BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON

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Checked September 24, 2026

Tool Comparison

FactorsToday vs Validea

Pick FactorsToday if

FactorsToday logo

FactorsToday

factorstoday.com

Free · Web · API

  • Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
  • You want an API so you can script or automate things
  • You want data visualizations, stock comparison, and factor exposure.

Pick Validea if

Validea logo logo placeholder

Validea

validea.com

Free • From $269.95/yr, billed annually · Web

  • You want stock ideas, ETF screeners, and scores.
  • You're a long-term investor who cares more about fundamentals than headlines

Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.

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Our take

The bottom line

FactorsToday and Validea cover a lot of the same ground (5 shared categories, including screeners, quant, and portfolio), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. FactorsToday includes data visualizations and stock comparison, and Validea includes stock ideas and ETF screeners.

What readers say

FactorsToday

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Validea

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Key differences at a glance

Real-time data
FactorsToday
API access
FactorsToday
Asset coverage
FactorsTodayAdds mutual funds and closed-end funds
Free plan
Both
See the full side-by-side table

See for yourself

Side by side

Price, platforms, data, and market coverage.
Show
Side-by-side comparison of FactorsToday and Validea
Attribute
FactorsToday logo
FactorsToday
Validea logo logo placeholder
Validea
Pricing & plans
Starting price
FreeFree • From $269.95/yr, billed annually
Free tier
YesYes
Free trial
——
Plan limits
Current public access: api: 10 requests/second/IP and Current public access: access policy: No long-term free-access commitment published—
Platforms & access
Web app
YesYes
Mobile app
NoNo
API access
YesNo
Broker sync
NoNo
Audience & fit
Experience level
Intermediate, AdvancedIntermediate, Advanced
Best for
Analysts and Quants/DevelopersRetail Traders, Pro Retail +5 more
Categories covered
1315
Regions
—North America
Data & capabilities
Data quality
3 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: EOD and Minute +1 moreLatency: End of Day and Granularity: EOD
Data partners
—LSEG
Capabilities
7 signals: Universe builder, Factors: Value, Quality, Momentum, Growth, LowVol, and Size +5 more6 signals: Ranking backtests, Universe builder +4 more
Try itVisit FactorsTodayVisit Validea

Standout features

The best features of FactorsToday and Validea.
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FactorsToday logo

What FactorsToday does best

  1. Factor dashboards report intraday and multi-period returns, z-scores, pair relationships, correlations, seasonality, and valuations.
  2. Stock pages use ElasticNet regression with cross-validation to estimate exposures across four nested models.
  3. Portfolio analysis accepts holdings, compares exposures with a benchmark, and applies user-defined factor-return scenarios.
  4. Performance attribution applies rolling ordinary-least-squares regressions to uploaded or pasted returns and exports results to Excel.
  5. The factor builder searches for stocks matching target exposures and displays simulated historical results.
Validea logo logo placeholder

What Validea does best

  1. Review stock portfolios based on Buffett, Graham, Lynch, Piotroski, Greenblatt, O'Shaughnessy, momentum, quality, value, and other strategies.
  2. ETF model portfolios, risk-managed ETF portfolios, sector rotation, factor rotation, and macro/factor approaches.
  3. Direct access to factor reports, guru analysis, guru stock screeners, ETF factor reports, and ETF factor screeners.
  4. Trend following, market valuation, rating changes, strategy/ETF matching, and portfolio correlation tools.
  5. Limited public results for stock and ETF screens based on Piotroski F-score, quality, value, momentum, and multiple factors.

All details

Every attribute we track for FactorsToday and Validea.
Show
Attribute
FactorsToday logo
FactorsToday
Validea logo logo placeholder
Validea
Coverage & fit
Asset types
StocksETFsMutual FundsClosed-End Funds
StocksETFs
Experience
IntermediateAdvanced
IntermediateAdvanced
Target audience
AnalystsQuants/Developers
Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsValue InvestorsQuality InvestorsQuants/DevelopersStudents/Researchers
Regions
Not specified
North America
Coverage details
Identifiers: Ticker
Countries: US and CAIdentifiers: Ticker
Data
Data freshness
Real-timeEnd of Day
End of Day
Data granularity
EODMinute
EOD
Data partners
Not specified
LSEG
Access & integrations
API protocols
REST
Not specified
API auth & delivery
Auth: None600 req/minDocs
Not specified
Import methods
CSVManual
Not specified
Export formats
CSVExcelJSON
Not specified
Plans & trust
Capability signals
Universe builderFactors: Value, Quality, Momentum, Growth, LowVol, and SizeFactor exposurePerformance attributionPortfolio attributionPortfolio factor exposureCorrelation
Ranking backtestsUniverse builderFactors: Value, Quality, Momentum, Growth, and LowVolFactor exposurePortfolio factor exposureCorrelation
Vendor & support
FactorsToday (operated by Lukasz R. Tomicki)Country: USSupport: Email
The Reese Group, LLCCountry: United StatesSupport: Email

Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.

Pricing

Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.
Show
Plan-by-plan pricing comparison of FactorsToday and Validea
Tier
FactorsToday logo
FactorsToday
Validea logo logo placeholder
Validea
Free plan
Free“Current public access”api: 10 requests/second/IP · access policy: No long-term free-access commitment published
Free“Free public research and newsletter”
Entry paid plan—
$269.95/yrBilled annually≈ $22.50/mo“Validea Standard”
Top plan—
$899.95/yrBilled annually≈ $75/mo“Validea Pro”

Questions we keep getting

What's the difference between FactorsToday and Validea?

FactorsToday leans toward screeners, quant, and data visualizations, while Validea puts more weight on stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners. They overlap in 5 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.

How much do FactorsToday and Validea cost?

Good news: both FactorsToday and Validea have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.

Does FactorsToday or Validea have an API?

FactorsToday has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. Validea doesn't, so you're working through its interface.

Should I choose FactorsToday or Validea?

It depends on what you're after. Pick FactorsToday if data visualizations and stock comparison matter to you; go with Validea if you'd rather have stock ideas and ETF screeners. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.

What asset classes do FactorsToday and Validea cover?

Both cover stocks and ETFs. FactorsToday also handles mutual funds and closed-end funds.

Does FactorsToday or Validea have real-time data?

FactorsToday offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. Validea 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 FactorsToday and Validea?

FactorsToday exports to CSV and Excel. Validea is stingier about getting data out.

Which has a better stock screener: FactorsToday or Validea?

Both FactorsToday and Validea 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 FactorsToday or Validea?

Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.

Feedback

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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.