Head-to-head / Finding leads
DealMachine vs PropStream
By Salah Boussettah · Both tested hands-on · Updated 2026-06-16
The short answer
DealMachine and PropStream both find off-market, motivated-seller leads, but they work differently. DealMachine is a mobile-first driving-for-dollars app with genuinely unlimited free skip tracing; PropStream is a desktop nationwide data engine with the deepest property records, the best comps, and 165+ filters. Pick DealMachine if you find deals on the ground, PropStream if you build large targeted lists from your desk. Most serious investors eventually run both.
from $119/mo
A driving-for-dollars and lead-gen app: pin a house, pull the owner's name, equity and mortgage data, skip trace for free, and fire off direct mail - from your phone.
from $99/mo
The nationwide property-data and list-building standard: 165+ filters, instant motivation categories, the deepest owner records we've tested, and the best comps tool - with built-in skip tracing and analysis.
We opened paid trials on both and built real lead lists in the same market (Indianapolis, zip 46201) so we could compare them like for like. They overlap enough that people cross-shop them, but they're built around two different ways of finding deals - on the ground versus at the desk.
At a glance
| DealMachine | PropStream | |
|---|---|---|
| How you find deals | Drive routes and pin houses on a map (mobile-first) | Filter 165+ criteria across nationwide records (desktop-first) |
| Skip tracing | Free and unlimited on every plan | Included up to a credit value (Pro/Elite); none on Essentials |
| Property & owner data depth | Strong on-the-spot owner, equity and mortgage data | Deepest of any tool we tested - full assessor record, tax, legal |
| Comparable sales (comps) | Limited | Best-in-class - 97 comps with a fully adjustable comp search |
| List-building speed | Map pins + AI list builder | Instant motivation categories + 165+ filters |
| Built-in direct mail | Yes - postcards and handwritten letters | Yes - postcards from ~48c |
| Best at | Driving for dollars and on-the-spot lookups | Large, precise desk-based list building and analysis |
Shaded cell = our pick on that dimension. A blank means it's a genuine toss-up or depends on your workflow.
Pick DealMachine if
- You find deals on the ground - driving neighborhoods and pinning distressed houses from your phone
- You want unlimited free skip tracing baked in, with no per-lookup cost to worry about
- You want the lowest entry to start finding and mailing leads ($99/mo annual)
- You value a mobile-first workflow over deep desktop data tools
Pick PropStream if
- You build large, precisely targeted lists from your desk across many markets
- You lean on accurate comps and deep public records to underwrite before you offer
- You want 165+ filters and one-click motivation categories (pre-foreclosure, vacant, high-equity)
- You're comfortable that skip tracing is credit-capped rather than unlimited
The bottom line
These are complementary more than competitive: DealMachine is the field tool, PropStream is the desk engine. If you have to pick one, choose DealMachine when your lead flow is driving-based and you want free skip tracing, and PropStream when it's list-based and you need depth and comps. Plenty of investors run DealMachine in the car and PropStream at the desk.
Affiliate links - we may earn a commission. Our rankings are never for sale.
FAQ
- Is DealMachine or PropStream better for skip tracing?
- DealMachine, on cost. It includes unlimited free skip tracing on every plan, so there's no per-lookup charge. PropStream includes skip tracing only up to a credit value on its Pro and Elite plans (and none on Essentials), so heavy skip tracing can run into add-on costs.
- Which has better property data and comps?
- PropStream, clearly. In our testing it showed the deepest records of any tool - full assessor data, mortgage balance, equity, and a best-in-class adjustable comps tool that pulled 97 comparable sales for one property. DealMachine's on-the-spot owner and equity data is strong but shallower, and its comps are limited.
- Can I use both DealMachine and PropStream together?
- Yes, and many investors do. DealMachine covers driving for dollars and free skip tracing in the field; PropStream covers large desk-based list pulls, deep records, and comps. They're complementary, so running both is a deliberate best-of-breed setup rather than redundancy.
Both tools were tested on real accounts - see the full DealMachine review and PropStream review. We earn affiliate commissions on some links (see our disclosure); rankings are never for sale. Prices change - this comparison was last updated 2026-06-16.