VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON
Tool details checked August 23, 2026
Tool Comparison
ETF Research Center vs MarketXLS
Pick ETF Research Center if
ETF Research Center
Free • From $29/mo · Web
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- You want the cheaper way in: plans start at $29/mo instead of $70/mo
- You want ETF screeners, ETF comparison, and ETF factors.
Pick MarketXLS if
MarketXLS
From $70/mo · Desktop · Web
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You want sheets / excel add-ins, broker connectors, and screeners.
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 MarketXLS cover a lot of the same ground (4 shared categories, including ETF analysis, which ETF includes this stock?, and portfolio), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. MarketXLS simply does more: 16 categories to ETF Research Center's 11, including sheets / excel add-ins, broker connectors, and screeners. ETF Research Center counters by letting you start free.
What readers say
ETF Research Center
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MarketXLS
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Key differences at a glance
- Free plan
- ETF Research Center
- Cheaper paid plan
- ETF Research Center$29/mo vs $70/mo
- Free trial
- ETF Research Center30 days
- Broader coverage
- MarketXLS16 vs 11 categories
- Desktop app
- MarketXLS
- Real-time data
- MarketXLS
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 | From $70/mo |
Free tier | Yes | No |
Free trial | 30 days | — |
Plan limits | — | 3 limits: Standard: annual price usd: 850, Advanced: annual price usd: 1,500 +1 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | No | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | No | No |
Integrations | — | Interactive Brokers, Thinkorswim +11 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 11 | 16 |
Regions | North America | North America, Europe, APAC |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 4 signals: Latency: End of Day, Granularity: EOD +2 more | 4 signals: Latency: Real-time, 15-min Delayed, and End of Day, Granularity: Minute and EOD +2 more |
Capabilities | Universe builder and Factor exposure | 5 signals: Factors: Value, Quality, and Momentum, Multi-leg options +3 more |
Security | — | Status page |
| Try it | Visit ETF Research Center | Visit MarketXLS |
Where each one shines
What ETF Research Center and MarketXLS each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What ETF Research Center and MarketXLS 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 MarketXLS does best
- Use more than 1,000 market-data and analysis functions in Excel on Windows, Mac, and the web, or in Google Sheets.
- Access quotes, fundamentals, historical statements, ETF data, options data, mutual-fund data, crypto pairs, FRED economic series, and selected technical data into workbooks.
- Real-time streaming quotes on Advanced and Business plans for covered U.S. and Canadian stocks, ETFs, and options.
- Standard defaults to 15-minute delayed stock, ETF, and crypto data, with EOD options, mutual-fund, and economic data.
- Analyze options chains, Greeks, implied volatility, order flow, strategy profit and loss, and broker symbols.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for ETF Research Center and MarketXLS, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for ETF Research Center and MarketXLS, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | ETFs | StocksETFsOptionsMutual FundsCurrenciesFuturesCryptos |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North America | North AmericaEuropeAPAC |
Coverage details | Countries: US and CAIdentifiers: Ticker | Countries: US and CA5 exchangesIdentifiers: Ticker and CUSIP |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | End of Day | Real-time15-min DelayedEnd of Day |
Data granularity | EOD | MinuteEOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
Integrations | Not specified | Interactive BrokersThinkorswimTradierOrionCharles Schwab (OpenView Gateway)QuoteMediaIEX CloudNasdaq+5 more |
Export formats | CSVPDF | ExcelCSV |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Not specified | Status page |
Capability signals | Universe builderFactor exposure | Factors: Value, Quality, and MomentumMulti-leg optionsGreeksMonte CarloCorrelation |
Vendor & support | AltaVista ResearchCountry: United StatesFounded 2004Support: Email and Phone | MarketXLS LimitedCountry: IrelandFounded 2016Support: Email and Phone |
Curation ratings | Methodology 4/5Reliability 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“Basic” | — |
| Entry paid plan | $29/mo“Individual” | $70/mo“Standard”annual price usd: 850 |
| Tier 2 | $99/mo“Professional” | $125/mo“Advanced”annual price usd: 1,500 |
| Top plan | — | $200/mo“Business”annual price usd: 2,400 |
| Free trial | 30 days | — |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between ETF Research Center and MarketXLS?
ETF Research Center leans toward ETF screeners, ETF comparison, and ETF analysis, while MarketXLS puts more weight on sheets / excel add-ins, broker connectors, and screeners. They overlap in 4 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
Is ETF Research Center or MarketXLS free to use?
ETF Research Center has a free tier, so you can get started without paying anything. MarketXLS is paid-only. If budget matters, start with ETF Research Center and see how far it takes you before opening your wallet.
Should I choose ETF Research Center or MarketXLS?
It depends on what you're after. Pick ETF Research Center if ETF screeners and ETF comparison matter to you; go with MarketXLS if you'd rather have sheets / excel add-ins and broker connectors. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do ETF Research Center and MarketXLS cover?
Both cover ETFs. MarketXLS adds stocks, options, and mutual funds on top.
Does ETF Research Center or MarketXLS have real-time data?
MarketXLS 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.
Which covers international markets: ETF Research Center or MarketXLS?
MarketXLS has documented international coverage (North America, Europe, and APAC), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. ETF Research Center is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from ETF Research Center and MarketXLS?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Which has a better stock screener: ETF Research Center or MarketXLS?
Both ETF Research Center and MarketXLS 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 MarketXLS?
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.