Zillow API vs Zillow MCP
A side-by-side look at the Zillow API 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 Zillow API for real estate work over a hosted endpoint; 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 Zillow API when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Real Estate domain.
- You prefer a remote HTTP/SSE transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
APIFY_API_TOKEN.
Choose Zillow MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Real Estate domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- 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 | 40/100 · Fair | 56/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Remote HTTP/SSE | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | APIFY_API_TOKEN | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 0 |
| Directory activity | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | Not listed | 21 |
| Full listing | View Zillow API | View Zillow MCP |
Tools & capabilities
Zillow API tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
Zillow MCP tools 21
zillow_search_propertiesSearch listings by location, status, price band, beds/baths, home type. Optional `map_bounds` viewport; `include_meta` reports Zillow's own total vs fetched, so truncation is visiblezillow_sweep_areaExhaustive enumeration of an area: recursive map tiling until no tile is truncated, deduped, with a completeness summary and drift warnings; optional JSON output filezillow_get_propertyFull record for a zpid (price, Zestimate, beds, schools, neighborhood, price history)zillow_get_by_addressResolve a free-text address (with optional city/state/zip) to its Zillow zpid + canonical URLzillow_resolve_addressesBatch-resolve many free-text addresses (or structured rows) to zpids + canonical URLszillow_bulk_getFetch full records for many zpids/URLs at once, with partial-result + bot-wall handlingzillow_get_property_photosFull photo gallery for a property — every image embedded in the homedetails page with multi-width jpeg + webp variants and captionszillow_get_zestimate_historyTime series of Zestimate values (and rent Zestimate where available)zillow_get_price_historyListing history (Listed/Sold/Pending/etc.) with price + days on marketzillow_get_tax_historyAnnual tax-roll history — taxes paid and assessed value year-over-yearzillow_compare_propertiesSide-by-side comparison of up to 12 properties, with an aligned summary tablezillow_calculate_affordabilityLocal affordability calculator — max purchase price from income/DTI/rates- +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.
Zillow API
{
"mcpServers": {
"zillow-api": {
"url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=actors,docs,johnvc/zillow-api"
}
}
}
Zillow MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"zillow-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"zillow-mcp"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Zillow API is categorized under Real Estate and uses a remote HTTP/SSE transport. Zillow MCP belongs to Real Estate and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Zillow API 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.
Zillow API has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Zillow MCP has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. 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 zillow-api and zillow-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Zillow API has a quality signal of 40/100 (Fair) with 0 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Zillow MCP has 56/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.