★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Source check: ETF.com checked August 4, 2026
Tool Comparison
ETF.com vs MarketWatch
Pick ETF.com if
ETF.com
Free • From $6/mo · Web
- You care about ETF screeners, ETF comparison, and ETF factors, things MarketWatch doesn't offer
Pick MarketWatch if
MarketWatch
Free • From $2.17/mo · Web · Mobile
- You want the cheaper way in: plans start at $2.17/mo instead of $6/mo
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
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.com and MarketWatch cover a lot of the same ground (5 shared categories, including ETF analysis, watchlist, and news), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. MarketWatch simply does more: 17 categories to ETF.com's 13, including alerts, calendar, and screeners, plus a mobile app. ETF.com counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
ETF.com
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
MarketWatch
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Key differences at a glance
- Cheaper paid plan
- MarketWatch$2.17/mo vs $6/mo
- Broader coverage
- MarketWatch17 vs 13 categories
- Mobile app
- MarketWatch
- Real-time data
- MarketWatch
- Global coverage
- MarketWatch
- Asset coverage
- MarketWatchAdds stocks and mutual funds
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 $6/mo | Free • From $2.17/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | — | 3 limits: MarketWatch Digital: intro offer: $0.50/week for 1 year; billed as $2 every 4 weeks, MarketWatch Digital: standard rate: $5/week after intro period +1 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | No | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 13 | 17 |
Regions | North America | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 4 signals: Latency: End of Day, Granularity: EOD +2 more | 5 signals: Latency: Real-time, 15-min Delayed, and End of Day, Granularity: Minute and EOD +3 more |
Capabilities | Universe builder | Yield curves |
| Try it | Visit ETF.com | Visit MarketWatch |
Where each one shines
What ETF.com and MarketWatch each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What ETF.com and MarketWatch each do best.What ETF.com does best
- Screening for more than 4,300 U.S.-listed ETFs with FactSet-powered data, total-return fields, filters, and saved screens.
- Comparison tools for ETFs side by side across costs, performance, portfolio composition, factor exposure, and ESG metrics.
- The Fund Flow Tracker to monitor ETF inflows and outflows by ticker and time period.
- Search tools across ETF holdings by stock ticker to see which funds have meaningful exposure to a company.
- ETF Pulse to spot funds with notable flow and performance activity.
What MarketWatch does best
- Monitoring stock market news, market analysis, newsletters, and Dow Jones/MarketWatch coverage across equities, funds, options, futures, commodities, currencies, crypto, and rates.
- Quote pages, multi-quote lookup, stock and market screeners, mutual-fund research, ETF pages, fund comparisons, and basic company financial views.
- Tools for building free account-based watchlists that sync across web and mobile apps with customizable price and news alerts.
- Tracking events with calendars for U.S. economic releases, corporate earnings, IPOs, and options-expiration dates.
- BigCharts for advanced charting, multiple timeframes, and technical overlays, while accounting for delayed intraday data.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for ETF.com and MarketWatch, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for ETF.com and MarketWatch, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | ETFs | StocksETFsMutual FundsOptionsFuturesCommoditiesCurrenciesCryptos+1 more |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North America | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica |
Coverage details | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | End of Day | Real-time15-min DelayedEnd of Day |
Data granularity | EOD | MinuteEOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
Export formats | Not specified | CSV |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Universe builder | Yield curves |
Vendor & support | ETF.comCountry: USSupport: Email | MarketWatch, Inc. (Dow Jones)Country: United StatesFounded 1997Support: Email |
Curation ratings | Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 | Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
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 (Account)” | Free |
| Entry paid plan | $6/mo“Content+” | $2.17/mo“MarketWatch Digital”intro offer: $0.50/week for 1 year; billed as $2 every 4 weeks · standard rate: $5/week after intro period |
| Top plan | $15/mo“All Access” | $4/mo“Student”eligibility: Student offer page |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between ETF.com and MarketWatch?
ETF.com leans toward ETF screeners, ETF comparison, and ETF analysis, while MarketWatch puts more weight on news, alerts, and calendar. They overlap in 5 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do ETF.com and MarketWatch cost?
Good news: both ETF.com and MarketWatch have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Can I use ETF.com or MarketWatch on my phone?
MarketWatch lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. ETF.com doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web.
Should I choose ETF.com or MarketWatch?
It depends on what you're after. Pick ETF.com if ETF screeners and ETF comparison matter to you; go with MarketWatch if you'd rather have alerts and calendar. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do ETF.com and MarketWatch cover?
Both cover ETFs. MarketWatch adds stocks, mutual funds, and options on top.
Does ETF.com or MarketWatch have real-time data?
MarketWatch offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. ETF.com 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.
Which covers international markets: ETF.com or MarketWatch?
MarketWatch has documented international coverage (North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, and more), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. ETF.com is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from ETF.com and MarketWatch?
MarketWatch exports to CSV. ETF.com is stingier about getting data out.
Which has a better stock screener: ETF.com or MarketWatch?
Both ETF.com and MarketWatch 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.com or MarketWatch?
ETF.com handles portfolio tracking. MarketWatch 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.