Selling a home is expensive, so many people look to estate agents such as Purplebricks, who offer free services to sell properties. They are completely different from traditional estate agents who charge big fees based on the sale price of your house – sometimes thousands of pounds.
But if Purplebricks is free, how do they actually make money? It’s a question I get asked a lot, and it’s one worth understanding before you decide whether to use them. Let’s look at how Purplebricks generates revenue through their innovative business model, including referral partnerships, optional premium services, and strategic add-ons that keep the business profitable whilst offering a no-fee base service.
Last Updated: April 2026
- Purplebricks Fees 2026: What You’ll Actually Pay
- How Purplebricks Makes Money: Quick Summary
- Overview of Purplebricks’ Business Model
- Purplebricks Fees Breakdown: Every Charge Explained
- How Purplebricks Attracts Customers
- Comparing Purplebricks with Traditional Estate Agents
- My Experience with Purplebricks
- My Experience With a Local Estate Agent
- Is Purplebricks Profitable?
- Final Thoughts: How Purplebricks Really Makes Money
- Purplebricks Fees FAQs
Purplebricks Fees 2026: What You’ll Actually Pay
Here’s the truth about Purplebricks fees:
Mandatory fees:
- £60 anti-money laundering check (both buyer and seller)
- £0 upfront listing fee (genuinely free)
Optional add-ons:
- Hosted viewings: £300-£399
- Professional photography: Varies (usually £100-200)
Hidden revenue (where they really make money):
- Conveyancing referral fees: £1,199-£1,999
- Mortgage broker commissions: Undisclosed
- Insurance and service partnerships: Varies
Total potential cost: £60-£1,000+ in direct fees, plus hidden referral fees if you use their partners.
So whilst Purplebricks advertises “free” listings, you’ll likely pay something. Let’s break down exactly how these Purplebricks fees work.
How Purplebricks Makes Money: Quick Summary
If you’re short on time, here’s how Purplebricks generates their revenue:
- Referral fees from mortgage brokers – They earn commission when you use their recommended mortgage services
- Conveyancing referral fees – They get paid when you use their partner solicitors (around £1,199-£1,999 per transaction)
- Anti-money laundering checks – A £60 fee charged to both buyers and sellers
The key to understanding how Purplebricks makes money is this: whilst the basic listing is free, they earn through add-ons and partnerships that many sellers end up using anyway.
Overview of Purplebricks’ Business Model
How the Free Model Actually Works
Purplebricks operates on what they call a “fee-free” base service, which sounds too good to be true – and in some ways, it is. The basic package includes an in-person home valuation, help with negotiation, and placing listings on major property portals like Rightmove and Zoopla.
You get to use their app to manage your listings and viewings, which I’ll admit is quite user-friendly. But here’s the thing – whilst there’s no upfront estate agent fee, Purplebricks makes money in other ways that aren’t always obvious at first glance.
The Evolution of Their Revenue Model
It’s worth noting that Purplebricks has changed its business model significantly over the years. They used to charge upfront fees of £899-£1,399, but after financial struggles (the company was actually sold for just £1 in 2023), they pivoted to a completely free model to attract more customers. This shift changed how Purplebricks makes money entirely – moving from upfront fees to backend revenue streams.
Purplebricks Fees Breakdown: Every Charge Explained
Mandatory Purplebricks Fee: £60 AML Check
Here’s one fee you won’t escape: Purplebricks charges £60 for carrying out anti-money laundering (AML) checks on both buyers and sellers. This cost covers the work done by their partner, Lifetime Legal, to ensure everyone involved in the property sale is legally compliant.
Now, here’s what frustrated me when I researched this – basic AML checks usually cost just £2 to £5 per person. So Purplebricks’ £60 fee is considerably higher than the norm. Even Ross McKenzie, who once worked as a director at Purplebricks, has voiced concerns over this practice.
The charge is applied before issuing a memorandum of sale, making it an unavoidable step if you want to progress with your property transaction through Purplebricks.
Premium Rightmove Listing (£125)
If you want your property to stand out on Rightmove, Purplebricks offers a premium listing for £125. This gives your home better visibility on one of the UK’s most visited property portals.
Is it worth it? That depends on your local market and competition. In a busy area with lots of similar properties, it might help you get noticed. But in a quieter market, you might not need it.
Professional Photography and Floor Plans
Whilst Purplebricks includes basic photos, professional photography and floor plans are offered as optional extras. These aren’t cheap, but good photos genuinely do make a difference when selling a home. Properties with professional photos typically attract more viewings and can sell faster.
