Rob Hartley

Founder, AppealDesk · February 16, 2026

How Much Does Ownwell Cost? Pricing Breakdown & Comparison (2026)

Updated February 2026 · 8 min read

Ownwell’s Pricing Model Explained

Ownwell uses a contingency fee model. Here’s how it works:

1. You sign up and provide your property address — no upfront payment required.
2. Ownwell’s team evaluates your assessment, researches comparable sales, and files your appeal.
3. If they achieve a reduction, they charge 25-35% of the first year’s savings.
4. If they don’t achieve a reduction, you pay nothing.

The exact percentage varies by state and property type. Ownwell’s pricing page shows different rates for different regions, but the 25-35% range covers most residential customers.

What Ownwell Actually Costs: Real Examples

The contingency model sounds appealing — “you only pay if you save” — but the actual dollar amounts can surprise you. Here’s what Ownwell costs at different savings levels:

The pattern is clear: the more Ownwell saves you, the more expensive their service becomes. On a $5,000 annual reduction — common for higher-value homes in Texas, California, or New York — you’re paying $1,250-1,750 to Ownwell. With AppealDesk, you’d pay $49 and keep $4,951.

The Break-Even Point: When Is Ownwell Cheaper?

Ownwell’s contingency model has one genuine advantage: you pay nothing if they don’t save you money. AppealDesk charges $49 upfront (after a free analysis shows your estimated overassessment).

The break-even point is roughly $196 in annual savings (at 25% contingency). Below that, Ownwell’s “no savings, no fee” model costs less because you’d pay less than $49 to Ownwell. Above $196, AppealDesk saves you more money every single time.

For context, Ownwell’s own website reports their average customer saves $1,148 per year. At that savings level, Ownwell’s fee is $287-402 — while AppealDesk’s is $49. The typical Ownwell customer would save $238-353 more with AppealDesk.

What Do You Actually Get?

The services work differently, which explains the pricing gap:

The core trade-off: Ownwell eliminates all effort for a percentage of your savings. AppealDesk eliminates all research for $49 and asks you to handle the filing — typically a 10-15 minute process using your county’s online portal.

Where Ownwell Works (and Where It Doesn’t)

Ownwell operates in 9 states: Texas, California, Washington, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, New York, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. If you live in any of the other 41 states — including high property tax states like New Jersey, Ohio, Connecticut, or Tennessee — Ownwell isn’t an option.

AppealDesk covers all 50 states and over 3,100 counties. Whether you’re in Ownwell’s service area or not, AppealDesk can generate an evidence packet for your property.

When Ownwell Is the Right Choice

To be fair, Ownwell is the better choice in specific situations:

• You want zero involvement — if spending even 10-15 minutes on filing feels like too much, Ownwell eliminates all effort.
• Your expected savings are under $196/year — Ownwell’s contingency model means you pay nothing if they don’t save you, while AppealDesk’s $49 is paid upfront.
• Your county requires in-person hearings — Ownwell attends hearings for you, which matters if you can’t attend yourself.
• You’re in one of their 9 states — their service simply isn’t available elsewhere.

Ownwell’s Success Rates

According to Ownwell’s website, 85%+ of their customers see a reduction, with an average savings of $1,148 per year. These are solid numbers for a full-service model.

However, success rates in property tax appeals depend far more on your county’s assessment practices than on which service you use. In counties with notoriously inaccurate assessments (like Cook County, IL), virtually any well-prepared appeal succeeds. In well-assessed counties, even professional services have lower success rates.

AppealDesk reports county-specific success rates: 62% in Cook County, IL and 98.68% in Hays County, TX. Both services outperform the national average of 40-60% for self-filed appeals. For more data, see our property tax appeal statistics.

What Ownwell Customers Say

Ownwell has a 4.7-star rating from over 3,000 reviews. Most positive reviews cite the convenience factor — homeowners appreciate that they sign up and everything is handled for them. The most common complaint is the fee: customers who see large reductions realize they’re paying hundreds of dollars for a service that worked in the background.

On Reddit, Ownwell is frequently discussed in Texas-focused communities. Users in r/Austin and r/Houston generally report positive experiences but often compare Ownwell’s fees unfavorably to other options. Several threads mention that property tax protest services “do things in bulk” and that the individual effort per case may not justify the percentage fee.

Bottom Line: Is Ownwell Worth It?

Ownwell is a legitimate, well-reviewed service that delivers real savings for homeowners. Their contingency model removes upfront risk, and their 85%+ success rate is strong.

But the math is hard to ignore. On their own reported average savings of $1,148, Ownwell’s fee is $287-402. AppealDesk charges $49 for professional evidence that lets you file the same appeal yourself in 10-15 minutes. That’s $238-353 more in your pocket.

The question isn’t whether Ownwell works. It’s whether the convenience of zero effort is worth hundreds of dollars when the filing process takes 10-15 minutes. For a broader analysis of contingency-based services like Ownwell, see our guide on whether property tax protest companies are worth it.