★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
Capitol Trades vs MarketScreener
Capitol Trades
Best for US government trades
Free
MarketScreener
Best for alerts and calendar
Free • From $59/mo
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The verdict
The bottom line
Capitol Trades and MarketScreener cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, news, blogs, and newsletters), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. MarketScreener simply does more: 16 categories to Capitol Trades's 4, including alerts, calendar, and screeners, plus a mobile app. Capitol Trades counters by being completely free.
Key differences at a glance
- Mobile app
- MarketScreener
- Broader coverage
- MarketScreener16 vs 4 categories
- Global coverage
- MarketScreener
- Free plan
- Both
Choose
Capitol Trades if…
- You care about US government trades, something MarketScreener doesn't offer
Choose
MarketScreener if…
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You care about alerts, calendar, and screeners, things Capitol Trades doesn't offer
- You've outgrown the basics and want pro-level depth
- You're a long-term investor who cares more about fundamentals than headlines
Comparison snapshot
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free | Free • From $59/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | Free: history: Website data restricted to the past 3 years | 4 limits: Premium: annual billing usd: 600, Premium: annual equivalent monthly usd: 50 +2 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | — | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +2 more | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +4 more |
Categories covered | 4 | 16 |
Regions | North America | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data partners | — | 3 partners: FactSet, Morningstar +1 more |
Capabilities | Universe builder | Universe builder |
| Try it | Visit Capitol Trades | Visit MarketScreener |
Standout features
What Capitol Trades does best
- Tracks U.S. politicians’ disclosed trades (Senate/Congress) and presents them via Trades, Politicians, and Issuers explorers.
- Claims “new trades and analytics are published as close to real-time as possible”; also offers a Twitter feed for newly published trades.
- Trade explorer supports multi-dimensional filtering (e.g., chamber, party, committee, state, asset type, transaction type, trade size, sector, issuer country).
- Trade detail pages show traded date, published date, filed date and “Reporting Gap”, owner (e.g., self/spouse/joint), asset type, and trade size ranges; includes “View Original Filing” links back to disclosures.
- Covers multiple disclosed asset types including stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, stock options, crypto, bonds, and private equity funds (as labeled on trade pages).
What MarketScreener does best
- Market news + quotes with broad coverage across equities, ETFs, commodities, currencies/forex and cryptocurrencies.
- Custom watchlists ("My lists") with real-time quotes, news, earnings releases, valuation trends, broker recommendations, and smart email alerts.
- Stock Screener with 650+ fundamental and technical criteria; current subscription pages describe Premium Stock Screener as +300 filters and Expert Stock Screener as +600 filters.
- Dynamic Chart with configurable technical indicators and quick switching between stocks and personal lists; technical indicators available on 30,000+ listed stocks.
- Thematic investment lists (70+) for idea discovery; cross-reference themes with the screener and compare against index trends / past performance.
Data & access details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsMutual FundsOptionsCryptosBondsPrivate FundsOther | StocksETFsCommoditiesCurrenciesCryptos |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediate | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailAnalystsStudents/Researchers | Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsValue InvestorsGrowth InvestorsDividend Investors |
Regions | North America | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker | Identifiers: Ticker and ISIN |
| Data | ||
Data partners | Not specified | FactSetMorningstarS&P Global Market Intelligence |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Universe builder | Universe builder |
Vendor & support | 2iQ Research GmbHCountry: GermanySupport: Email and Phone | Surperformance SASCountry: France |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing breakdown
Free
Lower starting price
Plans & pricing
- history: Website data restricted to the past 3 years
$59/mo
Starting price
Plans & pricing
- annual billing usd: 600
- annual equivalent monthly usd: 50
- annual billing usd: 2,628
- annual equivalent monthly usd: 219
Coverage overlap
Shared categories
3Where the two tools cover the same ground.
Capitol Trades strengths
1What you only get with Capitol Trades.
MarketScreener strengths
13Community category leaders
Vote sentiment comparison
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Capitol Trades and MarketScreener?
Capitol Trades leans toward US government trades, news, and blogs, while MarketScreener puts more weight on news, alerts, and calendar. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Capitol Trades and MarketScreener cost?
Good news: both Capitol Trades and MarketScreener have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Which is better for beginners: Capitol Trades or MarketScreener?
Honestly, neither is aimed at beginners. Expect a learning curve either way; that's the trade-off for the depth they offer.
Can I use Capitol Trades or MarketScreener on my phone?
MarketScreener lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. Capitol Trades doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web.
Should I choose Capitol Trades or MarketScreener?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Capitol Trades if US government trades matter to you; go with MarketScreener if you'd rather have alerts and calendar. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Capitol Trades and MarketScreener cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, and cryptos. Capitol Trades also handles mutual funds, options, and bonds. MarketScreener adds commodities and currencies on top.
Which covers international markets: Capitol Trades or MarketScreener?
MarketScreener has documented international coverage (North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, and more), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. Capitol Trades is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Which has a better stock screener: Capitol Trades or MarketScreener?
MarketScreener has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; Capitol Trades doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with Capitol Trades or MarketScreener?
MarketScreener handles portfolio tracking. Capitol Trades 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.