This is one of the key ways Purplebricks makes money – by offering services that genuinely add value, making it hard to say no.
Hosted Viewings (£300-£399)
For those who don’t want to handle viewings themselves, Purplebricks provides hosted viewings at £300, or £399 in London. An agent will attend viewings on your behalf, answer questions, and provide feedback.
This is where you start to see the costs add up. If you opt for professional photos, premium listings, and hosted viewings, you’re already spending £700-£900 – which starts to look more like a traditional estate agent fee.
Conveyancing Partnerships (The Big Money Maker)
This is probably the biggest way Purplebricks makes money. They partner with solicitors and earn substantial referral fees when you use their recommended conveyancing services. The standard fees are £1,199 outside London and £1,999 within it.
For each transaction completed through their partners, Purplebricks likely earns a referral commission of several hundred pounds. When you consider they handle thousands of property sales, this adds up to significant revenue.
The clever part? If you choose their conveyancing partner, they defer any upfront payments, making it seem like an attractive option. But you’re still paying – just at a different stage of the process.
Mortgage Referral Fees
Similarly, Purplebricks earns commission when you use their recommended mortgage brokers. Whilst mortgage advice can be helpful, it’s worth knowing that Purplebricks has a financial incentive for you to use their partners rather than shopping around independently.
Other Partnership Revenue
Purplebricks also generates revenue through partnerships with:
- Insurance providers (home insurance, life insurance)
- Removal companies
- Energy switching services
- Home warranty providers
Each time a customer uses one of these services, Purplebricks likely earns a referral fee or commission.
How Purplebricks Attracts Customers
Free Property Valuation
Like most estate agents, Purplebricks offers free property valuations. You can schedule a face-to-face home inspection or monitor market values online. This gets you in the door and starts the conversation about selling your home with them.
To be fair, nearly all estate agents offer free valuations, so this isn’t unique to Purplebricks. But it’s an important part of how they attract customers who might be put off by traditional agent fees.
Online Convenience and Accessibility
Purplebricks’ website is genuinely convenient. You can manage your property listing, upload photos, track viewings, and communicate with your agent all through their portal. For tech-savvy sellers who want control over the process, this is appealing.
The platform operates 24/7, so you can make updates or check progress at any time. This modern approach attracts younger sellers or those who prefer doing things digitally rather than visiting a high street office.
The “Free” Marketing Message
Let’s be honest – the biggest way Purplebricks attracts customers is by marketing themselves as “free”. When people see that traditional agents charge 1-2% commission (£3,000-£6,000 on a £300,000 house), Purplebricks’ free model looks incredibly attractive.
But as we’ve seen, “free” doesn’t mean they’re not making money from you in other ways.
Comparing Purplebricks with Traditional Estate Agents
Fixed Fees vs Commission-Based Pricing
Traditional estate agents typically charge 1-2% commission on your sale price, plus VAT. On a £300,000 home, that’s £3,600-£7,200. Purplebricks’ model appears cheaper because there’s no upfront fee, but once you add AML checks (£60), premium listings (£125), hosted viewings (£399), and potentially photography costs, you could still spend £500-£1,000+.
The real cost difference comes from the conveyancing referral. If you use independent solicitors, you might save money overall. But if you use Purplebricks’ partners, they’re still extracting significant value from your transaction – you’re just not seeing it as a direct “estate agent fee”.
Purplebricks Fees vs Traditional Agent Fees (£300,000 Home)
| Cost Type | Purplebricks | Traditional Agent |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront Fee | £0 | £3,600-£7,200 (1-2%) |
| Mandatory Fees | £60 (AML) | Included |
| Typical Add-Ons | £400-£800 | Included |
| Conveyancing | £1,199-£1,999 | £800-£1,500 (shop around) |
| Total Cost | £1,659-£2,859 | £4,400-£8,700 |
| But… | Potentially lower sale price | Higher viewings, better prices |
Online vs High Street Presence
Here’s where traditional agents have an advantage. Research from the HomeOwners Alliance shows that high street estate agents increase viewing numbers by 48% and offer numbers by 64% compared to online agents like Purplebricks.
Traditional agents also achieve the best possible sale price 73% of the time, compared to just 27% for online agents. This means sellers using online-only services could potentially lose £12,500 to £50,000 based on property value.
So whilst you might save on fees with Purplebricks, you could lose more on the final sale price. That’s something worth considering when working out how much Purplebricks really costs you.
