★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
ChartMill vs Smartfin
Pick ChartMill if
ChartMill
Free • Paid plans available · Web
- You care about screeners, stock comparison, and valuation models, things Smartfin doesn't offer
- You've outgrown the basics and want pro-level depth
- You trade often and need tooling built for speed
Pick Smartfin if
Smartfin
Free • From $8.33/mo · Web
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You care about transcripts, checklist, and AI research, things ChartMill 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
ChartMill and Smartfin cover a lot of the same ground (9 shared categories, including stock ideas, data visualizations, and scores), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. ChartMill simply does more: 24 categories to Smartfin's 12, including screeners, stock comparison, and valuation models. Smartfin counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
ChartMill
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Smartfin
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Key differences at a glance
- Real-time data
- Smartfin
- Broader coverage
- ChartMill24 vs 12 categories
- Global coverage
- ChartMill
- Asset coverage
- ChartMillAdds ETFs
- 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 $8.33/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | Free: financials history: 4 years/quarters (free users, example pages). | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | No | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +6 more | — |
Categories covered | 24 | 12 |
Regions | North America, Europe | North America |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 3 signals: Latency: 15-min Delayed and End of Day, Granularity: EOD and Minute +1 more | Latency: Real-time and End of Day and Granularity: EOD |
Capabilities | Custom formulas and Universe builder | AI summaries: Filings |
| Try it | Visit ChartMill | Visit Smartfin |
Where each one shines
What ChartMill and Smartfin each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What ChartMill and Smartfin each do best.What ChartMill does best
- Screen stocks and ETFs with technical, fundamental, dividend, valuation, growth, profitability, health, and custom-expression filters.
- Start from a large Trading Ideas library covering breakout, pullback, CANSLIM, Minervini, GARP, dividend, value, growth, and other screen templates.
- Use ChartMill ratings, technical setup views, analyzer pages, and fundamental reports to compare candidates.
- Build watchlists, save screens, export screener results, and trigger alerts from price, setup, earnings, news, insider, fundamental, analyst, and saved-screen conditions.
- Use multi-chart layouts, saved chart configurations, drawings, indicators, event markers, and watchlist-based charting.
What Smartfin does best
- Read Smartfin company overview and evaluation cards with plain-English positives, negatives, and peer positioning.
- Use sector-adjusted scorecards for value, profit, growth, and financial health with peer rankings.
- Explore visual financial statements with plan-based history: 5 years on Starter, 10 years on Premium, and 30+ years on Pro.
- Track watchlists and real-time alerts with limits that scale from Starter and Premium to larger Pro usage.
- Use the event hub for earnings, SEC filings, transcripts, and a lightweight research checklist for followed tickers.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for ChartMill and Smartfin, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for ChartMill and Smartfin, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFs | Stocks |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediate |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailDay TradersSwing TradersLong-term InvestorsGrowth InvestorsValue InvestorsDividend Investors | Not specified |
Regions | North AmericaEurope | North America |
Coverage details | 17 countries9 exchangesIdentifiers: Ticker and ISIN | Countries: USExchanges: XNYS and XNASIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | 15-min DelayedEnd of Day | Real-timeEnd of Day |
Data granularity | EODMinute | EOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
Export formats | CSV | Image |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Custom formulasUniverse builder | AI summaries: Filings |
Vendor & support | ChartMill | SmartfinSupport: Email |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 3/5Reliability 3/5UX 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 | Freefinancials history: 4 years/quarters (free users, example pages). | Free“Starter” |
| Entry paid plan | $34.97/mo“Monthly Subscription” | $8.33/mo“Premium” |
| Top plan | $299.97/yr“Annual Subscription + Free Course” | $16.99/mo“Pro” |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between ChartMill and Smartfin?
ChartMill leans toward screeners, stock ideas, and stock comparison, while Smartfin puts more weight on stock ideas, financials, and scores. They overlap in 9 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do ChartMill and Smartfin cost?
Good news: both ChartMill and Smartfin have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Which is better for beginners: ChartMill or Smartfin?
Honestly, neither is aimed at beginners. Expect a learning curve either way; that's the trade-off for the depth they offer.
Should I choose ChartMill or Smartfin?
It depends on what you're after. Pick ChartMill if screeners and stock comparison matter to you; go with Smartfin if you'd rather have transcripts and checklist. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do ChartMill and Smartfin cover?
Both cover stocks. ChartMill also handles ETFs.
Does ChartMill or Smartfin have real-time data?
Smartfin 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.
Which covers international markets: ChartMill or Smartfin?
ChartMill has documented international coverage (North America and Europe), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. Smartfin is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from ChartMill and Smartfin?
ChartMill exports to CSV. Smartfin is stingier about getting data out.
Is ChartMill or Smartfin better for day trading?
ChartMill is the one positioned more for active traders. Smartfin 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 Smartfin?
ChartMill has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; Smartfin doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Keep researching
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Feedback
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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.