Follow Up Boss vs Lofty vs BoldTrail (kvCORE): Which Real Estate CRM Is Right for You? (2026)
Short answer: Choose Follow Up Boss if you want a focused CRM that plugs into the lead sources and website you already have. It's the only one of the three with published prices, starting at $69/user/mo. Choose Lofty if you want one all-in-one platform with an IDX website, CRM, AI agents and done-for-you ads. Choose BoldTrail (formerly kvCORE) mainly when your brokerage already provides it, because it's typically sold through brokerages. Lofty and BoldTrail don't publish prices.
Updated October 26, 2026. Prices come from vendors' official pricing pages and change often.
Quick comparison
| Follow Up Boss | Lofty | BoldTrail (kvCORE) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Focused CRM for lead follow-up and team lead routing | All-in-one: CRM, IDX website, AI agents, ads and lead gen | All-in-one: IDX websites, lead engine, smart CRM, marketing automation, business analytics |
| Published price | Grow $69/user/mo (calling add-on $39/user); Pro $499/mo incl. 10 users; Platform $1,000/mo incl. 30 users | No public prices; custom quote | No public prices; demo through sales |
| Free trial | Yes, no contracts | Quote/demo | Demo |
| AI | AI features included in plans; some use data from the paid Calling add-on | AI Sales Agent (virtual ISA), Social Agent, Homeowner Agent and custom agents | AI assistant and a mobile app that pushes high-intent lead signals |
| Website included | No. Connect any website or lead source (250+ integrations) | Yes, IDX website | Yes, IDX websites |
| ChatGPT / Claude connection | No official MCP server as of October 2026 (third-party options exist) | Lofty MCP Server for connecting your own AI agents | BoldTrail MCP, launched October 2026 |
| Best for | Agents and teams who buy leads from many sources | Agents who want one vendor for site, CRM and ads | Agents whose brokerage provides it |
Follow Up Boss prices from its official pricing page; Lofty and BoldTrail details from their official sites, all checked October 26, 2026.
Follow Up Boss: best focused CRM
Follow Up Boss does one job well: getting every lead into one place, routed to the right agent, with automated follow-up through Action Plans, Smart Lists, and calling, texting and email from inside the app. It doesn't build your website or run your ads. You connect the site and lead sources you already use. Solo agents pay $69/month on Grow, and the calling add-on is another $39/user. At eight or more users, Pro ($499/month for 10 users, $49 per extra user) costs less than Grow and includes unlimited calling and texting for everyone. Yearly billing gets two months free.
Lofty: best all-in-one with AI agents
Lofty (formerly Chime) bundles a CRM, an SEO-focused IDX website, a power dialer, automated multi-channel Smart Plans, social tools and transaction management. Its AI agents are the headline: a Sales Agent that works as a 24/7 virtual ISA, a Social Agent, a Homeowner Agent that works your past-client database for seller leads, and custom agents. Lofty also sells managed advertising, and its pricing page notes a 20% ad management fee on ad lead gen. Prices are quoted based on seats, usage and add-ons, so get the full quote in writing.
BoldTrail (kvCORE): best if your brokerage pays
BoldTrail is Inside Real Estate's platform, formerly kvCORE. It combines IDX websites, a lead engine, a smart CRM, marketing autopilot, transaction integration and business analytics. Many agents get it free through their brokerage, which is the main reason to choose it. It's hard to justify switching away from a free brokerage-provided system unless it's missing something you need. In October 2026 Inside Real Estate launched BoldTrail MCP, which lets you work your BoldTrail CRM from ChatGPT or Claude.
How to decide
- Check what your brokerage provides. If it's BoldTrail or Lofty at no cost to you, start there.
- Count your lead sources. Several paid sources plus a team usually points to Follow Up Boss. Mostly sphere and referrals, and a $49–$79 CRM like Wise Agent or Agentype may be enough (see our budget CRM comparison).
- Decide whether you want a website bundled. If yes, compare Lofty with Sierra Interactive (from $299.95/mo).
- Ask about AI and data access. If you want to use ChatGPT or Claude with your CRM, check the MCP options in our CRM + AI connection guide.
More options are in our CRM and lead follow-up tools list and the CRMs with AI guide.
Tools mentioned
| Tool | Best for | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Follow Up Boss | Teams centralizing leads from many sources | Grow $69/user/mo (calling add-on $39/user); Pro $499/mo incl. 10 users ($49 per extra user); Platform $1,000/mo incl. 30 users (monthly billing; yearly gets 2 months free) (as of 2026-10-26, from official pricing page) |
| Lofty (formerly Chime) | Agents wanting an all-in-one platform | No public prices; custom quote based on usage, seat count, upgrades and lead-gen programs (ad lead gen adds a 20% ad management fee per the page) (as of 2026-10-22, from official pricing page) |
| kvCORE (BoldTrail) | Agents whose brokerage provides it | unknown (not verified; check vendor site) |
| Sierra Interactive | Teams wanting a website plus CRM | Plans starting at $299.95/mo, $399.95/mo and $599.95/mo (higher on alternate billing) (as of 2026-10-20, from official pricing page) |
| Wise Agent | Budget-conscious solo agents | $49/mo ($42/mo annually); with WiseSocial $69/mo ($59/mo annually); 14-day free trial (as of 2026-10-20, from official pricing page) |
| Agentype | Solo agents who want an AI-first CRM that works from their inbox | $79/mo flat, one plan; 14-day free trial, no card required (as of 2026-10-21, from official pricing page) |
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FAQ
Follow Up Boss vs Lofty vs BoldTrail?
Choose Follow Up Boss if you want a focused CRM that plugs into the lead sources and website you already have. It's the only one of the three with published prices, starting at $69/user/mo. Choose Lofty if you want one all-in-one platform with an IDX website, CRM, AI agents and done-for-you ads. Choose BoldTrail (formerly kvCORE) mainly when your brokerage already provides it, because it's typically sold through brokerages. Lofty and BoldTrail don't publish prices.
Is Follow Up Boss better than Lofty?
They solve different problems. Follow Up Boss is a focused CRM that connects to your existing website and lead sources, with published pricing from $69/user/month. Lofty is an all-in-one platform with a website, AI agents and ad services, priced by custom quote.
Is kvCORE the same as BoldTrail?
Yes. kvCORE was Inside Real Estate's platform and was rebranded as BoldTrail in 2024. kvcore.com now redirects to a login page.
How much does Lofty cost?
Lofty doesn't publish prices. Its pricing page says quotes depend on usage, seat count, upgrades and lead-gen programs, and that ad lead gen adds a 20% ad management fee.
Which CRM works with ChatGPT or Claude?
As of October 2026, BoldTrail has an official MCP integration and Lofty offers an MCP server. Follow Up Boss has no official MCP server, though third-party tools offer MCP access.