★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
Damodaran Online (NYU Stern) vs The Motley Fool
Pick Damodaran Online (NYU Stern) if
Damodaran Online (NYU Stern)
Best for valuation models and financials
Free · Web · 50% positive (2 votes)
- You care about valuation models, financials, and macro data, things The Motley Fool doesn't offer
Pick The Motley Fool if
The Motley Fool
Best for stock ideas and portfolio
Free • From $16.58/mo · Web · Mobile · 0% positive (2 votes)
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You care about stock ideas, portfolio, and watchlist, things Damodaran Online (NYU Stern) 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.
The verdict
The bottom line
Damodaran Online (NYU Stern) and The Motley Fool cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, education, videos, and blogs), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. The real difference is focus: only Damodaran Online (NYU Stern) gives you valuation models and financials, and only The Motley Fool gives you stock ideas and portfolio.
Comparison snapshot
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free | Free • From $16.58/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | No | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 6 | 8 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa | — |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | Corporate actions: Current | — |
| Try it | Visit Damodaran Online (NYU Stern) | Visit The Motley Fool |
Standout features
What Damodaran Online (NYU Stern) does best
- Download annually updated valuation and corporate-finance spreadsheets covering industry betas, valuation multiples, cost of capital, country risk premiums, historical returns, and related model inputs.
- Use the U.S. implied equity risk premium spreadsheet for monthly ERP snapshots and valuation assumptions.
- Use country risk premium files for global valuation work, with annual and mid-year updates where the site publishes them.
- Review long-run U.S. market return series back to 1928 across equities, small caps, Treasury bills, 10-year bonds, Baa corporates, real estate, and gold.
- Compare industry-level valuation and risk metrics across regions such as the U.S., Europe, Japan, ANZ/Canada, emerging markets, China, India, and global aggregates.
What The Motley Fool does best
- Read free investing articles, market news, educational content, podcasts, and market snapshots on Fool.com.
- Use Stock Advisor for two new stock recommendations per month, with current profile data listing the annual plan at $199/year.
- Upgrade to Epic for broader access including Rule Breakers, Dividend Investor, Hidden Gems, FoolIQ/GamePlan, AI-powered tools, and five monthly recommendations.
- Use Epic Plus for more recommendation volume, including 8+ monthly stock recommendations and daily Moneyball recommendations.
- Evaluate Fool Portfolios and Fool One for higher-priced portfolio access, real-money portfolio context, specialized research, events, and broader membership coverage.
Data & access details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksBondsCommoditiesReal Estate | StocksETFs |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | Not specified |
Coverage details | Not specified | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Access & integrations | ||
Import methods | Not specified | Manual |
Export formats | Excel | Not specified |
| Plans & trust | ||
Vendor & support | Aswath Damodaran (NYU Stern School of Business)Country: United States | The Motley Fool, LLCCountry: USFounded 1993Support: Phone |
Curation ratings | Methodology 5/5Reliability 4/5UX 3/5 | Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing breakdown
Free
Lower starting price
Plans & pricing
$16.58/mo
Starting price
Plans & pricing
Coverage overlap
Damodaran Online (NYU Stern) strengths
3What you only get with Damodaran Online (NYU Stern).
The Motley Fool strengths
5What you only get with The Motley Fool.
Community category leaders
Vote sentiment comparison
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Damodaran Online (NYU Stern) and The Motley Fool?
Damodaran Online (NYU Stern) leans toward valuation models, financials, and macro data, while The Motley Fool puts more weight on stock ideas, portfolio, and watchlist. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Damodaran Online (NYU Stern) and The Motley Fool cost?
Good news: both Damodaran Online (NYU Stern) and The Motley Fool have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Can I use Damodaran Online (NYU Stern) or The Motley Fool on my phone?
The Motley Fool lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. Damodaran Online (NYU Stern) doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web.
Should I choose Damodaran Online (NYU Stern) or The Motley Fool?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Damodaran Online (NYU Stern) if valuation models and financials matter to you; go with The Motley Fool if you'd rather have stock ideas and portfolio. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Damodaran Online (NYU Stern) and The Motley Fool cover?
Both cover stocks. Damodaran Online (NYU Stern) also handles bonds, commodities, and real estate. The Motley Fool adds ETFs on top.
Can I export data from Damodaran Online (NYU Stern) and The Motley Fool?
Damodaran Online (NYU Stern) exports to Excel. The Motley Fool is stingier about getting data out.
Can I track my portfolio with Damodaran Online (NYU Stern) or The Motley Fool?
The Motley Fool handles portfolio tracking. Damodaran Online (NYU Stern) is really a research tool; you'd track your portfolio 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.