Ownwell vs O'Connor · 2026
Ownwell vs O'Connor: property tax appeal fees compared (2026)
Ownwell and O'Connor & Associates are both done-for-you property tax firms that take a percentage of your savings, but the percentages are very different. Ownwell takes 25% of your savings in Texas (35% in California, New York, and Florida), charged every year it renews and wins. O'Connor takes roughly 50% of your first-year savings, the steepest cut among major Texas options (O'Connor is also the subject of a Texas Attorney General lawsuit; the allegations are unproven). On a typical $1,155 reduction, that is about $289 to Ownwell versus about $578 to O'Connor in year one. A $49 flat packet keeps you 100%.
What 5 years of protests costs you
Drag to your annual tax savings. Contingency firms charge a cut of your savings every single year. We charge a flat fee and you keep all of it.
Assumes you protest every year for 5 years: our $49 packet each year, Ownwell at a contingency fee starting at 25% of savings per year (ownwell.com pricing example, retrieved June 2026), and O'Connor at 50% of current year savings per their published residential terms (poconnor.com, retrieved June 2026). Ownwell's rate varies by region, so we use their own 25% example as the conservative case.
Pricing compared
| Service | Fee | You keep on a $1,155 saving | Comp data |
|---|---|---|---|
AppealMyTax Filing-ready packet (you file) · 13 Texas counties | $49 flat, one time | $1,106 | Real comparable parcels from your county's own appraisal roll, each one verifiable |
Ownwell Done for you · About 7-8 states | 25% of savings (35% in FL/CA/NY), every year | $866/yr | Their analysts assemble the evidence and file on your behalf |
O'Connor & Associates Done for you · Texas + many states | 50% of first-year savings | $577 | Full-service firm; files and represents you (subject of a Texas AG lawsuit, allegations unproven) |
$1,155 is an illustrative annual saving (a typical Harris County reduction). Fees are each provider's publicly listed pricing as of June 2026; verify on their sites.
The fee difference, in dollars
On a $1,155 first-year reduction: Ownwell's 25% (Texas) is about $289; O'Connor's roughly 50% is about $578. So in year one O'Connor's cut is roughly double Ownwell's. The structure differs too: Ownwell's percentage recurs every year it stays enrolled and wins, while O'Connor's is framed on the first year's savings. Which costs more over time depends on how long you hold the reduction.
Recurring vs first-year
Ownwell's cost is lower per year but repeats; O'Connor's is higher but front-loaded on year one. Over a single season, Ownwell is the cheaper of the two. Over a long hold where you would otherwise keep re-winning the same reduction, the recurring percentage can catch up. Either way, both are a multiple of a one-time $49 flat packet.
Track record and the lawsuit note
O'Connor is a decades-old Texas firm with deep ARB and litigation experience and it handles complex commercial property at scale, which is a real strength. It is also currently the subject of a Texas Attorney General lawsuit; the allegations are unproven and we link the sourced detail on our honest comparison page rather than characterize it here. Ownwell is newer but well funded ($50M Series B, February 2026) with a large consumer base.
The flat-fee option neither offers
If you can file a ten-minute online protest yourself, a $49 flat packet built from your county's actual appraisal roll keeps 100% of the savings, this year and every year you hold the lower value. We analyzed 4.6 million Texas homes for our over-assessment study, and you can see your own number and the real comps free in 30 seconds before paying anything.
See the full data behind these numbers in our Texas over-assessment study, compare every service in the comparison hub, or run your own numbers in the fee calculator.
Common questions
Is Ownwell or O'Connor cheaper?
Per year, Ownwell. On a $1,155 reduction, Ownwell's 25% (Texas) is about $289 versus O'Connor's roughly 50% at about $578 in year one. Ownwell's cut recurs each year it wins, while O'Connor's is framed on the first year, so the long-run comparison depends on your hold period.
Does O'Connor really take 50% of my savings?
O'Connor charges no upfront fee and takes roughly 50% of the current year's property tax savings as its contingency, the steepest cut among major Texas options. On a $1,155 reduction that is about $578 out of your savings.
Is O'Connor being sued?
O'Connor & Associates is the subject of a Texas Attorney General lawsuit. The allegations are unproven; we keep this factual and link the sourced detail on our honest comparison page rather than characterize it.
Which keeps more of my savings, Ownwell or O'Connor?
Ownwell, in year one, because its 25-35% is smaller than O'Connor's roughly 50%. But both take a meaningful cut every time they win. A $49 flat packet you file yourself keeps 100% of the reduction.
Can I just file the protest myself instead?
Yes. Texas law lets any homeowner file their own protest, and most counties take it online in about ten minutes. A $49 packet gives you the same class of evidence, a comparable table from your county's roll plus an unequal-appraisal argument under Section 41.43(b)(3), with no percentage to give up.
Keep the whole reduction
See your exact over-assessment and real comps free in 30 seconds, then file a $49 packet yourself. No 25%, no 50%, no recurring cut.
Check my address · Free