VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Sunday, January 18, 2026

Tool Comparison

FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) vs MarketXLS comparison

Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.

FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) logo

FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)

fred.stlouisfed.org

PricingFree
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, API
MarketXLS logo

MarketXLS

marketxls.com

PricingSubscription
PlatformsDesktop, Web
Top 50 Investing ToolsThe global ranking of the best investing tools, ranked by community votes.

At a glance

Platforms
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)Web, Mobile, API
MarketXLSDesktop, Web
Categories
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)10
MarketXLS21
Pricing details
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)MarketXLS
Free tier
Free trial
Starting price$70/mo
Enterprise option
Available plansFreeStandard, Advanced, Business
Category leaders
ScreenersMarketXLS
PortfolioMarketXLS
WatchlistMarketXLS
AlertsFRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)
FinancialsMarketXLS
Data VisualizationsFRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)
Browse the #1 tool in 90+ categories

Vote sentiment comparison

Cumulative positive vote share. Loading fresh totals...

FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)MarketXLS

Platform details

AttributeFRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)MarketXLS
Asset types
Other
StocksETFsOptionsMutual FundsCurrenciesFuturesCryptos
Experience
BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced
BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced
Regions
Not specified
North AmericaEuropeAPAC
Data freshness
Not specified
Real-time15-min DelayedEnd of Day
API access
REST
Not specified
Export formats
ExcelImageJSONXML
ExcelCSV

Coverage overlap

Shared categories5

Categories where both tools offer overlapping coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) and MarketXLS?

FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) focuses on Inflation Rates, Unemployment Rates, and GDP while MarketXLS specializes in Sheets / Excel Add-ins, Broker Connectors, and Screeners. They overlap in 5 categories, so choose based on your preferred workflow and pricing.

Is FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) or MarketXLS free to use?

FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) offers a free tier that lets you get started without paying, while MarketXLS requires a subscription. If budget is a concern, start with FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) and upgrade later if you need more advanced features.

Can I use FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) or MarketXLS on my phone?

FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) has a mobile app so you can check your research on the go. MarketXLS is web-only, so you'll need a browser to access it from mobile devices.

Does FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) or MarketXLS have an API?

FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) provides API access for programmatic data retrieval and custom integrations. MarketXLS doesn't currently offer an API, so you'll need to use their web interface.

Should I choose FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) or MarketXLS?

Choose FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) if you need 800,000+ economic data series from 100+ sources, covering topics such as GDP, prices/inflation, employment, exchange rates, and interest rates., and Browse and track data via categories, releases, sources, and tags; series pages show metadata like units/frequency and “last updated / next release” fields.. Go with MarketXLS if Excel add‑in works on Windows, Mac, and Excel Online; updates delivered automatically for Mac/Excel Online/Office 365 users., and Built‑in real‑time streaming quotes (with exchange agreements) and default 15‑minute delayed market data; EOD history ~15+ years; intraday historical up to 1‑minute for ~1 year. better fits how you invest.

What asset classes do FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) and MarketXLS cover?

Both cover common asset types. FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) also includes Other. MarketXLS adds coverage for Stocks, ETFs, Options, Mutual Funds, Currencies, Futures, and Cryptos.

Does FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) or MarketXLS have real-time data?

MarketXLS offers real-time data feeds, which is essential for active traders. FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) uses delayed or end-of-day data, which works fine for longer-term investors who don't need up-to-the-second quotes.

Can I export data from FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) and MarketXLS?

Both platforms let you export data to spreadsheets (Excel). This is useful for custom analysis or record-keeping.

Can FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) or MarketXLS connect to my broker?

MarketXLS connects with brokers for portfolio syncing. FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) requires manual portfolio entry or data import.

Which has a better stock screener—FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) or MarketXLS?

MarketXLS includes a stock screener for finding investment ideas. FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) focuses on other analytical tools.

Can I track my portfolio with FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) or MarketXLS?

MarketXLS offers portfolio tracking features. FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) is more focused on research and analysis.

Keep Exploring

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.