My Experience with Purplebricks
I’ve never used Purplebricks to sell a property, but I did attempt to book a viewing with a house that was listed with them. The experience put me off completely.
When I contacted the agent via Rightmove, I was prompted to make an account and book an appointment, which I did. Five days went by and my appointment wasn’t confirmed. I called Purplebricks and reached a call centre in India. They said they couldn’t get hold of the estate agent from their end and I had to wait.
The estate agent then declined my appointment and moved it to a different time I couldn’t do. I cancelled this and moved it to another time, then she moved it back to the time I couldn’t do.
At this point, I was frustrated and cancelled the viewing entirely. I have a friend who bought through Purplebricks and she said the service was terrible, so I was already put off.
The Facebook Incident
A few hours later, I received a message on Facebook. The seller, who had access to my details through the portal, messaged me directly to ask why I’d cancelled!
He was nice enough, but it didn’t sit right with me that the seller could find my name and message me on Facebook. I told him what happened, he apologised and said he would arrange a viewing directly with me if I still wanted to view – I did not. He admitted that he also couldn’t contact the estate agent and was having issues.
The property is still on the market months later and has been reduced by £25k.
My Experience With a Local Estate Agent
I would never use Purplebricks. I recommend getting valuations from a few agents and going with who you like best. Our estate agents have been fantastic with us – they’ve helped us through every step of our sale and purchase.
They’ve given us advice on our onward purchase and also communicate with our solicitor on our behalf. They keep everyone updated and are very responsive. When issues arise, they handle them immediately.
So whilst Purplebricks may save you money on estate agent fees upfront, they may cost you sales, leading to your house selling for less. Not to mention the stress of not having the support of a local and experienced agent who’s actually invested in getting you the best result.
Is Purplebricks Profitable?
It’s worth noting that despite these multiple revenue streams, Purplebricks has struggled financially. The company was sold for just £1 in 2023 after years of losses. This tells you something important: even with all these ways of making money, the hybrid online model is challenging to make work profitably.
They’ve had to constantly adjust their business model, moving from paid upfront fees to free services, whilst trying to find the right balance of revenue streams that work without putting customers off.
Final Thoughts: How Purplebricks Really Makes Money
So, how does Purplebricks make money? Through a combination of referral fees, mandatory charges, and optional premium services that many sellers end up buying anyway. Whilst their “free” model sounds attractive, they’ve built multiple revenue streams into the selling process.
For some sellers, particularly those comfortable managing their own sale and who shop around for conveyancing and mortgages independently, Purplebricks can offer decent value. But for others, the lack of hands-on support, reduced viewings, and potentially lower sale prices might mean you’re saving pounds whilst losing thousands.
My advice? Get valuations from several agents – both online and traditional – and weigh up not just the fees, but the level of service, local expertise, and track record of achieving strong sale prices. Sometimes paying for quality service is worth every penny.
Purplebricks Fees FAQs
1. Are Purplebricks really free?
No, not completely. Whilst there’s no upfront estate agent fee, Purplebricks charges a mandatory £60 anti-money laundering fee. Most sellers also pay for optional extras (premium listings, viewings, photography) totalling £400-£800. They also make significant money through referral fees if you use their conveyancing or mortgage partners.
2. What are the hidden Purplebricks fees?
The main hidden Purplebricks fees come from referrals. If you use their conveyancing service (£1,199-£1,999), they earn a commission. Same with their mortgage broker, insurance partners, and removal companies. These referral fees don’t appear on your bill but are built into the partner’s charges.
3. How much are Purplebricks fees compared to traditional agents?
Traditional agents charge 1-2% commission (£3,600-£7,200 on a £300,000 home). Purplebricks direct fees are £60-£1,000. However, if you use their conveyancing partner, total costs could reach £1,500-£2,500. You might save money but potentially sell for less.
4. Do I have to pay the £60 Purplebricks fee?
Yes, the £60 anti-money laundering fee is mandatory. It’s charged before issuing the memorandum of sale, so you can’t proceed without paying it.
5. Can I avoid Purplebricks fees by using my own solicitor?
You can avoid the conveyancing referral fee by using your own independent solicitor. This often saves money. Shop around rather than automatically using Purplebricks’ recommended partners.
6. Are Purplebricks fees worth it?
That depends. You’ll save on upfront estate agent fees, but research shows online agents achieve 48% fewer viewings and 27% best price success vs traditional agents. You might save £2,000 in fees but lose £10,000+ on the sale price. Calculate your specific situation before deciding.
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