VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ A CURATED DIRECTORY OF FINANCIAL TOOLS AND RESOURCES ★

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Friday, December 26, 2025

Tool Comparison

CFPB Consumer Complaint Database vs Total Real Returns comparison

Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.

Quick takeaways

CFPB Consumer Complaint Database adds Data APIs, APIs & SDKs, and Regulatory Filings Monitoring coverage that Total Real Returns skips.

Total Real Returns includes Risk Metrics categories that CFPB Consumer Complaint Database omits.

In depth comparison

CFPB Consumer Complaint Database logo

CFPB Consumer Complaint Database

consumerfinance.gov

Official U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) database of consumer financial complaints. Complaints are published after the company responds or after 15 days (whichever comes first); the database generally updates daily. Narratives are published only with consumer consent and are scrubbed to remove personal information. The dataset includes product/issue taxonomies, company names, location fields (state/ZIP with privacy rules), submission channel, dates, company response categories, timeliness, tags (e.g., servicemember, older adult) and more. UI provides filters, trends, and maps; API returns JSON/CSV/Excel formats for programmatic use.

Platforms

WebAPI

Pricing

Free

Quick highlights

  • Interactive explorer to filter, chart trends over time, map by geography, and read consented narratives.
  • Programmatic access via the Consumer Complaint Database Search API; results available as JSON, CSV, XLS, or XLSX.
  • Daily refresh cadence; complaints published after a response or after 15 days; complaints referred to other regulators are not published.
  • Detailed fields: product/sub‑product, issue/sub‑issue, company, dates (received/sent to company), state/ZIP (privacy rules), submission channel, tags (e.g., Servicemember, Older American), company public response, response category, timeliness, and (if consented) complaint narrative.
  • Download tools on the site plus API endpoints for bulk or filtered pulls; annual and topical reports summarize trends.

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Total Real Returns logo

Total Real Returns

totalrealreturns.com

Web tool for CPI-U inflation-adjusted ("real") and nominal total return charts with dividends reinvested, plus returns tables and drawdowns (EOD; daily updates ~8pm ET).

Platforms

Web

Pricing

Free

Quick highlights

  • CPI-U inflation-adjusted "Total Real Return" charts with dividends reinvested (purchasing-power view).
  • Toggle inflation adjustment on/off (real vs. nominal dollars) on chart pages.
  • Compare multiple symbols on a single chart by entering comma-separated tickers.
  • Controls for custom date ranges and normalization modes (Start=1, End=1, IPO=1, Off).
  • Per-symbol performance breakdown includes overall return, exponential trendline/annualized rates (with R^2), growth of $10,000, annual returns, and drawdowns.

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Where they differ

CFPB Consumer Complaint Database

Distinct strengths include:

  • Interactive explorer to filter, chart trends over time, map by geography, and read consented narratives.
  • Programmatic access via the Consumer Complaint Database Search API; results available as JSON, CSV, XLS, or XLSX.
  • Daily refresh cadence; complaints published after a response or after 15 days; complaints referred to other regulators are not published.
  • Detailed fields: product/sub‑product, issue/sub‑issue, company, dates (received/sent to company), state/ZIP (privacy rules), submission channel, tags (e.g., Servicemember, Older American), company public response, response category, timeliness, and (if consented) complaint narrative.

Total Real Returns

Distinct strengths include:

  • CPI-U inflation-adjusted "Total Real Return" charts with dividends reinvested (purchasing-power view).
  • Toggle inflation adjustment on/off (real vs. nominal dollars) on chart pages.
  • Compare multiple symbols on a single chart by entering comma-separated tickers.
  • Controls for custom date ranges and normalization modes (Start=1, End=1, IPO=1, Off).

Feature-by-feature breakdown

AttributeCFPB Consumer Complaint DatabaseTotal Real Returns
Categories

Which research workflows each platform targets

Shared: Data Visualizations

Unique: Data APIs, APIs & SDKs, Regulatory Filings Monitoring

Shared: Data Visualizations

Unique: Risk Metrics

Asset types

Supported asset classes and universes

Other

Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Currencies

Experience levels

Who each product is built for

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Beginner, Intermediate

Platforms

Where you can access the product

Web, API

Web

Pricing

High-level pricing models

Free

Free

Key features

Core capabilities called out by each vendor

Unique

  • Interactive explorer to filter, chart trends over time, map by geography, and read consented narratives.
  • Programmatic access via the Consumer Complaint Database Search API; results available as JSON, CSV, XLS, or XLSX.
  • Daily refresh cadence; complaints published after a response or after 15 days; complaints referred to other regulators are not published.
  • Detailed fields: product/sub‑product, issue/sub‑issue, company, dates (received/sent to company), state/ZIP (privacy rules), submission channel, tags (e.g., Servicemember, Older American), company public response, response category, timeliness, and (if consented) complaint narrative.
  • Download tools on the site plus API endpoints for bulk or filtered pulls; annual and topical reports summarize trends.

Unique

  • CPI-U inflation-adjusted "Total Real Return" charts with dividends reinvested (purchasing-power view).
  • Toggle inflation adjustment on/off (real vs. nominal dollars) on chart pages.
  • Compare multiple symbols on a single chart by entering comma-separated tickers.
  • Controls for custom date ranges and normalization modes (Start=1, End=1, IPO=1, Off).
  • Per-symbol performance breakdown includes overall return, exponential trendline/annualized rates (with R^2), growth of $10,000, annual returns, and drawdowns.
  • Instrument pages include common stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and a USDOLLAR cash/currency series.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which workflows do CFPB Consumer Complaint Database and Total Real Returns both support?

Both platforms cover Data Visualizations workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.

Do CFPB Consumer Complaint Database and Total Real Returns require subscriptions?

Both CFPB Consumer Complaint Database and Total Real Returns keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.

How can you access CFPB Consumer Complaint Database and Total Real Returns?

Both CFPB Consumer Complaint Database and Total Real Returns prioritize web or desktop access. Investors wanting a mobile-first workflow may need to rely on responsive web views.

What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?

CFPB Consumer Complaint Database differentiates itself with Interactive explorer to filter, chart trends over time, map by geography, and read consented narratives., Programmatic access via the Consumer Complaint Database Search API; results available as JSON, CSV, XLS, or XLSX., and Daily refresh cadence; complaints published after a response or after 15 days; complaints referred to other regulators are not published., whereas Total Real Returns stands out for CPI-U inflation-adjusted "Total Real Return" charts with dividends reinvested (purchasing-power view)., Toggle inflation adjustment on/off (real vs. nominal dollars) on chart pages., and Compare multiple symbols on a single chart by entering comma-separated tickers..

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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.