Choosing a CRM is like choosing a spouse. It's expensive to get into, messy to get out of, and you have to live with its annoying habits every single day.
In the real estate world, Top Producer and BoomTown are two of the heavyweights. But they are built for completely different types of agents.
If you choose the wrong one, you will either burn money on features you don't use, or lose leads because your system is too manual.
I have used both. Here is my honest, unfiltered review of which one actually generates a Return on Investment (ROI) for individual agents in 2025.
1. The Core Philosophy Difference
Before we talk features, you need to understand the DNA of these platforms.
Top Producer: "The Relationship Manager"
Top Producer is a Database CRM. It assumes you already know people. Its goal is to help you stay in touch with your sphere of influence (SOI), past clients, and referrals. It excels at "Follow-Up Plans" (e.g., birthdays, home anniversaries).
BoomTown: "The Lead Conversion Machine"
BoomTown is a Lead Generation Platform first, and a CRM second. It assumes you want strangers to visit your website so you can convert them. It excels at PPC (Pay-Per-Click) management and forcing you to call internet leads immediately.
2. Head-to-Head Comparison Table
| Feature | Top Producer | BoomTown |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Solo Agents & Relationship Builders | Teams & Cold Lead Chasers |
| Website | Basic Landing Pages | WINNER Full IDX Lead Capture Site |
| Lead Gen | Minimal (You bring leads) | WINNER Managed PPC Service |
| Ease of Use | WINNER Moderate learning curve |
High learning curve |
| Automation | Standard Drip Campaigns | Behavioral Tracking (Smart) |
3. The Pricing Reality (Hidden Costs)
This is where the decision is usually made for most individual agents.
Top Producer Pricing
Top Producer is relatively affordable. Expect to pay around $129/month per user. There are add-ons (like Market Snapshot), but generally, what you see is what you get.
Break-Even Point: If you close 1 deal a year from your database follow-up, this software pays for itself 5x over.
BoomTown Pricing
BoomTown is an investment. The platform fees start around $1,000/month (often requires a 12-month contract), PLUS you are expected to spend ad budget (PPC) on top of that.
Break-Even Point: You need to be closing 3-4 internet leads per month just to cover the cost. If you don't have a team to call leads within 5 minutes, BoomTown is a waste of money.
Reality Check: Use our Commission Calculator. Enter your monthly CRM cost as "Marketing Fees" to see how many deals you actually need to close to stay profitable.
4. Which Has Better AI Automation?
In 2025, a CRM without AI is just a glorified Rolodex.
- Top Producer X (FiveStreet): Has decent automated lead routing and simple text auto-responders. It's "Reactive" AI.
- BoomTown Success Assurance: They offer a "Concierge" service (real humans + AI) that texts your leads for you to qualify them before you ever pick up the phone. This is superior for cold leads.
5. Final Verdict: Which Should You Buy?
Choose Top Producer If:
- You are a Solo Agent.
- 80% of your business comes from Referrals and Past Clients.
- You want to organize your chaotic database and remember birthdays.
- You have a budget under $200/month.
Choose BoomTown If:
- You run a Team (Rainmaker model).
- You have more money than time.
- You want to scale by buying internet leads and need a system to force your agents to call them.
- You need a high-converting IDX website included.
The "Third Option"
If you are a solo agent but want BoomTown features without the price, look at Follow Up Boss or kvCORE (often included with eXp Realty). These offer a middle ground of lead conversion tools at a lower price point.
Whatever you choose, remember: The "Best" CRM is the one you actually log into every day.