VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Investors comparing FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) and MacroMicro will find that Both FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) and MacroMicro concentrate on Data APIs, Calendar, and Data Visualizations workflows, making them natural alternatives for similar investment research jobs. FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) leans into Unemployment Rates, Housing & Construction, and Retail Sales, which can be decisive for teams that need depth over breadth. MacroMicro stands out with ETF Screeners, ETF Comparison, and Which ETF includes this Stock? that the competition lacks. Use the feature-by-feature table to inspect unique capabilities and confirm which roadmap best maps to your process.
Head-to-head
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) vs MacroMicro
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
- FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) adds Unemployment Rates, Housing & Construction, Retail Sales, Yield Curves, Real Yields, APIs & SDKs, and Sheets / Excel Add-ins coverage that MacroMicro skips.
- MacroMicro includes ETF Screeners, ETF Comparison, Which ETF includes this Stock?, Commitment of Traders (COT), 13F, Watchlist, Backtesting, Correlation, Transcripts, AI Chat, and AI Earnings Summary categories that FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) omits.
- FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) highlights: Access to over 840,000 time series from more than 100 official and third-party sources, all browsable and downloadable online., Official REST API covering both FRED and ALFRED, with endpoints for categories, releases, series, and sources., and Flexible output formats including JSON, XML, Excel, and CSV for easy integration..
- MacroMicro is known for: Global macro and market database with more than 40 million data points across 100+ countries and coverage of 48+ asset fundamentals., ETF toolkit includes a screener, comparator, and reverse lookup to see which ETFs include a given stock., and Toolbox features include 20 arithmetic operators, 8 analytical templates, correlation charts, and basic quantitative backtesting..
- FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) ships a mobile app. MacroMicro is web/desktop only.
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)
fred.stlouisfed.org
One of the most trusted sources of macroeconomic and market data worldwide. FRED offers free access to charts, releases, Excel add-ins, and a public API. An API key (free) is required, with standard rate limits. ALFRED, the companion service, provides vintage datasets so you can see what was known at any point in time.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Access to over 840,000 time series from more than 100 official and third-party sources, all browsable and downloadable online.
- Official REST API covering both FRED and ALFRED, with endpoints for categories, releases, series, and sources.
- Flexible output formats including JSON, XML, Excel, and CSV for easy integration.
- ALFRED (the archival database) provides point-in-time vintages, letting you track historical revisions exactly as they were published.
- Maps API delivers regional datasets with GeoJSON shapefiles for states, counties, MSAs, and more.
MacroMicro
macromicro.me
Global macro and market analytics platform with data visualizations, ETF tools, backtesting, and AI-powered earnings summaries. Data downloads are gated to Business plans, while API access is offered as a separate annual plan (API Essential). Annual subscribers also get calendar sync and watermark-free chart exports for commercial use.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Global macro and market database with more than 40 million data points across 100+ countries and coverage of 48+ asset fundamentals.
- ETF toolkit includes a screener, comparator, and reverse lookup to see which ETFs include a given stock.
- Toolbox features include 20 arithmetic operators, 8 analytical templates, correlation charts, and basic quantitative backtesting.
- Economic Calendar with Google/Apple Calendar sync (available to annual-plan subscribers).
- U.S. Earnings Database with AI-powered call summaries, available in Max and Business tiers.
Shared focus areas
Both platforms align on these research themes, so you can stay within one workflow when your use case involves them.
Where they differ
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)
Distinct strengths include:
- Access to over 840,000 time series from more than 100 official and third-party sources, all browsable and downloadable online.
- Official REST API covering both FRED and ALFRED, with endpoints for categories, releases, series, and sources.
- Flexible output formats including JSON, XML, Excel, and CSV for easy integration.
- ALFRED (the archival database) provides point-in-time vintages, letting you track historical revisions exactly as they were published.
MacroMicro
Distinct strengths include:
- Global macro and market database with more than 40 million data points across 100+ countries and coverage of 48+ asset fundamentals.
- ETF toolkit includes a screener, comparator, and reverse lookup to see which ETFs include a given stock.
- Toolbox features include 20 arithmetic operators, 8 analytical templates, correlation charts, and basic quantitative backtesting.
- Economic Calendar with Google/Apple Calendar sync (available to annual-plan subscribers).
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) | MacroMicro |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Data APIs, Calendar, Data Visualizations, Inflation Rates, GDP, Interest Rates, PMI / ISM, Consumer Sentiment Unique: Unemployment Rates, Housing & Construction, Retail Sales, Yield Curves, Real Yields, APIs & SDKs, Sheets / Excel Add-ins | Shared: Data APIs, Calendar, Data Visualizations, Inflation Rates, GDP, Interest Rates, PMI / ISM, Consumer Sentiment Unique: ETF Screeners, ETF Comparison, Which ETF includes this Stock?, Commitment of Traders (COT), 13F, Watchlist, Backtesting, Correlation, Transcripts, AI Chat, AI Earnings Summary |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Bonds, Commodities, Currencies, Stocks, Other | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Commodities, Currencies, Cryptos |
Experience levels Who each product is built for | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Platforms Where you can access the product | Web, Mobile, API | Web, API |
Pricing High-level pricing models | Free | Free, Subscription |
Key features Core capabilities called out by each vendor | Unique
| Unique
|
Tested Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat | Not yet | Not yet |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Standard listing | Standard listing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) and MacroMicro both support?
Both platforms cover Data APIs, Calendar, Data Visualizations, Inflation Rates, GDP, Interest Rates, PMI / ISM, and Consumer Sentiment workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Do FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) and MacroMicro require subscriptions?
Both FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) and MacroMicro keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.
Which tool has mobile access?
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) ships a dedicated mobile experience, while MacroMicro focuses on web or desktop access.
What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) differentiates itself with Access to over 840,000 time series from more than 100 official and third-party sources, all browsable and downloadable online., Official REST API covering both FRED and ALFRED, with endpoints for categories, releases, series, and sources., and Flexible output formats including JSON, XML, Excel, and CSV for easy integration., whereas MacroMicro stands out for Global macro and market database with more than 40 million data points across 100+ countries and coverage of 48+ asset fundamentals., ETF toolkit includes a screener, comparator, and reverse lookup to see which ETFs include a given stock., and Toolbox features include 20 arithmetic operators, 8 analytical templates, correlation charts, and basic quantitative backtesting..
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.