Fathom vs Century 21: Which Brokerage is Best for Realtors?

Fathom Realty and Century 21 represent two very different approaches to running a real estate career. Fathom is a publicly traded cloud brokerage built around a low-cost, agent-first model. Century 21 is one of the most recognized franchise brands in the industry, with a network of independently owned offices and a reputation built over five decades.

Agents comparing these two are usually asking whether the Century 21 name and local office presence justify the higher cost, or whether a cloud model like Fathom puts more money in their pocket without sacrificing what they actually need to close deals.

This comparison breaks down the real numbers – commission structures, every fee, passive income opportunities, and what each brokerage actually costs at different production levels. The right answer depends on your market, your production level, and what you value in a brokerage relationship.

Commission Structure

Fathom Realty

Fathom offers three plan options, so agents can choose the structure that best fits their production level:

• Max Plan: 100/0 split with a $9,000 annual cap. Before the cap is reached, agents pay $465 per transaction. After the cap, the fee drops to $165 per transaction.
• Share Plan: 88/12 split with a $12,000 cap. Post-cap transaction fee is $165.
• Concierge Plan: 80/20 split, designed for agents who want more hands-on support.

There are no franchise or royalty fees on any plan. Every agent knows their exact cost structure before joining, and the standardized model applies regardless of location.

Century 21

Century 21 is a franchise system, which means commission structures are set at the local office level and vary considerably:

• 70/30 to 90/10 split depending on the office and the agent’s production history
• 6% to 8% royalty fee charged on gross commission income – this is separate from the split and continues even after reaching any cap
• Cap ranges: $22,500 (Kickstart program) up to $200,000 (Relentless plan at top-producing offices)
• Monthly fees: $0 to $350 depending on the office
• Transaction fees: $95 to $295 per transaction, separate from the royalty

The royalty fee is the element most agents underestimate. At many Century 21 offices, agents pay both the commission split and a royalty percentage on gross income, meaning the brokerage’s effective cut is higher than the stated split suggests.

Total Annual Cost at Different Production Levels

Fathom Realty Fee Schedule (Max Plan)

Century 21 Fee Schedule (Ranges by Office)

What an Agent Producing $250,000 in GCI Actually Pays

Fathom Realty (Max Plan, 25 transactions):

• Annual cap: $9,000
• Post-cap transaction fees ($165 x 5): $825
• Annual fee: $700
• E&O ($35 x 25): $875
• Total cost: ~$11,400
• Net to agent: ~$238,600 (95.4%)

Century 21 (mid-range estimates, 75/25 split, 25 transactions):

• Commission to brokerage at 75/25 split (to cap): $22,500
• Royalty fee (7% on $250K GCI): $17,500
• Monthly fees (~$150 x 12): $1,800
• Transaction fees ($195 x 25): $4,875
• E&O (estimate ~$1,200/year): $1,200
• Estimated total cost: ~$47,875
• Estimated net to agent: ~$202,125 (80.9%)

Estimated difference: approximately $36,475 more in the agent’s pocket at Fathom Realty at this production level.

The royalty fee is the critical factor in this comparison. Many agents evaluate Century 21 based only on the stated split or cap without accounting for the 6% to 8% royalty charged on every dollar of GCI. At $250,000 in production, that royalty alone adds $15,000 to $20,000 in brokerage costs on top of the commission split. This fee does not stop at the cap – it continues on every transaction throughout the year.

The gap widens at higher production levels. An agent doing $400,000 in GCI would pay roughly $12,000 total at Fathom (97% retained) versus an estimated $70,000 or more at Century 21 with ongoing royalties and no effective ceiling on the royalty obligation.

Revenue Share and Passive Income

Fathom Realty

Fathom offers a 5-level revenue share program for agents who attract other agents to the brokerage:

The percentages represent a share of the brokerage fees collected from agents at each level. This gives Fathom agents a path to income that is not dependent on closing transactions personally.

Century 21

Century 21 does not offer revenue share, profit share, or any form of passive income for agents. There is no retirement income path tied to agent attraction and no willable income stream from the brokerage.

Some Century 21 offices have referral bonus structures for introducing new agents to the office, but these are office-level programs and not a systematic income stream comparable to a revenue share model. Income at Century 21 comes entirely from closing transactions.

Training and Professional Development

Fathom Realty

• 600+ on-demand courses available to all agents at no additional cost
• Training accessible anytime through the Fathom platform
• Covers sales skills, technology, business development, and compliance
• No live coaching program equivalent to what some larger cloud brokerages offer

Century 21

• C21 University – the brand’s formal training platform with online courses and resources
• Training quality and depth vary significantly by office
• Some offices invest heavily in in-person training and mentorship programs
• New agent support depends almost entirely on the local broker/owner
• The franchise model means training consistency is not guaranteed across locations

Fathom’s training library is substantial for a cloud brokerage, but it is primarily self-directed. Century 21’s brand-level training through C21 University is well-regarded, though what agents actually receive depends heavily on which office they join. New agents at both brokerages will benefit from having a clear plan for mentorship outside the brand’s official resources.

