VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★

PRICE: 5 CENTS

Sunday, October 5, 2025

Head-to-head

ETF Action vs ETF Database (ETFdb) comparison

Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.

Quick takeaways

ETF Action adds ETF Factors, ETF Overlap, Screeners, Data Visualizations, Portfolio, Backtesting, 13F, Data APIs, Alerts, Blogs, and Videos coverage that ETF Database (ETFdb) skips.

ETF Database (ETFdb) includes ETF Screeners, ETF Comparison, Which ETF includes this Stock?, and Money Flow categories that ETF Action omits.

ETF Action highlights: Global ETF ‘Channels’ taxonomy with category reports and dashboards (Size & Style US/Global, Region & Country, Sector & Industry, Thematic, Fixed Income, Non‑Traditional, Commodities, Crypto)., Look‑through analytics on fund holdings for factor/style, sector/industry, country, concentration; portfolio overlap analysis across funds or entire models., and Flows & trading dashboards (volumes/ADV); flows noted as T+1 timing in daily updates..

ETF Database (ETFdb) is known for: Advanced ETF Screener with filters across expenses, dividends, liquidity, returns, ESG, fund flows, risk, holdings, taxes, and technical factors, covering 2,000+ ETFs., CSV export of screener results and tables is available to Pro subscribers., and Realtime Ratings system that grades ETFs on liquidity, expenses, performance, volatility, dividends, and concentration, with one A+ per category..

ETF Action logo

ETF Action

etfaction.com

Independent ETF analytics platform for advisors and asset managers. Offers global ETF classification, look‑through holdings analytics, overlap analysis, flows/volumes with T+1 flow timing, live quotes (FMV) via Polygon.io, model portfolio tools, 13F screening (Advisor Pro), and enterprise options including API access. DIY/Advisor Pro plans emphasize self‑service research and Excel/CSV downloads; Enterprise adds collaboration, custom dashboards, and API. A separate Model Builder plan enables model uploads and ‘Bridge’ trading integration. API details are not publicly documented—confirm endpoints and auth with vendor.

Platforms

Web
API

Pricing

Free
Subscription

Quick highlights

  • Global ETF ‘Channels’ taxonomy with category reports and dashboards (Size & Style US/Global, Region & Country, Sector & Industry, Thematic, Fixed Income, Non‑Traditional, Commodities, Crypto).
  • Look‑through analytics on fund holdings for factor/style, sector/industry, country, concentration; portfolio overlap analysis across funds or entire models.
  • Flows & trading dashboards (volumes/ADV); flows noted as T+1 timing in daily updates.
  • Live pricing on platform pages via Polygon.io FMV quotes (real‑time-ish indicative).
  • Screeners for ETFs; watchlists; data exports to Excel/CSV (DIY 50 rows, Advisor Pro 500 rows).

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ETF Database (ETFdb) logo

ETF Database (ETFdb)

etfdb.com

Hands-on review

ETFdb is a web-based research platform covering the U.S. ETF universe. A free account allows access to the screener and basic tools, while the Pro plan ($199/year, 14-day trial) unlocks CSV exports, full holdings, extended fund-flow horizons, ESG fields, and proprietary Realtime Ratings. Market data is provided with a 15-minute delay via Barchart, and ESG metrics come from MSCI.

Platforms

Web

Pricing

Free
Subscription

Quick highlights

  • Advanced ETF Screener with filters across expenses, dividends, liquidity, returns, ESG, fund flows, risk, holdings, taxes, and technical factors, covering 2,000+ ETFs.
  • CSV export of screener results and tables is available to Pro subscribers.
  • Realtime Ratings system that grades ETFs on liquidity, expenses, performance, volatility, dividends, and concentration, with one A+ per category.
  • Fund flow analytics with horizons ranging from 1 week to 5 years, available through Pro Data.
  • Integrated ESG metrics from MSCI, with the Pro plan unlocking all 77 ESG fields.

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Overlap

Shared focus areas

6 overlaps

Mutual strengths include ETF Overview, ETF Performance, and ETF Holdings plus 3 more areas.

Where they differ

ETF Action

Distinct strengths include:

  • Global ETF ‘Channels’ taxonomy with category reports and dashboards (Size & Style US/Global, Region & Country, Sector & Industry, Thematic, Fixed Income, Non‑Traditional, Commodities, Crypto).
  • Look‑through analytics on fund holdings for factor/style, sector/industry, country, concentration; portfolio overlap analysis across funds or entire models.
  • Flows & trading dashboards (volumes/ADV); flows noted as T+1 timing in daily updates.
  • Live pricing on platform pages via Polygon.io FMV quotes (real‑time-ish indicative).

