★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Source check: ETF Action checked August 4, 2026
Tool Comparison
ETF Action vs Ghostfolio
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 Ghostfolio doesn't offer
Pick Ghostfolio instead if
Ghostfolio
Free • Paid plans available · Web · Mobile · API
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You're a long-term investor who cares more about fundamentals than headlines
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
ETF Action and Ghostfolio cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, data visualizations, 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 Ghostfolio's 3, including ETF analysis, ETF factors, and ETF overlap. Ghostfolio counters by being completely free.
What readers say
ETF Action
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Ghostfolio
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Key differences at a glance
- Real-time data
- ETF Action
- Broader coverage
- ETF Action13 vs 3 categories
- Mobile app
- Ghostfolio
- Asset coverage
- GhostfolioAdds cryptos and other
- 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 • Paid plans available |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Broker sync | No | — |
Integrations | Polygon.io (pricing), Bridge (model trading integration) +1 more | — |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | Retail Traders and Long-term Investors |
Categories covered | 13 | 3 |
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 | — |
Data partners | — | Yahoo Finance and CoinGecko |
Capabilities | 5 signals: Universe builder, Factors: Value, Quality, Momentum, Growth, LowVol, and Size +3 more | — |
Security | — | Status page |
| Try it | Visit ETF Action | Visit Ghostfolio |
Where each one shines
What ETF Action and Ghostfolio each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What ETF Action and Ghostfolio 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 Ghostfolio does best
- Self-host an AGPL-3.0 open-source portfolio and personal finance dashboard, or use the managed Ghostfolio Premium cloud.
- Tracking net worth across cash, stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, custom assets, accounts, and platforms.
- Management tools for portfolio activity with transaction create/read/update/delete workflows, imports, exports, charts, static risk analysis, and standard performance timeframes.
- The progressive web app and Android wrapper for mobile-first access to the same Ghostfolio instance.
- Deploy with official Docker images for common architectures and community templates for home-server platforms.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for ETF Action and Ghostfolio, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for ETF Action and Ghostfolio, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | ETFsStocks | StocksETFsCryptosOther |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Not specified | Retail TradersLong-term Investors |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | Not specified |
Coverage details | Exchanges: ARCX, XNAS, and BATSIdentifiers: Ticker | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Real-timeEnd of Day | Not specified |
Data granularity | EOD | Not specified |
Data partners | Not specified | Yahoo FinanceCoinGecko |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | Not specified | REST |
API auth & delivery | Not specified | Auth: APIKeyDocs |
Import methods | CSV | CSVManual |
Integrations | Polygon.io (pricing)Bridge (model trading integration)RiverFront (model marketplace/partnership) | Not specified |
Export formats | ExcelCSVPDF | JSON |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Not specified | Status page |
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 | Ghostfolio GmbHCountry: SwitzerlandFounded 2025Support: Email, Chat, and Forum |
Curation ratings | Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 | Not specified |
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“Self-hosted (Open Source)” |
| Entry paid plan | $29/mo“DIY” | Subscription“Ghostfolio Premium (Cloud)” |
| 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 Ghostfolio?
ETF Action leans toward ETF analysis, ETF factors, and ETF overlap, while Ghostfolio puts more weight on portfolio, data visualizations, and APIs & data feeds. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do ETF Action and Ghostfolio cost?
Good news: both ETF Action and Ghostfolio have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Can I use ETF Action or Ghostfolio on my phone?
Ghostfolio lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. ETF Action doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web and API.
Do ETF Action and Ghostfolio 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 Ghostfolio?
It depends on what you're after. Pick ETF Action if ETF analysis and ETF factors matter to you; go with Ghostfolio if you prefer its overall approach. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do ETF Action and Ghostfolio cover?
Both cover ETFs and stocks. Ghostfolio adds cryptos and other on top.
Does ETF Action or Ghostfolio have real-time data?
ETF Action offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. Ghostfolio 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 Ghostfolio?
ETF Action exports to Excel and CSV. Ghostfolio is stingier about getting data out.
Which has a better stock screener: ETF Action or Ghostfolio?
ETF Action has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; Ghostfolio doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with ETF Action or Ghostfolio?
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.