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Comparison

Transaction Sidekick vs. Dotloop: what's the difference?

Both are used by real estate transaction coordinators, but they solve different problems. Understanding the distinction helps you decide which combination of tools your workflow actually needs.

The short answer
Dotloop is a document management and e-signature platform — it stores your contracts, manages signing workflows, and keeps document history. Transaction Sidekick is a transaction coordination tool — it reads your contracts with AI, extracts every party and deadline automatically, and manages checklists and communication across your pipeline. They solve different problems and most TCs benefit from using both.
Feature Transaction Sidekick Dotloop
AI contract extraction ✓ Reads PDF, extracts all parties + dates ✕ Manual data entry required
Contingency deadline tracking ✓ Master calendar across all transactions ✕ Not included
Transaction task checklists ✓ Auto-populated, tied to deadlines ✕ Not included
Email templates ✓ Auto-fill with contract data + AI drafting Basic templates only
Document storage Transaction documents only ✓ Full document management
E-signature ✕ Not included ✓ Core feature
MLS/brokerage integration In development ✓ Wide integration ecosystem
Pricing See demo Per-user monthly subscription
Dotloop

What Dotloop does

Dotloop (owned by Zillow Group) is a real estate document management and e-signature platform. Its core function is keeping all your transaction documents in one place, managing signature requests and workflows, and maintaining a document history for compliance purposes.

It's widely used across the industry, well-integrated with brokerages and MLSs, and the established choice for document compliance. If your brokerage requires Dotloop, you're using Dotloop.

Transaction Sidekick

What Transaction Sidekick does

Transaction Sidekick handles the coordination layer that Dotloop doesn't touch. Upload a purchase agreement PDF — from Dotloop or anywhere else — and AI extraction reads it in under 30 seconds, extracting every party, date, and contingency deadline automatically.

From there, deadline tracking keeps every contingency visible across all your active files. The task checklist auto-populates and stays tied to the extracted dates. Email templates auto-fill with the party names and dates from the contract.

The workflow with both tools

Most TCs using both follow a simple flow: contracts are executed and stored in Dotloop. The PDF is then uploaded to Transaction Sidekick, where AI extracts the data and the coordination workflow begins. The two tools don't overlap — they handle different parts of the same transaction.

How they connect
Contract executed — stored and signed in Dotloop
↓
PDF uploaded to Transaction Sidekick
↓
AI extracts parties, dates, and deadlines in 30 seconds
↓
Coordination begins — checklists, deadlines, emails

Who should choose Transaction Sidekick

Transaction Sidekick if you...

  • Spend 20+ minutes entering data from every new contract
  • Track contingency deadlines in a spreadsheet or your head
  • Need a master view of every deadline across your pipeline
  • Rewrite the same intro and reminder emails for every file
  • Want AI automation in your coordination workflow

Stick with Dotloop alone if you...

  • Only need document storage and e-signature management
  • Your brokerage requires Dotloop for compliance
  • You manage very few files and manual tracking is sufficient

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Transaction Sidekick and Dotloop?
Dotloop is a document management and e-signature platform — it stores your real estate documents and manages signature workflows. Transaction Sidekick is a transaction coordination tool — it reads your contracts with AI, extracts parties and deadlines automatically, and manages checklists and communication. They solve different problems and can be used together.
Does Transaction Sidekick replace Dotloop?
No. Dotloop and Transaction Sidekick are complementary. Dotloop manages document storage and e-signatures. Transaction Sidekick handles transaction coordination — extracting data, tracking deadlines, and managing your workflow. Many TCs use both.
Which is better for transaction coordinators: Dotloop or Transaction Sidekick?
They serve different needs. If you need document storage and e-signatures, Dotloop is the established choice. If you need to eliminate manual data entry, track contingency deadlines across multiple files, and automate your coordination workflow, Transaction Sidekick fills that gap. Most TCs benefit from both.
Does Dotloop have AI features?
Dotloop includes some automation features but does not offer AI contract extraction that reads your purchase agreement and automatically populates a transaction with parties, dates, and contingency deadlines. That's Transaction Sidekick's core capability.
Is there a free alternative to Dotloop?
Transaction Sidekick focuses on transaction coordination, not document storage or e-signatures, so it's not a direct alternative to Dotloop's document management features. For AI-powered coordination, Transaction Sidekick is in early access — see a demo.

See what AI coordination adds to your workflow

Transaction Sidekick is in early access. See how it works.

See demo