CompStak DIY tenant access starts at $499/yr per CompStak pricing. CoStar enterprise typically $5K+/yr. LoopNet free public access. The right CRE data platform for a tenant depends on whether you need closed-deal effective rent benchmarks (CompStak) or comprehensive listing inventory (CoStar/LoopNet).
TL;DR
Six commercial real estate data platforms dominate tenant-side use in 2026: CompStak (closed-deal effective rent), CoStar (institutional listing data), LoopNet (free listing search), CommercialEdge (market reports), Reonomy (property/owner data), Crexi (alternative CoStar competitor for transaction marketplace). Most tenants need 1 or 2 of these; large institutional tenants subscribe to 3 or 4.
The 6 leading CRE data platforms
1. CompStak
The closed-deal effective rent benchmark provider. Brokers submit closed-deal terms (effective rent net of concessions) in exchange for credits to access other brokers’ submissions. The result: more accurate effective-rent data than any listing platform.
- Pricing: $499/yr DIY tenant access; enterprise/professional tiers higher
- Best for: 5,000+ SF tenant deal benchmarking; institutional tenant comparing across multiple metros
- Coverage: Strong in top 25 US metros; coverage thinner in tier-3 markets
- Strengths: closed-deal effective rent; broker-submitted, vetted data
- Weaknesses: limited listing inventory data; coverage gaps in secondary markets
2. CoStar
The dominant institutional CRE platform. Comprehensive US-wide listing inventory plus research and analytics. CBRE, JLL, Cushman use it as one of their primary data sources.
- Pricing: enterprise; typically $5K+/yr starting; high-end packages $30K+/yr
- Best for: Multi-market portfolio operators; institutional landlords; large tenant rep firms
- Coverage: Comprehensive US-wide listing data
- Strengths: comprehensive coverage; institutional-grade research; strong sales/lease comps
- Weaknesses: closed-deal effective rent data weaker than CompStak in some markets; pricing puts it out of reach for most small business tenants
3. LoopNet
Free public-facing CRE marketplace, owned by CoStar. The first stop for most tenant searches. Listings include for-lease and for-sale across all US markets.
- Pricing: free public access; CoStar paid tier add-ons
- Best for: Tenant search, browsing, narrowing options before broker engagement
- Coverage: Wide listing inventory; quality varies by metro
- Strengths: free; broad coverage; easy interface
- Weaknesses: listing data only (asking rent); no closed-deal data; quality of listings varies
4. CommercialEdge
Market reports and research platform from Yardi Systems. Notable for the CommercialEdge National Office Report and per-metro market reports.
- Pricing: market reports free; enterprise data tier paid
- Best for: Free market research; regional and national office market trends
- Coverage: top 50 US metros for office; secondary tiers
- Strengths: free public reports; quarterly updates
- Weaknesses: aggregated data, not transaction-level; limited tenant-side use case
5. Reonomy
Property and owner data platform, focused on identifying property owners, contact information, and historical transactions. Often used by tenant rep brokers for off-market deal sourcing.
- Pricing: tiered; starting around $2K+/yr
- Best for: Off-market deal sourcing; identifying landlord LLC owners
- Coverage: US-wide property records
- Strengths: owner contact data; permit and transaction history
- Weaknesses: limited rent comp data; requires interpretation
6. Crexi
Alternative CRE marketplace and transaction platform. Newer than CoStar but growing in 2025 to 2026.
- Pricing: free basic listing access; paid tier for transaction data
- Best for: Alternative to LoopNet for listing search; tenant rep brokers wanting non-CoStar data source
- Coverage: growing; strong in some Sun Belt markets
- Strengths: cleaner UI than LoopNet; alternative data source
- Weaknesses: smaller listing inventory than CoStar/LoopNet
Which platform for which tenant
Small business tenant (under 5,000 SF)
LoopNet (free) for search + tenant rep broker for closed-deal benchmarks. Don’t pay for paid platforms; the broker has access to better data through their firm subscription.
Mid-market tenant (5,000 to 25,000 SF)
LoopNet for search + CompStak DIY ($499/yr) for closed-deal benchmarks + tenant rep broker. CompStak pays for itself by anchoring your effective rent expectations correctly.
