★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Source check: ETF Research Center checked August 4, 2026
Tool Comparison
ETF Research Center vs HedgeFollow
Pick ETF Research Center if
ETF Research Center
Free • From $29/mo · Web
- You care about ETF screeners, ETF comparison, and ETF factors, things HedgeFollow doesn't offer
Pick HedgeFollow if
HedgeFollow
Free • From $10/mo · Web
- You want the cheaper way in: plans start at $10/mo instead of $29/mo
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You care about institutional ownership, insider data, and screeners, things ETF Research Center 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 Research Center and HedgeFollow cover a lot of the same ground (5 shared categories, including ETF analysis, money flow, and portfolio), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. The real difference is focus: only ETF Research Center gives you ETF screeners and ETF comparison, and only HedgeFollow gives you institutional ownership and insider data.
What readers say
ETF Research Center
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
HedgeFollow
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Key differences at a glance
- Cheaper paid plan
- HedgeFollow$10/mo vs $29/mo
- Free trial
- ETF Research Center30 days
- Real-time data
- HedgeFollow
- Asset coverage
- HedgeFollowAdds stocks and options
- 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 | 30 days | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | No | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 11 | 11 |
Regions | North America | North America |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 4 signals: Latency: End of Day, Granularity: EOD +2 more | Latency: Real-time and End of Day and Granularity: EOD |
Capabilities | Universe builder | — |
| Try it | Visit ETF Research Center | Visit HedgeFollow |
Where each one shines
What ETF Research Center and HedgeFollow each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What ETF Research Center and HedgeFollow each do best.What ETF Research Center does best
- Screening for ETFs with the Equity Power Screener using performance, technical indicators, fundamentals, valuations, ratings, and premium-gated criteria.
- Fund Finder views across general, equity, and fixed-income metrics to narrow ETF candidates.
- Comparison tools for fund overlap to see shared holdings, top differences, and overlap matrices against benchmarks or portfolios.
- Stock Locator to find ETFs holding a specific stock, including weights and shares, with full lists available through a free account.
- Comparison tools for total cost of ownership using expense ratios, spreads, commissions, holding period, and custom assumptions.
What HedgeFollow does best
- Tracking hedge fund and institutional holdings from SEC filings across fund pages, stock pages, heatmaps, largest trades, and performance views.
- The insider trading tracker for Form 4 activity with filters for role, value, and recency.
- Views for reviewing hedge fund trade feeds covering 13F, 13D, 13G, and Form 4 events with time-window and size filters.
- Analysis of stock pages for biggest buyers and sellers, ownership trends, buy-price bands, money-flow charts, and option holders where reported.
- Views for reviewing fund pages for AUM, holdings heatmaps, largest trades, performance history, and reported options exposure.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for ETF Research Center and HedgeFollow, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for ETF Research Center and HedgeFollow, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | ETFs | StocksETFsOptions |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North America | North America |
Coverage details | Countries: US and CAIdentifiers: Ticker | Countries: US4 exchangesIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | End of Day | Real-timeEnd of Day |
Data granularity | EOD | EOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
Import methods | Not specified | CSVManual |
Export formats | CSVPDF | Not specified |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Universe builder | Not specified |
Vendor & support | AltaVista ResearchCountry: United StatesFounded 2004Support: Email and Phone | HedgeFollowSupport: Chat |
Curation ratings | Methodology 4/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 | Methodology 3/5Reliability 3/5UX 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“Basic” | Free |
| Entry paid plan | $29/mo“Individual” | $10/mo“Pro (Monthly)” |
| Top plan | $99/mo“Professional” | Subscription“Pro (Annual/Quarterly)” |
| Free trial | 30 days | — |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between ETF Research Center and HedgeFollow?
ETF Research Center leans toward ETF screeners, ETF comparison, and ETF analysis, while HedgeFollow puts more weight on institutional ownership, insider data, and screeners. They overlap in 5 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do ETF Research Center and HedgeFollow cost?
Good news: both ETF Research Center and HedgeFollow have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Should I choose ETF Research Center or HedgeFollow?
It depends on what you're after. Pick ETF Research Center if ETF screeners and ETF comparison matter to you; go with HedgeFollow if you'd rather have institutional ownership and insider data. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do ETF Research Center and HedgeFollow cover?
Both cover ETFs. HedgeFollow adds stocks and options on top.
Does ETF Research Center or HedgeFollow have real-time data?
HedgeFollow offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. ETF Research Center 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 Research Center and HedgeFollow?
ETF Research Center exports to CSV. HedgeFollow is stingier about getting data out.
Which has a better stock screener: ETF Research Center or HedgeFollow?
Both ETF Research Center and HedgeFollow 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 Research Center or HedgeFollow?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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.