AppealDesk vs Ownwell: Which Is Right for You?
Last updated: February 13, 2026
Quick Verdict
AppealDesk is the better choice if you want a flat $49 fee and nationwide coverage. Ownwell is better if you want a fully managed service and don't mind paying 25-35% of your savings.
Best for budget-conscious DIY
AppealDesk — Budget-conscious homeowners who want professional evidence at a flat fee
Best for hands-off service
Ownwell — Homeowners who want completely hands-off service and are comfortable with percentage-based pricing
Rob Hartley·Updated February 13, 2026Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | AppealDesk | Ownwell |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $49 flat fee | 25-35% of first year's savings |
| Pricing model | Pay once, keep 100% of savings | Contingency — no fee if no savings |
| Coverage | All 50 states, 3,100+ counties | 9 states (TX, CA, WA, GA, FL, IL, NY, CO, PA) |
| Service type | DIY with professional evidence packet | Full-service (they handle everything) |
| What you receive | Evidence packet, filing guide, cover letter | They handle filing and hearing for you |
| Turnaround | Instant (minutes after purchase) | 1-3 business days to begin |
| Assessment ratio analysis | Included | Not available |
| Who does the filing | You (with step-by-step instructions) | They file for you |
| Refund policy | Free analysis before payment | No fee if no savings |
| Technology | AI-powered comparable sales analysis | Not publicly detailed |
Pricing & Total Cost
AppealDesk charges a flat $49 regardless of your savings. Ownwell charges 25-35% of your first year's savings. On a typical $2,000 annual reduction, Ownwell's fee is $500-700 while AppealDesk's is $49 — saving you $451-651. On a $5,000 reduction, the gap widens: $1,250-1,750 with Ownwell versus $49 with AppealDesk. The break-even point is roughly $196 in annual savings. Below that, Ownwell's contingency model costs less because you pay nothing if you don't save. Above $196, AppealDesk's flat fee saves you more money every time. For homeowners in high-value counties like Harris County, TX or Cook County, IL where reductions of $2,000-5,000 are common, the difference between flat and percentage pricing adds up significantly.
Coverage & Availability
AppealDesk covers all 50 states and over 3,100 counties. Whether you're in Texas, California, Florida, or any other state, you can generate an evidence packet. Ownwell operates in 9 states: Texas, California, Washington, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, New York, Colorado, and Pennsylvania. If you live in one of the other 41 states — including high property tax states like New Jersey, Ohio, or Tennessee — Ownwell isn't an option. AppealDesk has generated county-specific filing guides for 177 counties so far, with content tailored to each county's deadline, filing method, and hearing board.
What You Actually Receive
With AppealDesk, you receive a three-part packet: an evidence packet with comparable sales analysis and price-per-square-foot calculations, a county-specific filing guide with step-by-step instructions for your exact county, and a professional cover letter summarizing your case. The packet includes assessment ratio verification — a calculation most homeowners skip that accounts for the percentage of market value your county actually taxes. With Ownwell, you don't receive documents — they handle the process internally. This is convenient but means you don't see the evidence, understand why your assessment is wrong, or learn anything you could apply to future tax years.
The Filing Experience
With Ownwell, you sign up, provide your address, and they do everything — filing, hearing attendance, and negotiation. Your total time investment is about 5 minutes. With AppealDesk, you receive your evidence packet in minutes, then follow the filing guide to submit your appeal. Most filings take 10-15 minutes. Some counties offer online filing portals where you upload your evidence packet directly. Others require mail or in-person delivery. The filing guide tells you exactly which method your county uses, what forms to submit, and where to send them. The question is whether those 10-15 minutes of filing are worth saving hundreds or thousands of dollars in fees.
Success Rates & Track Record
According to Ownwell's website, 85%+ of their customers see a reduction, with an average savings of $1,148 per year. These are strong numbers for a full-service model. AppealDesk's success rates vary by county because local assessment accuracy varies. In Cook County, IL, where assessments are notoriously inaccurate, 62% of appeals succeed. In Hays County, TX, 98.68% of protests result in reductions. The national average success rate for property tax appeals is 40-60%, so both services outperform homeowners who skip the appeal entirely. The key insight: success rates depend far more on your county's assessment practices than on which service you use.
Who Should Choose Ownwell Instead
Choose Ownwell if you want absolutely zero involvement in the appeal process. If you'd rather pay a percentage than spend 15 minutes filing, Ownwell eliminates all effort on your part. They're particularly strong for homeowners with high-value properties in their 9 service states where the percentage fee is still a good deal relative to the time saved. If your expected savings are small (under $200/year), Ownwell's contingency model also has the advantage — you pay nothing if they don't save you money, whereas AppealDesk's $49 is paid upfront before you know the outcome.
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Ownwell — Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- +Zero effort required — they handle the entire appeal process from filing to hearing
- +Contingency pricing means no upfront cost and no fee if they don't save you money
- +85%+ success rate across their service area with $1,148 average annual savings
- +Property tax calculator on their website provides instant savings estimates
Weaknesses
- –Only operates in 9 states — no coverage for homeowners in the other 41 states
- –25-35% fee can be significant: a $3,000 annual reduction costs $750-1,050
- –No assessment ratio analysis or educational materials about the appeal process
- –You don't learn anything about how your assessment works or why it may be wrong
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Frequently Asked Questions
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