★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Source check: ChartMill checked August 4, 2026
Tool Comparison
ChartMill vs MarketSurge
Start here
ChartMill
Free • Paid plans available · Web
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- You care about stock comparison, valuation models, and calendar, things MarketSurge doesn't offer
- You're newer to investing and want something approachable
Pick MarketSurge instead if
MarketSurge
From $24.95 per unit · Web · Mobile
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
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
ChartMill and MarketSurge cover a lot of the same ground (12 shared categories, including screeners, stock ideas, and data visualizations), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. ChartMill simply does more: 24 categories to MarketSurge's 14, including stock comparison, valuation models, and calendar. MarketSurge counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
ChartMill
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
MarketSurge
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Key differences at a glance
- Free plan
- ChartMill
- Broader coverage
- ChartMill24 vs 14 categories
- Mobile app
- MarketSurge
- Real-time data
- MarketSurge
- Asset coverage
- MarketSurgeAdds mutual funds and funds
- Beginner friendly
- ChartMill
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 | From $24.95 per unit |
Free tier | Yes | No |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | Free: financials history: 4 years/quarters (free users, example pages). | Intro Offer: term: 30 days on the current web offer and Intro Offer: renewal: $149.95/month after the promotional period |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | — | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +6 more | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +2 more |
Categories covered | 24 | 14 |
Regions | North America, Europe | — |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 3 signals: Latency: 15-min Delayed and End of Day, Granularity: EOD and Minute +1 more | Latency: Real-time and Granularity: Minute and EOD |
Capabilities | Custom formulas and Universe builder | Universe builder and Factors: Growth and Momentum |
| Try it | Visit ChartMill | Visit MarketSurge |
Where each one shines
What ChartMill and MarketSurge each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What ChartMill and MarketSurge each do best.What ChartMill does best
- Screening for stocks and ETFs with technical, fundamental, dividend, valuation, growth, profitability, health, and custom-expression filters.
- Starting point: a large Trading Ideas library covering breakout, pullback, CANSLIM, Minervini, GARP, dividend, value, growth, and other screen templates.
- ChartMill ratings, technical setup views, analyzer pages, and fundamental reports to compare candidates.
- Tools for building watchlists, save screens, export screener results, and trigger alerts from price, setup, earnings, news, insider, fundamental, analyst, and saved-screen conditions.
- Multi-chart layouts, saved chart configurations, drawings, indicators, event markers, and watchlist-based charting.
What MarketSurge does best
- IBD-style stock and ETF research workflows built around charts, ratings, curated lists, buy points, and sell signals.
- Discovery tools for ideas through curated lists such as Growth 250, Breaking Out Today, Near Pivot, RS Line Blue Dot, and Ants.
- Automated Pattern Recognition to highlight base patterns, buy zones, profit zones, and loss zones where supported.
- Views for reviewing proprietary IBD ratings, earnings and sales histories, institutional ownership, and 70+ technical or fundamental data points described in mobile listings.
- Screening for stocks and ETFs with customizable criteria and a promotional database reference of 8,000+ stocks and ETFs.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for ChartMill and MarketSurge, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for ChartMill and MarketSurge, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFs | StocksETFsMutual FundsFunds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | IntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailDay TradersSwing TradersLong-term InvestorsGrowth InvestorsValue InvestorsDividend Investors | Retail TradersPro RetailSwing TradersGrowth Investors |
Regions | North AmericaEurope | Not specified |
Coverage details | 17 countries9 exchangesIdentifiers: Ticker and ISIN | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | 15-min DelayedEnd of Day | Real-time |
Data granularity | EODMinute | MinuteEOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
Export formats | CSV | Not specified |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Custom formulasUniverse builder | Universe builderFactors: Growth and Momentum |
Vendor & support | ChartMill | Investor's Business Daily, Inc.Country: USSupport: 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Freefinancials history: 4 years/quarters (free users, example pages). | — |
| Entry paid plan | $34.97/mo“Monthly Subscription” | $24.95 per unit“Intro Offer”term: 30 days on the current web offer · renewal: $149.95/month after the promotional period |
| Tier 2 | $299.97/yr“Annual Subscription + Free Course” | $1499/yr≈ $124.92/mo“Premium Annual” |
| Top plan | — | $149.95/mo“Premium Monthly” |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between ChartMill and MarketSurge?
ChartMill leans toward screeners, stock ideas, and stock comparison, while MarketSurge puts more weight on stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners. They overlap in 12 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
Is ChartMill or MarketSurge free to use?
ChartMill has a free tier, so you can get started without paying anything. MarketSurge is paid-only. If budget matters, start with ChartMill and see how far it takes you before opening your wallet.
Which is better for beginners: ChartMill or MarketSurge?
ChartMill 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 ChartMill or MarketSurge on my phone?
MarketSurge lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. ChartMill doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web.
Should I choose ChartMill or MarketSurge?
It depends on what you're after. Pick ChartMill if stock comparison and valuation models matter to you; go with MarketSurge if you'd rather have ETF screeners and flags. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do ChartMill and MarketSurge cover?
Both cover stocks and ETFs. MarketSurge adds mutual funds and funds on top.
Does ChartMill or MarketSurge have real-time data?
MarketSurge offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. ChartMill runs on delayed or end-of-day data, which is perfectly fine for longer-term investors who don't live and die by the tick.
Can I export data from ChartMill and MarketSurge?
ChartMill exports to CSV. MarketSurge is stingier about getting data out.
Is ChartMill or MarketSurge better for day trading?
ChartMill is the one positioned more for active traders. MarketSurge is the better fit if you care less about fast trading workflows and more about a calmer research process.
Which has a better stock screener: ChartMill or MarketSurge?
Both ChartMill and MarketSurge include stock screeners, and they differ more in interface than raw power; try both and see which one clicks for you.
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.