VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Tool Comparison · Wednesday, June 3, 2026
CB Insights vs FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)
CB Insights vs FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data): which investing tool fits your workflow? Compare pricing, features, platforms, and verdict in seconds.
CB Insights
cbinsights.com
Best for screeners, and acquisitions
- Pricing
- Subscription
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile, API
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)
fred.stlouisfed.org
Best for inflation rates, and unemployment rates
- Pricing
- Free
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile, API
Outbound links may include affiliate or sponsor codes.
Comparison snapshot
Who should choose which?
Choose
CB Insights if…
- You need global company intelligence platform covering private and public companies, investors, deals, m&a, public-company earnings, and business relationships.
- You need feeds and data solutions provide structured access to company profiles, financial transactions, business relationships, scouting reports, and proprietary data-science measures.
- You need microsoft excel add-in to pull in cb insights company data, mosaic scores, and taxonomies directly into spreadsheets.
- You need salesforce integration to embed company and investor insights into crm workflows.
Choose
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) if…
- You want to start free before paying
- You need 800,000+ economic data series from 100+ sources, covering topics such as gdp, prices/inflation, employment, exchange rates, and interest rates.
- You need browse and track data via categories, releases, sources, and tags; series pages show metadata like units/frequency and “last updated / next release” fields.
- You need graphing and sharing options include embeddable graphs and graph-image links.
Consider alternatives if…
- You want broader category coverage in one tool.
- Neither pricing tier fits your budget.
Side-by-side feature breakdown
| Attribute | CB Insights | FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) |
|---|---|---|
Asset types | StocksOther | Other |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | Not specified |
Data freshness | Not specified | Not specified |
API access | Not specified | REST |
Export formats | Not specified | ExcelImageJSONXML |
Seen enough? Open either tool and try it now.
Pricing breakdown
Tool
CB Insights
—
Starting price
Plans & pricing
Tool
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)
—
Starting price
Plans & pricing
Coverage overlap
Categories where both tools offer overlapping coverage.
Categories covered by FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) only.
Community category leaders
Vote sentiment comparison
Loading sentiment chart...
Still deciding? Get hands-on with both — most plans offer a free tier or trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between CB Insights and FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)?
CB Insights focuses on Data APIs, Sheets / Excel Add-ins, and Screeners while FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) specializes in Inflation Rates, Unemployment Rates, and GDP. They overlap in 3 categories, so choose based on your preferred workflow and pricing.
Is CB Insights or FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) free to use?
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) offers a free tier that lets you get started without paying, while CB Insights requires a subscription. If budget is a concern, start with FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) and upgrade later if you need more advanced features.
Do CB Insights and FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) have APIs?
Yes, both platforms offer API access for developers and quants who want to build custom integrations or automate their workflows.
Should I choose CB Insights or FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)?
Choose CB Insights if you need Global company intelligence platform covering private and public companies, investors, deals, M&A, public-company earnings, and business relationships., and Feeds and data solutions provide structured access to company profiles, financial transactions, business relationships, scouting reports, and proprietary data-science measures.. Go with FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) if 800,000+ economic data series from 100+ sources, covering topics such as GDP, prices/inflation, employment, exchange rates, and interest rates., and Browse and track data via categories, releases, sources, and tags; series pages show metadata like units/frequency and “last updated / next release” fields. better fits how you invest.
What asset classes do CB Insights and FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) cover?
Both cover Other. CB Insights also includes Stocks.
Can I export data from CB Insights and FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)?
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) supports data exports to Excel, Image, JSON, and XML. CB Insights has more limited export options.
Which has a better stock screener—CB Insights or FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)?
CB Insights includes a stock screener for finding investment ideas. FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) focuses on other analytical tools.
Other tools you might like
These profiles share overlapping coverage with both sides of this matchup.
Keep Exploring
Global rankings of the highest-rated tools across all categories.
Ranked list of companies with durable competitive advantages.
Proven models entering their growth phase with solid economics.
Track votes, sentiment, and engagement across the community.
Learn moat types, red flags, and real-company examples.
Browse other head-to-head tool comparisons and alternatives.
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.