Launched
2014
Model
Fixed fee
Portals
Rightmove, Zoopla
Type
Hybrid agent
Reviewed by Karen Purnell, Editor · Last checked 30 July 2026
Purplebricks launched in 2014 and became the UK’s highest-profile challenger to the traditional high-street estate agent, replacing percentage commission with a single fixed fee. After a difficult few years as a listed company, the business was sold to rival online agent Strike in 2023 and the combined group now trades under the Purplebricks name.
How does Purplebricks work?
Instead of charging a percentage of your sale price, Purplebricks charges a fixed fee. A local property expert visits to value your home, and your property is listed on the major portals including Rightmove and Zoopla. You can usually choose to pay the fee upfront or defer it, and you can pay extra to have the agent conduct viewings rather than doing them yourself.
The fee is generally payable whether or not your property sells, which is the single most important difference from a traditional no-sale-no-fee agent. Deferred-payment arrangements are credit agreements, so read those terms carefully before choosing one.
Is Purplebricks any good?
Purplebricks has an enormous volume of independent reviews — tens of thousands on Trustpilot alone — and the picture is genuinely mixed rather than uniformly good or bad. Sellers who are happy tend to praise the cost saving against a percentage fee and the speed of getting to market. The most consistent criticism is not about the listing itself but what happens afterwards: communication and sales progression once an offer is on the table.
Because review volumes are so high and scores move around, treat any single headline rating with caution. It is worth reading recent reviews specifically from your own region, since your experience depends heavily on the local property expert you are assigned.
Who is Purplebricks best for?
- Sellers in an active local market, where a property is likely to sell without a lot of agent legwork
- Higher-value homes, where a fixed fee saves the most against a percentage commission
- Sellers who are comfortable being hands-on and chasing progress themselves
- People who have sold before and know what to expect at the conveyancing stage
Purplebricks pros and cons
Pros
- Fixed fee can be a large saving on a higher-value property
- Listings appear on the major portals, so buyer reach is comparable to a high-street agent
- A local property expert carries out the valuation in person
- Option to defer the fee rather than pay upfront
Cons
- The fee is usually payable whether or not the property sells
- Viewings typically cost extra if you don’t want to do them yourself
- Sales progression and communication after an offer are the most common complaints
- Deferred payment is a credit arrangement — check the total cost
- On a lower-value home, a percentage fee from a local agent can work out cheaper
Our verdict on Purplebricks
Purplebricks makes the most sense if your home is at the upper end of your local market and you are willing to stay closely involved after an offer comes in. If you want someone else to chase solicitors and hold the chain together, budget for a more hands-on service — or at least ask directly, before you sign, who will manage your sale after the offer stage and how you contact them.
Before instructing any estate agent, check which redress scheme they belong to — The Property Ombudsman or the Property Redress Scheme. Membership is a legal requirement and gives you somewhere to escalate a complaint.
Correct at time of writing (July 2026). We have deliberately left specific fees off this page because online estate agent pricing changes often and varies by location, property value and payment option — check the current figure directly with Purplebricks before you commit. Any review scores referred to are indicative and move over time.