Cloud Brokerages Compared 2026: LPT vs eXp vs REAL vs Fathom

What Is a Cloud Brokerage?

"Cloud brokerage" generally means a fully remote brokerage with no physical offices - agents work independently, training and broker support are delivered virtually, and the cost structure passes the overhead savings back to agents via lower splits or caps.

The model emerged in the 2010s (eXp pioneered it at scale) and has expanded significantly through 2026. But the four brokerages covered here use very different economic structures underneath the "cloud" label.

The Four Major Options

LPT Realty

Two plans: Brokerage Partner (80/20, $15K cap, HybridShare revenue share) and Business Builder ($500/deal, $5K cap after 10 deals, HybridShare on upgrade). $195/txn on both. No monthly fee. Lofty CRM included.

eXp Realty

Single plan: 80/20 split, $16K cap, ~$85/month tech fee, revenue share program (7 tiers). [VERIFY] Stock award opportunities for milestones.

REAL Brokerage

Single plan: 85/15 split, $12K cap, revenue share program, tied to REAL Coin token/stock incentives. [VERIFY] No monthly fee.

Fathom Realty

Single plan: 100/0 split with $465 flat-fee-per-transaction, $9,000 annual cap (20 transactions), $700 annual fee. [VERIFY] Smaller revenue share model.

Side-by-Side Economics

Revenue Share Compared

All four offer some form of revenue share, but the mechanics differ:

• LPT HybridShare: 7 tiers, funded by 50% of each capped agent's company dollar ($7,500 for BP, $2,500 for BB). Unlock requires production-based tier requirements - not recruiting numbers alone.
• eXp Revenue Share: 7 tiers, deepest established program by years in market. Heavily scaled for agents who recruited early in eXp's growth (2015-2020 cohort).
• REAL: Revenue share tied to REAL's corporate structure and includes token/equity incentive components. [VERIFY]
• Fathom: Smaller revenue share program; Fathom's original model was not revenue-share-first, so downline depth is shallower industry-wide.

If revenue share is a primary driver for you, the question isn't just "does it exist" - it's "which existing downline can I realistically plug into?" That's a sponsor-specific conversation, not a brokerage-level one.

Hidden Costs to Watch

Cloud brokerages advertise lower splits. But the total cost often includes line items not on the headline:

• Monthly tech fees (eXp ~$85/mo = $1,020/yr): adds up quickly and doesn't cap
• E&O insurance: varies $200-$500/yr, sometimes bundled, sometimes separate
• Transaction coordinator fees: some brokerages include, most charge per-deal ($300-$500)
• CRM/IDX subscriptions: included at LPT (Lofty) and eXp (kvCORE), often extra elsewhere
• Annual fee (LPT $500, Fathom $700)

When comparing, sum every line item over a 12-month period at your actual deal count. The cloud brokerage with the "lowest split" isn't always the cheapest total cost.

Which One Fits You?

LPT BP fits if:

• You do $75K-$200K GCI and want a predictable 80/20 ceiling with no monthly fee
• You want revenue share that's unlocked by production milestones, not pure recruiting
• You value Lofty CRM as a first-class tool

LPT BB fits if:

• You do 10-25+ deals/year with mixed deal sizes (especially lower-GCI deals where a flat fee beats a percentage)
• You want the lowest cap break-even in the industry
• You're willing to upgrade to BP later for full HybridShare access

eXp fits if:

• You have an established sponsor with a deep downline you'd be plugging into
• Monthly tech fee economics work at your production level
• Stock awards are meaningful to you

REAL fits if:

• You want 85/15 structurally (slightly better split than 80/20)
• You believe in REAL's equity/token incentive program long-term

Fathom fits if:

• You do 20+ deals with lower average GCI per deal (the 100/0 + flat-fee math works best for volume producers)
• Revenue share is secondary to per-deal economics

Frequently Asked

Does every cloud brokerage work nationwide?

LPT, eXp, REAL, and Fathom are all licensed in all 50 states or nearly all. Confirm your specific state before signing - regional licensing gaps do occur.

Can I switch between cloud brokerages mid-year?

Yes, but your cap at the new brokerage resets on your join date. If you've paid $10K of a $15K cap at one brokerage and switch mid-year, that progress does not transfer.

Which cloud brokerage has the best tech?

Subjective, but LPT (Lofty) and eXp (kvCORE) both use well-regarded industry-standard CRMs. REAL and Fathom use proprietary platforms that agents report mixed satisfaction with.

What about regional cloud brokerages?

Several exist (LoKation in FL/NC/SC, Samson in DMV, etc.). They often have stronger local broker support but give up the nationwide scalability and revenue share depth of the four covered here.