Tool Comparison
AmiBroker vs MarketXLS
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Desktop
Best if
- You want data visualizations, backtesting, and quant.
- You trade often and need tooling built for speed
- Paid from
- $70.83/mo
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Desktop, Web
Best if
- You want sheets / excel add-ins, options, and options p&l.
- You're newer to investing and want something approachable
Pick AmiBroker if
AmiBroker
One-time · Desktop
- You want data visualizations, backtesting, and quant.
- You trade often and need tooling built for speed
Pick MarketXLS if
MarketXLS
From $850/yr · Desktop · Web
- You want sheets / excel add-ins, options, and options p&l.
- You're newer to investing and want something approachable
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
AmiBroker and MarketXLS cover a lot of the same ground (5 shared categories, including screeners, monte carlo, and risk metrics), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. MarketXLS simply does more: 16 categories to AmiBroker's 11, including sheets / excel add-ins, options, and options p&l. AmiBroker counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
AmiBroker
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MarketXLS
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Key differences at a glance
- Asset coverage
- MarketXLSAdds ETFs and options
- Free trial
- AmiBroker30 days
- Broader coverage
- MarketXLS16 vs 11 categories
- Broker sync
- AmiBroker
- Beginner friendly
- MarketXLS
What AmiBroker does best
- Charts support indicators, drawing tools, multiple time frames, and configurable bar intervals.
- AFL scripting to create custom indicators, explorations, trading systems, scans, and portfolio backtests.
- Portfolio backtests support position sizing, account constraints, equity and drawdown charts, custom reports, and custom procedures.
- Validation tools include optimization, walk-forward testing, and Monte Carlo simulation.
- Scans and explorations filter the local database and export results to CSV.
What MarketXLS does best
- Use more than 1,000 market-data and analysis functions in Excel on Windows, Mac, and the web, or in Google Sheets.
- Access quotes, fundamentals, historical statements, ETF data, options data, mutual-fund data, crypto pairs, FRED economic series, and selected technical data into workbooks.
- Real-time streaming quotes on Advanced and Business plans for covered U.S. and Canadian stocks, ETFs, and options.
- Standard defaults to 15-minute delayed stock, ETF, and crypto data, with EOD options, mutual-fund, and economic data.
- Analyze options chains, Greeks, implied volatility, order flow, strategy profit and loss, and broker symbols.
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 | One-time | From $850/yr |
Free tier | No | No |
Free trial | 30 days | — |
Plan limits | 8 limits: Standard Edition: real time quote symbols: 10, Standard Edition: time and sales symbols: 1 +6 more | 9 limits: Standard: stock etf delay minutes: 15, Standard: options timing: End of day +7 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | No | Yes |
Desktop app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | Yes | No |
Integrations | Interactive Brokers, IQFeed +5 more | Interactive Brokers, Thinkorswim +11 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +4 more | — |
Categories covered | 11 | 16 |
Regions | — | North America, Europe, APAC |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 3 signals: Latency: End of Day and Streaming, Granularity: EOD, Minute, Second, and Tick +1 more | 4 signals: Latency: Real-time, 15-min Delayed, and End of Day, Granularity: Minute and EOD +2 more |
Capabilities | — | 5 signals: Factors: Value, Quality, and Momentum, Multi-leg options +3 more |
Security | — | Status page |
| Try it | Visit AmiBroker | Visit MarketXLS |
Standout features
The best features of AmiBroker and MarketXLS.ShowHide
Standout features
What AmiBroker does best
- Charts support indicators, drawing tools, multiple time frames, and configurable bar intervals.
- AFL scripting to create custom indicators, explorations, trading systems, scans, and portfolio backtests.
- Portfolio backtests support position sizing, account constraints, equity and drawdown charts, custom reports, and custom procedures.
- Validation tools include optimization, walk-forward testing, and Monte Carlo simulation.
- Scans and explorations filter the local database and export results to CSV.
What MarketXLS does best
- Use more than 1,000 market-data and analysis functions in Excel on Windows, Mac, and the web, or in Google Sheets.
