Esgrow vs Chime (Lofty): 2026 Comparison

Note: Chime rebranded to Lofty in 2023. Same platform, new name.

Bottom line: Chime/Lofty is a feature-rich platform with AI assistant, power dialer, and IDX websites—all for $400-600/month. Esgrow focuses solely on AI lead scoring for $29/month. Choose based on what you actually need.

Quick Comparison

FeatureEsgrowChime/Lofty
Starting Price$29/mo$400-600/mo
Setup Fee$0$500+
ContractMonth-to-month6-12 months
AI Lead Scoring✅ Yes✅ Yes
AI Text Assistant❌ No✅ Yes (auto-qualify)
Voice Notes✅ Yes❌ No
Power Dialer❌ No✅ Yes
IDX Website❌ No✅ Yes
Team Management❌ No✅ Yes
Setup Time10 minutes1-2 weeks
Best ForSolo agentsTeams + high-volume

What is Chime/Lofty?

Chime (now Lofty) is one of the most feature-packed real estate platforms. It includes:

It's a premium all-in-one solution competing with BoomTown, kvCORE, and Sierra.

The Real Cost of Chime/Lofty

Chime's pricing varies by plan and negotiation:

PlanMonthly CostTypical Users
Growth$400-500/moSolo agents + small teams
Pro$550-700/moTeams wanting AI assistant
Enterprise$1,000+/moBrokerages

Plus: Setup fee ($500+), possible per-user fees for teams, and optional add-ons (dialer minutes, extra AI credits).

Annual cost for solo agent: $5,300-$7,000+
Esgrow annual cost: $348-$588

The Chime AI Assistant

Chime's standout feature is their AI assistant. Here's how it works:

  1. Lead submits form on your IDX site
  2. AI texts them within seconds
  3. AI asks qualifying questions (timeline, pre-approval, etc.)
  4. If qualified, AI schedules showing or call
  5. Hot lead lands in your CRM with full conversation

This is genuinely powerful for high-volume lead generation. If you're getting 50+ leads/month from paid ads, the AI saves hours of qualification.

But here's the thing: If you're getting 10-20 leads/month from sphere and Zillow, you can text them yourself in 5 minutes. The AI assistant ROI only works at scale.

When Chime/Lofty is Overkill

Chime probably isn't worth it if:

When Chime/Lofty Makes Sense

Consider Chime if:

What Esgrow Does Instead

Esgrow takes a different approach: do fewer things, do them well.

For $29/month:

No AI texting. No power dialer. No IDX website. But if you don't need those, why pay $400/month for them?


The ROI Calculation

Solo agent doing 12 deals/year at $10k commission ($120k GCI):

ChimeEsgrow
Annual cost$5,500$348
% of GCI4.6%0.3%
Additional deals needed to justify0.5 extra dealsNearly free

Chime can justify itself if the AI books you 1 extra deal you wouldn't have gotten. But that's a big "if" for most agents.


Switching from Chime to Esgrow

  1. Export contacts: Chime → CRM → Export
  2. Note contract end date: Avoid early termination fees
  3. Sign up for Esgrow: 14-day free trial
  4. Import contacts: Dashboard → Import CSV
  5. Keep website if needed: Esgrow works with any IDX site

FAQ

How much does Chime CRM cost in 2026?
Chime (now Lofty) costs $400-600/month for most agents. Team and enterprise plans can exceed $1,000/month. There's typically a setup fee and minimum contract term.

Is Chime the same as Lofty?
Yes. Chime rebranded to Lofty in 2023. It's the same platform with the same features. If you see Lofty.com, that's Chime's new name.

Does Chime have an AI assistant?
Yes. Chime/Lofty has an AI assistant that can qualify leads via text and schedule appointments. It's one of their premium features.

What's the best Chime alternative for solo agents?
Esgrow is a popular Chime alternative for solo agents at $29/month. It offers AI lead scoring without the enterprise pricing.

Is Chime worth $500/month?
For teams doing 20+ deals/year with high lead volume, Chime can be worth it. For solo agents doing 8-15 deals, simpler CRMs often make more sense financially.


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Last updated: March 2026

Related comparisons: Esgrow vs Follow Up Boss | Esgrow vs kvCORE | Esgrow vs Sierra | Esgrow vs BoomTown