VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★

PRICE: 5 CENTS

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Tool Comparison

ETF Action vs Morningstar Investor comparison

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

Quick takeaways

ETF Action adds ETF Performance, ETF Fundamentals, ETF Valuation, ETF Factors, ETF Overlap, Data Visualizations, Backtesting, 13F, Data APIs, Blogs, and Videos coverage that Morningstar Investor skips.

Morningstar Investor includes News, Financials, Fund Overview, Fund Performance, Fund Holdings, Fund Rating, Scores, and Bulls Say Bear Say categories that ETF Action omits.

Morningstar Investor offers mobile access, which ETF Action skips.

In depth comparison

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

WebAPI

Pricing

FreeSubscription

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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Morningstar Investor logo

Morningstar Investor

morningstar.com

Hands-on review

Morningstar’s flagship research and portfolio platform for individual investors. Free users get access to screeners and quotes, while subscribers unlock analyst reports, expanded data, and premium ratings. A 7-day trial is available. Canceling a subscription also removes access to saved portfolios, watchlists, and screens.

Platforms

WebMobile

Pricing

FreeSubscription

Quick highlights

  • Powerful screeners for stocks, funds, ETFs, and closed-end funds with over 200 searchable data points and curated pre-filtered lists.
  • Portfolio X-Ray tool showing allocations by asset class, sector, and region across combined holdings.
  • Analyst reports with Fair Value estimates, Moat ratings, and “Bulls Say / Bears Say” perspectives (subscriber feature).
  • Quote pages enriched with Morningstar Star Ratings and detailed analysis for subscribers.
  • Portfolio and watchlist alerts delivered via email to keep you informed on holdings you track.

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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).

Morningstar Investor

Distinct strengths include:

  • Powerful screeners for stocks, funds, ETFs, and closed-end funds with over 200 searchable data points and curated pre-filtered lists.
  • Portfolio X-Ray tool showing allocations by asset class, sector, and region across combined holdings.
  • Analyst reports with Fair Value estimates, Moat ratings, and “Bulls Say / Bears Say” perspectives (subscriber feature).
  • Quote pages enriched with Morningstar Star Ratings and detailed analysis for subscribers.

Feature-by-feature breakdown

AttributeETF ActionMorningstar Investor
Categories

Which research workflows each platform targets

Shared: ETF Overview, ETF Holdings, Screeners, Portfolio, Watchlist, Alerts

Unique: ETF Performance, ETF Fundamentals, ETF Valuation, ETF Factors, ETF Overlap, Data Visualizations, Backtesting, 13F, Data APIs, Blogs, Videos

Shared: ETF Overview, ETF Holdings, Screeners, Portfolio, Watchlist, Alerts

Unique: News, Financials, Fund Overview, Fund Performance, Fund Holdings, Fund Rating, Scores, Bulls Say Bear Say

Asset types

Supported asset classes and universes

ETFs, Stocks

Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Closed-End Funds

Experience levels

Who each product is built for

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Platforms

Where you can access the product

Web, API

Web, Mobile

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

  • Powerful screeners for stocks, funds, ETFs, and closed-end funds with over 200 searchable data points and curated pre-filtered lists.
  • Portfolio X-Ray tool showing allocations by asset class, sector, and region across combined holdings.
  • Analyst reports with Fair Value estimates, Moat ratings, and “Bulls Say / Bears Say” perspectives (subscriber feature).
  • Quote pages enriched with Morningstar Star Ratings and detailed analysis for subscribers.
  • Portfolio and watchlist alerts delivered via email to keep you informed on holdings you track.
  • Option to download portfolio holdings in CSV format for backup or analysis.
Tested

Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat

Not yet

Yes

Editor pick

Featured inside curated shortlists

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which workflows do ETF Action and Morningstar Investor both support?

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

Do ETF Action and Morningstar Investor require subscriptions?

Both ETF Action and Morningstar Investor keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.

Which tool has mobile access?

Morningstar Investor ships a dedicated mobile experience, while ETF Action focuses on web or desktop access.

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 Morningstar Investor stands out for Powerful screeners for stocks, funds, ETFs, and closed-end funds with over 200 searchable data points and curated pre-filtered lists., Portfolio X-Ray tool showing allocations by asset class, sector, and region across combined holdings., and Analyst reports with Fair Value estimates, Moat ratings, and “Bulls Say / Bears Say” perspectives (subscriber feature)..

Keep exploring

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.