★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
FINVIZ vs SEC API (sec-api.io)
Pick FINVIZ if
FINVIZ
Free • From $299.50/yr · Web
- You want the cheaper way in: plans start at $24.96/mo instead of $55/mo
- You care about screeners, ETF screeners, and stock comparison, things SEC API (sec-api.io) doesn't offer
- You trade often and need tooling built for speed
Pick SEC API (sec-api.io) if
SEC API (sec-api.io)
Free • From $55/mo · Web · API
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You care about regulatory filings monitoring, management compensation, and IPO, things FINVIZ 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
FINVIZ and SEC API (sec-api.io) cover a lot of the same ground (4 shared categories, including financials, insider data, and institutional ownership), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. FINVIZ simply does more: 17 categories to SEC API (sec-api.io)'s 7, including screeners, ETF screeners, and stock comparison. SEC API (sec-api.io) counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
FINVIZ
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
SEC API (sec-api.io)
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Key differences at a glance
- Cheaper paid plan
- FINVIZ$24.96/mo vs $55/mo
- Free trial
- FINVIZ7 days
- Broader coverage
- FINVIZ17 vs 7 categories
- API access
- SEC API (sec-api.io)
- 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 • From $299.50/yr | Free • From $55/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | 7 days | — |
Plan limits | 18 limits: Free: screener presets: 50, Free: items per page: 20 (table) / 36 (charts) / 10 (snapshots) +16 more | 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 | No | Yes |
Broker sync | No | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +3 more | — |
Categories covered | 17 | 7 |
Regions | North America | North America |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | Latency: 15-min Delayed and Real-time | Latency: Real-time |
Capabilities | Universe builder and Correlation | — |
| Try it | Visit FINVIZ | Visit SEC API (sec-api.io) |
Where each one shines
What FINVIZ and SEC API (sec-api.io) each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What FINVIZ and SEC API (sec-api.io) each do best.What FINVIZ does best
- Screening for U.S. stocks and ETFs with a mix of valuation, growth, profitability, technical, ownership, dividend, and performance filters.
- Heat maps, sector/group views, and snapshot pages to spot where market strength, weakness, and unusual moves are clustering.
- Support for saving screener setups with presets and switch between table, chart, and snapshot-style result views depending on how you research.
- Move from a screen to ticker-level research with quote pages that link financials, charts, news, insider trades, filings, options, short interest, and peer comparison.
- Views for reviewing fundamental context with financial statements, EPS and sales charts, ownership pages, insider transactions, and 13F manager holdings.
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 FINVIZ and SEC API (sec-api.io), side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for FINVIZ and SEC API (sec-api.io), side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsOptions | StocksETFsMutual FundsFunds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailDay TradersSwing TradersLong-term Investors | Not specified |
Regions | North America | North America |
Coverage details | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker and CUSIP |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | 15-min DelayedReal-time | Real-time |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | Not specified | RESTWebSocket |
API auth & delivery | Not specified | Auth: APIKeySDKs: Python |
Export formats | Excel | JSONPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Universe builderCorrelation | Not specified |
Vendor & support | Support: Email | Data2Value GmbHSupport: Email |
Curation ratings | Not specified | 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 | Freescreener presets: 50 · items per page: 20 (table) / 36 (charts) / 10 (snapshots) · +5 more | Free“Free Tier”api calls: 100 |
| Entry paid plan | $299.50/yr≈ $24.96/mo“Elite (Annual)”screener presets: 200 · portfolios: 100 · +2 more | $55/mo“Personal & Startups”query api rate limit: 20 requests/second/API key |
| Top plan | $39.50/mo“Elite (Monthly)”screener presets: 200 · items per page: Up to 100 (table) / 120 (charts) / 50 (snapshots) · +5 more | $239/mo“Business (Internal Use)”query api rate limit: 40 requests/second/API key |
| Custom / enterprise | — | Contact sales“Enterprise & Institutions” |
| Free trial | 7 days | — |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between FINVIZ and SEC API (sec-api.io)?
FINVIZ leans toward screeners, ETF screeners, and stock comparison, while SEC API (sec-api.io) puts more weight on APIs & data feeds, regulatory filings monitoring, and insider data. They overlap in 4 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do FINVIZ and SEC API (sec-api.io) cost?
Good news: both FINVIZ 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.
Does FINVIZ or SEC API (sec-api.io) have an API?
SEC API (sec-api.io) has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. FINVIZ doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose FINVIZ or SEC API (sec-api.io)?
It depends on what you're after. Pick FINVIZ if screeners and ETF screeners matter to you; go with SEC API (sec-api.io) if you'd rather have regulatory filings monitoring and management compensation. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do FINVIZ and SEC API (sec-api.io) cover?
Both cover stocks and ETFs. FINVIZ also handles options. SEC API (sec-api.io) adds mutual funds and funds on top.
Do FINVIZ and SEC API (sec-api.io) offer real-time data?
Yes, both serve real-time market data, so either works when timing matters.
Can I export data from FINVIZ and SEC API (sec-api.io)?
FINVIZ exports to Excel. SEC API (sec-api.io) is stingier about getting data out.
Is FINVIZ or SEC API (sec-api.io) better for day trading?
FINVIZ is the one positioned more for active traders. SEC API (sec-api.io) 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 SEC API (sec-api.io)?
FINVIZ has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; SEC API (sec-api.io) doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with FINVIZ or SEC API (sec-api.io)?
FINVIZ handles portfolio tracking. SEC API (sec-api.io) is really a research tool; you'd track your portfolio elsewhere.
Keep researching
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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.