★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) vs Morningstar Investor
Pick Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) if
Financial Modeling Prep (FMP)
Free • From $22/mo · Web · Desktop · API
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
Pick Morningstar Investor if
Morningstar Investor
From $249/yr · Web · Mobile
- You want the cheaper way in: plans start at $20.75/mo instead of $22/mo
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You care about stock ideas, stock comparison, and portfolio, things Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) 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
Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and Morningstar Investor cover a lot of the same ground (6 shared categories, including screeners, news, and scores), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) simply does more: 19 categories to Morningstar Investor's 12, including APIs & data feeds, calendar, and dividends. Morningstar Investor counters by starting cheaper at $20.75/mo.
What readers say
Financial Modeling Prep (FMP)
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Morningstar Investor
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Key differences at a glance
- Free plan
- Financial Modeling Prep (FMP)
- Cheaper paid plan
- Morningstar Investor$20.75/mo vs $22/mo
- Free trial
- Morningstar Investor7 days
- Broader coverage
- Financial Modeling Prep (FMP)19 vs 12 categories
- Mobile app
- Morningstar Investor
- Desktop app
- Financial Modeling Prep (FMP)
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 $22/mo | From $249/yr |
Free tier | Yes | No |
Free trial | — | 7 days |
Plan limits | 20 limits: Basic: api calls per day: 250, Basic: timeframe: End of Day +18 more | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | Yes | No |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | Yes | No |
Integrations | Excel Add-in, Google Sheets Add-on +3 more | — |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +6 more | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +2 more |
Categories covered | 19 | 12 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa | — |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 4 signals: Latency: Streaming, Real-time, and End of Day, Granularity: Minute and EOD +2 more | — |
Capabilities | Universe builder and Yield curves | Universe builder |
Security | Status page | — |
| Try it | Visit Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) | Visit Morningstar Investor |
Where each one shines
What Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and Morningstar Investor each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and Morningstar Investor each do best.What Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) does best
- One API for market data, fundamentals, news, calendars, macro indicators, ESG, ownership, analyst data, transcripts, funds, crypto, forex, and commodities.
- Tools for building with REST endpoints, WebSocket streaming for real-time stocks, crypto, and FX, an API playground, documentation, changelog, cycle-time pages, and a public status page.
- Access to real-time quotes plus intraday and end-of-day historical bars, with higher tiers adding longer history, technical indicators, 1-minute intraday charting, and bulk delivery.
- Access to standardized and as-reported financial statements, key metrics, ratios, financial scores, enterprise values, segment revenue, DCF models, and other valuation metrics.
- Calendar and corporate-action endpoints for earnings, IPO prospectuses, dividends, splits, economic releases, and related event research.
What Morningstar Investor does best
- Research coverage for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and closed-end funds with Morningstar ratings, analyst notes, reports, screeners, watchlists, and portfolio tools.
- Stock research built around Morningstar fair value estimates, Economic Moat Ratings, rating-change coverage, valuation context, commentary, and news.
- Evaluation tools for funds and ETFs with Morningstar star ratings, Morningstar Medalist Ratings, analyst notes, fund reports, performance context, fees, and holdings views.
- Tools for building stock, fund, and ETF screens using more than 200 data points, then save custom views for portfolios, watchlists, and screeners.
- Portfolio X-Ray to inspect asset allocation, sector exposure, fees, risk, stock style, and portfolio-level or fund-level composition.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and Morningstar Investor, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and Morningstar Investor, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsMutual FundsFundsCurrenciesCryptosCommoditiesOther | StocksETFsMutual FundsClosed-End FundsFunds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailInstitutional InvestorsQuants/DevelopersAnalystsAsset ManagersHedge FundsStudents/Researchers | Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsValue Investors |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | Not specified |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker, CUSIP, ISIN, and CIK | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | StreamingReal-timeEnd of Day | Not specified |
Data granularity | MinuteEOD | Not specified |
Pricing sources | Exchange | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | RESTWebSocket | Not specified |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKeySDKs: Python, R, and GoDocs | Not specified |
Integrations | Excel Add-inGoogle Sheets Add-onPerplexity AIFinance ToolkitWisesheets | Not specified |
Export formats | CSVJSON | Not specified |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Status page | Not specified |
Capability signals | Universe builderYield curves | Universe builder |
Vendor & support | Financial Modeling PrepSupport: Email and Chat | Morningstar, Inc.Country: United StatesFounded 1984 |
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”api calls per day: 250 · timeframe: End of Day · +3 more | — |
| Entry paid plan | $22/mo“Starter”api calls per minute: 300 · historical years: 5 · +3 more | $249/yr≈ $20.75/mo“Investor (Yearly)” |
| Tier 2 | $59/mo“Premium”api calls per minute: 750 · historical years: 30 · +3 more | $34.95/mo“Investor (Monthly)” |
| Top plan | $149/mo“Ultimate”api calls per minute: 3,000 · historical years: 30+ · +3 more | — |
| Free trial | — | 7 days |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and Morningstar Investor?
Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) leans toward screeners, APIs & data feeds, and news, while Morningstar Investor puts more weight on stock ideas, screeners, and stock comparison. They overlap in 6 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
Is Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) or Morningstar Investor free to use?
Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) has a free tier, so you can get started without paying anything. Morningstar Investor is paid-only. If budget matters, start with Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and see how far it takes you before opening your wallet.
Can I use Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) or Morningstar Investor on my phone?
Morningstar Investor lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web, desktop, and API.
Does Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) or Morningstar Investor have an API?
Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. Morningstar Investor doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) or Morningstar Investor?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) if APIs & data feeds and calendar matter to you; go with Morningstar Investor if you'd rather have stock ideas and stock comparison. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and Morningstar Investor cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and funds. Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) also handles currencies, cryptos, and commodities. Morningstar Investor adds closed-end funds on top.
Does Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) or Morningstar Investor have real-time data?
Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. Morningstar Investor 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 Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and Morningstar Investor?
Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) exports to CSV. Morningstar Investor is stingier about getting data out.
Which has a better stock screener: Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) or Morningstar Investor?
Both Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and Morningstar Investor 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 Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) or Morningstar Investor?
Morningstar Investor handles portfolio tracking. Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) 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.