★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
Ghostfolio vs PortfoliosLab
Pick Ghostfolio instead if
Ghostfolio
Free • Paid plans available · Web · Mobile · API
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
Start here
PortfoliosLab
Free • From $8.33/mo · Web · API
- You care about watchlist, backtesting, and correlation, things Ghostfolio 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
Ghostfolio and PortfoliosLab cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, portfolio, data visualizations, and APIs & data feeds), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. PortfoliosLab simply does more: 17 categories to Ghostfolio's 3, including watchlist, backtesting, and correlation. Ghostfolio counters by being completely free.
What readers say
Ghostfolio
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
PortfoliosLab
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Key differences at a glance
- Mobile app
- Ghostfolio
- Broader coverage
- PortfoliosLab17 vs 3 categories
- Free plan
- Both
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 | Free • From $8.33/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | — | 23 limits: Free: watchlists: 1, Free: watchlist symbols: 100 +21 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | No |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Broker sync | — | No |
Integrations | — | MCP, ChatGPT +1 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders and Long-term Investors | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +6 more |
Categories covered | 3 | 17 |
Regions | — | North America, Europe |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | — | 3 signals: Latency: End of Day, Granularity: EOD +1 more |
Data partners | Yahoo Finance and CoinGecko | — |
Capabilities | — | 6 signals: Factor exposure, VaR/ES +4 more |
Security | Status page | — |
| Try it | Visit Ghostfolio | Visit PortfoliosLab |
Where each one shines
What Ghostfolio and PortfoliosLab each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What Ghostfolio and PortfoliosLab each do best.What Ghostfolio does best
- Self-host an AGPL-3.0 open-source portfolio and personal finance dashboard, or use the managed Ghostfolio Premium cloud.
- Tracking net worth across cash, stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, custom assets, accounts, and platforms.
- Management tools for portfolio activity with transaction create/read/update/delete workflows, imports, exports, charts, static risk analysis, and standard performance timeframes.
- The progressive web app and Android wrapper for mobile-first access to the same Ghostfolio instance.
- Deploy with official Docker images for common architectures and community templates for home-server platforms.
What PortfoliosLab does best
- Backtest portfolios and single instruments with configurable rebalancing, benchmark comparisons, and longer historical windows on paid plans.
- Analysis of performance, drawdowns, volatility, VaR, CVaR, Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, Martin, Treynor, and related risk-adjusted ratios.
- Comparison tools for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, funds, crypto, and currency instruments across performance, risk, drawdown, and diversification views.
- Correlation, alpha/beta, factor, diversification, and optimization tools including mean-variance, risk parity, HRP, and HERC models.
- Screening for stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds with daily-recalculated filters, then export results where the selected plan allows it.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Ghostfolio and PortfoliosLab, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Ghostfolio and PortfoliosLab, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsCryptosOther | StocksETFsMutual FundsFundsCryptosCurrencies |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersLong-term Investors | Retail TradersPro RetailInstitutional InvestorsLong-term InvestorsIndex/Passive InvestorsQuants/DevelopersAnalystsFinancial Advisors |
Regions | Not specified | North AmericaEurope |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker | Countries: US and GBIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Not specified | End of Day |
Data granularity | Not specified | EOD |
Data partners | Yahoo FinanceCoinGecko | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | REST |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKeyDocs | Auth: NoneDocs |
Import methods | CSVManual | ManualCSV |
Integrations | Not specified | MCPChatGPTClaude |
Export formats | JSON | Not specified |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Status page | Not specified |
Capability signals | Not specified | Factor exposureVaR/ESPerformance attributionRebalancingPortfolio factor exposureCorrelation |
Vendor & support | Ghostfolio GmbHCountry: SwitzerlandFounded 2025Support: Email, Chat, and Forum | PortfoliosLabSupport: Email |
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“Self-hosted (Open Source)” | Freewatchlists: 1 · watchlist symbols: 100 · +4 more |
| Entry paid plan | Subscription“Ghostfolio Premium (Cloud)” | $8.33/mo“Plus”watchlists: 5 · private portfolios: 5 · +3 more |
| Tier 2 | — | $20.83/mo“Pro”watchlists: 10 · private portfolios: Unlimited · +3 more |
| Top plan | — | $75/mo“Max”watchlists: 10 · watchlist symbols: 2,000 · +5 more |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Ghostfolio and PortfoliosLab?
Ghostfolio leans toward portfolio, data visualizations, and APIs & data feeds, while PortfoliosLab puts more weight on portfolio, watchlist, and backtesting. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Ghostfolio and PortfoliosLab cost?
Good news: both Ghostfolio and PortfoliosLab have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Can I use Ghostfolio or PortfoliosLab on my phone?
Ghostfolio lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. PortfoliosLab doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web and API.
Do Ghostfolio and PortfoliosLab have APIs?
Yes, both offer API access, so developers and quants can pull data programmatically or wire up their own integrations.
Should I choose Ghostfolio or PortfoliosLab?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Ghostfolio if you prefer its overall approach; go with PortfoliosLab if you'd rather have watchlist and backtesting. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Ghostfolio and PortfoliosLab cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, and cryptos. Ghostfolio also handles other. PortfoliosLab adds mutual funds, funds, and currencies on top.
Are Ghostfolio and PortfoliosLab good for long-term investing?
Yes, both are aimed squarely at long-term investors. Compare their coverage, workflow, and price before assuming they solve the same long-term research job.
Which has a better stock screener: Ghostfolio or PortfoliosLab?
PortfoliosLab has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; Ghostfolio doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with Ghostfolio or PortfoliosLab?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
Keep researching
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Feedback
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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.