CME FedWatch Tool adds Central Bank Watcher, and Calendar coverage that YCharts skips.
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
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Sunday, October 5, 2025
Head-to-head
CME FedWatch Tool vs YCharts comparison
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
YCharts includes Screeners, Stock Comparison, ETF Comparison, Portfolio, Watchlist, Correlation, Risk Metrics (VaR/ES/Drawdown), Performance Attribution, Scenario & Stress Tests, News, Alerts, Financials, Scores, ETF Overview, ETF Performance, ETF Holdings, ETF Fundamentals, ETF Overlap, Analyst Forecasts, Short Interest, Insider Data, Inflation Rates, Unemployment Rates, GDP, Yield Curves, Sheets / Excel Add-ins, and Broker Connectors categories that CME FedWatch Tool omits.
CME FedWatch Tool highlights: Meeting‑by‑meeting probabilities of FOMC target‑rate outcomes implied by Fed Funds futures., Compare view (current vs 1‑day/1‑week/1‑month ago) and Historical panel., and Fed ‘Dot Plot’ chart plus table view..
YCharts is known for: Research workspace with Fundamental Charts, robust screeners, comp tables, scatter plots, scenario tools, and Quickflows to speed common tasks., Portfolio analytics for model and client accounts: optimizer and rebalancing (daily through annual), correlation matrices, attribution and transition analysis, drift/overlap checks, and exposure breakdowns., and Broad data coverage: U.S. and Canadian equities, ETFs and CEFs, plus mutual funds and SMAs as add-ons; 4,000+ fundamental metrics, S&P Global analyst estimates, MSCI ESG datasets, and a large set of macro indicators..
CME FedWatch Tool has a free tier, while YCharts requires a paid plan.
CME FedWatch Tool
cmegroup.com
Official CME probabilities for upcoming FOMC decisions, derived from 30‑Day Fed Funds (ZQ) futures. Web tool provides meeting‑by‑meeting probability matrices, comparisons over time, a historical download, and a Dot Plot view. A paid REST API is available for programmatic access. CME documents the probability‑tree methodology clearly; API snapshots update on business days at ~01:45 UTC. Media usage asks attribution to “CME FedWatch.”
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Meeting‑by‑meeting probabilities of FOMC target‑rate outcomes implied by Fed Funds futures.
- Compare view (current vs 1‑day/1‑week/1‑month ago) and Historical panel.
- Fed ‘Dot Plot’ chart plus table view.
- One‑click PDF generation of the current page and Excel downloads for historical probabilities.
- Transparent methodology: unconditional probabilities via a binary probability tree built from implied EFFR, assuming 25 bp step sizes.
Community votes (overall)
YCharts
ycharts.com
Advisor-focused research, portfolio analytics, and proposal platform. Lower tiers are more view-only, while add-ons unlock the Excel add-in and broader fund/SMA datasets. Intraday quotes are available on a short delay (about 90–120 seconds).
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Research workspace with Fundamental Charts, robust screeners, comp tables, scatter plots, scenario tools, and Quickflows to speed common tasks.
- Portfolio analytics for model and client accounts: optimizer and rebalancing (daily through annual), correlation matrices, attribution and transition analysis, drift/overlap checks, and exposure breakdowns.
- Broad data coverage: U.S. and Canadian equities, ETFs and CEFs, plus mutual funds and SMAs as add-ons; 4,000+ fundamental metrics, S&P Global analyst estimates, MSCI ESG datasets, and a large set of macro indicators.
- Monitoring built in: dashboards, watchlists, alerts, and a live news feed (MT Newswires). Intraday quotes update on a short delay (~90–120 seconds).
- Excel & API: an add-on Excel add-in with dynamic formulas/templates, a REST API with API keys and official Python/R clients, and exports to CSV/Excel/PDF/images.
Community votes (overall)
Shared focus areas
4 overlapsMutual strengths include Interest Rates, Data APIs, and APIs & SDKs plus 1 more area.
Where they differ
CME FedWatch Tool
Distinct strengths include:
- Meeting‑by‑meeting probabilities of FOMC target‑rate outcomes implied by Fed Funds futures.
- Compare view (current vs 1‑day/1‑week/1‑month ago) and Historical panel.
- Fed ‘Dot Plot’ chart plus table view.
- One‑click PDF generation of the current page and Excel downloads for historical probabilities.
YCharts
Distinct strengths include:
- Research workspace with Fundamental Charts, robust screeners, comp tables, scatter plots, scenario tools, and Quickflows to speed common tasks.
- Portfolio analytics for model and client accounts: optimizer and rebalancing (daily through annual), correlation matrices, attribution and transition analysis, drift/overlap checks, and exposure breakdowns.
- Broad data coverage: U.S. and Canadian equities, ETFs and CEFs, plus mutual funds and SMAs as add-ons; 4,000+ fundamental metrics, S&P Global analyst estimates, MSCI ESG datasets, and a large set of macro indicators.
- Monitoring built in: dashboards, watchlists, alerts, and a live news feed (MT Newswires). Intraday quotes update on a short delay (~90–120 seconds).
Feature-by-feature breakdown
Attribute | CME FedWatch Tool | YCharts |
---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Interest Rates, Data APIs, APIs & SDKs, Data Visualizations Unique: Central Bank Watcher, Calendar | Shared: Interest Rates, Data APIs, APIs & SDKs, Data Visualizations Unique: Screeners, Stock Comparison, ETF Comparison, Portfolio, Watchlist, Correlation, Risk Metrics (VaR/ES/Drawdown), Performance Attribution, Scenario & Stress Tests, News, Alerts, Financials, Scores, ETF Overview, ETF Performance, ETF Holdings, ETF Fundamentals, ETF Overlap, Analyst Forecasts, Short Interest, Insider Data, Inflation Rates, Unemployment Rates, GDP, Yield Curves, Sheets / Excel Add-ins, Broker Connectors |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Futures | Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Closed-End Funds |
Experience levels Who each product is built for | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Platforms Where you can access the product | Web, API | Web, API |
Pricing High-level pricing models | Free, Subscription | Subscription |
Key features Core capabilities called out by each vendor | Unique
| Unique
|
Tested Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat | Not yet | Yes |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Standard listing | Standard listing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do CME FedWatch Tool and YCharts both support?
Both platforms cover Interest Rates, Data APIs, APIs & SDKs, and Data Visualizations workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Which tool offers a free plan?
CME FedWatch Tool offers a free entry point, while YCharts requires a paid subscription. Review the pricing table to see how the paid tiers compare.
How can you access CME FedWatch Tool and YCharts?
Both CME FedWatch Tool and YCharts 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?
CME FedWatch Tool differentiates itself with Meeting‑by‑meeting probabilities of FOMC target‑rate outcomes implied by Fed Funds futures., Compare view (current vs 1‑day/1‑week/1‑month ago) and Historical panel., and Fed ‘Dot Plot’ chart plus table view., whereas YCharts stands out for Research workspace with Fundamental Charts, robust screeners, comp tables, scatter plots, scenario tools, and Quickflows to speed common tasks., Portfolio analytics for model and client accounts: optimizer and rebalancing (daily through annual), correlation matrices, attribution and transition analysis, drift/overlap checks, and exposure breakdowns., and Broad data coverage: U.S. and Canadian equities, ETFs and CEFs, plus mutual funds and SMAs as add-ons; 4,000+ fundamental metrics, S&P Global analyst estimates, MSCI ESG datasets, and a large set of macro indicators..
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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.