Real estate crowdfunding and fractional real estate are often used interchangeably but are not the same. Crowdfunding is a financing mechanism (under SEC Regulation Crowdfunding, Regulation A, or Regulation D) that pools many small investors to fund a real estate deal, and can be either equity (you own a piece of the property entity) or debt (you lend to the project). Fractional real estate specifically refers to equity ownership of a specific property, typically via an LLC. Most equity fractional platforms use crowdfunding-style offerings under Regulation A; not all real estate crowdfunding is fractional equity. The structural difference matters for tax treatment, liquidity, and risk profile.