Tool Comparison
Fintel vs OTC Markets
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, API
Best if
- You want short interest, insider data, and institutional ownership.
- Paid from
- On request
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, API, Other
Best if
- You want order book / level II and official sources.
Start here
Fintel
Free • Paid plans available · Web · API
- You want short interest, insider data, and institutional ownership.
Pick OTC Markets instead if
OTC Markets
Free • Contact for pricing · Web · API · Other
- You want order book / level II and official sources.
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
Fintel and OTC Markets cover a lot of the same ground (4 shared categories, including improved filings, screeners, and news), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Fintel simply does more: 15 categories to OTC Markets's 6, including short interest, insider data, and institutional ownership. OTC Markets counters by being completely free.
What readers say
Fintel
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OTC Markets
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Key differences at a glance
- Global coverage
- Fintel
- Broader coverage
- Fintel15 vs 6 categories
- Asset coverage
- FintelAdds ETFs and mutual funds
- Free plan
- Both
What Fintel does best
- Research coverage for official short-interest data sourced from NASDAQ and NYSE on individual ticker pages.
- Review 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.
- Monitor 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 OTC Markets does best
- Research OTCQX, OTCQB, OTCID, Pink Limited, and Expert Market securities through issuer pages with quotes, charts, financials, news, and tier context.
- The OTC Markets Stock Screener to narrow OTC securities before moving into issuer pages, filings, quote history, and disclosure context.
- License real-time Level 1 and Level 2 feeds for quotes, trades, reference data, and market-participant depth.
- Level 2+ for quote-book depth and market-participant information, with licensing that also includes Level 1 access.
- Use end-of-day files for closing trades, quotes, Caveat Emptor flags, and market tier.
Side by side
Pricing comparison
See for yourself
Side by side
Price, platforms, data, and market coverage.ShowHide
Side by side
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free • Paid plans available | Free • Contact for pricing |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | — | Market Data Licensing: note: Level 2 includes Level 1. CUSIP and Global OTC require additional ent... and OTC Disclosure API: rate limit per min: 1,000 |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Broker sync | Yes | — |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +3 more |
Categories covered | 15 | 6 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East | North America |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | Latency: Real-time and End of Day and Granularity: EOD | 3 signals: Latency: Streaming, 15-min Delayed, and End of Day, Granularity: Tick and EOD +1 more |
Data partners | — | ICE Data Services |
Capabilities | 4 signals: Custom formulas, Factors: Value and Quality +2 more | — |
| Try it | Visit Fintel | Visit OTC Markets |
Standout features
The best features of Fintel and OTC Markets.ShowHide
Standout features
What Fintel does best
- Research coverage for official short-interest data sourced from NASDAQ and NYSE on individual ticker pages.
- Review 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.
- Monitor 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 OTC Markets does best
- Research OTCQX, OTCQB, OTCID, Pink Limited, and Expert Market securities through issuer pages with quotes, charts, financials, news, and tier context.
- The OTC Markets Stock Screener to narrow OTC securities before moving into issuer pages, filings, quote history, and disclosure context.
- License real-time Level 1 and Level 2 feeds for quotes, trades, reference data, and market-participant depth.
- Level 2+ for quote-book depth and market-participant information, with licensing that also includes Level 1 access.
- Use end-of-day files for closing trades, quotes, Caveat Emptor flags, and market tier.
All details
Every attribute we track for Fintel and OTC Markets.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsMutual FundsOptionsBonds | StocksBonds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Not specified | Retail TradersPro RetailInstitutional InvestorsAnalystsQuants/Developers |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACMiddle East | North America |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and ISIN | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker and CUSIP |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Real-timeEnd of Day | Streaming15-min DelayedEnd of Day |
Data granularity | EOD | TickEOD |
Data partners | Not specified | ICE Data Services |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | REST |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKey | Auth: APIKey1,000 req/minDocs |
Import methods | Plaid | Not specified |
Export formats | Excel | JSONCSVXML |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Custom formulasFactors: Value and QualityIV surfaceBroker sync | Not specified |
Vendor & support | Fintel Ventures LLCSupport: Email and Phone | OTC Markets Group Inc.Country: United StatesSupport: Email and Phone |
Curation ratings | Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 | Not specified |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing
Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.ShowHide
Pricing
| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free“Free public access” | Free“Public Website” |
| Entry paid plan | Subscription“Bronze” | Subscription“Market Data Licensing”note: Level 2 includes Level 1. CUSIP and Global OTC require additional ent... |
| Tier 2 | Subscription“Silver” | — |
| Top plan | Subscription“Gold” | — |
| Custom / enterprise | — | Contact sales“OTC Disclosure API”rate limit per min: 1,000 |
Alternatives
Free alternatives
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Fintel and OTC Markets?
Fintel leans toward short interest, insider data, and institutional ownership, while OTC Markets puts more weight on screeners, news, and APIs & data feeds. They overlap in 4 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Fintel and OTC Markets cost?
Good news: both Fintel and OTC Markets have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Do Fintel and OTC Markets have APIs?
Yes, both offer API access, so developers and quants can pull data programmatically or wire up their own integrations.
Should I choose Fintel or OTC Markets?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Fintel if short interest and insider data matter to you; go with OTC Markets if you'd rather have order book / level II and official sources. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Fintel and OTC Markets cover?
Both cover stocks and bonds. Fintel also handles ETFs, mutual funds, and options.
Do Fintel and OTC Markets offer real-time data?
Yes, both serve real-time market data, so either works when timing matters.
Which covers international markets: Fintel or OTC Markets?
Fintel has documented international coverage (North America, Europe, APAC, and Middle East), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. OTC Markets is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from Fintel and OTC Markets?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (Fintel: Excel; OTC Markets: CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Which has a better stock screener: Fintel or OTC Markets?
Both Fintel and OTC Markets include stock screeners, and they differ more in interface than raw power; try both and see which one clicks for you.
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