Large institutional tenant (25,000+ SF)
LoopNet + CompStak enterprise + tenant rep broker (national firm with CoStar access via their subscription). Add Reonomy if doing off-market sourcing.
Multi-market portfolio tenant
CoStar enterprise (or rely on tenant rep broker’s CoStar) + CompStak enterprise + portfolio lease management system (Visual Lease, FinQuery, LeaseAccelerator).
How tenant rep brokers use these platforms
Tenant rep brokerages typically subscribe to:
- CoStar enterprise: $30K to $100K+/yr depending on team size and coverage
- CompStak enterprise: $20K to $50K+/yr
- Internal database: their firm’s proprietary closed-deal database
When you engage a tenant rep broker, you get effective access to all of these through them. The 4 to 6% landlord-paid commission per CCIM fee guide effectively includes platform access; you don’t pay separately.
What these platforms can’t do
Three things that data platforms can’t replace:
- Local market relationships. CoStar shows you the listing; the broker knows the landlord, the asset manager, and what they’ll actually accept.
- Negotiation power. Data informs the ask; negotiation closes the deal.
- Construction/work letter management. The TI buildout process is its own multi-week thread that requires hands-on management.
Data platforms are necessary but not sufficient for tenant-side commercial real estate.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the best free CRE data source?
LoopNet for listing search (free public access) and CommercialEdge for market reports (free). For closed-deal benchmarks, you need either CompStak ($499/yr DIY) or a tenant rep broker’s CoStar/CompStak access (free to tenant via the broker’s subscription).
Is CompStak worth $499/yr for a small tenant?
For deals under 5,000 SF: probably not. The annual fee approximates the value of one or two months of broker service value. For 5,000+ SF deals or multi-deal portfolios: yes; the closed-deal benchmarks pay for themselves on a single deal.
How accurate is LoopNet rental data?
Listing-level data is typically accurate (what landlords are asking). Closed-deal data (what tenants actually pay after concessions) is best obtained via CompStak or a broker. Listing rents and effective rents diverge 10 to 25% in soft markets per the brokerage Marketbeat reports.
Does CoStar offer tenant-side accounts?
CoStar’s enterprise tier serves tenant rep brokers and institutional tenants. Pricing typically starts $5K+/yr; not designed for individual small business tenants. Most small tenants access CoStar data through their tenant rep broker.
What’s the difference between CoStar and Crexi?
CoStar is the dominant institutional platform with comprehensive US coverage and enterprise pricing. Crexi is a newer marketplace alternative with cleaner UI and growing coverage, often free or low-cost for basic access. Crexi is gaining ground in some Sun Belt markets.
How do I verify rent data accuracy across platforms?
Cross-reference 2 to 3 sources: the asking rent on LoopNet vs CoStar listing, plus closed-deal data from CompStak. If all three converge within 10%, the data is reliable. If they diverge 20%+, dig deeper before signing.
Can I get CoStar data without subscribing?
Through your tenant rep broker (free to you) or by aggregating from public CoStar reports (free, less granular). Direct subscription requires enterprise commitment.
What’s the trend in CRE data 2026?
Three trends: AI-augmented analysis on top of existing platforms, tighter integration between data platforms and lease accounting systems, and increasing supply of free public reports as platforms compete on attention.
Related guides
- Best commercial lease services 2026
- Compare commercial lease services
- Top commercial tenant rep brokers 2026
Sources
- CompStak pricing accessed 2026-05-02
- CoStar Group platform overview accessed 2026-05-02
- LoopNet (CoStar-owned marketplace) accessed 2026-05-02
- CommercialEdge National Office Report accessed 2026-05-02
- Reonomy property data platform accessed 2026-05-02
- Crexi commercial real estate marketplace accessed 2026-05-02
- CCIM Tenant Representation Fee Guide accessed 2026-05-02
Not financial or legal advice. Estimates based on publicly available market data and broker reports. Commercial real-estate is highly local and deal-specific. Consult a licensed commercial real-estate broker and a real-estate attorney before signing any lease.