Hometap vs Unison is a choice between two ways of sharing in your home’s future. Both give you a lump sum with no monthly payments, and both record a lien on the home. Four things set them apart: the credit score you need, how long you have to settle, whether the company shares in the home’s whole value or only in the change, and which states each one serves.
Our take: Look at Hometap first if your FICO score is between 575 and 619, if you want access to up to 27% of your home’s value, if you’d like a published cap and percentages you could check before you apply, or if your home is in one of the eight states where Hometap is an option and Unison is not. Look at Unison first if you want up to 30 years with no monthly payments, if you expect a slow-growing market and plan to stay at least five years, or if your home is in Kansas, Minnesota, Rhode Island or Washington, D.C. If both could work, request both estimates and compare them in dollars, because the two companies calculate their share in different ways.
Hometap vs Unison at a glance
Every figure below comes from each company’s own published terms, as read for our Hometap review and our Unison review on October 6, 2026. Both companies call what they offer something different, an investment at Hometap and an equity sharing agreement at Unison, but you get cash today and no monthly payments with either.
Hometap’s minimum amount varies by state, and its maximum depends on your home’s value and equity percentage. Unison invests no more than 15% of your home’s current value.
More: Hometap review: costs, requirements, pros and cons
More: Unison review: equity sharing costs, requirements, pros and cons
The differences that change the outcome
A few rows above are close. These are the ones that could change which company you end up with, or what it costs you.
Credit score and income: 575 at Hometap, about 620 at Unison
Hometap publishes a minimum FICO score of 575, along with at least 25% equity in your home, among other qualifying criteria, and it has no income or employment requirements. Unison says applicants generally need a mid-FICO score of at least 620, and it reviews income and the property as well. It also says the loan-to-value it allows goes down as the score goes down, with 70% as the ceiling for applicants with excellent credit.
If your score sits between 575 and 619, Hometap is the only one of the two to look at. Above 620 your score still matters at both, so a higher score could mean a better offer.
Time to settle: 10 years at Hometap, up to 30 at Unison
A Hometap investment has a 10-year term, with no prepayment penalty for settling sooner. Unison‘s term runs up to 30 years. Neither has monthly payments.
The shorter clock matters most if you plan to stay. With Hometap you need a way to settle by year 10, and its percentage steps up after year 5. With Unison you have a lot more room, but it describes its product as long-term funding and says it isn’t right for you unless you plan to stay at least five years. If you sell in its restriction period, which its FAQ describes as the first five years and elsewhere as typically three to five, Unison doesn’t share in a loss.
Neither term is open-ended. If you haven’t settled by the end, Hometap says it may acquire a percent ownership interest in the property and work with you to sell it. At the end of 30 years Unison expects you to buy it out or sell, and says a refinance to fund the buyout might be possible but isn’t guaranteed.
This is the biggest difference, and the two don’t measure cost in the same units. Here’s each one in the company’s own terms.
Hometap uses what it calls a share of home value model. You receive a percentage of your home’s current value in cash, and Hometap earns an agreed percentage of the home’s value on the day you settle. Under its June 2026 pricing, that percentage is 1.65 times the percentage you received if you settle in years 0 to 5, and 1.8 times in years 6 to 10. Receive 10% of your home’s value and you settle for 16.5% or 18%. What you settle for, the Hometap Share, is the lesser of that amount and the Hometap Cap, an 18.5% annual rate compounded monthly on the cash you received.
Unison shares in the change in value, not the whole value. Unison reduces your appraisal by a 5% Risk Adjustment to set a starting value, then shares in the gain or loss from that number. Its percentage is typically four times the percentage it invests, so a 10% payment means a 40% share of the change. Unison doesn’t share in a loss if you sell in the first years or buy it out at any point, and it publishes the formula but not the rate on its Equity Appreciation Limit.
Two practical points. Hometap’s percentage applies to whatever the home is worth, so even a home that loses value still settles for more than you received in Hometap’s calculator. Unison’s starting value sits 5% below the appraisal, so a home that sells for exactly what it appraised for still costs you more than you received. With either company, plan on settling for more than you got.
The same home, run through each formula
To compare them fairly we used one home: a $500,000 appraisal, $50,000 received (10% of the value) and a settlement in year 10. The Hometap column is straight from Hometap’s own pricing calculator. The Unison column is our arithmetic from Unison’s published formula, with its typical 40% share and no remodeling adjustments.
| If the home’s value in year 10 is | Home value | Hometap Share (18%) | What you return to Unison (40% of the change) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unchanged | $500,000 | $90,000 | $60,000 |
| Down 8% in total | $460,000 | $82,800 | $44,000 |
| Up 3.25% a year | $688,447 | $123,920 | $135,379 |
| Up 8% a year | $1,079,462 | $194,303 | $291,785 |
Hometap figures: its public pricing calculator with California selected, read for our Hometap review. Each is below the Hometap Cap. Unison figures: our arithmetic, $50,000 plus 40% of the difference between the sale price and a starting value of $475,000 (the $500,000 appraisal less the 5% Risk Adjustment). Unison’s percentage is typically, not always, four times the share invested, and Unison’s own site gives no full worked example. Fees are not included for either.