- Access quotes, fundamentals, historical statements, ETF data, options data, mutual-fund data, crypto pairs, FRED economic series, and selected technical data into workbooks.
- Real-time streaming quotes on Advanced and Business plans for covered U.S. and Canadian stocks, ETFs, and options.
- Standard defaults to 15-minute delayed stock, ETF, and crypto data, with EOD options, mutual-fund, and economic data.
- Analyze options chains, Greeks, implied volatility, order flow, strategy profit and loss, and broker symbols.
All details
Every attribute we track for AmiBroker and MarketXLS.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksFuturesMutual FundsCurrencies | StocksETFsOptionsMutual FundsCurrenciesFuturesCryptos |
Experience | IntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailDay TradersSwing TradersAlgo TradersQuants/Developers | Not specified |
Regions | Not specified | North AmericaEuropeAPAC |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker | Countries: US and CA5 exchangesIdentifiers: Ticker and CUSIP |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | End of DayStreaming | Real-time15-min DelayedEnd of Day |
Data granularity | EODMinuteSecondTick | MinuteEOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
Integrations | Interactive BrokersIQFeedeSignalQChartsDDEODBC/SQLOLE Automation (COM) | Interactive BrokersThinkorswimTradierOrionCharles Schwab (OpenView Gateway)QuoteMediaIEX CloudNasdaq+5 more |
Export formats | CSV | ExcelCSV |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Not specified | Status page |
Capability signals | Not specified | Factors: Value, Quality, and MomentumMulti-leg optionsGreeksMonte CarloCorrelation |
Vendor & support | AmiBroker.comCountry: PolandSupport: Email | MarketXLS LimitedCountry: IrelandFounded 2016Support: Email and Phone |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing
Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.ShowHide
Pricing
| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Entry paid plan | $299 once“Standard Edition”real time quote symbols: 10 · time and sales symbols: 1 · +2 more | $850/yr≈ $70.83/mo“Standard”stock etf delay minutes: 15 · options timing: End of day · +1 more |
| Tier 2 | $379 once“Professional Edition”real time quote symbols: Unlimited · time and sales symbols: Unlimited · +2 more | $1500/yr≈ $125/mo“Advanced”stock etf timing: Real-time streaming · options timing: Real-time streaming · +1 more |
| Top plan | $499 once“Ultimate Pack Pro” | $2400/yr≈ $200/mo“Business”support: VIP · consulting: Included · +1 more |
| Free trial | 30 days | — |
Alternatives
Free alternatives
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between AmiBroker and MarketXLS?
AmiBroker leans toward data visualizations, screeners, and backtesting, while MarketXLS puts more weight on sheets / excel add-ins, broker connectors, and screeners. They overlap in 5 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do AmiBroker and MarketXLS cost?
Neither has a free plan, but AmiBroker offers a free trial. Compare the paid tiers against your required data coverage before committing.
Which is better for beginners: AmiBroker or MarketXLS?
MarketXLS is the friendlier place to start; its interface takes less getting used to. Both work fine once you're past the basics.
Should I choose AmiBroker or MarketXLS?
It depends on what you're after. Pick AmiBroker if data visualizations and backtesting matter to you; go with MarketXLS if you'd rather have sheets / excel add-ins and options. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do AmiBroker and MarketXLS cover?
Both cover stocks, futures, mutual funds, and currencies. MarketXLS adds ETFs, options, and cryptos on top.
Do AmiBroker and MarketXLS offer real-time data?
Yes, both serve real-time market data, so either works when timing matters.
Can I export data from AmiBroker and MarketXLS?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Can AmiBroker or MarketXLS connect to my broker?
AmiBroker syncs with brokers automatically. With MarketXLS, you're entering holdings by hand or importing files.
Is AmiBroker or MarketXLS better for day trading?
AmiBroker is the one positioned more for active traders. MarketXLS is the better fit if you care less about fast trading workflows and more about a calmer research process.
Which has a better stock screener: AmiBroker or MarketXLS?
Both AmiBroker and MarketXLS 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 AmiBroker or MarketXLS?
MarketXLS handles portfolio tracking. AmiBroker is really a research tool; you'd track your portfolio elsewhere.
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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.