★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
Capitol Trades vs MarketScreener
Pick Capitol Trades instead if
Capitol Trades
Free · Web
- You care about US government trades, something MarketScreener doesn't offer
Start here
MarketScreener
Free • From $34/mo · Web · Mobile
- 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
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
See alternativesOutbound links may include affiliate or sponsor codes.
Our take
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.
What readers say
Capitol Trades
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
MarketScreener
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Key differences at a glance
- Mobile app
- MarketScreener
- Broader coverage
- MarketScreener16 vs 4 categories
- Global coverage
- MarketScreener
- Free plan
- Both
See for yourself
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.ShowHide
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free | Free • From $34/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | Free: history: Website data restricted to the past 3 years | 6 limits: Access: annual equivalent monthly usd: 28, Access: annual billing usd: 336 +4 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 |
Where each one shines
What Capitol Trades and MarketScreener each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What Capitol Trades and MarketScreener each do best.What Capitol Trades does best
- Tracking U.S.
- Filters for political trades by chamber, party, committee, state, asset type, transaction type, trade size, sector, and issuer country.
- Direct access to trade detail pages with traded date, published date, filed date, reporting gap, owner type, asset type, and disclosed size range.
- Original filing links to verify disclosures at the source before acting on a trade.
- Browsing access to issuer pages with market snapshots and lists of politician trades tied to that issuer.
What MarketScreener does best
- Monitoring market news and quotes across equities, ETFs, commodities, currencies, forex, and cryptocurrencies.
- Tools for building custom watchlists with quotes, news, earnings releases, valuation trends, broker recommendations, and smart email alerts.
- Screening for stocks globally with hundreds of fundamental and technical criteria, with higher filter counts reserved for Premium and Expert tiers.
- Dynamic charts with configurable technical indicators and quick switching between individual stocks and personal lists.
- Tools for exploring thematic investment lists for idea discovery and compare themes against index trends and historical performance.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Capitol Trades and MarketScreener, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Capitol Trades and MarketScreener, side by side.| 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.
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.ShowHide
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Freehistory: Website data restricted to the past 3 years | Free“Free (Member)” |
| Entry paid plan | — | $34/mo“Access”annual equivalent monthly usd: 28 · annual billing usd: 336 |
| Tier 2 | — | $59/mo“Premium”annual billing usd: 600 · annual equivalent monthly usd: 50 |
| Top plan | — | $279/mo“Expert”annual billing usd: 2,628 · annual equivalent monthly usd: 219 |
Questions we keep getting
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.
Feedback
Spot stale pricing, missing features, or a comparison that feels off? Send feedback on the verdict, table, alternatives, or recommendation.
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.