★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
Fintel vs FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)
Pick Fintel if
Fintel
Free • Paid plans available · 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 care about short interest, institutional ownership, and which ETF includes this stock?, things FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) doesn't offer
Pick FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) if
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)
Free • Paid plans available · Web · Mobile
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You care about portfolio, watchlist, and compounding calculator, things Fintel 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
Fintel and FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, insider data, screeners, and alerts), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Fintel simply does more: 14 categories to FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)'s 10, including short interest, institutional ownership, and which ETF includes this stock?. FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) counters by being completely free.
What readers say
Fintel
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)
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Key differences at a glance
- Real-time data
- Fintel
- Broader coverage
- Fintel14 vs 10 categories
- Mobile app
- FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)
- API access
- Fintel
- Broker sync
- Fintel
- Free plan
- Both
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 • Paid plans available | Free • Paid plans available |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | Yes | No |
Broker sync | Yes | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 14 | 10 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | Latency: Real-time and End of Day and Granularity: EOD | 4 signals: Latency: 15-min Delayed and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +2 more |
Capabilities | 3 signals: Custom formulas, Factors: Value and Quality +1 more | Universe builder |
| Try it | Visit Fintel | Visit FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) |
Where each one shines
What Fintel and FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What Fintel and FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) each do best.What Fintel does best
- Research coverage for official short-interest data sourced from NASDAQ and NYSE on individual ticker pages.
- Views for reviewing off-exchange and dark pool short volume from FINRA feeds when analyzing trading activity and squeeze risk.
- Tracking ownership through 13F, 13D/G, NPORT, ETF and mutual-fund holders, UK disclosure data, and dedicated ETF-exposure pages.
- Monitoring insider trading from Forms 3, 4, and 5, including real-time alerts and identification of 10b5-1 trading plans.
- Unusual options activity, options sentiment, and real-time options flow on eligible premium tiers.
What FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) does best
- Tracking global equities, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, commodities, and currencies through FT market pages.
- Watchlists, portfolio tracking, alerts, equity screeners, fund screeners, and a compound growth calculator from the markets tools hub.
- Tools for building watchlists and manual portfolios with a free FT account, then connect instrument pages to related FT news.
- Support for setting price or news alerts and manage delivery through the site or myFT email preferences.
- World Markets and sector pages for interactive charts, overlays, and performance comparisons.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Fintel and FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times), side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Fintel and FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times), side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsMutual FundsOptionsBonds | StocksETFsMutual FundsBondsCommoditiesCurrencies |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACMiddle East | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and ISIN | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Real-timeEnd of Day | 15-min DelayedEnd of Day |
Data granularity | EOD | EOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | Not specified |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKey | Not specified |
Import methods | Plaid | Manual |
Export formats | Excel | PDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Custom formulasFactors: Value and QualityBroker sync | Universe builder |
Vendor & support | Fintel Ventures LLCSupport: Email and Phone | The Financial Times Ltd.Country: United KingdomSupport: Email |
Curation ratings | Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 | Methodology 4/5Reliability 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“Free public access” | Free“Free (Registered)” |
| Entry paid plan | Subscription“Bronze” | Subscription“FT Digital (Subscriber)” |
| Tier 2 | Subscription“Silver” | — |
| Top plan | Subscription“Gold” | — |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Fintel and FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)?
Fintel leans toward short interest, insider data, and institutional ownership, while FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) puts more weight on portfolio, watchlist, and alerts. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Fintel and FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) cost?
Good news: both Fintel and FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Can I use Fintel or FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) on my phone?
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. Fintel doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web and API.
Does Fintel or FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) have an API?
Fintel has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose Fintel or FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Fintel if short interest and institutional ownership matter to you; go with FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) if you'd rather have portfolio and watchlist. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Fintel and FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds. Fintel also handles options. FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) adds commodities and currencies on top.
Does Fintel or FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) have real-time data?
Fintel offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) 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 Fintel and FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)?
Fintel exports to Excel. FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) is stingier about getting data out.
Can Fintel or FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) connect to my broker?
Fintel syncs with brokers automatically. With FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times), you're entering holdings by hand or importing files.
Which has a better stock screener: Fintel or FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)?
Both Fintel and FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) 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 Fintel or FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)?
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) handles portfolio tracking. Fintel is really a research tool; you'd track your portfolio 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.