Read the rows in order. When the home gains little or nothing, Unison’s formula comes out lower in this illustration. When the home gains 3.25% a year or more, Hometap’s comes out lower, and the gap widens as the home climbs. That’s the trade: Unison costs less in a slow market and more in a hot one.
None of this is a quote. Unison sets your percentage in your agreement, Hometap’s depends on how much you receive and when you settle, and Unison’s restriction period changes what a sale in the early years costs. The comparison that counts is your own two estimates, in dollars, for the year you expect to settle.
Get an estimate from Hometap and get a cash estimate from Unison, then compare both for the year you expect to settle.
Fees and how much you could access
With both companies the fees come out of your proceeds. Hometap‘s fee is 4.5% of the Investment amount, up to a maximum of $20,000. Unison‘s transaction fee is 3.9%, with no stated maximum. Which one is lower depends on the amount.
| Amount received | Hometap fee | Unison fee |
|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $1,350 | $1,170 |
| $50,000 | $2,250 | $1,950 |
| $100,000 | $4,500 | $3,900 |
| $300,000 | $13,500 | $11,700 |
| $600,000 | $20,000 | Above the $500,000 maximum |
Our arithmetic from each company’s published fee: 4.5% up to $20,000 at Hometap, 3.9% at Unison. Unison’s top amount is $500,000. Third-party costs are extra at both.
Third-party costs come on top and vary by state and county. Hometap’s published examples are an appraisal of $60 to $299 if done virtually or $500 to $1,000 in person, a $650 closing fee (not charged in Pennsylvania), title insurance of $30 to $3,075 and government recording and transfer charges of $370 to $1,000. Unison lists an appraisal of $450 to $1,250, a home inspection of $650 to $1,050 (it will consider a recent one you already have) and settlement costs of $700 to $1,750. Unison pays for the credit report.
On how much you could access, Hometap’s limit is higher. Hometap invests up to 27% of a home’s value and Unison no more than 15%. On a $400,000 home that’s $108,000 against $60,000, before either company looks at your equity. Hometap stops at $600,000 and Unison at $500,000.
Eligibility: who could qualify for each
Both companies evaluate each home on its own, so read these as published starting points. Meeting them doesn’t mean an approval.
| Requirement | Hometap | Unison |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum credit score | FICO score of 575 | Generally a mid-FICO score of at least 620 |
| Equity | At least 25% equity in your home | Applicants with excellent credit could have a maximum loan-to-value of 70%. The allowed level goes down as the score goes down |
| Income | No income or employment requirements | Unison evaluates your credit, your income and your property |
| Occupancy | Vacation and rental properties are eligible | Typically your primary residence. You must live there at least 180 days of every 365 and never be away for 60 days in a row. Second homes or rentals only in some cases |
| Property types | Single-family homes, condos, multi-family homes (1 to 4 units) and manufactured homes | Single-family homes, townhouses and condominiums |
| Title and other financing | Not published | Typically homes held by individuals or joint tenants. Some trusts and LLCs may not be eligible. Not compatible with reverse mortgages, interest-only loans or shared appreciation loans |
| Flood zones | In a FEMA flood hazard area, active flood insurance for the whole term. Manufactured homes in flood zones are not eligible | Not published |
“Not published” means we did not find it on the public pages we read. For Hometap, qualifying also depends on the home being located in an eligible state, among other qualifying criteria, and Hometap notes that its eligibility criteria are subject to change.
Get an estimate from Hometap and get a cash estimate from Unison to find out whether you could prequalify. Both say the estimate has no credit impact.
Which states each company serves
Hometap makes home equity investments in 27 states. Unison lists 22 states and Washington, D.C. Nineteen states are on both lists.
Both Hometap and Unison: 19 states
- Arizona
- California
- Delaware
- Florida
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Ohio
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
Hometap only: 8 states
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
Unison only: 3 states and Washington, D.C.
- Kansas
- Minnesota
- Rhode Island
- Washington, D.C.
Neither company: 20 states
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
See the section on when neither fits for who else lists some of these states.
How to get an estimate from each
Neither estimate commits you to anything, and you could request both in a few minutes. For a rough figure before you share an address with either company, our home equity calculator shows how much cash you could access.
Hometap: estimate, application, offer
- Request an estimate. Enter your ZIP code and a few details about the home. Hometap says this takes less than 2 minutes and has no credit impact.
- Complete the application. It is online, and Hometap reviews it in underwriting, which includes a third-party appraisal.
- Review your offer. If you are approved, an Investment Manager goes through the Investment Offer with you, and a signing is scheduled once you agree on the details.
- Receive your funds. Hometap wires the money, typically within four to seven business days of signing. It says the whole process could take as little as 30 to 45 days.
Unison: estimate, application, appraisal
- Get your estimate. Enter your address for a free quote. Unison says it takes minutes and has no impact on your credit.
- Submit your application. Apply online or with one of Unison’s home equity specialists.
