★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Source check: ETF Action checked August 4, 2026
Tool Comparison
ETF Action vs Firefly III
Start here
ETF Action
Free • From $29/mo · Web · API
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You care about ETF analysis, ETF factors, and ETF overlap, things Firefly III doesn't offer
Pick Firefly III instead if
Firefly III
Free · Web · API
- You care about webhooks and other, things ETF Action 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
ETF Action and Firefly III cover a lot of the same ground (2 shared categories, portfolio and APIs & data feeds), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. ETF Action simply does more: 13 categories to Firefly III's 4, including ETF analysis, ETF factors, and ETF overlap. Firefly III counters by being completely free.
What readers say
ETF Action
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Firefly III
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Key differences at a glance
- Real-time data
- ETF Action
- Broader coverage
- ETF Action13 vs 4 categories
- 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 $29/mo | Free |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Broker sync | No | No |
Integrations | Polygon.io (pricing), Bridge (model trading integration) +1 more | Salt Edge, GoCardless +2 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 13 | 4 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa | — |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 4 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +2 more | — |
Capabilities | 5 signals: Universe builder, Factors: Value, Quality, Momentum, Growth, LowVol, and Size +3 more | — |
| Try it | Visit ETF Action | Visit Firefly III |
Where each one shines
What ETF Action and Firefly III each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What ETF Action and Firefly III each do best.What ETF Action does best
- Research coverage for ETFs through global category channels covering size and style, regions, countries, sectors, industries, themes, 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.
- Monitoring ETF flows, trading volumes, ADV, daily refreshes, and T+1 flow timing from the platform dashboards.
- Screeners, watchlists, fund dashboards, Excel or CSV exports, and live indicative FMV quote context where plan limits allow.
What Firefly III does best
- Self-host a personal finance ledger under the AGPLv3 open-source license rather than using a hosted budgeting app.
- Tracking accounts and transactions with double-entry bookkeeping, budgets, categories, tags, recurring transactions, subscriptions, piggy banks, rules, and reporting.
- The JSON REST API with OAuth2, personal access tokens, and a full OpenAPI specification for dashboards, automations, and personal analytics.
- Optional event webhooks for transaction create, update, and delete events when enabled through environment configuration.
- Import support for transaction data through the separate Firefly III Data Importer, CSV and CAMT.053 files, and optional providers such as Salt Edge, GoCardless, and SimpleFIN.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for ETF Action and Firefly III, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for ETF Action and Firefly III, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | ETFsStocks | Other |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | Not specified |
Coverage details | Exchanges: ARCX, XNAS, and BATSIdentifiers: Ticker | Not specified |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Real-timeEnd of Day | Not specified |
Data granularity | EOD | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | Not specified | REST |
API auth & delivery | Not specified | Auth: OAuth2 and APIKeyWebhooks |
Import methods | CSV | CSVManual |
Integrations | Polygon.io (pricing)Bridge (model trading integration)RiverFront (model marketplace/partnership) | Salt EdgeGoCardlessSimpleFINSlack |
Export formats | ExcelCSVPDF | CSV |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Universe builderFactors: Value, Quality, Momentum, Growth, LowVol, and SizeFactor exposureRebalancingPortfolio factor exposure | Not specified |
Vendor & support | ETF Action, Inc.Country: USFounded 2018Support: Email | Firefly III (open-source project)Support: Email |
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.
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 / Basic” | Free |
| Entry paid plan | $29/mo“DIY” | — |
| Tier 2 | $99/mo“Advisor Pro” | — |
| Tier 3 | $199/mo“Model Builder” | — |
| Top plan | Subscription“Enterprise” | — |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between ETF Action and Firefly III?
ETF Action leans toward ETF analysis, ETF factors, and ETF overlap, while Firefly III puts more weight on portfolio, APIs & data feeds, and webhooks. They overlap in 2 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do ETF Action and Firefly III cost?
Good news: both ETF Action and Firefly III have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Do ETF Action and Firefly III have APIs?
Yes, both offer API access, so developers and quants can pull data programmatically or wire up their own integrations.
Should I choose ETF Action or Firefly III?
It depends on what you're after. Pick ETF Action if ETF analysis and ETF factors matter to you; go with Firefly III if you'd rather have webhooks and other. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do ETF Action and Firefly III cover?
ETF Action covers ETFs and stocks. Firefly III covers other.
Does ETF Action or Firefly III have real-time data?
ETF Action offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. Firefly III runs on delayed or end-of-day data, which is perfectly fine for longer-term investors who don't live and die by the tick.
Can I export data from ETF Action and Firefly III?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Which has a better stock screener: ETF Action or Firefly III?
ETF Action has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; Firefly III doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with ETF Action or Firefly III?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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.