VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Investors comparing Ghostfolio and USAspending will find that Both Ghostfolio and USAspending concentrate on Data Visualizations, and APIs & SDKs workflows, making them natural alternatives for similar investment research jobs. Ghostfolio leans into Portfolio, which can be decisive for teams that need depth over breadth. USAspending stands out with Data APIs, Videos, and Other that the competition lacks. Use the feature-by-feature table to inspect unique capabilities and confirm which roadmap best maps to your process.
Head-to-head
Ghostfolio vs USAspending
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
- Ghostfolio adds Portfolio coverage that USAspending skips.
- USAspending includes Data APIs, Videos, and Other categories that Ghostfolio omits.
- Ghostfolio highlights: Track net worth and portfolios across cash, stocks, ETFs, and crypto in a privacy-first, open-source app., Manage transactions with full CRUD, multiple accounts, return-on-investment timelines (Today, WTD, MTD, YTD, 1Y, 5Y, Max), risk checks, charts, and customizable dark/zen modes., and Self-hosting supported with official Docker images (amd64/arm variants), plus templates for platforms like CasaOS, Home Assistant, Runtipi, TrueCharts, Umbrel, and Unraid..
- USAspending is known for: Advanced Search & profiles across awards, recipients, agencies, federal accounts; filters include date, place of performance, NAICS/PSC, Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA), DEFC for COVID/infrastructure., Spending Explorer and Agency/Federal Account profiles for top‑down views of obligations/outlays and drill‑downs by budget hierarchy., and Public REST API that powers the website (GET & POST endpoints; JSON responses); tutorial and contracts for commonly used endpoints..
- Ghostfolio ships a mobile app. USAspending is web/desktop only.
Ghostfolio
ghostfol.io
An open-source (AGPL-3.0) portfolio and net-worth tracker designed with privacy in mind. You can self-host it for free using Docker or opt for Ghostfolio Premium, a fully managed cloud version (~$40/year). There’s no broker OAuth; data comes in via manual entry, CSV uploads, or API. Runs as a PWA with mobile access and even allows anonymous sign-ups.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Track net worth and portfolios across cash, stocks, ETFs, and crypto in a privacy-first, open-source app.
- Manage transactions with full CRUD, multiple accounts, return-on-investment timelines (Today, WTD, MTD, YTD, 1Y, 5Y, Max), risk checks, charts, and customizable dark/zen modes.
- Self-hosting supported with official Docker images (amd64/arm variants), plus templates for platforms like CasaOS, Home Assistant, Runtipi, TrueCharts, Umbrel, and Unraid.
- Public REST API with bearer-token authentication for importing activities, duplicate detection, and publishing public portfolio endpoints. Data sources include Yahoo Finance and CoinGecko, alongside manual inputs.
- CSV import for trades and positions (with specific improvements for brokers like IBKR noted in changelogs).
USAspending
usaspending.gov
Official U.S. federal spending open‑data portal mandated by the DATA Act and operated by Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service. The public REST API powers the site (GET/POST endpoints, JSON responses). Data refreshes daily after a nightly pipeline; underlying source systems update on different cadences (e.g., monthly for Files A/B/C via the DATA Act Broker; next‑day for FPDS contracts; FABS within 2 weeks; FSRS subawards by month‑end; GTAS monthly). Bulk downloads and archives are available for awards back to FY2008.
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Advanced Search & profiles across awards, recipients, agencies, federal accounts; filters include date, place of performance, NAICS/PSC, Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA), DEFC for COVID/infrastructure.
- Spending Explorer and Agency/Federal Account profiles for top‑down views of obligations/outlays and drill‑downs by budget hierarchy.
- Public REST API that powers the website (GET & POST endpoints; JSON responses); tutorial and contracts for commonly used endpoints.
- Bulk data: Award Data Archive (pre‑generated, by agency/fiscal year), Custom Award Data, Custom Account Data, and full Database Download.
- Award coverage: contracts, contract IDVs, grants, direct payments, loans, insurance, other financial assistance; prime awards and subawards (FSRS).
Shared focus areas
Both platforms align on these research themes, so you can stay within one workflow when your use case involves them.
Where they differ
Ghostfolio
Distinct strengths include:
- Track net worth and portfolios across cash, stocks, ETFs, and crypto in a privacy-first, open-source app.
- Manage transactions with full CRUD, multiple accounts, return-on-investment timelines (Today, WTD, MTD, YTD, 1Y, 5Y, Max), risk checks, charts, and customizable dark/zen modes.
- Self-hosting supported with official Docker images (amd64/arm variants), plus templates for platforms like CasaOS, Home Assistant, Runtipi, TrueCharts, Umbrel, and Unraid.
- Public REST API with bearer-token authentication for importing activities, duplicate detection, and publishing public portfolio endpoints. Data sources include Yahoo Finance and CoinGecko, alongside manual inputs.
USAspending
Distinct strengths include:
- Advanced Search & profiles across awards, recipients, agencies, federal accounts; filters include date, place of performance, NAICS/PSC, Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA), DEFC for COVID/infrastructure.
- Spending Explorer and Agency/Federal Account profiles for top‑down views of obligations/outlays and drill‑downs by budget hierarchy.
- Public REST API that powers the website (GET & POST endpoints; JSON responses); tutorial and contracts for commonly used endpoints.
- Bulk data: Award Data Archive (pre‑generated, by agency/fiscal year), Custom Award Data, Custom Account Data, and full Database Download.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | Ghostfolio | USAspending |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Data Visualizations, APIs & SDKs Unique: Portfolio | Shared: Data Visualizations, APIs & SDKs Unique: Data APIs, Videos, Other |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Stocks, ETFs, Cryptos, Currencies | Other |
Experience levels Who each product is built for | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Platforms Where you can access the product | Web, Mobile, API | Web, API |
Pricing High-level pricing models | Free, Subscription | Free |
Key features Core capabilities called out by each vendor | Unique
| Unique
|
Tested Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat | Not yet | Not yet |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Standard listing | Standard listing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do Ghostfolio and USAspending both support?
Both platforms cover Data Visualizations, and APIs & SDKs workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Do Ghostfolio and USAspending require subscriptions?
Both Ghostfolio and USAspending keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.
Which tool has mobile access?
Ghostfolio ships a dedicated mobile experience, while USAspending focuses on web or desktop access.
What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?
Ghostfolio differentiates itself with Track net worth and portfolios across cash, stocks, ETFs, and crypto in a privacy-first, open-source app., Manage transactions with full CRUD, multiple accounts, return-on-investment timelines (Today, WTD, MTD, YTD, 1Y, 5Y, Max), risk checks, charts, and customizable dark/zen modes., and Self-hosting supported with official Docker images (amd64/arm variants), plus templates for platforms like CasaOS, Home Assistant, Runtipi, TrueCharts, Umbrel, and Unraid., whereas USAspending stands out for Advanced Search & profiles across awards, recipients, agencies, federal accounts; filters include date, place of performance, NAICS/PSC, Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA), DEFC for COVID/infrastructure., Spending Explorer and Agency/Federal Account profiles for top‑down views of obligations/outlays and drill‑downs by budget hierarchy., and Public REST API that powers the website (GET & POST endpoints; JSON responses); tutorial and contracts for commonly used endpoints..
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.