Sift vs EstatAI
Both tools aim to help UK estate agents handle inbound property enquiries. Here's an honest comparison of how they differ — on qualification depth, pricing, and approach to GDPR.
Written by Sift. We've tried to be accurate — if you spot something wrong, email us.
UK-specific qualification engine built around the signals that predict transaction speed — chain status, DIP/AIP, buyer scheme eligibility. Self-service widget that installs in 10 minutes. GDPR consent gate built in from the start.
AI phone call-back tool with intent scoring and multilingual support (9 languages). Focuses on rapid contact after a lead enquires — the AI calls the buyer back via phone within seconds to gather information. GDPR and FCA logging included.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Sift | EstatAI |
|---|---|---|
| UK QUALIFICATION SIGNALS | ||
| Chain status (chain-free / in chain / broken) | Yes — primary scoring signal | General intent scoring |
| Decision in Principle (DIP/AIP) | Yes — DIP vs AIP vs exploring | General mortgage questions |
| Cash buyer disambiguation | Yes — immediate vs subject-to-sale | Not specifically addressed |
| Help to Buy / Shared Ownership eligibility | Yes — flagged in lead record | Not confirmed |
| SDLT / stamp duty knowledge | Via property listing context | Built-in SDLT knowledge base |
| PRODUCT & DELIVERY | ||
| Primary interaction channel | Chat widget on your website | AI phone call-back to the buyer |
| Out-of-hours coverage | 24/7 chat, no delay | 24/7 phone call-back |
| Setup time | 10 minutes (one script tag) | Varies by integration |
| Languages supported | English | 9 languages |
| CRM integration | Dashboard + CSV export + Zapier / outbound webhook (Growth/Scale) (native CRM integrations on roadmap) | Integration varies by plan |
| GDPR & COMPLIANCE | ||
| GDPR consent gate before PII collected | Yes — consent shown before conversation starts | GDPR/FCA logs included |
| ICO-auditable consent record | Timestamp, consent text, hashed IP stored | Compliance logging, detail unconfirmed |
| Right-to-erasure support | One-click data erasure endpoint | Unconfirmed |
| PRICING | ||
| Free tier | 14-day trial (no card) | Free plan (50 conversations/month) |
| Entry paid plan | £149/month | £150/month (Pro) |
| High-volume plan | £549/month (Scale) | £1,500 + £50/month (Premium) |
| Contract required | Monthly, no lock-in | Unconfirmed for all tiers |
EstatAI data based on publicly available information as of May 2026. Some details unconfirmed — verify at estatai.co.
The fundamental difference: capture vs. qualify
Both tools handle inbound enquiries after hours. But they're solving slightly different problems.
EstatAI: speed-to-contact
EstatAI's core capability is the AI phone call-back — a buyer enquires, and within seconds an AI calls them back to gather information. The value is in immediate contact before they've moved on.
This is a strong fit for agencies where the biggest problem is speed — getting to the buyer before a competitor does.
Sift: depth of qualification
Sift's core capability is the qualification layer — not just capturing contact details, but systematically establishing chain status, DIP/AIP, buyer scheme eligibility, and readiness before a human is involved.
This is a stronger fit for agencies where the biggest problem is triage — spending time on soft leads when serious buyers are waiting.
The honest summary: If you need the AI to call your buyer back immediately after they enquire, EstatAI is worth evaluating. If you need the AI to establish chain-free status, DIP confirmation, and buyer scheme eligibility before your team ever picks up the phone — with an ICO-auditable GDPR record — Sift is the more specialised choice for UK property qualification.
Why UK-specific qualification signals matter
US-trained AI tools ask the wrong questions for UK property. Here are the signals that actually predict UK transaction speed.
Chain status
The single most predictive signal of UK transaction speed. A chain-free buyer can exchange in weeks; a buyer with a broken chain may take months or never complete. Sift asks a single follow-up question that disambiguates "I need to sell first" from "I'm genuinely chain-free."
Decision in Principle (DIP)
The UK equivalent of mortgage pre-approval — but it's not binary. Sift distinguishes between a DIP held, an application pending, and someone who has "spoken to a broker." These are very different risk profiles, and most AI tools don't ask the follow-up questions.
Cash buyer disambiguation
"Cash buyer" in the UK covers everything from a genuine mortgage-free buyer to someone waiting to sell their own property. Sift asks one follow-up that makes the difference — and flags it in the lead record.
Government scheme eligibility
Help to Buy, Shared Ownership, and First Homes scheme buyers have different constraints — eligible properties, price caps, lender requirements. Flagging this before the first viewing saves everyone's time on mismatched properties.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Sift and EstAI?
Sift is a pre-CRM website chatbot that qualifies buyers before they reach your CRM — capturing chain status, DIP/AIP, cash verification, budget, and timeline 24/7. EstAI is a UK AI tool for estate agents with website chat capabilities. Sift offers transparent public pricing with a self-serve free trial; EstAI pricing requires contacting their team.
Is Sift a UK product?
Yes. Sift is built for UK residential estate agents. It understands chain status, DIP/AIP, Help to Buy and shared ownership eligibility, Stamp Duty thresholds, and cash buyer disambiguation. Data is processed in the UK under UK GDPR.
How much does Sift cost compared to EstAI?
Sift is publicly priced from £149/month (Starter), £299/month (Growth), and £549/month (Scale), with a 14-day free trial and no card required. EstAI pricing is not publicly available — contact EstAI directly for a quote.
Can I try Sift before buying?
Yes. Sift offers a 14-day free trial with no card required. Install the widget with a single script tag — most agencies are live in under 10 minutes.
Which CRMs does Sift integrate with?
Leads land in the Sift dashboard with full conversation transcript, GDPR consent record, lead score, and contact details. Export via CSV at any time. On Growth and Scale plans, leads can be connected to 6,000+ apps via Zapier or forwarded to any URL via outbound webhook. Native integrations with leading UK estate agent CRMs are on the roadmap.
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No card required. Install in under 10 minutes. See what UK-specific qualification looks like on your own enquiries.
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