AmiBroker adds Quant, Backtesting, Monte Carlo, Risk Metrics (VaR/ES/Drawdown), Correlation, APIs & SDKs, and Auto-Trading & Bots coverage that MarketWatch skips.
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Monday, October 13, 2025
Head-to-head
AmiBroker vs MarketWatch comparison
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
MarketWatch includes News, Alerts, Calendar, Watchlist, Paper Trading, Financials, Options, ETF Overview, ETF Holdings, Analyst Price Targets, Insider Data, Short Interest, Interest Rates, Yield Curves, IPO, and Newsletters categories that AmiBroker omits.
AmiBroker highlights: Portfolio‑level backtesting with dynamic position sizing and bar‑by‑bar ranking/PositionScore., Walk‑forward testing integrated with optimization; in/out‑of‑sample stats., and Monte Carlo simulation (custom metrics can drive optimization/WF objective)..
MarketWatch is known for: Market data hub with stock and market screeners, mutual fund research, fund comparison, and multi-quote lookup tools., Personal watchlists available free with an account; syncs across web and mobile apps with customizable price and news alerts., and Comprehensive event calendars, including U.S. economic releases, corporate earnings, IPO schedules, and options-expiration dates..
MarketWatch keeps a free entry point that AmiBroker lacks.
MarketWatch offers mobile access, which AmiBroker skips.
AmiBroker
amibroker.com
Windows desktop platform for technical/system research with a fast AFL scripting language, portfolio‑level backtester, walk‑forward testing, Monte Carlo, and extensive optimization. Real‑time capability and instrument coverage depend on the data plug‑ins you use (e.g., IQFeed, eSignal, Interactive Brokers, Norgate Data). Auto‑trading to IB is available via the official interface. Licenses are perpetual with 24 months of updates.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Portfolio‑level backtesting with dynamic position sizing and bar‑by‑bar ranking/PositionScore.
- Walk‑forward testing integrated with optimization; in/out‑of‑sample stats.
- Monte Carlo simulation (custom metrics can drive optimization/WF objective).
- Very fast multi‑threaded optimization with 3D optimization surface visualization.
- Exploration/Scanner to build custom screeners and reports via AFL.
Community votes (overall)
MarketWatch
marketwatch.com
A global financial-news portal from Dow Jones that combines market data, news, analysis, and investor tools. Real-time Nasdaq last-sale quotes are included, while most other intraday prices run on a standard 15-minute delay. Premium newsletters and in-depth articles are gated behind a subscription. Mobile apps extend the experience with push alerts and watchlist syncing.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Market data hub with stock and market screeners, mutual fund research, fund comparison, and multi-quote lookup tools.
- Personal watchlists available free with an account; syncs across web and mobile apps with customizable price and news alerts.
- Comprehensive event calendars, including U.S. economic releases, corporate earnings, IPO schedules, and options-expiration dates.
- BigCharts advanced charting platform with multiple timeframes (intraday to monthly) and technical overlays; intraday data typically delayed 15 minutes.
- Options coverage with full chains per symbol and an expiration calendar.
Community votes (overall)
Shared focus areas
2 overlapsMutual strengths include Data Visualizations, and Screeners.
Where they differ
AmiBroker
Distinct strengths include:
- Portfolio‑level backtesting with dynamic position sizing and bar‑by‑bar ranking/PositionScore.
- Walk‑forward testing integrated with optimization; in/out‑of‑sample stats.
- Monte Carlo simulation (custom metrics can drive optimization/WF objective).
- Very fast multi‑threaded optimization with 3D optimization surface visualization.
MarketWatch
Distinct strengths include:
- Market data hub with stock and market screeners, mutual fund research, fund comparison, and multi-quote lookup tools.
- Personal watchlists available free with an account; syncs across web and mobile apps with customizable price and news alerts.
- Comprehensive event calendars, including U.S. economic releases, corporate earnings, IPO schedules, and options-expiration dates.
- BigCharts advanced charting platform with multiple timeframes (intraday to monthly) and technical overlays; intraday data typically delayed 15 minutes.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
Attribute | AmiBroker | MarketWatch |
---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Data Visualizations, Screeners Unique: Quant, Backtesting, Monte Carlo, Risk Metrics (VaR/ES/Drawdown), Correlation, APIs & SDKs, Auto-Trading & Bots | Shared: Data Visualizations, Screeners Unique: News, Alerts, Calendar, Watchlist, Paper Trading, Financials, Options, ETF Overview, ETF Holdings, Analyst Price Targets, Insider Data, Short Interest, Interest Rates, Yield Curves, IPO, Newsletters |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Futures, Currencies | Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Options, Futures, Commodities, Currencies, Cryptos, Bonds |
Experience levels Who each product is built for | Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Platforms Where you can access the product | Desktop | Web, Mobile |
Pricing High-level pricing models | One-time | Free, Subscription |
Key features Core capabilities called out by each vendor | Unique
| Unique
|
Tested Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat | Not yet | Yes |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Standard listing | Standard listing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do AmiBroker and MarketWatch both support?
Both platforms cover Data Visualizations, and Screeners workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Which tool offers a free plan?
MarketWatch offers a free entry point, while AmiBroker requires a paid subscription. Review the pricing table to see how the paid tiers compare.
Which tool has mobile access?
MarketWatch ships a dedicated mobile experience, while AmiBroker focuses on web or desktop access.
What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?
AmiBroker differentiates itself with Portfolio‑level backtesting with dynamic position sizing and bar‑by‑bar ranking/PositionScore., Walk‑forward testing integrated with optimization; in/out‑of‑sample stats., and Monte Carlo simulation (custom metrics can drive optimization/WF objective)., whereas MarketWatch stands out for Market data hub with stock and market screeners, mutual fund research, fund comparison, and multi-quote lookup tools., Personal watchlists available free with an account; syncs across web and mobile apps with customizable price and news alerts., and Comprehensive event calendars, including U.S. economic releases, corporate earnings, IPO schedules, and options-expiration dates..
Keep exploring
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ScreenersWatchlistNews
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.