Tool Comparison
Alpha Spread vs GuruFocus
- Paid from
- $144/yr, billed annually
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, API
Best if
- You want a lower paid starting price: $144/yr, billed annually instead of $549/yr, billed annually
- Paid from
- $549/yr, billed annually
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile, API
Best if
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want ETF screeners, top analysts, and ETF comparison.
- You've outgrown the basics and want pro-level depth
Pick Alpha Spread instead if
Alpha Spread
Free • From $144/yr, billed annually · Web · API
- You want a lower paid starting price: $144/yr, billed annually instead of $549/yr, billed annually
Start here
GuruFocus
Free • From $549/yr, billed annually · Web · Mobile · API
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want ETF screeners, top analysts, and ETF comparison.
- You've outgrown the basics and want pro-level depth
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
Alpha Spread and GuruFocus cover a lot of the same ground (14 shared categories, including stock ideas, screeners, and stock comparison), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. GuruFocus simply does more: 49 categories to Alpha Spread's 14, including ETF screeners, top analysts, and ETF comparison, plus a mobile app. Alpha Spread counters by offering a lower paid starting price at $144/yr, billed annually.
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Alpha Spread
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Key differences at a glance
- Cheaper paid plan
- Alpha Spread$144/yr, billed annually vs $549/yr, billed annually
- Free trial
- GuruFocus7 days
- Broader coverage
- GuruFocus49 vs 14 categories
- Mobile app
- GuruFocus
- Asset coverage
- GuruFocusAdds ETFs and bonds
- Free plan
- Both
What Alpha Spread does best
- Automatic intrinsic-value estimates combine DCF and multiples-based relative valuation where available.
- Open stock reports with DCF, relative valuation, Wall Street estimates, profitability, solvency, financials, revenue, earnings calls, and discount-rate context.
- Use the DCF calculator to inspect cash flows, terminal value, and discount-rate assumptions.
- Forecast pages show analyst estimates and price targets and can create price alerts.
- Watchlists track intrinsic-value changes, price targets, insider activity, price levels, and reminders.
What GuruFocus does best
- Research coverage for global stocks with long historical financials, valuation data, charts, comparisons, market valuation indicators, economic indicators, industry data, and company-level fundamentals.
- The All-in-One Screener with hundreds of filters across fundamentals, valuation, profitability, growth, dividends, guru holdings, insider trades, predefined value screens, custom filters, saved screens, and downloads.
- ETF Screener and ETF GF Scores for filtering and comparing more than 5,000 U.S.
- Corporate and government bond screening by yield, maturity, ratings, coupon structure, outstanding amount, issuer, and industry, plus company-level bond tabs.
- Backtest screener strategies across many countries with configurable stock count, ranking metric, sort order, date range, and rebalance frequency; current membership terms give Premium the latest five years and Premium Plus/Professional history back to 2006.
Side by side
Pricing comparison
See for yourself
Side by side
Price, platforms, data, and market coverage.ShowHide
Side by side
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free • From $144/yr, billed annually | Free • From $549/yr, billed annually |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | 7 days |
Plan limits | 18 limits: Free: stock reports per week: 3, Free: ai assistant prompts per week: 3 +16 more | 55 limits: Free: portfolio limit: Up to 3 portfolios with 25 stocks each for free members, Free: data api requests: 100/month included in the Free API package +53 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Broker sync | — | Yes |
Integrations | — | GuruFocus Data API, GuruFocus MCP Server +3 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +4 more | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +9 more |
Categories covered | 14 | 49 |
Regions | — | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | — | 5 signals: Latency: End of Day, Granularity: EOD +3 more |
Data partners | — | 5 partners: QuoteMedia, Morningstar +3 more |
Capabilities | Universe builder | 9 signals: Custom formulas, Ranking backtests +7 more |
Security | — | Status page and Encryption in transit |
| Try it | Visit Alpha Spread | Visit GuruFocus |
Standout features
The best features of Alpha Spread and GuruFocus.ShowHide
Standout features
What Alpha Spread does best
- Automatic intrinsic-value estimates combine DCF and multiples-based relative valuation where available.
- Open stock reports with DCF, relative valuation, Wall Street estimates, profitability, solvency, financials, revenue, earnings calls, and discount-rate context.
- Use the DCF calculator to inspect cash flows, terminal value, and discount-rate assumptions.
- Forecast pages show analyst estimates and price targets and can create price alerts.
- Watchlists track intrinsic-value changes, price targets, insider activity, price levels, and reminders.
What GuruFocus does best
- Research coverage for global stocks with long historical financials, valuation data, charts, comparisons, market valuation indicators, economic indicators, industry data, and company-level fundamentals.
- The All-in-One Screener with hundreds of filters across fundamentals, valuation, profitability, growth, dividends, guru holdings, insider trades, predefined value screens, custom filters, saved screens, and downloads.
- ETF Screener and ETF GF Scores for filtering and comparing more than 5,000 U.S.
- Corporate and government bond screening by yield, maturity, ratings, coupon structure, outstanding amount, issuer, and industry, plus company-level bond tabs.
