★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Source check: ETF Action checked August 4, 2026
Tool Comparison
ETF Action vs IBorrowDesk
Start here
ETF Action
Free • From $29/mo · Web · API
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You care about ETF analysis, ETF factors, and ETF overlap, things IBorrowDesk doesn't offer
Pick IBorrowDesk instead if
IBorrowDesk
Free • From $10/mo · Web
- You want the cheaper way in: plans start at $10/mo instead of $29/mo
- You care about short interest, something 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 IBorrowDesk cover a lot of the same ground (2 shared categories, watchlist and alerts), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. ETF Action simply does more: 13 categories to IBorrowDesk's 3, including ETF analysis, ETF factors, and ETF overlap. IBorrowDesk counters by starting cheaper at $10/mo.
What readers say
ETF Action
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
IBorrowDesk
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Key differences at a glance
- Cheaper paid plan
- IBorrowDesk$10/mo vs $29/mo
- Broader coverage
- ETF Action13 vs 3 categories
- API access
- ETF Action
- Real-time data
- ETF Action
- 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 • From $10/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | Yes | No |
Broker sync | No | No |
Integrations | Polygon.io (pricing), Bridge (model trading integration) +1 more | — |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 13 | 3 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 4 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +2 more | 3 signals: Latency: 15-min Delayed and End of Day, Granularity: Minute and EOD +1 more |
Capabilities | 5 signals: Universe builder, Factors: Value, Quality, Momentum, Growth, LowVol, and Size +3 more | — |
| Try it | Visit ETF Action | Visit IBorrowDesk |
Where each one shines
What ETF Action and IBorrowDesk each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What ETF Action and IBorrowDesk 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 IBorrowDesk does best
- Tracking borrow fee percentages and shortable share availability for stocks and ETFs from Interactive Brokers public data.
- Ticker pages to review recent borrow snapshots with timestamps, fee rates, and available shares.
- Monitoring intraday changes with roughly 15-minute refreshes during North American trading hours and slower weekday updates outside those hours.
- Support for adding tickers to watchlists and set alerts for borrow availability or fee changes.
- IBorrowDesk as one input for short-interest, squeeze-risk, borrow-cost, and liquidity research.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for ETF Action and IBorrowDesk, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for ETF Action and IBorrowDesk, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | ETFsStocks | StocksETFs |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAm |
Coverage details | Exchanges: ARCX, XNAS, and BATSIdentifiers: Ticker | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Real-timeEnd of Day | 15-min DelayedEnd of Day |
Data granularity | EOD | MinuteEOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
Import methods | CSV | Not specified |
Integrations | Polygon.io (pricing)Bridge (model trading integration)RiverFront (model marketplace/partnership) | Not specified |
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 | IBorrowDeskSupport: Email |
Curation ratings | Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 | Methodology 3/5Reliability 3/5UX 3/5 |
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” | $10/mo“Patron” |
| 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 IBorrowDesk?
ETF Action leans toward ETF analysis, ETF factors, and ETF overlap, while IBorrowDesk puts more weight on short interest, watchlist, and alerts. They overlap in 2 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do ETF Action and IBorrowDesk cost?
Good news: both ETF Action and IBorrowDesk have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Does ETF Action or IBorrowDesk have an API?
ETF Action has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. IBorrowDesk doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose ETF Action or IBorrowDesk?
It depends on what you're after. Pick ETF Action if ETF analysis and ETF factors matter to you; go with IBorrowDesk if you'd rather have short interest. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
Does ETF Action or IBorrowDesk have real-time data?
ETF Action offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. IBorrowDesk 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 IBorrowDesk?
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 IBorrowDesk?
ETF Action has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; IBorrowDesk doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with ETF Action or IBorrowDesk?
ETF Action handles portfolio tracking. IBorrowDesk is really a research tool; you'd track your portfolio elsewhere.
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.