VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON
Tool details checked August 23, 2026
Tool Comparison
Fintel vs SEC API (sec-api.io)
Pick Fintel if
Fintel
Free • Paid plans available · Web · API
- You want short interest, which ETF includes this stock?, and ETF analysis.
Pick SEC API (sec-api.io) if
SEC API (sec-api.io)
Free • From $55/mo · Web · API
- You want regulatory filings monitoring, financials, and management compensation.
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 SEC API (sec-api.io) cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, insider data, institutional ownership, and APIs & data feeds), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Fintel simply does more: 15 categories to SEC API (sec-api.io)'s 7, including short interest, which ETF includes this stock?, and ETF analysis. SEC API (sec-api.io) counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
Fintel
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SEC API (sec-api.io)
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Key differences at a glance
- Global coverage
- Fintel
- Broader coverage
- Fintel15 vs 7 categories
- 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 • From $55/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | — | 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 | Yes | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 15 | 7 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East | North America |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | Latency: Real-time and End of Day and Granularity: EOD | Latency: Real-time |
Capabilities | 4 signals: Custom formulas, Factors: Value and Quality +2 more | — |
| Try it | Visit Fintel | Visit SEC API (sec-api.io) |
Where each one shines
What Fintel and SEC API (sec-api.io) each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What Fintel and SEC API (sec-api.io) each do best.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 SEC API (sec-api.io) does best
- Search tools across SEC filings through query and full-text APIs covering all EDGAR form types and historical filings back to 1993.
- Real-time WebSocket filing streams when new SEC filings need to trigger alerts, workflows, or downstream processing quickly.
- Convert XBRL filings to standardized JSON financial statements for income statement, balance sheet, cash flow, and US GAAP line-item workflows.
- Extract clean filing sections such as MD&A, Risk Factors, and other 10-K, 10-Q, or 8-K sections for research or AI pipelines.
- Access to specialized APIs for Forms 3/4/5, 13F, 13D/G, Form 144, ADV, S-1, 424B4, Form C, Form D, Reg A, N-PORT, N-PX, and N-CEN data.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Fintel and SEC API (sec-api.io), side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Fintel and SEC API (sec-api.io), side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsMutual FundsOptionsBonds | StocksETFsMutual FundsFunds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACMiddle East | North America |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and ISIN | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker and CUSIP |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Real-timeEnd of Day | Real-time |
Data granularity | EOD | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | RESTWebSocket |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKey | Auth: APIKeySDKs: Python and TS |
Import methods | Plaid | Not specified |
Export formats | Excel | JSONPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Custom formulasFactors: Value and QualityIV surfaceBroker sync | Not specified |
Vendor & support | Fintel Ventures LLCSupport: Email and Phone | Data2Value GmbHSupport: 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 Tier”api calls: 100 |
| Entry paid plan | Subscription“Bronze” | $55/mo“Personal & Startups”query api rate limit: 20 requests/second/API key |
| Tier 2 | Subscription“Silver” | $239/mo“Business (Internal Use)”query api rate limit: 40 requests/second/API key |
| Top plan | Subscription“Gold” | — |
| Custom / enterprise | — | Contact sales“Enterprise & Institutions” |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Fintel and SEC API (sec-api.io)?
Fintel leans toward short interest, insider data, and institutional ownership, while SEC API (sec-api.io) puts more weight on APIs & data feeds, regulatory filings monitoring, and insider data. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Fintel and SEC API (sec-api.io) cost?
Good news: both Fintel and SEC API (sec-api.io) have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Do Fintel 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 Fintel or SEC API (sec-api.io)?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Fintel if short interest and which ETF includes this stock? matter to you; go with SEC API (sec-api.io) if you'd rather have regulatory filings monitoring and financials. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Fintel and SEC API (sec-api.io) cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds. Fintel also handles options and bonds. SEC API (sec-api.io) adds funds on top.
Do Fintel and SEC API (sec-api.io) offer real-time data?
Yes, both serve real-time market data, so either works when timing matters.
Which covers international markets: Fintel or SEC API (sec-api.io)?
Fintel has documented international coverage (North America, Europe, APAC, and Middle East), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. SEC API (sec-api.io) is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from Fintel and SEC API (sec-api.io)?
Fintel exports to Excel. SEC API (sec-api.io) is stingier about getting data out.
Can Fintel or SEC API (sec-api.io) connect to my broker?
Fintel syncs with brokers automatically. With SEC API (sec-api.io), you're entering holdings by hand or importing files.
Which has a better stock screener: Fintel or SEC API (sec-api.io)?
Fintel 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.