★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
CME FedWatch vs Portfolio123
Pick CME FedWatch instead if
CME FedWatch
Free • From $25/mo · Web · API
- You care about official sources, something Portfolio123 doesn't offer
Start here
Portfolio123
Free • From $25/mo · Web · API · Desktop
- You care about screeners, data visualizations, and quant, 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 Portfolio123 cover a lot of the same ground (2 shared categories, macro data and APIs & data feeds), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Portfolio123 simply does more: 19 categories to CME FedWatch's 3, including screeners, data visualizations, and quant. CME FedWatch counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
CME FedWatch
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Portfolio123
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Key differences at a glance
- Global coverage
- Portfolio123
- Broader coverage
- Portfolio12319 vs 3 categories
- Desktop app
- Portfolio123
- 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 • From $25/mo |
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 | Free Screener & Backtesting Access: duration days: 30 |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | No | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Broker sync | — | Yes |
Integrations | — | Interactive Brokers and Tradier |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +5 more | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +5 more |
Categories covered | 3 | 19 |
Regions | North America | North America, Europe |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | Latency: Real-time and End of Day and Granularity: Minute and EOD | 5 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +3 more |
Data partners | — | 4 partners: FactSet, S&P Global Market Intelligence +2 more |
Capabilities | — | 6 signals: Custom formulas, Ranking backtests +4 more |
| Try it | Visit CME FedWatch | Visit Portfolio123 |
Where each one shines
What CME FedWatch and Portfolio123 each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What CME FedWatch and Portfolio123 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 Portfolio123 does best
- Tools for building multifactor ranking systems, stock screens, ETF screens, and complete rules-based strategies through a web research environment.
- Tools for running simulations and backtests with long historical equity data, custom universes, buy and sell rules, position sizing, hedging, rebalancing, and realistic assumptions.
- Point-in-time data designed to avoid survivorship and look-ahead bias, with fundamentals, estimates, corporate actions, sector and industry classifications, and historical issues.
- Tools for creating ranking systems from fundamental, technical, sentiment, and macro factors, including public factor documentation and FRED-linked economic series.
- AI Factor to train machine-learning predictors for expected returns and feed those predictions into rankings, simulations, and asset-level analysis.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for CME FedWatch and Portfolio123, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for CME FedWatch and Portfolio123, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | Futures | StocksETFsClosed-End Funds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailInstitutional InvestorsAnalystsQuants/DevelopersAsset ManagersHedge Funds | Retail TradersPro RetailInstitutional InvestorsAnalystsQuants/DevelopersFinancial AdvisorsStudents/Researchers |
Regions | North America | North AmericaEurope |
Coverage details | Countries: US | Countries: US and CAIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Real-timeEnd of Day | Real-timeEnd of Day |
Data granularity | MinuteEOD | EOD |
Data partners | Not specified | FactSetS&P Global Market IntelligenceICE Data ServicesFRED |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | REST |
API auth & delivery | Auth: OAuth2Docs | Auth: APIKeySDKs: PythonDocs |
Import methods | Not specified | BrokerOAuthCSV |
Integrations | Not specified | Interactive BrokersTradier |
Export formats | ExcelPDF | CSVJSON |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Not specified | Custom formulasRanking backtestsUniverse builderBroker syncRebalancingCorrelation |
Vendor & support | CME GroupCountry: United States | Portfolio123Support: Forum |
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“Manage (Free)” |
| 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... | $25/mo“Retail Research Plans” |
| Custom / enterprise | Contact sales“FedWatch Intraday API”pricing note: Fee schedule includes per-device/per-application pricing and may excl... | Contact sales“Professional / API & Data Licenses” |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between CME FedWatch and Portfolio123?
CME FedWatch leans toward macro data, APIs & data feeds, and official sources, while Portfolio123 puts more weight on screeners, data visualizations, and quant. They overlap in 2 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do CME FedWatch and Portfolio123 cost?
Good news: both CME FedWatch and Portfolio123 have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Do CME FedWatch and Portfolio123 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 Portfolio123?
It depends on what you're after. Pick CME FedWatch if official sources matter to you; go with Portfolio123 if you'd rather have screeners and data visualizations. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do CME FedWatch and Portfolio123 cover?
CME FedWatch covers futures. Portfolio123 covers stocks, ETFs, and closed-end funds.
Do CME FedWatch and Portfolio123 offer real-time data?
Yes, both serve real-time market data, so either works when timing matters.
Which covers international markets: CME FedWatch or Portfolio123?
Portfolio123 has documented international coverage (North America and Europe), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. CME FedWatch is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from CME FedWatch and Portfolio123?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CME FedWatch: Excel; Portfolio123: CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Which has a better stock screener: CME FedWatch or Portfolio123?
Portfolio123 has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; CME FedWatch doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with CME FedWatch or Portfolio123?
Portfolio123 handles portfolio tracking. CME FedWatch is really a research tool; you'd track your portfolio elsewhere.
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.