★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Source check: ETF Action checked August 4, 2026
Tool Comparison
ETF Action vs Portfolio123
Pick ETF Action if
ETF Action
Free • From $29/mo · Web · API
- You care about ETF analysis, ETF factors, and ETF overlap, things Portfolio123 doesn't offer
Pick Portfolio123 if
Portfolio123
Free • From $25/mo · Web · API · Desktop
- You want the cheaper way in: plans start at $25/mo instead of $29/mo
- You care about quant, stock ideas, and scores, 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 Portfolio123 cover a lot of the same ground (8 shared categories, including screeners, data visualizations, and portfolio), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Portfolio123 simply does more: 19 categories to ETF Action's 13, including quant, stock ideas, and scores. ETF Action counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
ETF Action
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Portfolio123
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Key differences at a glance
- Cheaper paid plan
- Portfolio123$25/mo vs $29/mo
- Broader coverage
- Portfolio12319 vs 13 categories
- Desktop app
- Portfolio123
- Broker sync
- Portfolio123
- Asset coverage
- Portfolio123Adds closed-end funds
- 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 $25/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | — | Free Screener & Backtesting Access: duration days: 30 |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | No | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Broker sync | No | Yes |
Integrations | Polygon.io (pricing), Bridge (model trading integration) +1 more | Interactive Brokers and Tradier |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +5 more |
Categories covered | 13 | 19 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa | North America, Europe |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 4 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +2 more | 5 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +3 more |
Data partners | — | 4 partners: FactSet, S&P Global Market Intelligence +2 more |
Capabilities | 5 signals: Universe builder, Factors: Value, Quality, Momentum, Growth, LowVol, and Size +3 more | 6 signals: Custom formulas, Ranking backtests +4 more |
| Try it | Visit ETF Action | Visit Portfolio123 |
Where each one shines
What ETF Action and Portfolio123 each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What ETF Action and Portfolio123 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 Portfolio123 does best
- Tools for building multifactor ranking systems, stock screens, ETF screens, and complete rules-based strategies through a web research environment.
- Tools for running simulations and backtests with long historical equity data, custom universes, buy and sell rules, position sizing, hedging, rebalancing, and realistic assumptions.
- Point-in-time data designed to avoid survivorship and look-ahead bias, with fundamentals, estimates, corporate actions, sector and industry classifications, and historical issues.
- Tools for creating ranking systems from fundamental, technical, sentiment, and macro factors, including public factor documentation and FRED-linked economic series.
- AI Factor to train machine-learning predictors for expected returns and feed those predictions into rankings, simulations, and asset-level analysis.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for ETF Action and Portfolio123, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for ETF Action and Portfolio123, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | ETFsStocks | StocksETFsClosed-End Funds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Not specified | Retail TradersPro RetailInstitutional InvestorsAnalystsQuants/DevelopersFinancial AdvisorsStudents/Researchers |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | North AmericaEurope |
Coverage details | Exchanges: ARCX, XNAS, and BATSIdentifiers: Ticker | Countries: US and CAIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Real-timeEnd of Day | Real-timeEnd of Day |
Data granularity | EOD | EOD |
Data partners | Not specified | FactSetS&P Global Market IntelligenceICE Data ServicesFRED |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | Not specified | REST |
API auth & delivery | Not specified | Auth: APIKeySDKs: PythonDocs |
Import methods | CSV | BrokerOAuthCSV |
Integrations | Polygon.io (pricing)Bridge (model trading integration)RiverFront (model marketplace/partnership) | Interactive BrokersTradier |
Export formats | ExcelCSVPDF | CSVJSON |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Universe builderFactors: Value, Quality, Momentum, Growth, LowVol, and SizeFactor exposureRebalancingPortfolio factor exposure | Custom formulasRanking backtestsUniverse builderBroker syncRebalancingCorrelation |
Vendor & support | ETF Action, Inc.Country: USFounded 2018Support: Email | Portfolio123Support: 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“Manage (Free)” |
| Entry paid plan | $29/mo“DIY” | $25/mo“Retail Research Plans” |
| Tier 2 | $99/mo“Advisor Pro” | — |
| Tier 3 | $199/mo“Model Builder” | — |
| Top plan | Subscription“Enterprise” | — |
| Custom / enterprise | — | Contact sales“Professional / API & Data Licenses” |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between ETF Action and Portfolio123?
ETF Action leans toward ETF analysis, ETF factors, and ETF overlap, while Portfolio123 puts more weight on screeners, data visualizations, and quant. They overlap in 8 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do ETF Action and Portfolio123 cost?
Good news: both ETF Action and Portfolio123 have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Do ETF Action and Portfolio123 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 Portfolio123?
It depends on what you're after. Pick ETF Action if ETF analysis and ETF factors matter to you; go with Portfolio123 if you'd rather have quant and stock ideas. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do ETF Action and Portfolio123 cover?
Both cover ETFs and stocks. Portfolio123 adds closed-end funds on top.
Do ETF Action and Portfolio123 offer real-time data?
Yes, both serve real-time market data, so either works when timing matters.
Can I export data from ETF Action and Portfolio123?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Can ETF Action or Portfolio123 connect to my broker?
Portfolio123 syncs with brokers automatically. With ETF Action, you're entering holdings by hand or importing files.
Which has a better stock screener: ETF Action or Portfolio123?
Both ETF Action and Portfolio123 include stock screeners, and they differ more in interface than raw power; try both and see which one clicks for you.
Can I track my portfolio with ETF Action or Portfolio123?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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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.