★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
FINVIZ vs Morningstar Investor
FINVIZ
Best for ETF screeners and data visualizations
Free • From $299.5/yr
Morningstar Investor
Best for stock ideas and watchlist
From $249/yr
Outbound links may include affiliate or sponsor codes.
The verdict
The bottom line
FINVIZ and Morningstar Investor cover a lot of the same ground (5 shared categories, including screeners, stock comparison, and portfolio), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. FINVIZ simply does more: 17 categories to Morningstar Investor's 11, including ETF screeners, data visualizations, and correlation. Morningstar Investor counters by starting cheaper at $20.75/mo.
Key differences at a glance
- Mobile app
- Morningstar Investor
- Free plan
- FINVIZ
- Cheaper paid plan
- Morningstar Investor$20.75/mo vs $24.96/mo
- Broader coverage
- FINVIZ17 vs 11 categories
- Real-time data
- FINVIZ
Choose
FINVIZ if…
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- You care about ETF screeners, data visualizations, and correlation, things Morningstar Investor doesn't offer
- You trade often and need tooling built for speed
Choose
Morningstar Investor if…
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want the cheaper way in: plans start at $20.75/mo instead of $24.96/mo
- You care about stock ideas, watchlist, and fund analysis, things FINVIZ doesn't offer
Comparison snapshot
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free • From $299.5/yr | From $249/yr |
Free tier | Yes | No |
Free trial | 7 days | 7 days |
Plan limits | 18 limits: Free: screener presets: 50, Free: items per page: 20 (table) / 36 (charts) / 10 (snapshots) +16 more | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | No | — |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +3 more | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +2 more |
Categories covered | 17 | 11 |
Regions | North America | — |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | Latency: 15-min Delayed and Real-time | — |
Capabilities | Universe builder and Correlation | Universe builder |
| Try it | Visit FINVIZ | Visit Morningstar Investor |
Standout features
What FINVIZ does best
- Stock screener combining fundamental + technical filters with multiple result views (e.g., table/charts/snapshots) and configurable presets.
- Maps (heat maps) and groups/sector views; Elite includes real-time Maps/Groups data (Free is delayed).
- Elite includes real-time quotes & charts (including premarket and after-hours); Free account is delayed.
- Elite charting: intraday charts plus multi-layout charts with technical studies saved automatically.
- Fundamentals: per-ticker financial statements + fundamental charts (EPS, Sales, Shares); statements history is 3 years on Free vs 8 years on Elite.
What Morningstar Investor does best
- Screeners: create your own screens using 200+ unique data points; save custom views for portfolios, watchlists, and screeners.
- Investment discovery: pre‑filtered investment lists plus the ability to find/compare securities using valuation and performance metrics (described as spanning global company & share‑class data).
- Funds & ETFs: Morningstar Rating for Funds (“star rating”) based on a quantitative evaluation of past performance; plus Morningstar Medalist Rating (Gold/Silver/Bronze/Neutral/Negative) for forward‑looking conviction.
- Funds & ETFs: Fund Analyst Notes and Reports (qualitative assessment of management, objectives, and stewardship).
- Stocks: proprietary ratings intended as a “yardstick” for US‑based securities, including “fair value” and “competitive advantage” concepts; plus ongoing reports, commentary, and news.
Data & access details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsOptions | StocksETFsMutual FundsClosed-End FundsFunds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailDay TradersSwing TradersLong-term Investors | Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsValue Investors |
Regions | North America | Not specified |
Coverage details | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | 15-min DelayedReal-time | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
Export formats | Excel | Not specified |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Universe builderCorrelation | Universe builder |
Vendor & support | Support: Email | Morningstar, Inc.Country: United StatesFounded 1984 |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing breakdown
$299.5/yr
Starting price
Plans & pricing
- screener presets: 50
- items per page: 20 (table) / 36 (charts) / 10 (snapshots)
- +5 more
- screener presets: 200
- items per page: Up to 100 (table) / 120 (charts) / 50 (snapshots)
- +5 more
- screener presets: 200
- portfolios: 100
- +2 more
$249/yr
Lower starting price
Plans & pricing
Coverage overlap
Shared categories
5Where the two tools cover the same ground.
FINVIZ strengths
12Morningstar Investor strengths
6What you only get with Morningstar Investor.
Community category leaders
Vote sentiment comparison
Loading sentiment chart...
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between FINVIZ and Morningstar Investor?
FINVIZ leans toward screeners, ETF screeners, and stock comparison, while Morningstar Investor puts more weight on stock ideas, screeners, and stock comparison. They overlap in 5 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
Is FINVIZ or Morningstar Investor free to use?
FINVIZ has a free tier, so you can get started without paying anything. Morningstar Investor is paid-only. If budget matters, start with FINVIZ and see how far it takes you before opening your wallet.
Can I use FINVIZ or Morningstar Investor on my phone?
Morningstar Investor lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. FINVIZ doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web.
Should I choose FINVIZ or Morningstar Investor?
It depends on what you're after. Pick FINVIZ if ETF screeners and data visualizations matter to you; go with Morningstar Investor if you'd rather have stock ideas and watchlist. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do FINVIZ and Morningstar Investor cover?
Both cover stocks and ETFs. FINVIZ also handles options. Morningstar Investor adds mutual funds, closed-end funds, and funds on top.
Does FINVIZ or Morningstar Investor have real-time data?
FINVIZ 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 FINVIZ and Morningstar Investor?
FINVIZ exports to Excel. Morningstar Investor is stingier about getting data out.
Is FINVIZ or Morningstar Investor better for day trading?
FINVIZ is the one positioned more for active traders. Morningstar Investor is the better fit if you care less about fast trading workflows and more about a calmer research process.
Which has a better stock screener: FINVIZ or Morningstar Investor?
Both FINVIZ 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 FINVIZ or Morningstar Investor?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
Other tools you might like
These profiles share overlapping coverage with both sides of this matchup.
Keep Exploring
Global rankings of the highest-rated tools across all categories.
Ranked list of companies with durable competitive advantages.
Proven models entering their growth phase with solid economics.
Track votes, sentiment, and engagement across the community.
Learn moat types, red flags, and real-company examples.
Browse other head-to-head tool comparisons and alternatives.
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.