★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
13F Insight vs PCAOB AuditorSearch
Start here
13F Insight
Best for data visualizations and watchlist
Free • Contact for pricing · Web · API
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You care about data visualizations, watchlist, and institutional ownership, things PCAOB AuditorSearch doesn't offer
- You've outgrown the basics and want pro-level depth
Pick PCAOB AuditorSearch instead if
PCAOB AuditorSearch
Best for official sources
Free · Web
- You care about official sources, something 13F Insight doesn't offer
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
See alternativesOutbound links may include affiliate or sponsor codes.
The verdict
The bottom line
13F Insight simply does more: 10 categories to PCAOB AuditorSearch's 2, including data visualizations, watchlist, and institutional ownership. PCAOB AuditorSearch counters by being completely free. On paper they're closely matched, so let pricing, platform fit, and the details below break the tie.
Key differences at a glance
- Asset coverage
- 13F InsightAdds ETFs and options
- Broader coverage
- 13F Insight10 vs 2 categories
- API access
- 13F Insight
- Free plan
- Both
Comparison snapshot
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free • Contact for pricing | Free |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | 3 limits: Free: watchlist items: 5, Standard: watchlist items: 20 +1 more | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | Yes | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +3 more | Retail Traders, Analysts +2 more |
Categories covered | 10 | 2 |
Regions | North America | — |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Capabilities | AI summaries: Filings | — |
Security | Encryption in transit | — |
| Try it | Visit 13F Insight | Visit PCAOB AuditorSearch |
Standout features
What 13F Insight does best
- Track institutional 13F holdings, Form 4 insider transactions, and 13D/G beneficial ownership reports from one filing-focused workspace.
- Research more than 30,000 institutional filers with indexed filing history, AUM context, current holdings, and position-change views.
- Use the AI Agent on filer, stock, and insider pages to ask plain-English questions over real SEC filings with sourced citations.
- Review AI-generated filing summaries, position-change analysis, and unusual-activity alerts as a starting point for research.
- Build filer and stock watchlists, with free and paid tiers setting different watchlist limits.
What PCAOB AuditorSearch does best
- Search official PCAOB Form AP data to identify the audit firm and engagement partner associated with a U.S. public-company audit report.
- Look up issuers by company name, CIK, or ticker in the web interface when you need to connect an audited company to its reporting auditor.
- Search audit firms by name, PCAOB ID, or country to see the public-company audits connected to a registered firm.
- Use engagement-partner search to review the public-company audit reports tied to a named partner where Form AP records are available.
- Apply filing-date filters in advanced search to narrow audit records to a specific reporting window or event timeline.
Data & access details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsOptionsBonds | Stocks |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediate |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailValue InvestorsGrowth InvestorsAnalysts | Retail TradersAnalystsInstitutional InvestorsStudents/Researchers |
Regions | North America | Not specified |
Coverage details | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker, CUSIP, and CIK | Countries: USIdentifiers: CIK and Ticker |
| Access & integrations | ||
Export formats | Not specified | CSV |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Encryption in transit | Not specified |
Capability signals | AI summaries: Filings | Not specified |
Vendor & support | 13F InsightSupport: Email | Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB)Country: United States |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing breakdown
Free
Starting price
Plans & pricing
- watchlist items: 5
- watchlist items: 20
- watchlist items: 100
Free
Starting price
Plans & pricing
Coverage overlap
Shared categories
1Where the two tools cover the same ground.
13F Insight strengths
9What you only get with 13F Insight.
PCAOB AuditorSearch strengths
1What you only get with PCAOB AuditorSearch.
Community category leaders
Vote sentiment comparison
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 13F Insight and PCAOB AuditorSearch?
13F Insight leans toward data visualizations, watchlist, and institutional ownership, while PCAOB AuditorSearch puts more weight on regulatory filings monitoring and official sources. They overlap in 1 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do 13F Insight and PCAOB AuditorSearch cost?
Good news: both 13F Insight and PCAOB AuditorSearch have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Which is better for beginners: 13F Insight or PCAOB AuditorSearch?
Honestly, neither is aimed at beginners. Expect a learning curve either way; that's the trade-off for the depth they offer.
Does 13F Insight or PCAOB AuditorSearch have an API?
13F Insight has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. PCAOB AuditorSearch doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose 13F Insight or PCAOB AuditorSearch?
It depends on what you're after. Pick 13F Insight if data visualizations and watchlist matter to you; go with PCAOB AuditorSearch if you'd rather have official sources. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do 13F Insight and PCAOB AuditorSearch cover?
Both cover stocks. 13F Insight also handles ETFs, options, and bonds.
Can I export data from 13F Insight and PCAOB AuditorSearch?
PCAOB AuditorSearch exports to CSV. 13F Insight is stingier about getting data out.
Other tools you might like
These profiles share overlapping coverage with both sides of this matchup.
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Curation & Accuracy
This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.