Why agents are leaving ShowingTime

ShowingTime built a dominant position in showing scheduling by integrating with MLS systems across the country. For years, it was the default. Then Zillow acquired it in 2021 for $500 million — and agents started paying closer attention to the data they were handing over and the bills piling up.

The most common frustrations we hear from agents looking for alternatives:

Quick comparison: ShowingTime vs. the alternatives

Feature Rone InstaShowing ShowingSmart ShowingTime
Starting price Free $29/mo $35/mo ~$400/mo (brokerage)
MLS required No Partial Yes Yes
Setup time ~2 minutes ~15 minutes 1–3 days Days (brokerage approval)
Booking method Shareable link, no app App + web App + web App install required
Instant confirmations ✓ Both agents ✓ Both agents Buyer agent only Delayed / unreliable
Works without a brokerage ✓ Yes ✓ Yes No No
Owned by Zillow No No No Yes

ShowingTime pricing based on publicly reported brokerage plans. Competitor details accurate as of March 2026; pricing may vary by region.

The alternatives, ranked

1. Rone

Best Pick

Free to start · No MLS required

Rone is purpose-built for the one thing agents actually need: getting a buyer's agent onto a property without three rounds of phone tag. You create a listing, set your available time slots, and share a link. The buyer's agent picks a time and books — no app download, no account creation required on their end.

Setup takes under two minutes. Both agents get an instant email confirmation with full showing details. Double-booking is prevented automatically at the database level. No brokerage approval, no MLS dependency, no Zillow in the middle.

The free tier supports individual agents. Rone is the right call if you want to stop losing time to scheduling and start getting showings booked.

✓ Pros
  • Free to start
  • No MLS required
  • 2-minute setup
  • No app needed for buyer agents
  • Instant email confirmations
  • Independent-agent friendly
✗ Cons
  • No MLS calendar sync (yet)
  • Newer product vs. incumbents
  • No mobile app (web-first)

2. InstaShowing

Good for Teams

From $29/month

InstaShowing offers a solid middle ground — more features than a bare-bones booking link, less complexity than ShowingTime. It supports both web and app-based booking, has a reasonable onboarding flow, and works for agents outside MLS-heavy markets. Teams with multiple agents appreciate the shared dashboard and notification routing.

The $29/month starting price is fair for what you get. The main drawback is that the mobile app experience can feel unpolished compared to native real estate tools, and some MLS integrations remain limited depending on your region.

✓ Pros
  • Reasonable pricing
  • No MLS required
  • Works for teams
  • Both agents notified
✗ Cons
  • App install required
  • Regional MLS gaps
  • UI needs polish

3. ShowingSmart

MLS-Dependent

From $35/month

ShowingSmart is a reasonable ShowingTime alternative if your brokerage is already MLS-integrated and you're looking to cut costs. It offers similar functionality — showing requests, confirmations, reporting — at a lower price point for individual agents.

The catch: it's MLS-dependent, requires brokerage setup, and takes time to get running. Independent agents and those in non-integrated markets won't find it useful. If you're embedded in a large MLS-supported brokerage and just want to pay less, it's worth a look.

✓ Pros
  • Lower cost than ShowingTime
  • Similar feature set
  • Good for MLS-integrated teams
✗ Cons
  • Requires MLS
  • Brokerage approval needed
  • Slow setup (1–3 days)
  • Not for independent agents

4. ShowingTime (the original)

Industry Standard

~$400/month (brokerage plan)

ShowingTime remains the most widely deployed showing scheduling platform in the US, with deep MLS integrations across hundreds of markets. If your entire brokerage is already on it and the cost is absorbed in your fees, there's no urgency to switch.

But if you're an individual agent paying out of pocket, or an independent agent without MLS coverage, or simply a listing agent who wants to share a link and get a showing booked in two minutes — ShowingTime is overkill, overpriced, and owned by your biggest competitor.

✓ Pros
  • Deep MLS integrations
  • Widely adopted
  • Comprehensive reporting
✗ Cons
  • ~$400/month brokerage cost
  • Owned by Zillow
  • MLS + brokerage required
  • Days to get set up
  • App required for booking

Bottom line

If you're a listing agent who wants showings booked without the overhead — no MLS, no app, no $400/month — Rone is the clear choice. Create a listing, set your time slots, share the link. Done in two minutes.

InstaShowing is a decent alternative if your team needs more coordination features and doesn't mind a monthly fee. ShowingSmart makes sense only if you're already MLS-integrated and just want to cut costs from ShowingTime.

ShowingTime is fine if Zillow owns your data and your brokerage pays the bill. For everyone else, there's a better way.

Try Rone free — schedule your first showing in 2 minutes

No MLS. No app download. No brokerage approval. Just a shareable link and instant confirmations for both agents.

Create your free account → Request a Demo

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