★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Source check: AlphaResearch checked June 25, 2026
Tool Comparison
AlphaResearch vs GuruFocus
AlphaResearch
Best for filing sentiment and notes & highlights
Free • From $49.99/mo
GuruFocus
Best for stock ideas and ETF screeners
Free • From $549/yr
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The verdict
The bottom line
AlphaResearch and GuruFocus cover a lot of the same ground (12 shared categories, including AI research, improved filings, and transcripts), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. GuruFocus simply does more: 48 categories to AlphaResearch's 15, including stock ideas, ETF screeners, and top analysts, plus a mobile app. AlphaResearch counters by keeping things simpler.
Key differences at a glance
- Mobile app
- GuruFocus
- Cheaper paid plan
- GuruFocus$45.75/mo vs $49.99/mo
- Broader coverage
- GuruFocus48 vs 15 categories
- Broker sync
- GuruFocus
- Asset coverage
- GuruFocusAdds bonds and options
- Beginner friendly
- GuruFocus
Choose
AlphaResearch if…
- You care about filing sentiment, notes & highlights, and shared workspaces, things GuruFocus doesn't offer
Choose
GuruFocus if…
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want the cheaper way in: plans start at $45.75/mo instead of $49.99/mo
- You care about stock ideas, ETF screeners, and top analysts, things AlphaResearch doesn't offer
- You're newer to investing and want something approachable
Comparison snapshot
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free • From $49.99/mo | Free • From $549/yr |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | 7 days | 7 days |
Plan limits | Basic: billing cadence: Billed quarterly | 41 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 +39 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Broker sync | No | Yes |
Integrations | Excel and Google Sheets | GuruFocus Data API, GuruFocus MCP Server +3 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Pro Retail, Analysts +4 more | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +9 more |
Categories covered | 15 | 48 |
Regions | North America, Europe | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | Latency: End of Day and Granularity: EOD | 5 signals: Latency: End of Day, Granularity: EOD +3 more |
Data partners | — | 5 partners: QuoteMedia, Morningstar +3 more |
Capabilities | 3 signals: Universe builder, Citation pinning +1 more | 8 signals: Custom formulas, Ranking backtests +6 more |
Security | — | Status page and Encryption in transit |
| Try it | Visit AlphaResearch | Visit GuruFocus |
Standout features
What AlphaResearch does best
- Search millions of filings and text documents with AI-powered document search.
- Analyze SEC filings, press releases, and earnings call transcripts on the Basic plan.
- Use document alerts, filing screeners, trending topics, sentiment analysis, and News Watch.
- Review insider transactions, 13F institutional ownership, ETF holdings, and mutual-fund holdings.
- Highlight, reference, take notes, and collaborate with colleagues inside the platform.
What GuruFocus does best
- Research global stocks with long historical financials, valuation data, charts, comparisons, market valuation indicators, economic indicators, industry data, and company-level fundamentals.
- Use 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.
- Backtest screener strategies across many countries with configurable stock count, ranking metric, sort order, date range, and rebalance frequency.
- Use GF Score to compare stocks through a 0-100 framework built around financial strength, profitability, growth, valuation, and momentum.
- Use GF Value to frame fair value from historical multiples, past returns, and analyst estimates, then classify stocks by valuation range.
Data & access details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsMutual Funds | StocksETFsBondsMutual FundsOptionsFundsOther |
Experience | IntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Pro RetailAnalystsInstitutional InvestorsHedge FundsAsset ManagersStudents/Researchers | Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsValue InvestorsQuality InvestorsDividend InvestorsAnalystsQuants/Developers+3 more |
Regions | North AmericaEurope | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica |
Coverage details | Countries: US, CA, and GBIdentifiers: Ticker and CIK | Identifiers: Ticker and CIK |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | End of Day | End of Day |
Data granularity | EOD | EOD |
Pricing sources | Not specified | ExchangeVendorModel |
Data partners | Not specified | QuoteMediaMorningstarRefinitivFREDSEC / local regulators |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | REST |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKeyDocs | Auth: APIKeySDKs: Python and GoDocs |
Import methods | Not specified | CSVBrokerOAuthManual |
Integrations | ExcelGoogle Sheets | GuruFocus Data APIGuruFocus MCP ServerGuruFocus Excel Add-inGuruFocus Google Sheets Add-onSnapTrade |
Export formats | Excel | CSVExcelJSON |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Not specified | Status pageEncryption in transit |
Capability signals | Universe builderCitation pinningAI summaries: Filings, Transcripts, and News | Custom formulasRanking backtestsUniverse builderFactors: Value, Quality, Momentum, and GrowthBroker syncMulti-currencyYield curvesAI summaries: Transcripts |
Vendor & support | Alpha ResearchCountry: United StatesSupport: Email | GuruFocus.com, LLCCountry: United StatesFounded 2004Support: Email, Chat, Phone, and Forum |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing breakdown
$49.99/mo
Starting price
Plans & pricing
- billing cadence: Billed quarterly
$549/yr
Lower starting price
Plans & pricing
- portfolio 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
- billing: Annual only
- data api requests: 200/month included with Premium membership
- +2 more
- billing: Annual only
- data api requests: 500/month included with Premium Plus membership
- +2 more
- billing: Annual only
- data api requests: 2,000/month included with Professional membership
- requests: 100/month
- billing: Billed annually
- monthly request limit: No limit
- +10 more
- billing: Billed annually
- monthly request limit: No limit
- +1 more
- initial top up: $100 credit
- company profile: $0.10/request
- +10 more
Coverage overlap
Shared categories
12Where the two tools cover the same ground.
AlphaResearch strengths
3What you only get with AlphaResearch.
GuruFocus strengths
36What you only get with GuruFocus.
Community category leaders
Vote sentiment comparison
Loading sentiment chart...
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between AlphaResearch and GuruFocus?
AlphaResearch leans toward AI research, improved filings, and transcripts, while GuruFocus puts more weight on stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners. They overlap in 12 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do AlphaResearch and GuruFocus cost?
Good news: both AlphaResearch 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: AlphaResearch or GuruFocus?
GuruFocus 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 GuruFocus on my phone?
GuruFocus 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 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 AlphaResearch or GuruFocus?
It depends on what you're after. Pick AlphaResearch if filing sentiment and notes & highlights matter to you; go with GuruFocus if you'd rather have stock ideas and ETF screeners. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do AlphaResearch and GuruFocus cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds. GuruFocus adds bonds, options, and funds on top.
Can I export data from AlphaResearch and GuruFocus?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (Excel), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Can AlphaResearch or GuruFocus connect to my broker?
GuruFocus syncs with brokers automatically. With AlphaResearch, you're entering holdings by hand or importing files.
Which has a better stock screener: AlphaResearch or GuruFocus?
Both AlphaResearch 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 AlphaResearch or GuruFocus?
GuruFocus handles portfolio tracking. AlphaResearch is really a research tool; you'd track your portfolio elsewhere.
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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.