Tool Comparison
ETF Action vs ETF Research Center
- Paid from
- $29/mo
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web
Best if
- You want institutional ownership, alerts, and blogs.
- Paid from
- $29/mo
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web
Best if
- You want ETF comparison, which ETF includes this stock?, and money flow.
Pick ETF Action if
ETF Action
Free • From $29/mo · Web
- You want institutional ownership, alerts, and blogs.
Pick ETF Research Center if
ETF Research Center
Free • From $29/mo · Web
- You want ETF comparison, which ETF includes this stock?, and money flow.
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
See alternativesOther tools you might like
Outbound links may include affiliate or sponsor codes.
Not set on either one? See the top 50 tools, ranked by user votes, or the deals page for big discounts on popular tools.
Our take
The bottom line
ETF Action and ETF Research Center cover a lot of the same ground (8 shared categories, including ETF analysis, ETF factors, and ETF overlap), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. ETF Action includes institutional ownership and alerts, and ETF Research Center includes ETF comparison and which ETF includes this stock?.
What readers say
ETF Action
No votes yet. Cast the first one.
ETF Research Center
No votes yet. Cast the first one.
Key differences at a glance
- Global coverage
- ETF Action
- Free trial
- ETF Research Center30 days
- Asset coverage
- ETF ActionAdds stocks
- Free plan
- Both
What ETF Action does best
- Research ETFs by size and style, region, country, sector, industry, theme, fixed income, non-traditional assets, commodities, and crypto.
- Look-through holdings analytics to inspect factor, style, sector, industry, country, and concentration exposure inside funds and models.
- Comparison tools for ETF overlap across individual funds or full model portfolios to understand hidden duplication and concentration risk.
- Monitor ETF flows, trading volume, average daily volume, and daily data updates from platform dashboards.
- Screeners, watchlists, fund dashboards, and Excel exports are available subject to plan limits.
What ETF Research Center does best
- Screening for ETFs with the Equity Power Screener using performance, technical indicators, fundamentals, valuations, ratings, and premium-gated criteria.
- Fund Finder views across general, equity, and fixed-income metrics to narrow ETF candidates.
- Comparison tools for fund overlap to see shared holdings, top differences, and overlap matrices against benchmarks or portfolios.
- Stock Locator to find ETFs holding a specific stock, including weights and shares, with full lists available through a free account.
- Comparison tools for total cost of ownership using expense ratios, spreads, commissions, holding period, and custom assumptions.
Side by side
Pricing comparison
See for yourself
Side by side
Price, platforms, data, and market coverage.ShowHide
Side by side
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free • From $29/mo | Free • From $29/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | 30 days |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | No | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 12 | 11 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa | North America |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 4 signals: Latency: End of Day, Granularity: EOD +2 more | 4 signals: Latency: End of Day, Granularity: EOD +2 more |
Capabilities | 5 signals: Universe builder, Factors: Value, Quality, Momentum, Growth, LowVol, and Size +3 more | Universe builder and Factor exposure |
| Try it | Visit ETF Action | Visit ETF Research Center |
Standout features
The best features of ETF Action and ETF Research Center.ShowHide
Standout features
What ETF Action does best
- Research ETFs by size and style, region, country, sector, industry, theme, fixed income, non-traditional assets, commodities, and crypto.
- Look-through holdings analytics to inspect factor, style, sector, industry, country, and concentration exposure inside funds and models.
- Comparison tools for ETF overlap across individual funds or full model portfolios to understand hidden duplication and concentration risk.
- Monitor ETF flows, trading volume, average daily volume, and daily data updates from platform dashboards.
- Screeners, watchlists, fund dashboards, and Excel exports are available subject to plan limits.
What ETF Research Center does best
- Screening for ETFs with the Equity Power Screener using performance, technical indicators, fundamentals, valuations, ratings, and premium-gated criteria.
- Fund Finder views across general, equity, and fixed-income metrics to narrow ETF candidates.
- Comparison tools for fund overlap to see shared holdings, top differences, and overlap matrices against benchmarks or portfolios.
- Stock Locator to find ETFs holding a specific stock, including weights and shares, with full lists available through a free account.
- Comparison tools for total cost of ownership using expense ratios, spreads, commissions, holding period, and custom assumptions.
All details
Every attribute we track for ETF Action and ETF Research Center.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | ETFsStocks | ETFs |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | North America |
Coverage details | Exchanges: ARCX, XNAS, and BATSIdentifiers: Ticker | Countries: US and CAIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | End of Day | End of Day |
Data granularity | EOD | EOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
Export formats | ExcelPDF | CSVPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Universe builderFactors: Value, Quality, Momentum, Growth, LowVol, and SizeFactor exposureRebalancingPortfolio factor exposure | Universe builderFactor exposure |
Vendor & support | ETF Action, Inc.Country: USFounded 2018Support: Email | AltaVista ResearchCountry: United StatesFounded 2004Support: Email and Phone |
Curation ratings | Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 | Methodology 4/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing
Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.ShowHide
Pricing
| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free | Free“Basic” |
| Entry paid plan | $29/mo“DIY” | $29/mo“Individual” |
| Tier 2 | $99/mo“Advisor Pro” | $99/mo“Professional” |
| Top plan | $199/mo“Model Builder” | — |
| Custom / enterprise | Contact sales“Enterprise” | — |
| Free trial | — | 30 days |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between ETF Action and ETF Research Center?
ETF Action leans toward ETF analysis, ETF factors, and ETF overlap, while ETF Research Center puts more weight on ETF screeners, ETF comparison, and ETF analysis. They overlap in 8 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do ETF Action and ETF Research Center cost?
Good news: both ETF Action and ETF Research Center have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Should I choose ETF Action or ETF Research Center?
It depends on what you're after. Pick ETF Action if institutional ownership and alerts matter to you; go with ETF Research Center if you'd rather have ETF comparison and which ETF includes this stock?. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do ETF Action and ETF Research Center cover?
Both cover ETFs. ETF Action also handles stocks.
Which covers international markets: ETF Action or ETF Research Center?
ETF Action has documented international coverage (North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, and more), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. ETF Research Center is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from ETF Action and ETF Research Center?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (ETF Action: Excel; ETF Research Center: CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Which has a better stock screener: ETF Action or ETF Research Center?
Both ETF Action and ETF Research Center include stock screeners, and they differ more in interface than raw power; try both and see which one clicks for you.
Can I track my portfolio with ETF Action or ETF Research Center?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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.