★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Source check: SMARTBROKER+ checked July 17, 2026
Tool Comparison
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) vs SMARTBROKER+
Start here
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)
Free • Paid plans available · Web · Mobile
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- You care about alerts, compounding calculator, and screeners, things SMARTBROKER+ doesn't offer
Pick SMARTBROKER+ instead if
SMARTBROKER+
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
- You care about brokerage and downloadable tax reports, things FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) doesn't offer
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
See alternativesOutbound links may include affiliate or sponsor codes.
Our take
The bottom line
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and SMARTBROKER+ cover a lot of the same ground (2 shared categories, portfolio and watchlist), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) simply does more: 10 categories to SMARTBROKER+'s 4, including alerts, compounding calculator, and screeners. SMARTBROKER+ counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
SMARTBROKER+
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Key differences at a glance
- Free plan
- FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)
- Broader coverage
- FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)10 vs 4 categories
- Asset coverage
- FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times)Adds commodities and currencies
See for yourself
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.ShowHide
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free • Paid plans available | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction |
Free tier | Yes | No |
Free trial | — | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | No | — |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 10 | 4 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa | Europe |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 4 signals: Latency: 15-min Delayed and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +2 more | — |
Capabilities | Universe builder | — |
| Try it | Visit FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) | Visit SMARTBROKER+ |
Where each one shines
What FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and SMARTBROKER+ each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and SMARTBROKER+ each do best.What FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) does best
- Tracking global equities, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, commodities, and currencies through FT market pages.
- Watchlists, portfolio tracking, alerts, equity screeners, fund screeners, and a compound growth calculator from the markets tools hub.
- Tools for building watchlists and manual portfolios with a free FT account, then connect instrument pages to related FT news.
- Support for setting price or news alerts and manage delivery through the site or myFT email preferences.
- World Markets and sector pages for interactive charts, overlays, and performance comparisons.
What SMARTBROKER+ does best
- Stocks, ETFs, ETCs, funds, bonds and exchange-traded derivatives across German and international venues.
- Conditional €0 gettex execution from €500 and €1 execution below that threshold.
- Fee-free eligible stock, ETF, ETC, fund and crypto-ETP savings-plan execution from €1.
- Free securities custody, settlement account and optional foreign-currency accounts.
- Web and mobile access with watchlists, price alerts and portfolio views.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and SMARTBROKER+, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and SMARTBROKER+, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsMutual FundsBondsCommoditiesCurrencies | StocksETFsMutual FundsBonds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | Europe |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker | 9 countriesIdentifiers: Ticker and ISIN |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | 15-min DelayedEnd of Day | Not specified |
Data granularity | EOD | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
Import methods | Manual | Not specified |
Export formats | PDF | CSVPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Universe builder | Not specified |
Vendor & support | The Financial Times Ltd.Country: United KingdomSupport: Email | Smartbroker AGCountry: GermanySupport: Phone and Email |
Curation ratings | Methodology 4/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 | Not specified |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.ShowHide
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free“Free (Registered)” | — |
| Entry paid plan | Subscription“FT Digital (Subscriber)” | — |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and SMARTBROKER+?
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) leans toward portfolio, watchlist, and alerts, while SMARTBROKER+ puts more weight on brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist. They overlap in 2 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
Is FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) or SMARTBROKER+ free to use?
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) has a free tier, so you can get started without paying anything. SMARTBROKER+ is paid-only. If budget matters, start with FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and see how far it takes you before opening your wallet.
Should I choose FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) or SMARTBROKER+?
It depends on what you're after. Pick FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) if alerts and compounding calculator matter to you; go with SMARTBROKER+ if you'd rather have brokerage and downloadable tax reports. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and SMARTBROKER+ cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds. FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) also handles commodities and currencies.
Can I export data from FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) and SMARTBROKER+?
SMARTBROKER+ exports to CSV. FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) is stingier about getting data out.
Which has a better stock screener: FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) or SMARTBROKER+?
FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; SMARTBROKER+ doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with FT Markets (Markets data - Financial Times) or SMARTBROKER+?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: 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.