- Backtest screener strategies across many countries with configurable stock count, ranking metric, sort order, date range, and rebalance frequency; current membership terms give Premium the latest five years and Premium Plus/Professional history back to 2006.
All details
Every attribute we track for Alpha Spread and GuruFocus.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | Stocks | StocksETFsBondsMutual FundsOptionsFundsOther |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediate | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsValue InvestorsAnalystsStudents/Researchers | Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsValue InvestorsQuality InvestorsDividend InvestorsAnalystsQuants/Developers+3 more |
Regions | Not specified | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker | Identifiers: Ticker and CIK |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Not specified | End of Day |
Data granularity | Not specified | EOD |
Pricing sources | Not specified | ExchangeVendorModel |
Data partners | Not specified | QuoteMediaMorningstarRefinitivFREDSEC / local regulators |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | Not specified | REST |
API auth & delivery | Not specified | Auth: APIKeySDKs: Python and GoDocs |
Import methods | Not specified | CSVBrokerOAuthManual |
Integrations | Not specified | GuruFocus Data APIGuruFocus MCP ServerGuruFocus Excel Add-inGuruFocus Google Sheets Add-onSnapTrade |
Export formats | Not specified | CSVExcelJSON |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Not specified | Status pageEncryption in transit |
Capability signals | Universe builder | Custom formulasRanking backtestsUniverse builderFactors: Value, Quality, Momentum, and GrowthBroker syncMulti-currencyYield curvesCredit ratings+1 more |
Vendor & support | Alpha Spread LimitedCountry: Hong KongFounded 2019Support: Email | GuruFocus.com, LLCCountry: United StatesFounded 2004Support: Email, Chat, Phone, and Forum |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing
Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.ShowHide
Pricing
| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Freestock reports per week: 3 · ai assistant prompts per week: 3 · +2 more | Freeportfolio limit: Up to 3 portfolios with 25 stocks each for free members · data api requests: 100/month included in the Free API package · +1 more |
| Entry paid plan | $144/yrBilled annually≈ $12/mo“Premium”stock reports per week: 15 · ai assistant prompts per week: 20 · +5 more | $549/yrBilled annually≈ $45.75/mo“Premium”billing: Annual only · region price: $549/year for USA, Asia, or Europe; $369/year for several other regions · +7 more |
| Tier 2 | $240/yrBilled annually≈ $20/mo“Unlimited”stock reports per week: Unlimited · ai assistant prompts per week: 300 · +5 more | $1398/yrBilled annually≈ $116.50/mo“Premium Plus”billing: Annual only · screener export rows: 5,000 · +3 more |
| Tier 3 | — | $200/moBilled monthly“Data API Builder”billing: Billed annually · monthly request limit: No limit · +12 more |
| Tier 4 | — | $2448/yrBilled annually≈ $204/mo“Professional”billing: Annual only · data api requests: 2,000/month included with Professional membership |
| Tier 5 | — | $2000/moBilled monthly“Data API Commercial”billing: Billed annually · monthly request limit: No limit · +1 more |
| Top plan | — | $100 per unit“Data API Pay As You Go”initial top up: $100 credit · stock daily prices: $0.05/request · +16 more |
| Custom / enterprise | Contact sales“Enterprise” | Contact sales“Custom API / Enterprise Package” |
| Free trial | — | 7 days |
Alternatives
Free alternatives
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Alpha Spread and GuruFocus?
Alpha Spread leans toward stock ideas, screeners, and stock comparison, while GuruFocus puts more weight on stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners. They overlap in 14 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Alpha Spread and GuruFocus cost?
Good news: both Alpha Spread and GuruFocus have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Which is better for beginners: Alpha Spread or GuruFocus?
Honestly, neither is aimed at beginners. Expect a learning curve either way; that's the trade-off for the depth they offer.
Can I use Alpha Spread or GuruFocus on my phone?
GuruFocus lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. Alpha Spread doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web and API.
Do Alpha Spread and GuruFocus have APIs?
Yes, both offer API access, so developers and quants can pull data programmatically or wire up their own integrations.
Should I choose Alpha Spread or GuruFocus?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Alpha Spread if you prefer its overall approach; go with GuruFocus if you'd rather have ETF screeners and top analysts. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Alpha Spread and GuruFocus cover?
Both cover stocks. GuruFocus adds ETFs, bonds, and mutual funds on top.
Can I export data from Alpha Spread and GuruFocus?
GuruFocus exports to CSV and Excel. Alpha Spread is stingier about getting data out.
Are Alpha Spread and GuruFocus good for long-term investing?
Yes, both are aimed squarely at long-term investors. Compare their coverage, workflow, and price before assuming they solve the same long-term research job.
Which has a better stock screener: Alpha Spread or GuruFocus?
Both Alpha Spread and GuruFocus include stock screeners, and they differ more in interface than raw power; try both and see which one clicks for you.
Can I track my portfolio with Alpha Spread or GuruFocus?
GuruFocus handles portfolio tracking. Alpha Spread is really a research tool; you'd track your portfolio elsewhere.
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