LoopNet vs Crexi vs CoStar: Best Tool to Find Commercial Space for Your Business
Finding the right commercial space means knowing where listings actually live. Not all commercial space shows up on every platform, and the platforms vary significantly in what they show to free users versus paid subscribers. Here is which tool to use and why.
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The Quick Answer
Start your search on LoopNet — it is free to search, has the widest listing coverage for small business tenants, and integrates with CoStar data. Use Crexi as a supplement to find listings that may not appear on LoopNet, particularly in secondary and tertiary markets. CoStar is the institutional tool — it has the most comprehensive data but is priced for commercial brokers and investors ($400–2,000+/month), not small business tenants.
Side-by-Side Breakdown
LoopNet: free basic search, paid plans $130–300/month for full details, largest publicly accessible commercial listing database in the US, owned by CoStar Group, best for office, retail, and industrial searches by address or market. Crexi: free to search listings with contact info included (no paywall on basic listings), strong in western US markets, growing national coverage, intuitive map-based search, some analytics tools free. CoStar: $400–2,000+/month depending on market and data tier, used by commercial brokers and institutional investors, most comprehensive data including lease comps and off-market properties, not designed for tenant self-service use.
How to Use LoopNet as a Small Business Tenant
LoopNet's free tier shows you available properties, basic size and pricing information, and broker contact details. For most small business tenants looking for a lease under 2,500 sq ft, the free tier provides enough information to build a shortlist. Use the filters by property type (office, retail, flex/industrial), size range, and price per square foot. Save searches and set email alerts for new listings in your target area.
When to Work Directly With a Broker
In most commercial lease transactions, the landlord pays the tenant's broker fee — meaning you can work with a tenant's broker at no cost to you. A good tenant broker knows off-market availabilities that never appear on LoopNet or Crexi, has existing relationships with landlords in your target market, and can negotiate on your behalf. If you are looking for a space for more than 90 days, engaging a tenant's broker is worth the time investment.
The Verdict
Use LoopNet to self-research and build your initial shortlist. Supplement with Crexi, especially in markets outside major metros. Once you have a shortlist of 3–5 properties you are serious about, contact a local tenant's broker — they can access CoStar data on your behalf and negotiate better terms than you will as an unrepresented tenant. Never skip attorney review of any commercial lease you decide to sign.
How to Get Started
1. Go to loopnet.com, set your property type, size range, and location filters, and save your search for email alerts. 2. Run the same search on crexi.com for additional coverage. 3. For each property you are serious about, contact the listing broker to get full details and schedule a tour. 4. After touring at least 3 spaces, decide whether to work with an independent tenant's broker for the negotiation phase. 5. Before signing anything, have a commercial real estate attorney review the full lease including all exhibits and addenda.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is LoopNet free to use?
LoopNet offers a free search tier that shows listings, basic details, and broker contact information. Paid plans ($130–300/month) unlock full property details, demographics, traffic counts, and saved search alerts with more data. For most small business tenants building a shortlist, the free tier is sufficient.
Why do some commercial spaces not show up on LoopNet?
Some landlords, particularly smaller local owners, do not pay to list on LoopNet. Some spaces lease through word of mouth or tenant networks before hitting any listing platform. A local commercial broker has access to these off-market availabilities through CoStar and direct landlord relationships.
How do I know if the asking rent is fair?
Ask the listing broker for comparable lease data in the market. You can also search recent LoopNet and Crexi lease comparables in the same submarket. For a more rigorous analysis, a tenant's broker can pull CoStar lease comp data for free as part of their representation service.
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