★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) vs MSN Money
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)
Best for portfolio and alerts
Free • Paid plans available
MSN Money
Best for news and calendar
Free
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The verdict
The bottom line
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and MSN Money cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, watchlist, financials, and fund analysis), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. The real difference is focus: only FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) gives you portfolio and alerts, and only MSN Money gives you news and calendar.
Key differences at a glance
- Real-time data
- MSN Money
- Desktop app
- MSN Money
- Asset coverage
- FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)Adds bonds
- Free plan
- Both
Choose
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) if…
- You care about portfolio, alerts, and compounding calculator, things MSN Money doesn't offer
- You've outgrown the basics and want pro-level depth
Choose
MSN Money if…
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You care about news, calendar, and scores, things FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) doesn't offer
Comparison snapshot
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free • Paid plans available | Free |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | No | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | No | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 10 | 8 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 4 signals: Latency: 15-min Delayed and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +2 more | Latency: Real-time, 15-min Delayed, and End of Day and Granularity: EOD |
Capabilities | Universe builder | — |
| Try it | Visit FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) | Visit MSN Money |
Standout features
What FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) does best
- Comprehensive tools hub including watchlists, portfolio tracking, alerts, equities and fund screeners, and a compound growth calculator (beta).
- Free accounts allow users to build watchlists, track portfolios, and set price or news alerts directly from instrument pages.
- Portfolio tool supports manual transaction entry, shows key fundamentals, and integrates related FT news.
- Alerts can be managed on-site or via myFT email preferences.
- World Markets and sector pages offer interactive charts, overlays, and performance comparisons.
What MSN Money does best
- Free finance news aggregation from thousands of publishers in an ad-supported environment.
- Customizable watchlists for stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds; desktop supports multiple lists, while mobile apps manage a single main list.
- Quote latency varies by venue: Microsoft Support says BATS-executed trades are real time, while quotes not traded on BATS appear delayed from the primary listing exchange.
- Fundamentals, charts, and fund data provided by Refinitiv; OTC coverage from OTC Markets; stock “Grades” powered by S&P Global Market Intelligence.
- Earnings calendar and estimates sourced from Zacks Investment Research.
Data & access details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsMutual FundsBondsCommoditiesCurrencies | StocksETFsMutual FundsCommoditiesCurrencies |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediate |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker | 27 exchangesIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | 15-min DelayedEnd of Day | Real-time15-min DelayedEnd of Day |
Data granularity | EOD | EOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
Import methods | Manual | Manual |
Export formats | PDF | Not specified |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Universe builder | Not specified |
Vendor & support | The Financial Times Ltd.Country: United KingdomSupport: Email | Microsoft CorporationCountry: United StatesSupport: Email |
Curation ratings | Methodology 4/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 | Not specified |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing breakdown
Free
Starting price
Plans & pricing
Free
Starting price
Plans & pricing
Coverage overlap
Shared categories
3Where the two tools cover the same ground.
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) strengths
7What you only get with FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times).
MSN Money strengths
5What you only get with MSN Money.
Community category leaders
Vote sentiment comparison
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and MSN Money?
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) leans toward portfolio, watchlist, and alerts, while MSN Money puts more weight on news, calendar, and watchlist. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and MSN Money cost?
Good news: both FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and MSN Money have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Which is better for beginners: FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) or MSN Money?
Honestly, neither is aimed at beginners. Expect a learning curve either way; that's the trade-off for the depth they offer.
Should I choose FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) or MSN Money?
It depends on what you're after. Pick FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) if portfolio and alerts matter to you; go with MSN Money if you'd rather have news and calendar. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and MSN Money cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and commodities. FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) also handles bonds.
Does FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) or MSN Money have real-time data?
MSN Money offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) runs on delayed or end-of-day data, which is perfectly fine for longer-term investors who don't live and die by the tick.
Which has a better stock screener: FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) or MSN Money?
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; MSN Money doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) or MSN Money?
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) handles portfolio tracking. MSN Money is really a research tool; you'd track your portfolio elsewhere.
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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.