  • Market analytics
  • STR hospitality data
  • CoStar Real Estate Manager

Only in Hemlane

  • Local agent network
  • Repair coordination
  • Rent collection
  • Listing syndication and leasing
  • Lease documents
  • Per property plus per unit pricing

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

CoStar

  • A commercial brokerage needing lease and sales comparables to support underwriting and pitch materialsnot Hemlane
  • An institutional investor or lender wanting standardised market analytics across submarkets for portfolio decisionsnot Hemlane
  • A corporate real estate team needing lease administration through CoStar Real Estate Managernot Hemlane
  • An appraiser needing sourced, defensible comparable transaction data for valuation reportsnot Hemlane

Hemlane

  • A landlord who has moved to another state and needs someone licensed to show the unit and meet contractorsnot CoStar
  • An owner of two or three units who wants leasing handled without paying a full manager a percentage of rentnot CoStar
  • A property that is hard to fill and needs in-person showings rather than self-guided accessnot CoStar
  • Someone who wants to keep control of tenant selection and pricing while outsourcing only the physical worknot CoStar

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

CoStar

  • Per-seat licensing with no published rate makes budgeting for headcount growth unpredictable, since adding users typically requires a new negotiation rather than a self-service upgrade.
  • CoStar actively pursues legal action against password sharing and unauthorised access, which is a genuine compliance and litigation risk for a firm that is loose about login discipline, intentionally or not.
  • A June 2026 antitrust lawsuit names CoStar alongside major brokerages over an alleged price-fixing scheme, a live legal matter that could affect the company standing or practices during a long-term contract.
  • Multi-year contract structures reduce a buyer flexibility to switch providers even if a cheaper or better data source emerges during the term.
  • The breadth of the platform (property, hospitality via STR, lease admin) means a firm often pays for modules it does not use just to access the specific data set it needs.

Hemlane

  • The local agent network is the reason to buy the top tier and its coverage is uneven, so a property in a smaller market may be served by an agent with little capacity or none at all; verify the specific market before signing.
  • Pricing is a base charge per property plus a charge per unit, so a portfolio spread across many small buildings pays far more than one with the same unit count in a single building.
  • The accounting is landlord-oriented with no trust accounting or owner statements, which rules it out entirely for anyone managing property on behalf of other owners.
  • It is built for small portfolios, so the reporting, bulk operations and staff permission model all become limiting above roughly twenty units.
  • Commercial and HOA property are not supported in any meaningful way, so a mixed portfolio needs a second system.

Pricing, plan by plan

CoStar

On request
  • CoStar$undefined/year
    • Per named user licensing, no published rate
    • Multi-year contracts standard
    • Terms explicitly prohibit password or login sharing

Hemlane

On request
  • Basic$undefined/month
    • Base charge per property plus a small charge per unit
    • Listing syndication and applications
    • Rent collection
  • Essential$undefined/month
    • Higher base and higher per unit charge
    • 24 hour repair coordination
    • Lease documents and e-signature
  • Complete$undefined/month
    • Highest base and per unit charge
    • Local licensed agent assigned to the property
    • Showings, inspections and on-site coordination

Which should you pick?

Choose CoStar if

  • You need property and ownership records.
  • You also want lease and sales comparables.
CoStar review

Choose Hemlane if

  • You need local agent network.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want repair coordination.
Hemlane review

Questions people ask

Is CoStar or Hemlane better?
Neither clearly leads. CoStar starts at On request and Hemlane at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CoStar or Hemlane?
CoStar starts at On request and Hemlane at On request.
Does CoStar or Hemlane run on more platforms?
CoStar runs on Web. Hemlane runs on Web, iOS, Android.
What is CoStar best used for?
CoStar is most often used for a commercial brokerage needing lease and sales comparables to support underwriting and pitch materials, an institutional investor or lender wanting standardised market analytics across submarkets for portfolio decisions, a corporate real estate team needing lease administration through costar real estate manager, an appraiser needing sourced, defensible comparable transaction data for valuation reports. Of those, a commercial brokerage needing lease and sales comparables to support underwriting and pitch materials and an institutional investor or lender wanting standardised market analytics across submarkets for portfolio decisions are not what Hemlane is typically brought in for.
What can CoStar do that Hemlane cannot?
CoStar covers Property and ownership records, Lease and sales comparables, Tenant and space data, Market analytics. Hemlane covers Local agent network, Repair coordination, Rent collection, Listing syndication and leasing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CoStar: Can multiple people share one CoStar login to save cost?

No. Terms explicitly prohibit this, and CoStar has an active pattern of suing individuals and firms for unauthorised access under shared credentials.

Hemlane: What does the local agent actually do?

On the top tier they show the unit to applicants, meet contractors, and carry out move-in and move-out inspections. They do not select the tenant or set the rent; you keep those decisions.

CoStar: Is CoStar pricing published anywhere?

No. It is quote-only, licensed per named user, on multi-year contracts.

Hemlane: How does the cost compare with a full-service manager?

A full-service manager typically charges eight to ten per cent of collected rent plus a leasing fee. Hemlane charges a flat amount per property and per unit, which is usually cheaper on a well-performing rental and more expensive on a cheap one.

CoStar: Is there a current legal risk in signing with CoStar?

A June 2026 antitrust lawsuit names CoStar and several major brokerages over an alleged price-fixing conspiracy; buyers with long-term contracts should track that litigation.

Hemlane: Is agent coverage nationwide?

Coverage is broad in large metropolitan areas and patchy elsewhere. Ask Hemlane to name the agent for your specific market before you buy the tier that depends on one.

Hemlane: Can property managers use it?

No. There is no trust accounting and no owner statement capability, so it is for owners managing their own property.

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