ETF Database (ETFdb)

Distinct strengths include:

  • Advanced ETF Screener with filters across expenses, dividends, liquidity, returns, ESG, fund flows, risk, holdings, taxes, and technical factors, covering 2,000+ ETFs.
  • CSV export of screener results and tables is available to Pro subscribers.
  • Realtime Ratings system that grades ETFs on liquidity, expenses, performance, volatility, dividends, and concentration, with one A+ per category.
  • Fund flow analytics with horizons ranging from 1 week to 5 years, available through Pro Data.

Feature-by-feature breakdown

AttributeETF ActionETF Database (ETFdb)
Categories

Which research workflows each platform targets

Shared: ETF Overview, ETF Performance, ETF Holdings, ETF Fundamentals, ETF Valuation, Watchlist

Unique: ETF Factors, ETF Overlap, Screeners, Data Visualizations, Portfolio, Backtesting, 13F, Data APIs, Alerts, Blogs, Videos

Shared: ETF Overview, ETF Performance, ETF Holdings, ETF Fundamentals, ETF Valuation, Watchlist

Unique: ETF Screeners, ETF Comparison, Which ETF includes this Stock?, Money Flow

Asset types

Supported asset classes and universes

ETFs, Stocks

ETFs

Experience levels

Who each product is built for

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Platforms

Where you can access the product

Web, API

Web

Pricing

High-level pricing models

Free, Subscription

Free, Subscription

Key features

Core capabilities called out by each vendor

Unique

  • Global ETF ‘Channels’ taxonomy with category reports and dashboards (Size & Style US/Global, Region & Country, Sector & Industry, Thematic, Fixed Income, Non‑Traditional, Commodities, Crypto).
  • Look‑through analytics on fund holdings for factor/style, sector/industry, country, concentration; portfolio overlap analysis across funds or entire models.
  • Flows & trading dashboards (volumes/ADV); flows noted as T+1 timing in daily updates.
  • Live pricing on platform pages via Polygon.io FMV quotes (real‑time-ish indicative).
  • Screeners for ETFs; watchlists; data exports to Excel/CSV (DIY 50 rows, Advisor Pro 500 rows).
  • Model portfolio creation & back‑testing; private model marketplaces for advisors/strategists.

Unique

  • Advanced ETF Screener with filters across expenses, dividends, liquidity, returns, ESG, fund flows, risk, holdings, taxes, and technical factors, covering 2,000+ ETFs.
  • CSV export of screener results and tables is available to Pro subscribers.
  • Realtime Ratings system that grades ETFs on liquidity, expenses, performance, volatility, dividends, and concentration, with one A+ per category.
  • Fund flow analytics with horizons ranging from 1 week to 5 years, available through Pro Data.
  • Integrated ESG metrics from MSCI, with the Pro plan unlocking all 77 ESG fields.
  • Holdings analytics including number of holdings, and concentration metrics (% in top 10/15/50); Pro includes access to full holdings lists.
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 ETF Action and ETF Database (ETFdb) both support?

Both platforms cover ETF Overview, ETF Performance, ETF Holdings, ETF Fundamentals, ETF Valuation, and Watchlist workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.

Do ETF Action and ETF Database (ETFdb) require subscriptions?

Both ETF Action and ETF Database (ETFdb) keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.

How can you access ETF Action and ETF Database (ETFdb)?

Both ETF Action and ETF Database (ETFdb) 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?

ETF Action differentiates itself with Global ETF ‘Channels’ taxonomy with category reports and dashboards (Size & Style US/Global, Region & Country, Sector & Industry, Thematic, Fixed Income, Non‑Traditional, Commodities, Crypto)., Look‑through analytics on fund holdings for factor/style, sector/industry, country, concentration; portfolio overlap analysis across funds or entire models., and Flows & trading dashboards (volumes/ADV); flows noted as T+1 timing in daily updates., whereas ETF Database (ETFdb) stands out for Advanced ETF Screener with filters across expenses, dividends, liquidity, returns, ESG, fund flows, risk, holdings, taxes, and technical factors, covering 2,000+ ETFs., CSV export of screener results and tables is available to Pro subscribers., and Realtime Ratings system that grades ETFs on liquidity, expenses, performance, volatility, dividends, and concentration, with one A+ per category..

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.