VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON
Tool details checked August 23, 2026
Tool Comparison
FOIAsearch vs GuruFocus
Pick FOIAsearch instead if
FOIAsearch
Free • Paid plans available · Web
- You want regulatory filings monitoring.
Start here
GuruFocus
Free • From $549/yr · Web · Mobile · API
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You want stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners.
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
FOIAsearch and GuruFocus cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, alerts, watchlist, and flags), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. GuruFocus simply does more: 49 categories to FOIAsearch's 4, including stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners, plus a mobile app. FOIAsearch counters by being completely free.
What readers say
FOIAsearch
No votes yet. Cast the first one.
GuruFocus
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Key differences at a glance
- Mobile app
- GuruFocus
- Free trial
- GuruFocus7 days
- Broader coverage
- GuruFocus49 vs 4 categories
- API access
- GuruFocus
- Global coverage
- GuruFocus
- Asset coverage
- GuruFocusAdds ETFs and bonds
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 $549/yr |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | 7 days |
Plan limits | — | 49 limits: Free: portfolio limit: Up to 3 portfolios with 25 stocks each for free members, Free: data api requests: 100/month included in the Free API package +47 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | No | Yes |
Broker sync | — | Yes |
Integrations | — | GuruFocus Data API, GuruFocus MCP Server +3 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +9 more |
Categories covered | 4 | 49 |
Regions | North America | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | — | 5 signals: Latency: End of Day, Granularity: EOD +3 more |
Data partners | — | 5 partners: QuoteMedia, Morningstar +3 more |
Capabilities | — | 9 signals: Custom formulas, Ranking backtests +7 more |
Security | — | Status page and Encryption in transit |
| Try it | Visit FOIAsearch | Visit GuruFocus |
Where each one shines
What FOIAsearch and GuruFocus each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What FOIAsearch and GuruFocus each do best.What FOIAsearch does best
- Search SEC FOIA request logs by company or organization.
- Review separate lists for all requests and B7A-exempt requests.
- Use Protect My Portfolio for alerts about saved portfolio companies.
- Use IR Watch for alerts when hedge funds, research firms or reporters request information about an issuer.
- Receive a monthly roundup of SEC FOIA requests from selected reporters.
What GuruFocus does best
- Research coverage for global stocks with long historical financials, valuation data, charts, comparisons, market valuation indicators, economic indicators, industry data, and company-level fundamentals.
- The All-in-One Screener with hundreds of filters across fundamentals, valuation, profitability, growth, dividends, guru holdings, insider trades, predefined value screens, custom filters, saved screens, and downloads.
- ETF Screener and ETF GF Scores for filtering and comparing more than 5,000 U.S.
- Corporate and government bond screening by yield, maturity, ratings, coupon structure, outstanding amount, issuer, and industry, plus company-level bond tabs.
- Backtest screener strategies across many countries with configurable stock count, ranking metric, sort order, date range, and rebalance frequency; current membership terms give Premium the latest five years and Premium Plus/Professional history back to 2006.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for FOIAsearch and GuruFocus, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for FOIAsearch and GuruFocus, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | Stocks | StocksETFsBondsMutual FundsOptionsFundsOther |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Not specified | Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsValue InvestorsQuality InvestorsDividend InvestorsAnalystsQuants/Developers+3 more |
Regions | North America | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica |
Coverage details | Countries: US | Identifiers: Ticker and CIK |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Not specified | End of Day |
Data granularity | Not specified | EOD |
Pricing sources | Not specified | ExchangeVendorModel |
Data partners | Not specified | QuoteMediaMorningstarRefinitivFREDSEC / local regulators |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | Not specified | REST |
API auth & delivery | Not specified | Auth: APIKeySDKs: Python and GoDocs |
Import methods | Not specified | CSVBrokerOAuthManual |
Integrations | Not specified | GuruFocus Data APIGuruFocus MCP ServerGuruFocus Excel Add-inGuruFocus Google Sheets Add-onSnapTrade |
Export formats | Not specified | CSVExcelJSON |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Not specified | Status pageEncryption in transit |
Capability signals | Not specified | Custom formulasRanking backtestsUniverse builderFactors: Value, Quality, Momentum, and GrowthBroker syncMulti-currencyYield curvesCredit ratings+1 more |
Vendor & support | Dorsey Research LLCSupport: Email | GuruFocus.com, LLCCountry: United StatesFounded 2004Support: Email, Chat, Phone, and Forum |
Curation ratings | Methodology 3/5Reliability 3/5UX 4/5 | Not specified |
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 Search” | Freeportfolio limit: Up to 3 portfolios with 25 stocks each for free members · data api requests: 100/month included in the Free API package · +1 more |
| Entry paid plan | Subscription“Portfolio Alerts” | $549/yr≈ $45.75/mo“Premium”billing: Annual only · data api requests: 200/month included with Premium membership · +2 more |
| Tier 2 | Subscription“IR Watch” | $1398/yr≈ $116.50/mo“Premium Plus”billing: Annual only · data api requests: 500/month included with Premium Plus membership · +2 more |
| Tier 3 | Subscription“Prominent Reporter Alerts” | $200/mo“Data API Builder”billing: Billed annually · monthly request limit: No limit · +12 more |
| Tier 4 | — | $2448/yr≈ $204/mo“Professional”billing: Annual only · data api requests: 2,000/month included with Professional membership |
| Tier 5 | — | $2000/mo“Data API Commercial”billing: Billed annually · monthly request limit: No limit · +1 more |
| Top plan | — | $100 per unit“Data API Pay As You Go”initial top up: $100 credit · stock daily prices: $0.05/request · +16 more |
| Custom / enterprise | — | Contact sales“Custom API / Enterprise Package” |
| Free trial | — | 7 days |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between FOIAsearch and GuruFocus?
FOIAsearch leans toward alerts, regulatory filings monitoring, and watchlist, while GuruFocus puts more weight on stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do FOIAsearch and GuruFocus cost?
Good news: both FOIAsearch and GuruFocus have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Can I use FOIAsearch or GuruFocus on my phone?
GuruFocus lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. FOIAsearch doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web.
Does FOIAsearch or GuruFocus have an API?
GuruFocus has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. FOIAsearch doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose FOIAsearch or GuruFocus?
It depends on what you're after. Pick FOIAsearch if regulatory filings monitoring matter to you; go with GuruFocus if you'd rather have stock ideas and screeners. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do FOIAsearch and GuruFocus cover?
Both cover stocks. GuruFocus adds ETFs, bonds, and mutual funds on top.
Which covers international markets: FOIAsearch or GuruFocus?
GuruFocus has documented international coverage (North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, and more), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. FOIAsearch is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from FOIAsearch and GuruFocus?
GuruFocus exports to CSV and Excel. FOIAsearch is stingier about getting data out.
Which has a better stock screener: FOIAsearch or GuruFocus?
GuruFocus has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; FOIAsearch doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with FOIAsearch or GuruFocus?
GuruFocus handles portfolio tracking. FOIAsearch 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.