Batchdata vs Zillow MCP
A side-by-side look at the Batchdata and Zillow MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Batchdata for real estate work as a local process; choose Zillow MCP for real estate as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Batchdata when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Real Estate domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You want tools like
batchdata_property_lookup, batchdata_property_search, batchdata_skip_trace.
Choose Zillow MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Real Estate domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: other.
- You want tools like
zillow_search_properties, zillow_sweep_area, zillow_get_property.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Real Estate | Real Estate |
| Quality signal | 61/100 · Good | 63/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | API key required | other |
| Pricing | BYOK (pay the provider) | Free |
| Required env vars | None listed | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 0 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 3 | 21 |
| Full listing | View Batchdata | View Zillow MCP |
Tools & capabilities
Batchdata tools 3
batchdata_property_lookupLook up full property attributes (owner, building characteristics, valuation, sale/tax history) for one or more known addresses. Requires a BatchData API token via _apiKey. Example: batchdata_property_lookup({ street: "1011 Rosegold St", city: "Franklin Square", state: "NY", zip: "11010", _apiKey: "your-token" })batchdata_property_searchSearch BatchData's 155M+ property database by location and attribute filters (e.g. "Phoenix, AZ"), with skip/take pagination. Returns matching property records plus a meta count of total matches. Requires a BatchData API token via _apiKey. Example: batchdata_property_search({ query: "Phoenix, AZ", take: 25, _apiKey: "your-token" })batchdata_skip_traceSkip-trace an address (optionally with an owner name) to resolve owner contact info — phone numbers and emails. WARNING: skip-trace results carry DPPA/GLBA permissible-use obligations; the caller is solely responsible for lawful use of the returned contact data. Requires a BatchData API token via _apiKey. Example: batchdata_skip_trace({ street: "1011 Rosegold St", city: "Franklin Square", state: "NY", zip: "11010", _apiKey: "your-token" })
Zillow MCP tools 21
zillow_search_propertiesSearch Zillow listings by location (city, ZIP, neighborhood, or address) and optional filters (status, price band, beds/baths minimums, home types). Returns matching properties with price, beds/baths, sqft, Zestimate, status, image, and homedetails URL. Works with city/ZIP-level queries (filtered against your criteria) AND with full-address or street-only queries (returns the listings Zillow resolves to directly — filters are not applied in this single-round-trip path; use zillow_get_by_address for the cleanest one-shot address → zpid lookup). Throws LocationNotResolved if Zillow can't pin either a region or matching listings for the input (instead of silently falling back to your default search region). Heads up: Zillow renders ~40 listings per page server-side; this tool auto-paginates by default when `limit` exceeds that, walking subsequent pages and concatenating results (set `auto_paginate: false` to opt out and get the single-page response). For dense markets, price-band the search to enumerate fully. Does NOT return Zestimate history — use zillow_get_zestimate_history for that. Read-only; safe to call repeatedly.zillow_sweep_areaEnumerate EVERY Zillow listing matching the filters inside a location (resolved like zillow_search_properties) or an explicit bounding box, without silent truncation. Splits the area into map tiles and recursively quarters any tile whose Zillow-reported total exceeds what one query can return, dedupes by zpid and re-applies the numeric filters (drift guard). Returns a completeness summary (requests, tiles, unique listings, tiles still truncated at max depth, drift warnings such as Zillow ignoring the price filter or the viewport) plus the listings, or writes the listings to `output_path` as JSON for large areas (inside the output directory: ZILLOW_OUTPUT_DIR, default ~/Downloads/zillow-mcp). Sequential requests with a delay, paced by the same per-host requests-per-minute throttle as `zillow_bulk_get`; if Zillow's bot-wall blocks a request the sweep stops and returns `{ blocked: true, retry_after_s }` with what it had. Read-only against Zillow; the only write is the optional local output file.zillow_get_propertyFetch a property's full Zillow record by zpid (numeric Zillow Property ID, e.g. 12345) or by homedetails URL. Returns address (Zillow's slugged form), mls_street_address (canonical MLS form — prefer this when it disagrees), neighborhood, price, Zestimate, rent Zestimate, beds/baths, square footage, lot_size (sq ft) plus the derived lot_size_acres (round(lot_size / 43560, 2); both null — never 0 — for condos and listings with no lot), year built, schools, and an `extracted_features` block (lake_front, hot_tub, basement, furnished, dock, community) keyword-parsed from the description. Also returns `zest_vs_list_pct` — the list-vs-Zestimate spread, `(price − zestimate) / zestimate × 100` rounded to 1 decimal: POSITIVE means listed ABOVE the Zestimate, negative below (null when either input is missing). The raw `description` is omitted by default — pass `include_description: true` to keep it; in most cases the extracted features cover what callers need. Price-history and tax-history are also opt-in (`include_price_history: true` / `include_tax_history: true`) — bundle them in to skip a separate call. Provide exactly one of zpid or url. Read-only; safe to call repeatedly.zillow_get_zestimate_historyHistorical Zestimate values for a property by zpid or homedetails URL. Returns a time series of {date, value, rent?