★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Source check: EIA Open Data checked July 18, 2026
Tool Comparison
EIA Open Data vs Open Payments (CMS)
Pick EIA Open Data if
EIA Open Data
Free · Web · API
- You care about calendar and sheets / excel add-ins, things Open Payments (CMS) doesn't offer
Pick Open Payments (CMS) if
Open Payments (CMS)
Free · Web · API
- You care about regulatory filings monitoring, something EIA Open Data 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
EIA Open Data and Open Payments (CMS) cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, APIs & data feeds, data visualizations, and official sources), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. The real difference is focus: only EIA Open Data gives you calendar and sheets / excel add-ins, and only Open Payments (CMS) gives you regulatory filings monitoring.
What readers say
EIA Open Data
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Open Payments (CMS)
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Key differences at a glance
- Global coverage
- EIA Open Data
- Asset coverage
- EIA Open DataAdds commodities
- 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 | Free |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Integrations | Microsoft Excel Add-In | — |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Analysts, Quants/Developers +2 more | — |
Categories covered | 5 | 4 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa | North America |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | — | Latency: End of Day and Granularity: EOD |
Security | — | Data residency: US |
| Try it | Visit EIA Open Data | Visit Open Payments (CMS) |
Where each one shines
What EIA Open Data and Open Payments (CMS) each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What EIA Open Data and Open Payments (CMS) each do best.What EIA Open Data does best
- Energy data across electricity, petroleum, natural gas, coal, renewables, nuclear, consumption, prices, reserves, and international markets.
- API v2 with hierarchical dataset discovery, facets, date filters, pagination, and JSON responses.
- Hourly electricity operating data alongside daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual statistical series where available.
- Bulk-file downloads, browser data tools, widgets, and a Microsoft Excel add-in.
- Metadata that identifies frequencies, units, descriptions, child routes, and available facets.
What Open Payments (CMS) does best
- Search tools across official Sunshine Act records for payments and ownership interests reported by drug manufacturers, device manufacturers, and group purchasing organizations.
- Comparison tools for General Payments, Research Payments, and Ownership or Investment Interests across program years.
- Lookup tools for physicians, non-physician practitioners, teaching hospitals, manufacturers, products, payment categories, dates, and dollar amounts from the public web tool.
- Charts, filters, and downloadable tables to move from a provider, company, or product question into the underlying records.
- Download support for bulk datasets when healthcare, pharma, medtech, policy, or compliance workflows need repeatable offline analysis.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for EIA Open Data and Open Payments (CMS), side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for EIA Open Data and Open Payments (CMS), side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | CommoditiesOther | Other |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | AnalystsQuants/DevelopersInstitutional InvestorsStudents/Researchers | Not specified |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | North America |
Coverage details | Countries: US | Countries: US |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Not specified | End of Day |
Data granularity | Not specified | EOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | REST |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKeyDocs | Auth: None |
Integrations | Microsoft Excel Add-In | Not specified |
Export formats | CSVExcelJSON | CSVJSON |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Not specified | Data residency: US |
Vendor & support | U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)Country: USSupport: Email and Phone | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), U.S. Department of Health & Human ServicesCountry: USSupport: Email and Phone |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 5/5Reliability 5/5UX 4/5 |
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“Free public access” | Free |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between EIA Open Data and Open Payments (CMS)?
EIA Open Data leans toward APIs & data feeds, data visualizations, and calendar, while Open Payments (CMS) puts more weight on APIs & data feeds, data visualizations, and regulatory filings monitoring. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do EIA Open Data and Open Payments (CMS) cost?
Good news: both EIA Open Data and Open Payments (CMS) have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Do EIA Open Data and Open Payments (CMS) have APIs?
Yes, both offer API access, so developers and quants can pull data programmatically or wire up their own integrations.
Should I choose EIA Open Data or Open Payments (CMS)?
It depends on what you're after. Pick EIA Open Data if calendar and sheets / excel add-ins matter to you; go with Open Payments (CMS) if you'd rather have regulatory filings monitoring. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do EIA Open Data and Open Payments (CMS) cover?
Both cover other. EIA Open Data also handles commodities.
Which covers international markets: EIA Open Data or Open Payments (CMS)?
EIA Open Data has documented international coverage (North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, and more), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. Open Payments (CMS) is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from EIA Open Data and Open Payments (CMS)?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Keep researching
Other tools you might like
Keep Exploring
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.