★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
CEO.CA vs ETF Action
Pick CEO.CA if
CEO.CA
Free • Paid plans available · Web · Mobile
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You care about order book / level II, news, and insider data, things ETF Action doesn't offer
Pick ETF Action if
ETF Action
Free • From $29/mo · Web · API
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You care about ETF analysis, ETF factors, and ETF overlap, things CEO.CA doesn't offer
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
CEO.CA and ETF Action cover a lot of the same ground (4 shared categories, including alerts, watchlist, and videos), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. ETF Action simply does more: 13 categories to CEO.CA's 8, including ETF analysis, ETF factors, and ETF overlap. CEO.CA counters by being completely free.
What readers say
CEO.CA
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
ETF Action
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Key differences at a glance
- Mobile app
- CEO.CA
- Broader coverage
- ETF Action13 vs 8 categories
- API access
- ETF Action
- Global coverage
- ETF Action
- 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 • Paid plans available | Free • From $29/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | Plus: features: Insider holdings, private placements, analytics | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | No |
API access | No | Yes |
Broker sync | No | No |
Integrations | — | Polygon.io (pricing), Bridge (model trading integration) +1 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 8 | 13 |
Regions | North America | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 3 signals: Latency: Streaming, Real-time, and End of Day, Granularity: Second and EOD +1 more | 4 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +2 more |
Capabilities | — | 5 signals: Universe builder, Factors: Value, Quality, Momentum, Growth, LowVol, and Size +3 more |
Security | Data residency: Other | — |
| Try it | Visit CEO.CA | Visit ETF Action |
Where each one shines
What CEO.CA and ETF Action each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What CEO.CA and ETF Action each do best.What CEO.CA does best
- Monitoring ticker-centric chat channels, private groups, DMs, news, and community discussion around Canadian small-cap issuers.
- CEO.CA Pro for Level II market depth across CSE, TSXV, and TSX packages where your subscription includes the exchange.
- Views for reviewing Market by Price and Market by Order views with animated bid/ask depth and recency coloring.
- Monitoring SEDI insider filings, insider holdings, large buys and sells, and related Canadian issuer activity where Plus or Pro unlocks the view.
- Tracking private placements, including free-trading-date context and alerts on company pages.
What ETF Action does best
- Research coverage for ETFs through global category channels covering size and style, regions, countries, sectors, industries, themes, fixed income, non-traditional assets, commodities, and crypto.
- Look-through holdings analytics to inspect factor, style, sector, industry, country, and concentration exposure inside funds and models.
- Comparison tools for ETF overlap across individual funds or full model portfolios to understand hidden duplication and concentration risk.
- Monitoring ETF flows, trading volumes, ADV, daily refreshes, and T+1 flow timing from the platform dashboards.
- Screeners, watchlists, fund dashboards, Excel or CSV exports, and live indicative FMV quote context where plan limits allow.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for CEO.CA and ETF Action, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for CEO.CA and ETF Action, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFs | ETFsStocks |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North America | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica |
Coverage details | Countries: CAExchanges: XTSE, XTSX, and XCNQIdentifiers: Ticker | Exchanges: ARCX, XNAS, and BATSIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | StreamingReal-timeEnd of Day | Real-timeEnd of Day |
Data granularity | SecondEOD | EOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
Import methods | Not specified | CSV |
Integrations | Not specified | Polygon.io (pricing)Bridge (model trading integration)RiverFront (model marketplace/partnership) |
Export formats | Not specified | ExcelCSVPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Data residency: Other | Not specified |
Capability signals | Not specified | Universe builderFactors: Value, Quality, Momentum, Growth, LowVol, and SizeFactor exposureRebalancingPortfolio factor exposure |
Vendor & support | CEO.CA Technologies Ltd.Country: CanadaSupport: Email | ETF Action, Inc.Country: USFounded 2018Support: Email |
Curation ratings | Methodology 3/5Reliability 3/5UX 4/5 | Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
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 | Free | Free“Free / Basic” |
| Entry paid plan | CAD 20/mo“Plus”features: Insider holdings, private placements, analytics | $29/mo“DIY” |
| Tier 2 | CAD 50/mo“Pro - CSE” | $99/mo“Advisor Pro” |
| Tier 3 | CAD 80/mo“Pro - CSE + TSXV” | $199/mo“Model Builder” |
| Top plan | CAD 116/mo“Pro - CSE + TSXV + TSX” | Subscription“Enterprise” |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between CEO.CA and ETF Action?
CEO.CA leans toward order book / level II, news, and alerts, while ETF Action puts more weight on ETF analysis, ETF factors, and ETF overlap. They overlap in 4 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do CEO.CA and ETF Action cost?
Good news: both CEO.CA and ETF Action have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Can I use CEO.CA or ETF Action on my phone?
CEO.CA lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. ETF Action doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web and API.
Does CEO.CA or ETF Action have an API?
ETF Action has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. CEO.CA doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose CEO.CA or ETF Action?
It depends on what you're after. Pick CEO.CA if order book / level II and news matter to you; go with ETF Action if you'd rather have ETF analysis and ETF factors. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
Do CEO.CA and ETF Action offer real-time data?
Yes, both serve real-time market data, so either works when timing matters.
Which covers international markets: CEO.CA or ETF Action?
ETF Action has documented international coverage (North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, and more), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. CEO.CA is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from CEO.CA and ETF Action?
ETF Action exports to Excel and CSV. CEO.CA is stingier about getting data out.
Which has a better stock screener: CEO.CA or ETF Action?
ETF Action has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; CEO.CA doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with CEO.CA or ETF Action?
ETF Action handles portfolio tracking. CEO.CA is really a research tool; you'd track your portfolio elsewhere.
Keep researching
Other tools you might like
Keep Exploring
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.