VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON
Tool details checked August 23, 2026
Tool Comparison
CB Insights vs YCharts
Pick CB Insights if
CB Insights
Contact for pricing · Web · Mobile · API
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You want APIs & data feeds, corporate actions & special situations, and newsletters.
Pick YCharts if
YCharts
From $3000/yr · Web · Desktop
- You want stock comparison, ETF comparison, and portfolio.
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
CB Insights and YCharts cover a lot of the same ground (4 shared categories, including sheets / excel add-ins, screeners, and data visualizations), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. YCharts simply does more: 20 categories to CB Insights's 7, including stock comparison, ETF comparison, and portfolio. CB Insights counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
CB Insights
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YCharts
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Key differences at a glance
- Mobile app
- CB Insights
- Free trial
- YCharts7 days
- Broader coverage
- YCharts20 vs 7 categories
- Desktop app
- YCharts
- API access
- CB Insights
- Beginner friendly
- CB Insights
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 | Contact for pricing | From $3000/yr |
Free tier | No | No |
Free trial | — | 7 days |
Plan limits | 3 limits: Browser Analyst: pricing: Request pricing, Enterprise Platform: pricing: Request pricing +1 more | 9 limits: Analyst: additional seat annual usd: 1,500, Presenter: additional seat annual usd: 2,400 +7 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | No | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | No |
API access | Yes | No |
Broker sync | — | Yes |
Integrations | Salesforce, Microsoft Excel +6 more | Addepar, Advyzon +15 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | Financial Advisors, RIAs / Wealth Firms +2 more |
Categories covered | 7 | 20 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa | — |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data partners | — | 3 partners: Morningstar, S&P Global Market Intelligence +1 more |
Capabilities | — | 6 signals: Stress tests: EquityCrash, Monte Carlo +4 more |
Security | — | 4 signals: SOC2, Status page +2 more |
| Try it | Visit CB Insights | Visit YCharts |
Where each one shines
What CB Insights and YCharts each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What CB Insights and YCharts each do best.What CB Insights does best
- Research coverage for private and public companies, investors, funding rounds, M&A, business relationships, earnings, markets, and competitive markets.
- Company profiles, market analytics, visual dashboards, deal analysis, and sector tracking to map markets and competitors.
- Mosaic Score and other proprietary measures to evaluate private-company health and growth signals.
- Strategy Terminal, Browser Analyst, ChatCBI, and team-of-agents workflows for AI-assisted scouting, briefs, trend discovery, and market analysis.
- Access to CB Insights data into workflows through Excel, Salesforce, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Snowflake, Zapier, Affinity, A2A, MCP-style, and data-solution integrations where licensed.
What YCharts does best
- Tools for building client-ready charts, scatter plots, technical charts, economic overlays, ratios, spreads, correlations, annotations, and branded visuals.
- Comparison tools for stocks, funds, ETFs, portfolios, and models with Comp Tables, custom scoring, exports, and client-ready PDFs.
- Stock and fund screeners, dashboards, watchlists, alerts, and market-monitoring workflows for advisor and analyst research.
- Create proposals, talking points, report templates, risk profiles, custom disclosures, and firm-branded client materials.
- Portfolio Optimizer, Scenarios, Interactive Analysis, Monte Carlo workflows, stress tests, and transition tax analysis where included by tier.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for CB Insights and YCharts, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for CB Insights and YCharts, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksOther | StocksETFsMutual FundsClosed-End FundsBondsCryptos |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | IntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Not specified | Financial AdvisorsRIAs / Wealth FirmsAsset ManagersAnalysts |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | Not specified |
Coverage details | Not specified | Identifiers: Ticker and CUSIP |
| Data | ||
Data partners | Not specified | MorningstarS&P Global Market IntelligenceMoody's |
| Access & integrations | ||
Import methods | Not specified | CSVCustodianManual |
Integrations | SalesforceMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft 365 CopilotSnowflakeAffinityZapierA2AMCP | AddeparAdvyzonAvisoBlack DiamondBroadridge Wealth AggregationeMoneyFidelityiRebal+9 more |
Export formats | Not specified | CSVExcelPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Not specified | SOC2Status pageEncryption at restEncryption in transit |
Capability signals | Not specified | Stress tests: EquityCrashMonte CarloPortfolio attributionCorrelationModel portfoliosClient reporting |
Vendor & support | CB Information Services, Inc.Country: United StatesSupport: Email and Phone | YCharts, Inc.Country: United StatesSupport: Email, Phone, and Chat |
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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Entry paid plan | — | $3000/yr≈ $250/mo“Analyst”additional seat annual usd: 1,500 |
| Tier 2 | — | $6300/yr≈ $525/mo“Professional”additional seat annual usd: 3,600 |
| Top plan | — | Subscription“Presenter”additional seat annual usd: 2,400 |
| Custom / enterprise | Contact sales“Browser Analyst”pricing: Request pricing | Contact sales“Enterprise” |
| Free trial | — | 7 days |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between CB Insights and YCharts?
CB Insights leans toward APIs & data feeds, sheets / excel add-ins, and screeners, while YCharts puts more weight on screeners, stock comparison, and ETF comparison. They overlap in 4 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do CB Insights and YCharts cost?
Neither has a free plan, but YCharts offers a free trial. Compare the paid tiers against your required data coverage before committing.
Which is better for beginners: CB Insights or YCharts?
CB Insights is the friendlier place to start; its interface takes less getting used to. Both work fine once you're past the basics.
Can I use CB Insights or YCharts on my phone?
CB Insights lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. YCharts doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web and desktop.
Does CB Insights or YCharts have an API?
CB Insights has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. YCharts doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose CB Insights or YCharts?
It depends on what you're after. Pick CB Insights if APIs & data feeds and corporate actions & special situations matter to you; go with YCharts if you'd rather have stock comparison and ETF comparison. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do CB Insights and YCharts cover?
Both cover stocks. CB Insights also handles other. YCharts adds ETFs, mutual funds, and closed-end funds on top.
Can I export data from CB Insights and YCharts?
YCharts exports to CSV and Excel. CB Insights is stingier about getting data out.
Which has a better stock screener: CB Insights or YCharts?
Both CB Insights and YCharts 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 CB Insights or YCharts?
YCharts handles portfolio tracking. CB Insights is really a research tool; you'd track your portfolio elsewhere.
Keep researching
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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.