VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Tool Comparison · Wednesday, June 3, 2026
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) vs IBorrowDesk
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) vs IBorrowDesk: which investing tool fits your workflow? Compare pricing, features, platforms, and verdict in seconds.
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)
markets.ft.com
Best for portfolio, and compounding calculator
- Pricing
- Free
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile
IBorrowDesk
iborrowdesk.com
Best for short interest
- Pricing
- Free • Paid plans available
- Platforms
- Web
Outbound links may include affiliate or sponsor codes.
Comparison snapshot
Who should choose which?
Choose
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) if…
- You need a mobile app for on-the-go research
- You need comprehensive tools hub including watchlists, portfolio tracking, alerts, equities and fund screeners, and a compound growth calculator (beta).
- You need free accounts allow users to build watchlists, track portfolios, and set price or news alerts directly from instrument pages.
- You need portfolio tool supports manual transaction entry, shows key fundamentals, and integrates related ft news.
Choose
IBorrowDesk if…
- You need borrow fee percentages and shortable share availability, sourced directly from interactive brokers public datasets.
- You need intraday refresh cadence: ~15 minutes during north american trading hours; hourly outside of them on weekdays.
- You need per-ticker pages show recent borrow snapshots with timestamps, plus options to add tickers to a watchlist or set alerts.
- You need patron plan ($10/month) unlocks 5+ years of history versus 1 year on free, enables csv historical export, and expands watchlist capacity to ~50 securities.
Consider alternatives if…
- You want broader category coverage in one tool.
- Neither pricing tier fits your budget.
Side-by-side feature breakdown
| Attribute | FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) | IBorrowDesk |
|---|---|---|
Asset types | StocksETFsMutual FundsBondsCommoditiesCurrencies | StocksETFs |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAm |
Data freshness | 15-min DelayedEnd of Day | 15-min DelayedEnd of Day |
API access | Not specified | Not specified |
Export formats | PDF | CSV |
Seen enough? Open either tool and try it now.
Pricing breakdown
Tool
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)
—
Starting price
Plans & pricing
Tool
IBorrowDesk
$10/mo
Starting price
Plans & pricing
Coverage overlap
Categories covered by FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) only.
Community category leaders
Vote sentiment comparison
Loading sentiment chart...
Still deciding? Get hands-on with both — most plans offer a free tier or trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and IBorrowDesk?
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) focuses on Portfolio, Watchlist, and Alerts while IBorrowDesk specializes in Short Interest, Watchlist, and Alerts. They overlap in 2 categories, so choose based on your preferred workflow and pricing.
How much do FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and IBorrowDesk cost?
Good news—both FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and IBorrowDesk offer free plans. You can try each platform without commitment and only pay when you need premium features.
Can I use FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) or IBorrowDesk on my phone?
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) has a mobile app so you can check your research on the go. IBorrowDesk is web-only, so you'll need a browser to access it from mobile devices.
Should I choose FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) or IBorrowDesk?
Choose FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) if you need Comprehensive tools hub including watchlists, portfolio tracking, alerts, equities and fund screeners, and a compound growth calculator (beta)., and Free accounts allow users to build watchlists, track portfolios, and set price or news alerts directly from instrument pages.. Go with IBorrowDesk if Borrow fee percentages and shortable share availability, sourced directly from Interactive Brokers public datasets., and Intraday refresh cadence: ~15 minutes during North American trading hours; hourly outside of them on weekdays. better fits how you invest.
What asset classes do FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and IBorrowDesk cover?
Both cover Stocks, and ETFs. FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) also includes Mutual Funds, Bonds, Commodities, and Currencies.
Can I export data from FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and IBorrowDesk?
IBorrowDesk supports data exports to CSV. FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) has more limited export options.
Which has a better stock screener—FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) or IBorrowDesk?
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) includes a stock screener for finding investment ideas. IBorrowDesk focuses on other analytical tools.
Can I track my portfolio with FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) or IBorrowDesk?
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) offers portfolio tracking features. IBorrowDesk is more focused on research and analysis.
Other tools you might like
These profiles share overlapping coverage with both sides of this matchup.
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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.