VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★

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Saturday, May 23, 2026

Tool Comparison · Saturday, May 23, 2026

FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) vs MarketXLS

FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) vs MarketXLS: which investing tool fits your workflow? Compare pricing, features, platforms, and verdict in seconds.

Quick verdict
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) logo

FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)

markets.ft.com

Best for alerts, and compounding calculator

Pricing
Free
Platforms
Web, Mobile
VS
MarketXLS logo

MarketXLS

marketxls.com

Best for sheets / excel add-ins, and broker connectors

Pricing
Paid
Platforms
Desktop, Web

Outbound links may include affiliate or sponsor codes.

Comparison snapshot

Attribute
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)
MarketXLS
Starting price
Free
Paid
Categories covered
13
21
Web app
Yes
Yes
Mobile app
Yes
No
API access
No
No
Regions
North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa
North America, Europe, APAC

Who should choose which?

Choose

FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) if…

  • You want to start free before paying
  • 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.

Choose

MarketXLS if…

  • You need real-time data, not delayed quotes
  • You need excel add‑in works on windows, mac, and excel online; updates delivered automatically for mac/excel online/office 365 users.
  • You need built‑in real‑time streaming quotes on advanced/business for covered u.s./canadian stocks, etfs, and options; standard defaults to 15‑minute delayed stock/etf/crypto data and eod options/mutual-fund/economic data.
  • You need options analytics: live option chains & greeks, iv tools, order‑flow functions, strategy p&l templates; options symbology converter.

Consider alternatives if…

  • You want broader category coverage in one tool.
  • Neither pricing tier fits your budget.
See alternatives

Side-by-side feature breakdown

AttributeFT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)MarketXLS
Asset types
StocksETFsMutual FundsBondsCommoditiesCurrencies
StocksETFsOptionsMutual FundsCurrenciesFuturesCryptos
Experience
BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced
BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced
Regions
North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica
North AmericaEuropeAPAC
Data freshness
15-min DelayedEnd of Day
Real-time15-min DelayedEnd of Day
API access
Not specifiedNot specified
Export formats
PDF
ExcelCSV

Seen enough? Open either tool and try it now.

Pricing breakdown

Pricing details

Tool

FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)

Starting price

Free tierYes
Free trial

Plans & pricing

Free (Registered)Free
FT Digital (Subscriber)Subscription

Tool

MarketXLS

$70/mo

Starting price

Free tierNo
Free trial

Plans & pricing

Standard$70/mo
Advanced$125/mo
Business$200/mo

Coverage overlap

Community category leaders

AlertsFT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)
Data VisualizationsFT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)
Insider DataFT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)
Browse the #1 tool in 90+ categories

Vote sentiment comparison

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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 MarketXLS?

FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) focuses on Portfolio, Watchlist, and Alerts while MarketXLS specializes in Sheets / Excel Add-ins, Broker Connectors, and Screeners. They overlap in 4 categories, so choose based on your preferred workflow and pricing.

Is FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) or MarketXLS free to use?

FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) offers a free tier that lets you get started without paying, while MarketXLS requires a subscription. If budget is a concern, start with FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and upgrade later if you need more advanced features.

Can I use FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) or MarketXLS on my phone?

FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) 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.

Should I choose FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) or MarketXLS?

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 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 on Advanced/Business for covered U.S./Canadian stocks, ETFs, and options; Standard defaults to 15‑minute delayed stock/ETF/crypto data and EOD options/mutual-fund/economic data. better fits how you invest.

What asset classes do FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and MarketXLS cover?

Both cover Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, and Currencies. FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) also includes Bonds, and Commodities. MarketXLS adds coverage for Options, Futures, and Cryptos.

Does FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) or MarketXLS have real-time data?

MarketXLS offers real-time data feeds, which is essential for active traders. FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) 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 FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and MarketXLS?

MarketXLS supports data exports to Excel, and CSV. FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) has more limited export options.

Can FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) or MarketXLS connect to my broker?

MarketXLS connects with brokers for portfolio syncing. FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) requires manual portfolio entry or data import.

Which has a better stock screener—FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) or MarketXLS?

Both FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and MarketXLS include stock screeners. Try each to see which filtering options and interface you prefer.

Can I track my portfolio with FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) or MarketXLS?

Both platforms include portfolio tracking, so you can monitor your holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.

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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.