VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★

PRICE: 5 CENTS

Monday, October 6, 2025

Head-to-head

ETF Action vs Portfolio Visualizer comparison

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

Quick takeaways

ETF Action adds ETF Overview, ETF Performance, ETF Holdings, ETF Fundamentals, ETF Valuation, ETF Factors, ETF Overlap, Screeners, Portfolio, Watchlist, 13F, Data APIs, Alerts, Blogs, and Videos coverage that Portfolio Visualizer skips.

Portfolio Visualizer includes Quant, Factor Exposure, Risk Metrics (VaR/ES/Drawdown), Monte Carlo, and Correlation categories that ETF Action omits.

ETF Action 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., and Flows & trading dashboards (volumes/ADV); flows noted as T+1 timing in daily updates..

Portfolio Visualizer is known for: Portfolio backtesting for mutual funds, ETFs, and stocks with configurable rebalancing rules; separate modules for asset-class backtesting., Monte Carlo simulations for portfolio growth, survival probabilities, and goal-based financial planning., and Optimization tools including efficient frontier modeling, mean–variance optimization, and the Black–Litterman model..

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

Web
API

Pricing

Free
Subscription

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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Portfolio Visualizer logo

Portfolio Visualizer

portfoliovisualizer.com

Hands-on review

Web-based analytics suite for portfolio backtesting, optimization, and factor analysis. The free tier supports up to ~15 assets and limited history, while Basic and Pro tiers extend to ~150 assets with YTD results, model saving, and data export. Paid plans include a 14-day free trial.

Platforms

Web

Pricing

Free
Subscription

Quick highlights

  • Portfolio backtesting for mutual funds, ETFs, and stocks with configurable rebalancing rules; separate modules for asset-class backtesting.
  • Monte Carlo simulations for portfolio growth, survival probabilities, and goal-based financial planning.
  • Optimization tools including efficient frontier modeling, mean–variance optimization, and the Black–Litterman model.
  • Factor analytics with multi-factor regressions and a risk-factor allocation optimizer.
  • Correlation analysis at the asset or asset-class level via heatmaps and matrices.

Community votes (overall)

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Overlap

Shared focus areas

2 overlaps

Mutual strengths include Data Visualizations, and Backtesting.

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).

Portfolio Visualizer

Distinct strengths include:

  • Portfolio backtesting for mutual funds, ETFs, and stocks with configurable rebalancing rules; separate modules for asset-class backtesting.
  • Monte Carlo simulations for portfolio growth, survival probabilities, and goal-based financial planning.
  • Optimization tools including efficient frontier modeling, mean–variance optimization, and the Black–Litterman model.
  • Factor analytics with multi-factor regressions and a risk-factor allocation optimizer.

Feature-by-feature breakdown

AttributeETF ActionPortfolio Visualizer
Categories

Which research workflows each platform targets

Shared: Data Visualizations, Backtesting

Unique: ETF Overview, ETF Performance, ETF Holdings, ETF Fundamentals, ETF Valuation, ETF Factors, ETF Overlap, Screeners, Portfolio, Watchlist, 13F, Data APIs, Alerts, Blogs, Videos

Shared: Data Visualizations, Backtesting

Unique: Quant, Factor Exposure, Risk Metrics (VaR/ES/Drawdown), Monte Carlo, Correlation

Asset types

Supported asset classes and universes

ETFs, Stocks

Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Commodities

Experience levels

Who each product is built for

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Platforms

Where you can access the product

Web, API

Web

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

  • Portfolio backtesting for mutual funds, ETFs, and stocks with configurable rebalancing rules; separate modules for asset-class backtesting.
  • Monte Carlo simulations for portfolio growth, survival probabilities, and goal-based financial planning.
  • Optimization tools including efficient frontier modeling, mean–variance optimization, and the Black–Litterman model.
  • Factor analytics with multi-factor regressions and a risk-factor allocation optimizer.
  • Correlation analysis at the asset or asset-class level via heatmaps and matrices.
  • Tactical asset allocation strategies such as moving averages, momentum signals, valuation-based models, and target volatility frameworks.
Tested

Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat

Not yet

Yes

Editor pick

Featured inside curated shortlists

Standard listing

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which workflows do ETF Action and Portfolio Visualizer both support?

Both platforms cover Data Visualizations, and Backtesting workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.

Do ETF Action and Portfolio Visualizer require subscriptions?

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

How can you access ETF Action and Portfolio Visualizer?

Both ETF Action and Portfolio Visualizer prioritize web or desktop access. Investors wanting a mobile-first workflow may need to rely on responsive web views.

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 Portfolio Visualizer stands out for Portfolio backtesting for mutual funds, ETFs, and stocks with configurable rebalancing rules; separate modules for asset-class backtesting., Monte Carlo simulations for portfolio growth, survival probabilities, and goal-based financial planning., and Optimization tools including efficient frontier modeling, mean–variance optimization, and the Black–Litterman model..

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.