VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Investors comparing Bloomberg and IBorrowDesk will find that Both Bloomberg and IBorrowDesk concentrate on Alerts, and Watchlist workflows, making them natural alternatives for similar investment research jobs. Bloomberg leans into News, Newsletters, and Videos, which can be decisive for teams that need depth over breadth. IBorrowDesk stands out with Short Interest that the competition lacks. Use the feature-by-feature table to inspect unique capabilities and confirm which roadmap best maps to your process.
Head-to-head
Bloomberg vs IBorrowDesk
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
- Bloomberg adds News, Newsletters, and Videos coverage that IBorrowDesk skips.
- IBorrowDesk includes Short Interest categories that Bloomberg omits.
- Bloomberg highlights: Digital Access plan includes unlimited Bloomberg.com and app usage, with live TV, radio, podcasts, and audio articles., Annual + Businessweek Print subscription adds the weekly magazine in print form, alongside full digital access., and Catalog of newsletters such as *Markets Daily*, *Morning Briefing*, and *Money Stuff*; some are subscriber-only, while others are free..
- IBorrowDesk is known for: Borrow fee percentages and shortable share availability, sourced directly from Interactive Brokers public datasets., Intraday refresh cadence: ~15 minutes during North American trading hours; hourly outside of them on weekdays., and Per-ticker pages show recent borrow snapshots with timestamps, plus options to add tickers to a watchlist or set alerts..
- IBorrowDesk keeps a free entry point that Bloomberg lacks.
- Bloomberg ships a mobile app. IBorrowDesk is web/desktop only.
Bloomberg
bloomberg.com
Bloomberg’s consumer subscription service provides unlimited access to Bloomberg.com and the mobile app. Digital Access includes news, analysis, live TV/radio, podcasts, and audio articles. An Annual + Businessweek Print plan adds the weekly magazine in print. Most content is paywalled, though a selection of newsletters is free. Registered users can create watchlists (up to 10 lists with 25 securities each) and opt into alerts. Browser push notifications and mobile app alerts are supported.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Digital Access plan includes unlimited Bloomberg.com and app usage, with live TV, radio, podcasts, and audio articles.
- Annual + Businessweek Print subscription adds the weekly magazine in print form, alongside full digital access.
- Catalog of newsletters such as *Markets Daily*, *Morning Briefing*, and *Money Stuff*; some are subscriber-only, while others are free.
- Market Data watchlist functionality: up to 10 lists, each with 25 securities and 100 lots. Supports stocks, funds, and currencies.
- Watchlist alerts allow subscribers to receive notifications when a U.S. equity closes.
IBorrowDesk
iborrowdesk.com
Tracks stock-loan availability and borrow fee data as reported by Interactive Brokers (IBKR). Updates roughly every 15 minutes during North American trading hours and hourly elsewhere on weekdays. The data reflects IBKR only and not the wider market. The site is unaffiliated with IBKR; displayed quotes are provided by IEX. A paid Patron tier adds longer history, CSV exports, and more tracking capacity.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Borrow fee percentages and shortable share availability, sourced directly from Interactive Brokers public datasets.
- Intraday refresh cadence: ~15 minutes during North American trading hours; hourly outside of them on weekdays.
- Per-ticker pages show recent borrow snapshots with timestamps, plus options to add tickers to a watchlist or set alerts.
- Patron plan ($10/month) unlocks 5+ years of history versus 1 year on free, enables CSV historical export, and expands watchlist capacity to ~50 securities.
- Scope limited to Interactive Brokers—availability and fees may differ across other brokers.
Shared focus areas
Both platforms align on these research themes, so you can stay within one workflow when your use case involves them.
Where they differ
Bloomberg
Distinct strengths include:
- Digital Access plan includes unlimited Bloomberg.com and app usage, with live TV, radio, podcasts, and audio articles.
- Annual + Businessweek Print subscription adds the weekly magazine in print form, alongside full digital access.
- Catalog of newsletters such as *Markets Daily*, *Morning Briefing*, and *Money Stuff*; some are subscriber-only, while others are free.
- Market Data watchlist functionality: up to 10 lists, each with 25 securities and 100 lots. Supports stocks, funds, and currencies.
IBorrowDesk
Distinct strengths include:
- Borrow fee percentages and shortable share availability, sourced directly from Interactive Brokers public datasets.
- Intraday refresh cadence: ~15 minutes during North American trading hours; hourly outside of them on weekdays.
- Per-ticker pages show recent borrow snapshots with timestamps, plus options to add tickers to a watchlist or set alerts.
- Patron plan ($10/month) unlocks 5+ years of history versus 1 year on free, enables CSV historical export, and expands watchlist capacity to ~50 securities.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | Bloomberg | IBorrowDesk |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Alerts, Watchlist Unique: News, Newsletters, Videos | Shared: Alerts, Watchlist Unique: Short Interest |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Currencies | Stocks, ETFs |
Experience levels Who each product is built for | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Platforms Where you can access the product | Web, Mobile | Web |
Pricing High-level pricing models | Subscription | 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 | Not yet |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Standard listing | Standard listing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do Bloomberg and IBorrowDesk both support?
Both platforms cover Alerts, and Watchlist workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Which tool offers a free plan?
IBorrowDesk offers a free entry point, while Bloomberg requires a paid subscription. Review the pricing table to see how the paid tiers compare.
Which tool has mobile access?
Bloomberg ships a dedicated mobile experience, while IBorrowDesk focuses on web or desktop access.
What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?
Bloomberg differentiates itself with Digital Access plan includes unlimited Bloomberg.com and app usage, with live TV, radio, podcasts, and audio articles., Annual + Businessweek Print subscription adds the weekly magazine in print form, alongside full digital access., and Catalog of newsletters such as *Markets Daily*, *Morning Briefing*, and *Money Stuff*; some are subscriber-only, while others are free., whereas IBorrowDesk stands out for Borrow fee percentages and shortable share availability, sourced directly from Interactive Brokers public datasets., Intraday refresh cadence: ~15 minutes during North American trading hours; hourly outside of them on weekdays., and Per-ticker pages show recent borrow snapshots with timestamps, plus options to add tickers to a watchlist or set alerts..
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.