Technology and Tools

Fathom Realty

• Proprietary transaction management platform included at no additional cost
• Digital document management and e-signature tools
• Marketing materials and templates through the agent dashboard
• Technology stack designed for a remote, cloud-first workflow

Century 21

• Access to the C21 brand’s national marketing materials and templates
• Lead generation tools vary by office and often require additional fees
• Some offices provide CRM platforms or third-party tool subscriptions
• The C21 national website provides some agent exposure and referral infrastructure
• Technology investment is at the discretion of each franchise owner

Fathom’s technology is standardized across the company, so every agent gets the same platform regardless of location. Century 21’s technology experience is inconsistent – some offices provide excellent tools while others leave agents to source and pay for their own systems. This is worth investigating carefully when evaluating any specific Century 21 office.

Culture and Work Environment

Fathom Realty: Cloud-First, Remote-Friendly

Fathom operates without traditional office environments. Agents work independently with support delivered through the company’s online platform. The culture is built around self-directed agents who want low overhead and full control of their business. With 362 Glassdoor reviews and a 4.6-star rating, agent satisfaction is consistently high relative to the size of the company.

Century 21: Established Brand, Local Office Culture

Century 21 offices are independently owned, which means the culture varies dramatically from one location to the next. Some offices are highly collaborative with active training programs and broker mentorship. Others are primarily transactional. The Century 21 brand carries strong name recognition with consumers, particularly in suburban and mid-market segments where the brand has been present for decades.

With approximately 1,400 Glassdoor reviews and a 3.9-star average rating – which has trended downward – agent sentiment at Century 21 is more mixed. Reviews frequently mention cost concerns, inconsistent support, and office-to-office variation in culture and management quality.

Stock, Equity, and Wealth Building

Fathom Realty

Fathom is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the ticker FATH (trading near $2 per share). The company is publicly accessible, but Fathom does not currently offer agents stock awards or equity grants as part of their compensation structure. The revenue share program is the primary wealth-building tool beyond commission income.

Century 21

Century 21 operates as a franchise under Anywhere Real Estate (HOUS on NYSE). Agents have no equity participation in the franchise or parent company. There is no stock award program, no revenue share, and no passive income path connected to the brokerage. All wealth building at Century 21 comes from commission income earned on closed transactions and whatever the individual agent builds independently.

Agent Support

Fathom Realty

• Support is available through the Fathom platform and agent resources
• Broker support is accessible virtually
• No 24/7 live support – Fathom does not advertise round-the-clock availability as a standard feature
• Consistent support quality across locations due to the centralized model

Century 21

• Support varies entirely by office and franchise owner
• Some offices offer excellent broker availability and administrative staff
• Others operate lean with minimal support infrastructure
• No 24/7 corporate-level support standard
• The quality of support is one of the most variable factors when evaluating a specific Century 21 office

Who Should Choose Fathom Realty

Fathom tends to be the stronger fit for agents who:

• Want to keep the maximum share of their commission – the Max Plan’s 100/0 split and $9K cap mean experienced agents pay very little to the brokerage
• Are self-directed and comfortable working without a physical office – Fathom’s cloud model rewards agents who can generate their own business
• Want no royalty or franchise fees eating into every transaction regardless of production level
• Are interested in building a revenue share income stream through attracting other agents
• Produce consistently and can quickly reach the annual cap to maximize the per-transaction fee structure
• Value a high agent satisfaction rating – Fathom’s 4.6 Glassdoor score suggests a genuinely positive agent experience

Who Should Choose Century 21

Century 21 tends to be the stronger fit for agents who:

• Rely on brand name recognition with consumers who specifically trust or recognize the Century 21 name
• Want access to a local office environment with in-person collaboration, shared resources, and walk-in traffic at some locations
• Are newer agents who benefit from the structure, mentorship, and in-person environment that a well-run Century 21 office can provide
• Have found a specific Century 21 office with strong culture, active training, and a broker who invests in agent development
• Work in markets where the Century 21 brand carries meaningful consumer recognition and listing credibility

The Bottom Line

This comparison comes down to a straightforward cost-vs-brand question. Fathom’s fee structure is among the most agent-friendly in the industry. Century 21’s royalty structure – stacked on top of the commission split – makes it one of the more expensive franchise options for high-producing agents.

Choose Fathom Realty if you are a productive agent who wants to keep more of what you earn. The Max Plan’s 100/0 split, $9K cap, and zero royalty fees put an experienced agent at roughly 95% net retention. The 600+ course library, revenue share program, and strong agent satisfaction ratings add real value without adding cost.

Choose Century 21 if you have identified a specific office with strong local leadership, active training, and a culture that genuinely supports agent growth – and if the Century 21 name carries enough weight in your market to justify the added cost. The economics work much better for newer agents still building production than for experienced agents paying a compounding royalty on a large book of business.

For agents who want the cloud brokerage model with a larger network and deeper revenue share, eXp Realty offers a larger agent network with a deeper revenue share program. For a broader view, see our complete brokerage comparison guide.