- Appraise your home. Unison schedules an independent appraisal to set the home’s fair market value.
- Receive your cash. You decide how much to receive, and Unison deducts its 3.9% fee at closing.
- Settle. When you sell, when you buy Unison out, or at the end of the 30-year term.
When neither Hometap nor Unison fits
Sometimes the honest answer is neither one.
Your credit score is under 575. That’s below the published minimum at Hometap and well below Unison’s. Our guide to a home equity loan with bad credit sorts the options by score.
You have less than about 25% equity. Hometap asks for at least 25% equity in your home, and Unison’s allowed loan-to-value drops as your score drops. Paying down your traditional mortgage or waiting for the home to appreciate could get you there.
Your state is on neither list. Other home equity agreement companies cover some of the gaps. Point lists Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland and Washington, Unlock lists Vermont and Wyoming, and Nada lists Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. We have no home equity agreement company to point you to in Alaska, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota or West Virginia, and in Texas only one company lists the state, so a HELOC or a home equity loan is usually the practical route there.
You’d rather have a credit line. If you have steady income and want to make monthly payments, a HELOC is the product to compare. Figure offers one with an online application, and our HEI vs HELOC comparison walks through the trade-offs.
You want a wider field. Our comparison of home equity agreement companies covers more options, and the home equity hub explains the other ways to use the equity in your home.
Hometap vs Unison: the bottom line
Hometap and Unison answer the same need in different ways. Hometap is the shorter arrangement with its pricing in public view: a 10-year term, percentages and a cap you could look up before you apply, a lower credit bar and access to as much as 27% of your home’s value. Unison is the longer one with a cost that follows the change in your home’s value: up to 30 years, a lower fee, and a formula that favors a slow-growing market and a long stay.
Which one costs less depends on what your home does, and nobody knows that. Get both estimates and look at more than one outcome.
Hometap could make sense if your FICO score is 575 or higher, you have at least 25% equity in your home, the home is located in an eligible state, among other qualifying criteria, and you expect to settle within 10 years.
Unison could make sense if your credit score is generally 620 or higher, you live in the home, you expect to stay at least five years and you’d rather share in the change in value than in its whole value.
More: Compare more home equity agreement companies
Hometap vs Unison FAQ
Neither is better for everyone. Hometap is the one to look at first if your FICO score is 575 to 619, if you want to access up to 27% of your home’s value or if you want published percentages and a published cap. Unison is the one to look at first if you want up to 30 years, plan to stay at least five years and expect your home to grow slowly. If you could qualify for both, compare an estimate from each in dollars.
Hometap‘s published minimum is a FICO score of 575, among other qualifying criteria. Unison says applicants generally need a mid-FICO score of at least 620, and it looks at income and the property too.
It depends on how your home’s value changes. On a $500,000 home with $50,000 received and a settlement in year 10, Hometap‘s calculator shows $90,000 if the value is unchanged and $123,920 at 3.25% yearly growth. The same cases come to about $60,000 and $135,379 under Unison‘s formula at a typical 40% share, our arithmetic. Your own percentages are set in your offer.
Hometap operates in 27 states, and Unison in 22 states and Washington, D.C. Nineteen are on both lists. Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon and Pennsylvania are Hometap only. Kansas, Minnesota, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. are Unison only.
Hometap’s term is 10 years, with no prepayment penalty for settling sooner. Unison’s term runs up to 30 years, and it says its product is not right for you unless you plan to stay at least five years.
Yes. Hometap’s fee is 4.5% of the Investment amount, up to $20,000, and Unison’s transaction fee is 3.9%. Both come out of your proceeds, and third-party costs such as the appraisal are extra.
Hometap has no income or employment requirements. Unison evaluates your income along with your credit and your property.
With Hometap the percentage applies to the lower value, so the dollar amount falls, though it could still be more than you received. In its calculator an 8% drop settles for $82,800 on $50,000 received after 10 years. With Unison, a sale after the restriction period shares in the loss, so you could owe less than you received. In the first years, or on a buyout, Unison doesn’t share in a decrease.
How we compared Hometap and Unison
This comparison is the editorial view of smarts.co. Every figure for Hometap and Unison comes from the terms each company publishes on its own website, as read for our Hometap review and our Unison review on October 6, 2026, and from our own arithmetic where we say so. State lists for Point, Unlock and Nada are from their own sites. We did not give either company a score. Where a company doesn’t publish a term, we say so and don’t fill the gap.
Sources (4)
We use primary sources: each company’s own product pages and legal terms.
- Hometap. Home page, How It Works, FAQs, pricing guide and public pricing calculator. hometap.com. Accessed October 6, 2026.
- Unison. Home page, Equity Sharing Agreement page and FAQs. unison.com. Accessed October 6, 2026.
- Point. Available states. point.com. Accessed October 6, 2026.
- Figure. Home Equity Line of Credit page. figure.com. Accessed October 6, 2026.
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Get an estimate from each and compare the numbers side by side.
$30,000 to $500,000. No monthly payments for up to 30 years. Applicants generally need a mid-FICO score of at least 620.
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