4 Best Home Search Apps for Buyers in Ontario

Finding a home in Ontario takes time, and the app you use affects how much of that time gets wasted on listings that don't fit. Some platforms bury the details you need under layers of clutter. Others give you old data or skip the sold history that tells you what a property should actually cost. A good home search app puts the right information in front of you quickly, lets you filter down to what matters, and keeps you from chasing homes that already sold last week.

Ontario buyers have a handful of solid options, each with different strengths depending on what you prioritize. Some apps work better for researching neighbourhood pricing trends. Others focus on getting you connected with a realtor fast. A few offer tools for couples searching together, which matters when two people need to agree before booking a showing.

This breakdown covers four apps worth your attention if you're buying in Ontario, starting with the one that brings the most useful features together in a single platform.

1. Wahi: Built for Buyers Who Want Full Control

Wahi puts a lot of research power in your hands before you ever speak to an agent. The app pulls detailed MLS listings with a map-based search that lets you zoom into specific neighbourhoods and streets. You can book showings directly through the app, which removes the back-and-forth that slows things down with other platforms.

Sold History That Goes Back Far Enough to Matter

One area where Wahi separates itself from competitors is in historical sales data. The platform provides up to 21 years of sold history for Ontario properties. That kind of depth helps you understand pricing patterns in a neighbourhood over time, not based on guesswork or a handful of recent sales. You can see what homes on a particular street sold for during the 2008 market correction, the 2017 peak, and every phase in between.

School District Mapping Across Every Board

Parents looking for homes in specific school catchment areas will find Wahi's school mapping useful. The app integrates school district information for every school board in Ontario, so you can filter your search based on where your kids would attend. This feature works directly within the map interface, saving you from cross-referencing school boundaries on separate websites.

AI Property Summaries and Price Drop Alerts

Wahi uses AI-generated property insights to give you quick summaries of listing details. Instead of scrolling through paragraphs of marketing copy, you get a condensed overview that highlights what matters. The app also sends price drop notifications, so you know when a listing you saved becomes more affordable.

The Co-Buyer Feature for Couples and Partners

Buying a home with a partner means both people need to agree on what works. Wahi includes a co-buyer feature that lets two people search together within the app. Each person can like or pass on listings, and the app shows which homes both parties favoured. It also generates recommendations based on those mutual preferences, which cuts down on the arguments about which houses to tour.

When you're ready to move forward, Wahi connects you with Wahi Select realtors or partner agents depending on what you need. Home value estimates appear on listings, giving you a baseline for evaluating asking prices.

Feature	Wahi
MLS Listings	Yes
Map-Based Search	Yes
Book Showings in App	Yes
Sold History	Up to 21 years
School District Mapping	All Ontario school boards
AI Property Summaries	Yes
Price Drop Alerts	Yes
Co-Buyer Feature	Yes
Home Value Estimates	Yes

2. Realtor.ca: The Biggest Listing Pool in Canada

Realtor.ca comes from the Canadian Real Estate Association and carries over 185,000 listings across the country. If you want to search the widest possible range of active properties, this app delivers on volume. It also offers neighbourhood insights that cover demographics, commute times, and nearby amenities like schools and parks.

Mortgage Calculators Built Right In

The app includes mortgage calculators, which help you estimate monthly payments before you start reaching out to lenders. This keeps your search focused on homes within your actual budget rather than properties that look good but cost more than you can handle.

Where Realtor.ca Falls Short

The app works well for browsing, but it lacks some of the deeper research tools found on other platforms. Sold history is limited, and there's no co-buyer feature for couples searching together. You also won't find the same level of AI-generated summaries that speed up the evaluation process on apps like Wahi.

Feature	Realtor.ca
MLS Listings	Yes
Nationwide Listings	Over 185,000
Neighbourhood Insights	Yes
Commute Times	Yes
Mortgage Calculator	Yes
Sold History Depth	Limited
Co-Buyer Feature	No

3. HouseSigma: Strong on Historical Data in Select Markets

HouseSigma built its reputation on providing extensive sold data, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area. The app includes listings dating back to 2003 for parts of the GTA and Greater Vancouver. If you're buying in those markets and want to research what homes sold for over the past two decades, HouseSigma gives you that depth.

AI Home Valuations and Comparables

The platform offers AI-powered home valuations along with sold comparables, which help you assess asking prices against actual transaction data. School ratings and market insights also appear within the app, making it useful for buyers who want context around each listing.

Coverage Gaps Outside Major Markets

HouseSigma started in the GTA and has since expanded into Greater Vancouver, Alberta, and other parts of Ontario. However, coverage outside those core markets remains uneven. If you're buying in a smaller Ontario city or rural area, you may find the data thinner than what's available for Toronto or its suburbs.

Feature	HouseSigma
MLS Listings	Yes
Sold History	Back to 2003 (GTA and Vancouver)
AI Home Valuation	Yes
School Ratings	Yes
Market Insights	Yes
Coverage	GTA, Vancouver, expanding Ontario and Alberta
Smaller Market Depth	Limited

4. Zillow Canada: Familiar Interface, Limited MLS Access

Zillow built a massive user base in the United States, and the Canadian version of the app offers a similar map-based search with detailed property listings and photos. If you've used Zillow south of the border, the layout will feel familiar.

Zestimate Values in Select Regions

The app provides Zestimate home value estimates in some areas, which give you a rough idea of what properties might be worth based on Zillow's algorithm. These estimates work better in markets where Zillow has more data to draw from.

The MLS Access Problem

Here's where Zillow runs into trouble for Ontario buyers. The app lacks full MLS access compared to Canadian platforms, which means you may miss listings or see outdated information. For serious buyers who need complete and accurate data, this gap limits Zillow's usefulness. It works fine for casual browsing, but relying on it as your primary search tool puts you at a disadvantage.

Feature	Zillow Canada
Map-Based Search	Yes
Property Photos	Yes
Zestimate Values	Select regions
Full MLS Access	No
Best Use	Casual browsing

Quick Comparison Table

Feature	Wahi	Realtor.ca	HouseSigma	Zillow Canada
Full MLS Access	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Sold History Depth	21 years	Limited	20+ years (select markets)	Limited
School Mapping	All Ontario boards	Yes	Yes	Limited
AI Summaries	Yes	No	Yes	No
Co-Buyer Feature	Yes	No	No	No
Book Showings in App	Yes	No	No	No
Home Value Estimates	Yes	No	Yes	Select regions

Picking the Right App for Your Search

Your choice depends on what you need most. Buyers who want deep sold history, school mapping across all Ontario boards, and the ability to book showings without leaving the app will find Wahi covers the most ground. Couples searching together benefit from the co-buyer feature that other apps lack.

Download the apps that match your priorities, spend a week with each, and see which one fits the way you search. The right tool saves you hours and keeps your focus on homes that actually make sense for your budget and needs.