Tool Comparison
ChartMill vs Visible Alpha
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web
Best if
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- You want screeners, stock ideas, and scores.
- You're newer to investing and want something approachable
- Paid from
- On request
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Desktop, API
Best if
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You want research templates, APIs & data feeds, and sheets / excel add-ins.
Pick ChartMill if
ChartMill
Free • Paid plans available · Web
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- You want screeners, stock ideas, and scores.
- You're newer to investing and want something approachable
Pick Visible Alpha if
Visible Alpha
Contact for pricing · Web · Desktop · API
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You want research templates, APIs & data feeds, and sheets / excel add-ins.
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
ChartMill and Visible Alpha cover a lot of the same ground (6 shared categories, including stock comparison, data visualizations, and financials), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. ChartMill simply does more: 24 categories to Visible Alpha's 10, including screeners, stock ideas, and scores. Visible Alpha counters by keeping things simpler.
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ChartMill
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Key differences at a glance
- Free plan
- ChartMill
- Broader coverage
- ChartMill24 vs 10 categories
- Desktop app
- Visible Alpha
- API access
- Visible Alpha
- Real-time data
- Visible Alpha
- Asset coverage
- ChartMillAdds ETFs
What ChartMill does best
- Screening for stocks and ETFs with technical, fundamental, dividend, valuation, growth, profitability, health, and custom-expression filters.
- Start from Trading Ideas templates for breakouts, pullbacks, CANSLIM, Minervini, GARP, dividends, value, and growth.
- ChartMill ratings, technical setup views, analyzer pages, and fundamental reports to compare candidates.
- Build watchlists, save screens, export results, and set alerts for prices, setups, earnings, news, insider activity, fundamentals, analyst changes, and screen results.
- Multi-chart layouts, saved chart configurations, drawings, indicators, event markers, and watchlist-based charting.
What Visible Alpha does best
- Analyze line-item consensus built from full sell-side models rather than only EPS or revenue estimates.
- VA Actuals to connect stitched historical fundamentals with forward estimates for cleaner time-series analysis.
- Work in Visible Alpha Insights, S&P Capital IQ Pro, or Excel with templates, tear sheets, and updated figures.
- Review target-price and rating distributions with valuation context and consensus changes.
- Monitor line-item revisions, dispersion, trends, and threshold changes through company and metric-level monitoring workflows.
Side by side
Pricing comparison
See for yourself
Side by side
Price, platforms, data, and market coverage.ShowHide
Side by side
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free • Paid plans available | Contact for pricing |
Free tier | Yes | No |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | Free: financials history: 4 years/quarters (free users, example pages). | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | No | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | No | Yes |
Integrations | — | S&P Capital IQ Pro, Data Feed +2 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +6 more | — |
Categories covered | 24 | 10 |
Regions | North America, Europe | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 3 signals: Latency: 15-min Delayed and End of Day, Granularity: EOD and Minute +1 more | 3 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +1 more |
Capabilities | Custom formulas and Universe builder | — |
| Try it | Visit ChartMill | Visit Visible Alpha |
Standout features
The best features of ChartMill and Visible Alpha.ShowHide
Standout features
What ChartMill does best
- Screening for stocks and ETFs with technical, fundamental, dividend, valuation, growth, profitability, health, and custom-expression filters.
- Start from Trading Ideas templates for breakouts, pullbacks, CANSLIM, Minervini, GARP, dividends, value, and growth.
- ChartMill ratings, technical setup views, analyzer pages, and fundamental reports to compare candidates.
- Build watchlists, save screens, export results, and set alerts for prices, setups, earnings, news, insider activity, fundamentals, analyst changes, and screen results.
- Multi-chart layouts, saved chart configurations, drawings, indicators, event markers, and watchlist-based charting.
What Visible Alpha does best
- Analyze line-item consensus built from full sell-side models rather than only EPS or revenue estimates.
- VA Actuals to connect stitched historical fundamentals with forward estimates for cleaner time-series analysis.
- Work in Visible Alpha Insights, S&P Capital IQ Pro, or Excel with templates, tear sheets, and updated figures.
- Review target-price and rating distributions with valuation context and consensus changes.
- Monitor line-item revisions, dispersion, trends, and threshold changes through company and metric-level monitoring workflows.
All details
Every attribute we track for ChartMill and Visible Alpha.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFs | Stocks |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | IntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailDay TradersSwing TradersLong-term InvestorsGrowth InvestorsValue InvestorsDividend Investors | Not specified |
Regions | North AmericaEurope | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica |
Coverage details | 17 countries9 exchangesIdentifiers: Ticker and ISIN | Identifiers: Ticker, CUSIP, SEDOL, and ISIN |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | 15-min DelayedEnd of Day | Real-timeEnd of Day |
Data granularity | EODMinute | EOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | Not specified | REST |
API auth & delivery | Not specified | Auth: APIKey |
Integrations | Not specified | S&P Capital IQ ProData FeedSnowflakeExcel |
Export formats | CSV | Excel |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Custom formulasUniverse builder | Not specified |
Vendor & support | ChartMill | Visible Alpha (S&P Global Market Intelligence)Country: USFounded 2015Support: Email and Phone |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 4/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing
Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.ShowHide
Pricing
| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Freefinancials history: 4 years/quarters (free users, example pages). | — |
| Entry paid plan | $34.97/mo“Monthly Subscription” | — |
| Top plan | $299.97/yr“Annual Subscription + Free Course” | — |
| Custom / enterprise | — | Contact sales“Enterprise” |
Alternatives
Free alternatives
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between ChartMill and Visible Alpha?
ChartMill leans toward screeners, stock ideas, and stock comparison, while Visible Alpha puts more weight on financials, analyst forecasts, and analyst ratings & price targets. They overlap in 6 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
Is ChartMill or Visible Alpha free to use?
ChartMill has a free tier, so you can get started without paying anything. Visible Alpha 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 Visible Alpha?
ChartMill is the friendlier place to start; its interface takes less getting used to. Both work fine once you're past the basics.
Does ChartMill or Visible Alpha have an API?
Visible Alpha has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. ChartMill doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose ChartMill or Visible Alpha?
It depends on what you're after. Pick ChartMill if screeners and stock ideas matter to you; go with Visible Alpha if you'd rather have research templates and APIs & data feeds. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do ChartMill and Visible Alpha cover?
Both cover stocks. ChartMill also handles ETFs.
Does ChartMill or Visible Alpha have real-time data?
Visible Alpha 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 Visible Alpha?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (ChartMill: CSV; Visible Alpha: Excel), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Is ChartMill or Visible Alpha better for day trading?
ChartMill is the one positioned more for active traders. Visible Alpha 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 Visible Alpha?
ChartMill has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; Visible Alpha doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
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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.