★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
Financial Datasets vs SEC API (sec-api.io)
Financial Datasets
Best for screeners and analyst forecasts
From $200/mo
SEC API (sec-api.io)
Best for regulatory filings monitoring and management compensation
Free • From $55/mo
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The verdict
The bottom line
Financial Datasets and SEC API (sec-api.io) cover a lot of the same ground (4 shared categories, including APIs & data feeds, financials, and insider data), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. The real difference is focus: only Financial Datasets gives you screeners and analyst forecasts, and only SEC API (sec-api.io) gives you regulatory filings monitoring and management compensation.
Key differences at a glance
- Free plan
- SEC API (sec-api.io)
- Cheaper paid plan
- SEC API (sec-api.io)$55/mo vs $200/mo
- Beginner friendly
- SEC API (sec-api.io)
Choose
Financial Datasets if…
- You care about screeners, analyst forecasts, and improved filings, things SEC API (sec-api.io) doesn't offer
Choose
SEC API (sec-api.io) if…
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- You want the cheaper way in: plans start at $55/mo instead of $200/mo
- You care about regulatory filings monitoring, management compensation, and IPO, things Financial Datasets doesn't offer
- You're newer to investing and want something approachable
Comparison snapshot
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | From $200/mo | Free • From $55/mo |
Free tier | No | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | 16 limits: Credits: get /earnings: $0.01 / request, Credits: get /prices: $0.02 / request +14 more | 3 limits: Free Tier: api calls: 100, Personal & Startups: query api rate limit: 20 requests/second/API key +1 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Broker sync | No | No |
Integrations | Claude, Cursor +4 more | — |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Quants/Developers, Algo Traders +1 more | — |
Categories covered | 9 | 7 |
Regions | North America | North America |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 3 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: Minute and EOD +1 more | Latency: Real-time |
Capabilities | Universe builder | — |
| Try it | Visit Financial Datasets | Visit SEC API (sec-api.io) |
Standout features
What Financial Datasets does best
- Simple REST API designed for “AI financial agents, portfolio management tools, stock analysis platforms, quantitative trading algorithms,” with endpoints for financial statements, stock prices, segmented financials, insider trades, institutional ownership, SEC filings, crypto prices, news, and more.
- Market coverage for equities: “Complete US public company data” with “100% coverage” of US publicly-traded companies (17,000+ tickers), including active and delisted stocks; non-US markets not yet available.
- Stock prices endpoint supports minute/day/week/month/year intervals and pulls prices from verified exchanges like NASDAQ, NYSE, and AMEX (useful for charting/backtesting workflows).
- Stock Screener endpoint screens stocks by applying multiple fundamental filters (field/operator/value) across available financial metrics.
- Institutional ownership dataset is sourced from Form 13F filings (investment managers with $100M+ AUM); documentation notes the 45-day reporting lag from quarter end.
What SEC API (sec-api.io) does best
- Comprehensive API endpoints: query, full-text search, real-time streaming via WebSocket, download/PDF generator, XBRL-to-JSON conversion, and section extractors for 10-K/10-Q/8-K filings.
- Specialized form coverage including ADV, insider filings (Forms 3/4/5), 13F, 13D/G, Form 144, IPO registrations (S-1, 424B4), crowdfunding (Form C, Form D), Reg A filings, and fund reports (N-PORT, N-PX, N-CEN).
- Datasets include executive compensation, directors and board members, audit fees, subsidiaries, and public float/outstanding shares.
- Historical coverage back to 1993 with support for all 400+ EDGAR form types; new filings made available within ~300 ms of posting.
- Live filing feeds available in real time via WebSocket for instant integration.
Data & access details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksCryptos | StocksETFsMutual FundsFunds |
Experience | IntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Quants/DevelopersAlgo TradersAnalysts | Not specified |
Regions | North America | North America |
Coverage details | Countries: USExchanges: NASDAQ, NYSE, and AMEXIdentifiers: Ticker and CIK | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker and CUSIP |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Real-timeEnd of Day | Real-time |
Data granularity | MinuteEOD | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | RESTWebSocket |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKey and OAuth2WebhooksDocs | Auth: APIKeySDKs: Python |
Integrations | ClaudeCursorWindsurfVS CodeZedmcp-remote | Not specified |
Export formats | Not specified | JSONPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Universe builder | Not specified |
Vendor & support | Financial Datasets, Inc.Support: Email | Data2Value GmbHSupport: Email |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 4/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing breakdown
$200/mo
Starting price
Plans & pricing
- get /earnings: $0.01 / request
- get /prices: $0.02 / request
- +14 more
$55/mo
Lower starting price
Plans & pricing
- api calls: 100
- query api rate limit: 20 requests/second/API key
- query api rate limit: 40 requests/second/API key
Coverage overlap
Shared categories
4Where the two tools cover the same ground.
Financial Datasets strengths
5What you only get with Financial Datasets.
SEC API (sec-api.io) strengths
3What you only get with SEC API (sec-api.io).
Community category leaders
Vote sentiment comparison
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Financial Datasets and SEC API (sec-api.io)?
Financial Datasets leans toward APIs & data feeds, financials, and screeners, while SEC API (sec-api.io) puts more weight on APIs & data feeds, regulatory filings monitoring, and insider data. They overlap in 4 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
Is Financial Datasets or SEC API (sec-api.io) free to use?
SEC API (sec-api.io) has a free tier, so you can get started without paying anything. Financial Datasets is paid-only. If budget matters, start with SEC API (sec-api.io) and see how far it takes you before opening your wallet.
Which is better for beginners: Financial Datasets or SEC API (sec-api.io)?
SEC API (sec-api.io) is the friendlier place to start; its interface takes less getting used to. Both work fine once you're past the basics.
Do Financial Datasets and SEC API (sec-api.io) have APIs?
Yes, both offer API access, so developers and quants can pull data programmatically or wire up their own integrations.
Should I choose Financial Datasets or SEC API (sec-api.io)?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Financial Datasets if screeners and analyst forecasts matter to you; go with SEC API (sec-api.io) if you'd rather have regulatory filings monitoring and management compensation. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Financial Datasets and SEC API (sec-api.io) cover?
Both cover stocks. Financial Datasets also handles cryptos. SEC API (sec-api.io) adds ETFs, mutual funds, and funds on top.
Do Financial Datasets and SEC API (sec-api.io) offer real-time data?
Yes, both serve real-time market data, so either works when timing matters.
Which has a better stock screener: Financial Datasets or SEC API (sec-api.io)?
Financial Datasets has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; SEC API (sec-api.io) doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
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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.