★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
CME FedWatch vs OTC Markets
Pick CME FedWatch instead if
CME FedWatch
Free • From $25/mo · Web · API
- You care about macro data, something OTC Markets doesn't offer
Start here
OTC Markets
Free • Contact for pricing · Web · API · Other
- You care about screeners, news, and improved filings, things CME FedWatch 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
CME FedWatch and OTC Markets cover a lot of the same ground (2 shared categories, APIs & data feeds and official sources), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. OTC Markets simply does more: 6 categories to CME FedWatch's 3, including screeners, news, and improved filings. CME FedWatch counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
CME FedWatch
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
OTC Markets
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Key differences at a glance
- Broader coverage
- OTC Markets6 vs 3 categories
- 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 • From $25/mo | Free • Contact for pricing |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | 3 limits: FedWatch End-of-Day API: update schedule: Business days 01:45 UTC (excluding holidays), FedWatch End-of-Day API: usage pricing: $25/month for 0-1,000 returned elements; $75 for 1,001-50,000; $125 f... +1 more | Market Data Licensing: note: Level 2 licenses include Level 1 licenses; CUSIP and Global OTC add-o... and OTC Disclosure API: rate limit per min: 1,000 |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | Yes | Yes |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +5 more | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +3 more |
Categories covered | 3 | 6 |
Regions | North America | North America |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | Latency: Real-time and End of Day and Granularity: Minute and EOD | 3 signals: Latency: Streaming, 15-min Delayed, and End of Day, Granularity: Tick and EOD +1 more |
Data partners | — | ICE Data Services |
| Try it | Visit CME FedWatch | Visit OTC Markets |
Where each one shines
What CME FedWatch and OTC Markets each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What CME FedWatch and OTC Markets each do best.What CME FedWatch does best
- Views for market-implied probabilities for upcoming FOMC target-rate outcomes from the free CME FedWatch web tool.
- Comparison tools for current probabilities with prior snapshots such as one day, one week, or one month ago where the web views support it.
- Historical views, Excel downloads, and report exports to document how rate expectations changed over time.
- Views for reviewing Fed Dot Plot visualizations and related report outputs from the web interface.
- The methodology: probabilities are derived from 30-Day Fed Funds futures and binary probability-tree assumptions.
What OTC Markets does best
- Research coverage for OTCQX, OTCQB, OTCID, Pink, and Expert Market securities through public issuer pages with quotes, charts, financials, company news, and market-tier context.
- The OTC Markets Stock Screener to narrow OTC securities before moving into issuer pages, filings, quote history, and disclosure context.
- License real-time Level 1+ and Level 2+ products when quote, trade, security-reference, or market-participant depth data is needed in production systems.
- Level 2+ for quote-book depth and market-participant information, with licensing that also includes Level 1 access.
- Access to end-of-day OTC pricing files for closing trade and quote data plus OTC-specific attributes such as Caveat Emptor flags and market tier.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for CME FedWatch and OTC Markets, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for CME FedWatch and OTC Markets, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | Futures | StocksBonds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailInstitutional InvestorsAnalystsQuants/DevelopersAsset ManagersHedge Funds | Retail TradersPro RetailInstitutional InvestorsAnalystsQuants/Developers |
Regions | North America | North America |
Coverage details | Countries: US | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker and CUSIP |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Real-timeEnd of Day | Streaming15-min DelayedEnd of Day |
Data granularity | MinuteEOD | TickEOD |
Data partners | Not specified | ICE Data Services |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | REST |
API auth & delivery | Auth: OAuth2Docs | Auth: APIKey1,000 req/minDocs |
Export formats | ExcelPDF | Not specified |
| Plans & trust | ||
Vendor & support | CME GroupCountry: United States | OTC Markets Group Inc.Country: United StatesSupport: Email and Phone |
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 | Free“Web Tool” | Free“Public Website” |
| Entry paid plan | $25/mo“FedWatch End-of-Day API”update schedule: Business days 01:45 UTC (excluding holidays) · usage pricing: $25/month for 0-1,000 returned elements; $75 for 1,001-50,000; $125 f... | Subscription“Market Data Licensing”note: Level 2 licenses include Level 1 licenses; CUSIP and Global OTC add-o... |
| Custom / enterprise | Contact sales“FedWatch Intraday API”pricing note: Fee schedule includes per-device/per-application pricing and may excl... | Contact sales“OTC Disclosure API”rate limit per min: 1,000 |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between CME FedWatch and OTC Markets?
CME FedWatch leans toward macro data, APIs & data feeds, and official sources, while OTC Markets puts more weight on screeners, news, and APIs & data feeds. They overlap in 2 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do CME FedWatch and OTC Markets cost?
Good news: both CME FedWatch and OTC Markets have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Do CME FedWatch and OTC Markets have APIs?
Yes, both offer API access, so developers and quants can pull data programmatically or wire up their own integrations.
Should I choose CME FedWatch or OTC Markets?
It depends on what you're after. Pick CME FedWatch if macro data matter to you; go with OTC Markets if you'd rather have screeners and news. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do CME FedWatch and OTC Markets cover?
CME FedWatch covers futures. OTC Markets covers stocks and bonds.
Do CME FedWatch and OTC Markets offer real-time data?
Yes, both serve real-time market data, so either works when timing matters.
Can I export data from CME FedWatch and OTC Markets?
CME FedWatch exports to Excel. OTC Markets is stingier about getting data out.
Which has a better stock screener: CME FedWatch or OTC Markets?
OTC Markets has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; CME FedWatch doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Feedback
Spot stale pricing, missing features, or a comparison that feels off? Send feedback on the verdict, table, alternatives, or recommendation.
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.