VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Investors comparing Find and update company information (Companies House) and Open Payments (CMS) will find that Both Find and update company information (Companies House) and Open Payments (CMS) concentrate on Regulatory Filings Monitoring, and Data APIs workflows, making them natural alternatives for similar investment research jobs. Find and update company information (Companies House) leans into Alerts, which can be decisive for teams that need depth over breadth. Open Payments (CMS) stands out with APIs & SDKs, and Data Visualizations that the competition lacks. Use the feature-by-feature table to inspect unique capabilities and confirm which roadmap best maps to your process.
Head-to-head
Find and update company information (Companies House) vs Open Payments (CMS)
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
- Find and update company information (Companies House) adds Alerts coverage that Open Payments (CMS) skips.
- Open Payments (CMS) includes APIs & SDKs, and Data Visualizations categories that Find and update company information (Companies House) omits.
- Find and update company information (Companies House) highlights: Free search and viewing of company information including registered details, officers, filing history, document images, mortgage charges, and insolvency data., Follow companies and receive email alerts when new filings are accepted, with direct links to the filing history., and Order certified copies and certificates (fees apply, e.g. £15 standard / £50 express)..
- Open Payments (CMS) is known for: Three core datasets each year: General Payments, Research Payments, and Ownership/Investment Interests., Web search/explorer with filtering and charts; program year downloads available from the portal., and Open Data API (ODA) for programmatic access with filtering, querying, and aggregation (SoQL‑style)..
Find and update company information (Companies House)
find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk
The official UK companies register, providing free search and access to filing histories, document images, and company information. Users can follow companies for email alerts on new filings, and bulk data is available via monthly downloads. Certified copies and certificates are offered for a fee. Developers have access to REST and Streaming APIs with clear rate limits, making the service a reliable, real-time regulatory source.
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Free search and viewing of company information including registered details, officers, filing history, document images, mortgage charges, and insolvency data.
- Follow companies and receive email alerts when new filings are accepted, with direct links to the filing history.
- Order certified copies and certificates (fees apply, e.g. £15 standard / £50 express).
- Bulk data available as monthly CSV snapshots of the entire UK companies register.
- Public REST API providing structured access to company data (companies, officers, persons of significant control, etc.), authenticated via API key; some flows support OAuth2. Rate limit of 600 requests per 5 minutes.
Open Payments (CMS)
openpaymentsdata.cms.gov
U.S. federal open‑data program (Affordable Care Act ‘Sunshine Act’) that publishes financial relationships between drug/device manufacturers (and GPOs) and healthcare providers (physicians, NPPs since PY2021, and teaching hospitals). CMS publishes the prior program year’s full datasets on or before June 30 each year and issues a January refresh. Data are accessible via the web search tool, bulk downloads, and a REST Open Data API (filter, query, aggregate).
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Three core datasets each year: General Payments, Research Payments, and Ownership/Investment Interests.
- Web search/explorer with filtering and charts; program year downloads available from the portal.
- Open Data API (ODA) for programmatic access with filtering, querying, and aggregation (SoQL‑style).
- Publication cadence: initial annual publication on/around June 30 for the prior year, plus a January data refresh.
- Pre‑publication workflow: 45‑day recipient review & dispute (Apr 1–May 15) + 15‑day correction window (May 16–May 30).
Shared focus areas
Both platforms align on these research themes, so you can stay within one workflow when your use case involves them.
Where they differ
Find and update company information (Companies House)
Distinct strengths include:
- Free search and viewing of company information including registered details, officers, filing history, document images, mortgage charges, and insolvency data.
- Follow companies and receive email alerts when new filings are accepted, with direct links to the filing history.
- Order certified copies and certificates (fees apply, e.g. £15 standard / £50 express).
- Bulk data available as monthly CSV snapshots of the entire UK companies register.
Open Payments (CMS)
Distinct strengths include:
- Three core datasets each year: General Payments, Research Payments, and Ownership/Investment Interests.
- Web search/explorer with filtering and charts; program year downloads available from the portal.
- Open Data API (ODA) for programmatic access with filtering, querying, and aggregation (SoQL‑style).
- Publication cadence: initial annual publication on/around June 30 for the prior year, plus a January data refresh.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | Find and update company information (Companies House) | Open Payments (CMS) |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Regulatory Filings Monitoring, Data APIs Unique: Alerts | Shared: Regulatory Filings Monitoring, Data APIs Unique: APIs & SDKs, Data Visualizations |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Other | Other |
Experience levels Who each product is built for | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Platforms Where you can access the product | Web, API | Web, API |
Pricing High-level pricing models | Free | Free |
Key features Core capabilities called out by each vendor | Unique
| Unique
|
Tested Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat | Not yet | Not yet |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Standard listing | Standard listing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do Find and update company information (Companies House) and Open Payments (CMS) both support?
Both platforms cover Regulatory Filings Monitoring, and Data APIs workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Do Find and update company information (Companies House) and Open Payments (CMS) require subscriptions?
Both Find and update company information (Companies House) and Open Payments (CMS) keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.
How can you access Find and update company information (Companies House) and Open Payments (CMS)?
Both Find and update company information (Companies House) and Open Payments (CMS) prioritize web or desktop access. Investors wanting a mobile-first workflow may need to rely on responsive web views.
What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?
Find and update company information (Companies House) differentiates itself with Free search and viewing of company information including registered details, officers, filing history, document images, mortgage charges, and insolvency data., Follow companies and receive email alerts when new filings are accepted, with direct links to the filing history., and Order certified copies and certificates (fees apply, e.g. £15 standard / £50 express)., whereas Open Payments (CMS) stands out for Three core datasets each year: General Payments, Research Payments, and Ownership/Investment Interests., Web search/explorer with filtering and charts; program year downloads available from the portal., and Open Data API (ODA) for programmatic access with filtering, querying, and aggregation (SoQL‑style)..
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.