What is Cloud HQ?
When most people imagine a company’s headquarters, they picture an office building, rows of desks, meeting rooms and coffee machines buzzing. At Zillow, we’ve redefined that idea. Our Cloud HQ model empowers employees to work where they’re most effective, often from home, but also brings us together in person when connection and collaboration matter most.
Welcome to Cloud HQ — Zillow’s distributed work model and a core part of how we drive innovation, accelerate execution and deliver results.
So, what exactly is it?
Cloud HQ is Zillow’s fully distributed work model. It’s not a physical location, it’s a mindset, a digital ecosystem and a culture designed to empower employees to work with clarity, autonomy and connection — wherever they are.
Instead of asking employees to relocate or commute into an office every day, Zillow invests in tools, intentional gatherings (zRetreats) and practices that allow teams to do their best work from anywhere. Whether you’re in Seattle, Mexico City or working remotely from your favorite local café, you’re part of one connected, thriving community.
Why we chose the cloud
In 2020, Zillow became one of the first major companies to announce that employees could work from home indefinitely. While other organizations debated return-to-office plans, Zillow saw an opportunity: to permanently redefine flexible work for the future.
That bold decision sparked a transformation. Cloud HQ became more than a response to the pandemic, it evolved into a long-term strategy that supports innovation, well-being and business success.
Today, employees can work wherever they’re most productive at home, in a shared office or at one of our five offices or co-working spaces in cities like Seattle and New York. What matters isn’t location; it’s impact.
It also gives employees the freedom to work in the way they’re most productive, while fostering a sense of pride and engagement in their work. We understand that when people have the flexibility to wrap work around their lives, the result is a more connected, fulfilled workforce and a culture where everyone feels proud of their impact.
How it works
Zillow’s Cloud HQ model is built on three pillars:
- Intentional Connection: While we’re remote-first, we prioritize meaningful in-person moments through zRetreats, gatherings that bring teams together to collaborate and strategize.
- Flexible Productivity: We measure outcomes, not hours. Employees structure their days around what helps them perform best, fostering both autonomy and accountability.
- Inclusive Innovation: Cloud HQ expands our talent pool beyond geography, allowing Zillow to hire incredible people from across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany and Serbia.
The impact
Cloud HQ has redefined what success looks like, not just for our teams, but for our business. Since adopting this model, Zillow has:
- Continued to outperform competitors in innovation and product delivery
- Expanded its talent reach to all 50 states and multiple countries
- Increased job applications fourfold compared to pre-2020 levels
- Seen steady improvements in engagement and retention
And perhaps most importantly, employees say they feel more trusted, connected and supported than ever before.
Cloud HQ in action
During company-wide gatherings like zRetreats, Cloud HQ truly comes to life. These events bring together hundreds of employees from across time zones and disciplines, virtually and in person, to connect, collaborate and align around our shared vision.
Whether it’s engineers in Seattle, designers in Mexico City or product managers in New York, zRetreats showcase how Cloud HQ enables meaningful connection and innovation at scale. Because great ideas don’t depend on where you sit, they thrive when we come together with purpose.
A new kind of headquarters
For Zillow, Cloud HQ isn’t about replacing office space, it’s about replacing outdated thinking. It’s a promise that work can be both flexible and focused, independent and interconnected.
As one leader put it:
“Cloud HQ isn’t just a work model. It’s how we support meaningful work, create shared momentum, and move forward together.”
At Zillow, we’re not just imagining the future of real estate — we’re living the future of work.
Want to join us in Cloud HQ? Learn more about how you can grow your career with Zillow.