} entries (rent included when Zillow has a rent Zestimate for the property). Note: zillow_get_property returns only the *current* Zestimate as a scalar — call this tool when you need the trend. For some listings (commonly non-Showcase) Zillow renders the trend client-side and omits it from the server-rendered page; then `points` is empty and an explanatory `note` is returned — distinct from a genuine no-history. Read-only; safe to call repeatedly.zillow_get_saved_searchesThe signed-in user's saved searches on zillow.com (name, filters, new-listing count, notification frequency). Requires the user to be signed in at zillow.com in the bridged browser tab — throws SessionNotAuthenticatedError otherwise. An optional `session_id` (from `zillow_register_session`) is checked against the session registry — an unknown id errors — but it is a label only: the request always goes through whichever browser tab the extension is signed into. Read-only; safe to call repeatedly.zillow_get_saved_homesThe signed-in user's saved (favorited) homes on zillow.com, flattened across all of the user's collections. Returns address, price, Zestimate, status, and when each home was saved. An optional `session_id` (from `zillow_register_session`) is checked against the session registry — an unknown id errors — but it is a label only: the request always goes through whichever browser tab the extension is signed into. Requires the user to be signed in. Read-only; safe to call repeatedly.zillow_get_market_reportMarket report for a Zillow region: median sale/list prices, days on market, for-sale inventory, new listings, Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), and year-over-year ZHVI change. Provide either a `region_path` (e.g. "/home-values/6181/brooklyn-ny/") or a full Zillow home-values URL. Read-only; safe to call repeatedly.zillow_calculate_mortgageLocal-only mortgage payment calculator. Returns a full PITI breakdown (principal + interest, property tax, insurance, HOA, PMI) and total interest over the life of the loan. No network call — fully deterministic, safe to use for scenario comparison without burning a fetch. Provide either `down_payment` OR `down_payment_percent`; defaults to 20%. Property tax can be given as `property_tax_annual` or `property_tax_rate` (% of home price). PMI applies automatically when LTV > 80% and `pmi_rate` is provided.zillow_get_price_historyListing-price events for a property — listings, price changes, pending, sold, etc. — by zpid or homedetails URL. Returns two parallel arrays: `events` (raw Zillow shape with `event` strings and MLS attribution) and `events_normalized` (cross-MCP shared shape with a fixed `type` enum: Listed/PriceChange/Pending/Contingent/Sold/Withdrawn/Relisted/Delisted). The normalized form lets callers merge histories across real-estate MCPs without re-implementing taxonomy. Sourced from the same homedetails page as zillow_get_property. For some listings (commonly non-Showcase) Zillow omits the history from the server-rendered page; then `events` is empty and an explanatory `note` is returned — distinct from a genuine no-history.zillow_get_tax_historyYear-by-year property-tax record for a property: tax paid, assessed value, and the year-over-year change rates. Sourced from the homedetails page. Useful for spotting reassessment jumps or comparing tax burdens across properties. For some listings (commonly non-Showcase) Zillow omits the history from the server-rendered page; then `events` is empty and an explanatory `note` is returned — distinct from a genuine no-history.zillow_compare_propertiesSide-by-side analysis of 2-25 Zillow properties. **If you just want N property records, use `zillow_bulk_get` instead** — compare is for genuine side-by-side (its pivoted summary table is the value-add); bulk_get is the fetch-many endpoint and accepts up to 200 ids. (Issue #79 raised this cap from 8 to 25 — a 19-listing analysis now fits in one call instead of three.) Provide an array of zpids (or homedetails URLs). Returns the full per-property record per row (with `extracted_features` populated). Pass `include_summary: true` for an extra pivoted summary table (one row per field) — defaults off because `results[].property.*` already carries everything. The raw `description` is omitted from each row by default — pass `include_description: true` to keep it. Errors for individual properties are captured per-row — one bad zpid won't fail the whole call. Calls fan out concurrently (capped at 6 in flight, per issue #78, with retry-once-on-timeout per sub-request to absorb transient SW evictions), paced by the same throttle as `zillow_bulk_get`; a bot-wall block is retried with backoff and, if it persists, reported as `error_kind: "bot_challenge"` (distinct from a missing listing) with `{ blocked, retry_after_s }` on the envelope. The call is bounded by an overall deadline — unsettled rows come back as `error_kind: "pending"`.zillow_calculate_affordabilitySolve for the maximum home price you can afford under the standard 28/36 DTI rule. Inputs: monthly income, recurring monthly debts (car loans, student loans, etc.), down payment, interest rate, and optional property-tax rate / insurance / HOA / loan term. Output: max home price, the binding constraint (front-end vs back-end), and the full PITI breakdown at that price. Same math across the realty MCP cohort (@chrischall/realty-core). No network — pure local math.- +9 more on the listing page
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
Batchdata
{
"mcpServers": {
"batchdata": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@pipeworx/mcp-batchdata"
]
}
}
}
Zillow MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"zillow-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"zillow-mcp"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Batchdata is categorized under Real Estate and uses a local stdio subprocess. Zillow MCP belongs to Real Estate and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Batchdata for real estate work and Zillow MCP for real estate.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
Batchdata is bring-your-own-key: usage is billed by the API provider you supply a key for. Auth: api key required. Zillow MCP is listed as free. Auth: other. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add batchdata and zillow-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Batchdata has a quality signal of 61/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Zillow MCP has 63/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.