★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool details checked August 4, 2026
Tool Comparison
AlphaResearch vs CB Insights
Pick AlphaResearch if
AlphaResearch
Free • From $49.99/mo · Web · API
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- You care about improved filings, transcripts, and filing sentiment, things CB Insights doesn't offer
Pick CB Insights if
CB Insights
Contact for pricing · Web · Mobile · API
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You care about data visualizations, corporate actions & special situations, and newsletters, things AlphaResearch doesn't offer
- You're newer to investing and want something approachable
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
See alternativesOutbound links may include affiliate or sponsor codes.
Our take
The bottom line
AlphaResearch and CB Insights cover a lot of the same ground (4 shared categories, including AI research, screeners, and APIs & data feeds), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. AlphaResearch simply does more: 15 categories to CB Insights's 7, including improved filings, transcripts, and filing sentiment. CB Insights counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
AlphaResearch
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
CB Insights
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Key differences at a glance
- Free plan
- AlphaResearch
- Free trial
- AlphaResearch7 days
- Broader coverage
- AlphaResearch15 vs 7 categories
- Mobile app
- CB Insights
- Beginner friendly
- CB Insights
See for yourself
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.ShowHide
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free • From $49.99/mo | Contact for pricing |
Free tier | Yes | No |
Free trial | 7 days | — |
Plan limits | Basic: billing cadence: Billed quarterly | 3 limits: Browser Analyst: pricing: Request pricing, Enterprise Platform: pricing: Request pricing +1 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Broker sync | No | — |
Integrations | Excel and Google Sheets | Salesforce, Microsoft Excel +6 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Pro Retail, Analysts +4 more | — |
Categories covered | 15 | 7 |
Regions | North America, Europe | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | Latency: End of Day and Granularity: EOD | — |
Capabilities | 3 signals: Universe builder, Citation pinning +1 more | — |
| Try it | Visit AlphaResearch | Visit CB Insights |
Where each one shines
What AlphaResearch and CB Insights each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What AlphaResearch and CB Insights each do best.What AlphaResearch does best
- Search tools for millions of filings and text documents with AI-powered document search.
- Analysis of SEC filings, press releases, and earnings call transcripts on the Basic plan.
- Document alerts, filing screeners, trending topics, sentiment analysis, and News Watch.
- Views for reviewing insider transactions, 13F institutional ownership, ETF holdings, and mutual-fund holdings.
- Highlight, reference, take notes, and collaborate with colleagues inside the platform.
What CB Insights does best
- Research coverage for private and public companies, investors, funding rounds, M&A, business relationships, earnings, markets, and competitive landscapes.
- Company profiles, market analytics, visual dashboards, deal insights, and sector tracking to map markets and competitors.
- Mosaic Score and other proprietary measures to evaluate private-company health and growth signals.
- Strategy Terminal, Browser Analyst, ChatCBI, and team-of-agents workflows for AI-assisted scouting, briefs, trend discovery, and market analysis.
- Access to CB Insights data into workflows through Excel, Salesforce, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Snowflake, Zapier, Affinity, A2A, MCP-style, and data-solution integrations where licensed.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for AlphaResearch and CB Insights, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for AlphaResearch and CB Insights, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsMutual Funds | StocksOther |
Experience | IntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Pro RetailAnalystsInstitutional InvestorsHedge FundsAsset ManagersStudents/Researchers | Not specified |
Regions | North AmericaEurope | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica |
Coverage details | Countries: US, CA, and GBIdentifiers: Ticker and CIK | Not specified |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | End of Day | Not specified |
Data granularity | EOD | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | Not specified |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKeyDocs | Not specified |
Integrations | ExcelGoogle Sheets | SalesforceMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft 365 CopilotSnowflakeAffinityZapierA2AMCP |
Export formats | Excel | Not specified |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Universe builderCitation pinningAI summaries: Filings, Transcripts, and News | Not specified |
Vendor & support | Alpha ResearchCountry: United StatesSupport: Email | CB Information Services, Inc.Country: United StatesSupport: Email and Phone |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.ShowHide
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free“Limited free access” | — |
| Entry paid plan | $49.99/mo“Basic”billing cadence: Billed quarterly | — |
| Custom / enterprise | Contact sales“Enterprise” | Contact sales“Browser Analyst”pricing: Request pricing |
| Free trial | 7 days | — |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between AlphaResearch and CB Insights?
AlphaResearch leans toward AI research, improved filings, and transcripts, while CB Insights puts more weight on APIs & data feeds, sheets / excel add-ins, and screeners. They overlap in 4 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
Is AlphaResearch or CB Insights free to use?
AlphaResearch has a free tier, so you can get started without paying anything. CB Insights is paid-only. If budget matters, start with AlphaResearch and see how far it takes you before opening your wallet.
Which is better for beginners: AlphaResearch or CB Insights?
CB Insights is the friendlier place to start; its interface takes less getting used to. Both work fine once you're past the basics.
Can I use AlphaResearch or CB Insights on my phone?
CB Insights lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. AlphaResearch doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web and API.
Do AlphaResearch and CB Insights have APIs?
Yes, both offer API access, so developers and quants can pull data programmatically or wire up their own integrations.
Should I choose AlphaResearch or CB Insights?
It depends on what you're after. Pick AlphaResearch if improved filings and transcripts matter to you; go with CB Insights if you'd rather have data visualizations and corporate actions & special situations. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do AlphaResearch and CB Insights cover?
Both cover stocks. AlphaResearch also handles ETFs and mutual funds. CB Insights adds other on top.
Can I export data from AlphaResearch and CB Insights?
AlphaResearch exports to Excel. CB Insights is stingier about getting data out.
Which has a better stock screener: AlphaResearch or CB Insights?
Both AlphaResearch and CB Insights include stock screeners, and they differ more in interface than raw power; try both and see which one clicks for you.
Keep researching
Other tools you might like
Keep Exploring
Feedback
Spot stale pricing, missing features, or a comparison that feels off? Send feedback on the verdict, table, alternatives, or recommendation.
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.