VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ A CURATED DIRECTORY OF FINANCIAL TOOLS AND RESOURCES ★

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Friday, December 26, 2025

Tool Comparison

Google Finance vs Total Real Returns comparison

Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.

Quick takeaways

Google Finance adds Watchlist, Portfolio, News, Stock Comparison, Financials, ETF Overview, and ETF Holdings coverage that Total Real Returns skips.

Total Real Returns includes Risk Metrics categories that Google Finance omits.

In depth comparison

Google Finance

google.com

Editor’s pick Hands-on review

Free web portal for quotes, charts, news, watchlists, and simple portfolio tracking. Portfolios can include stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, and crypto, with returns shown using time-weighted calculations. Data freshness varies by source: some exchanges stream in real time, while others are delayed (e.g., 15 minutes for many equities, 10 minutes for CME futures, end-of-day for mutual funds). Currency and crypto quotes update every few minutes. Google Sheets supports the GOOGLEFINANCE() function for live data pulls, though no public REST API is offered.

Platforms

Web

Pricing

Free

Quick highlights

Custom watchlists to follow securities and markets, with tailored news feeds for tracked symbols.
Simple portfolio tools: add holdings with quantity, cost basis, and date; convert watchlists to portfolios; experiment with simulated “playground” portfolios; switch portfolio currency.
Performance tracking with one-day and total returns, plus portfolio value charts. Comparisons are based on time-weighted rate of return (TWR).
Interactive charts, quotes, and aggregated financial news across global markets.
Coverage across multiple asset classes with varied latency: U.S. equities often real-time, international equities typically 15-minute delay, futures about 10 minutes, crypto and currencies ~3 minutes, and mutual funds end-of-day.

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Total Real Returns

totalrealreturns.com

Web tool for CPI-U inflation-adjusted ("real") and nominal total return charts with dividends reinvested, plus returns tables and drawdowns (EOD; daily updates ~8pm ET).

Platforms

Web

Pricing

Free

Quick highlights

CPI-U inflation-adjusted "Total Real Return" charts with dividends reinvested (purchasing-power view).
Toggle inflation adjustment on/off (real vs. nominal dollars) on chart pages.
Compare multiple symbols on a single chart by entering comma-separated tickers.
Controls for custom date ranges and normalization modes (Start=1, End=1, IPO=1, Off).
Per-symbol performance breakdown includes overall return, exponential trendline/annualized rates (with R^2), growth of $10,000, annual returns, and drawdowns.

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Where they differ

Google Finance

Distinct strengths include:

Watchlist Portfolio News Stock Comparison Financials ETF Overview ETF Holdings

Custom watchlists to follow securities and markets, with tailored news feeds for tracked symbols.
Simple portfolio tools: add holdings with quantity, cost basis, and date; convert watchlists to portfolios; experiment with simulated “playground” portfolios; switch portfolio currency.
Performance tracking with one-day and total returns, plus portfolio value charts. Comparisons are based on time-weighted rate of return (TWR).
Interactive charts, quotes, and aggregated financial news across global markets.

Total Real Returns

Distinct strengths include:

Risk Metrics

CPI-U inflation-adjusted "Total Real Return" charts with dividends reinvested (purchasing-power view).
Toggle inflation adjustment on/off (real vs. nominal dollars) on chart pages.
Compare multiple symbols on a single chart by entering comma-separated tickers.
Controls for custom date ranges and normalization modes (Start=1, End=1, IPO=1, Off).

Feature-by-feature breakdown

Attribute	Google Finance	Total Real Returns
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets	Shared: Data Visualizations Unique: Watchlist, Portfolio, News, Stock Comparison, Financials, ETF Overview, ETF Holdings	Shared: Data Visualizations Unique: Risk Metrics
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes	Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Currencies, Cryptos, Futures, Bonds	Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Currencies
Experience levels Who each product is built for	Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced	Beginner, Intermediate
Platforms Where you can access the product	Web	Web
Pricing High-level pricing models	Free	Free
Key features Core capabilities called out by each vendor	Unique Custom watchlists to follow securities and markets, with tailored news feeds for tracked symbols. Simple portfolio tools: add holdings with quantity, cost basis, and date; convert watchlists to portfolios; experiment with simulated “playground” portfolios; switch portfolio currency. Performance tracking with one-day and total returns, plus portfolio value charts. Comparisons are based on time-weighted rate of return (TWR). Interactive charts, quotes, and aggregated financial news across global markets. Coverage across multiple asset classes with varied latency: U.S. equities often real-time, international equities typically 15-minute delay, futures about 10 minutes, crypto and currencies ~3 minutes, and mutual funds end-of-day. Google Sheets integration via =GOOGLEFINANCE() for fetching current and historical data (with limits on coverage, frequency, and history depth).	Unique CPI-U inflation-adjusted "Total Real Return" charts with dividends reinvested (purchasing-power view). Toggle inflation adjustment on/off (real vs. nominal dollars) on chart pages. Compare multiple symbols on a single chart by entering comma-separated tickers. Controls for custom date ranges and normalization modes (Start=1, End=1, IPO=1, Off). Per-symbol performance breakdown includes overall return, exponential trendline/annualized rates (with R^2), growth of $10,000, annual returns, and drawdowns. Instrument pages include common stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and a USDOLLAR cash/currency series.
Tested Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat	Yes	Not yet
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists	Highlighted	Standard listing

Frequently Asked Questions

Which workflows do Google Finance and Total Real Returns both support?

Both platforms cover Data Visualizations workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.

Do Google Finance and Total Real Returns require subscriptions?

Both Google Finance and Total Real Returns keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.

How can you access Google Finance and Total Real Returns?

Both Google Finance and Total Real Returns prioritize web or desktop access. Investors wanting a mobile-first workflow may need to rely on responsive web views.

What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?

Google Finance differentiates itself with Custom watchlists to follow securities and markets, with tailored news feeds for tracked symbols., Simple portfolio tools: add holdings with quantity, cost basis, and date; convert watchlists to portfolios; experiment with simulated “playground” portfolios; switch portfolio currency., and Performance tracking with one-day and total returns, plus portfolio value charts. Comparisons are based on time-weighted rate of return (TWR)., whereas Total Real Returns stands out for CPI-U inflation-adjusted "Total Real Return" charts with dividends reinvested (purchasing-power view)., Toggle inflation adjustment on/off (real vs. nominal dollars) on chart pages., and Compare multiple symbols on a single chart by entering comma-separated tickers..

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