★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
GuruFocus vs Insider Screener
Start here
GuruFocus
Free • From $549/yr · Web · Mobile · API
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You care about stock ideas, ETF screeners, and top analysts, things Insider Screener doesn't offer
- You're a long-term investor who cares more about fundamentals than headlines
Pick Insider Screener instead if
Insider Screener
Free • Paid plans available · Web · API
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
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
GuruFocus and Insider Screener cover a lot of the same ground (6 shared categories, including screeners, watchlist, and alerts), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. GuruFocus simply does more: 49 categories to Insider Screener's 6, including stock ideas, ETF screeners, and top analysts, plus a mobile app. Insider Screener counters by being completely free.
What readers say
GuruFocus
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Insider Screener
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Key differences at a glance
- Real-time data
- Insider Screener
- Free trial
- GuruFocus7 days
- Broader coverage
- GuruFocus49 vs 6 categories
- Mobile app
- GuruFocus
- Broker sync
- GuruFocus
- Asset coverage
- GuruFocusAdds ETFs and bonds
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 • From $549/yr | Free • Paid plans available |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | 7 days | — |
Plan limits | 49 limits: Free: portfolio limit: Up to 3 portfolios with 25 stocks each for free members, Free: data api requests: 100/month included in the Free API package +47 more | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | No |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Broker sync | Yes | No |
Integrations | GuruFocus Data API, GuruFocus MCP Server +3 more | — |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +9 more | — |
Categories covered | 49 | 6 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa | North America, Europe, APAC |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 5 signals: Latency: End of Day, Granularity: EOD +3 more | Latency: Real-time |
Data partners | 5 partners: QuoteMedia, Morningstar +3 more | — |
Capabilities | 9 signals: Custom formulas, Ranking backtests +7 more | Universe builder |
Security | Status page and Encryption in transit | — |
| Try it | Visit GuruFocus | Visit Insider Screener |
Where each one shines
What GuruFocus and Insider Screener each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What GuruFocus and Insider Screener each do best.What GuruFocus does best
- Research coverage for global stocks with long historical financials, valuation data, charts, comparisons, market valuation indicators, economic indicators, industry data, and company-level fundamentals.
- The All-in-One Screener with hundreds of filters across fundamentals, valuation, profitability, growth, dividends, guru holdings, insider trades, predefined value screens, custom filters, saved screens, and downloads.
- ETF Screener and ETF GF Scores for filtering and comparing more than 5,000 U.S.
- Corporate and government bond screening by yield, maturity, ratings, coupon structure, outstanding amount, issuer, and industry, plus company-level bond tabs.
- Backtest screener strategies across many countries with configurable stock count, ranking metric, sort order, date range, and rebalance frequency; current membership terms give Premium the latest five years and Premium Plus/Professional history back to 2006.
What Insider Screener does best
- Tracking insider buying and selling across 16 markets, including the U.S., Canada, major European markets, India, and Australia.
- Screening for insider buys, sells, cluster activity, buying-the-dip behavior, executive transactions, and earnings-related trades.
- Standardized cross-market data to compare insider activity across jurisdictions that normally publish filings in different formats.
- Updates that appear within minutes of regulatory filings from regulators and exchanges.
- Support for saving searches, receive daily email reports, and create alerts on paid web tiers.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for GuruFocus and Insider Screener, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for GuruFocus and Insider Screener, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsBondsMutual FundsOptionsFundsOther | Stocks |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsValue InvestorsQuality InvestorsDividend InvestorsAnalystsQuants/Developers+3 more | Not specified |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | North AmericaEuropeAPAC |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and CIK | 14 countriesIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | End of Day | Real-time |
Data granularity | EOD | Not specified |
Pricing sources | ExchangeVendorModel | Not specified |
Data partners | QuoteMediaMorningstarRefinitivFREDSEC / local regulators | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | REST |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKeySDKs: Python and GoDocs | Auth: APIKey |
Import methods | CSVBrokerOAuthManual | Not specified |
Integrations | GuruFocus Data APIGuruFocus MCP ServerGuruFocus Excel Add-inGuruFocus Google Sheets Add-onSnapTrade | Not specified |
Export formats | CSVExcelJSON | CSVExcel |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Status pageEncryption in transit | Not specified |
Capability signals | Custom formulasRanking backtestsUniverse builderFactors: Value, Quality, Momentum, and GrowthBroker syncMulti-currencyYield curvesCredit ratings+1 more | Universe builder |
Vendor & support | GuruFocus.com, LLCCountry: United StatesFounded 2004Support: Email, Chat, Phone, and Forum | insiderscreener.com Inc.Country: United StatesSupport: Email |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
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 | Freeportfolio limit: Up to 3 portfolios with 25 stocks each for free members · data api requests: 100/month included in the Free API package · +1 more | Free“Free (browse/limited)” |
| Entry paid plan | $549/yr≈ $45.75/mo“Premium”billing: Annual only · data api requests: 200/month included with Premium membership · +2 more | Subscription“Plus” |
| Tier 2 | $1398/yr≈ $116.50/mo“Premium Plus”billing: Annual only · data api requests: 500/month included with Premium Plus membership · +2 more | Subscription“Pro” |
| Tier 3 | $200/mo“Data API Builder”billing: Billed annually · monthly request limit: No limit · +12 more | Subscription“Premium” |
| Tier 4 | $2448/yr≈ $204/mo“Professional”billing: Annual only · data api requests: 2,000/month included with Professional membership | Subscription“API Starter (€25/mo)” |
| Tier 5 | $2000/mo“Data API Commercial”billing: Billed annually · monthly request limit: No limit · +1 more | Subscription“API Pro (€85/mo)” |
| Top plan | $100 per unit“Data API Pay As You Go”initial top up: $100 credit · stock daily prices: $0.05/request · +16 more | Subscription“API Research (€299/mo quarterly / €339 monthly)” |
| Custom / enterprise | Contact sales“Custom API / Enterprise Package” | — |
| Free trial | 7 days | — |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between GuruFocus and Insider Screener?
GuruFocus leans toward stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners, while Insider Screener puts more weight on screeners, watchlist, and alerts. They overlap in 6 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do GuruFocus and Insider Screener cost?
Good news: both GuruFocus and Insider Screener have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Can I use GuruFocus or Insider Screener on my phone?
GuruFocus lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. Insider Screener doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web and API.
Do GuruFocus and Insider Screener have APIs?
Yes, both offer API access, so developers and quants can pull data programmatically or wire up their own integrations.
Should I choose GuruFocus or Insider Screener?
It depends on what you're after. Pick GuruFocus if stock ideas and ETF screeners matter to you; go with Insider Screener if you prefer its overall approach. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do GuruFocus and Insider Screener cover?
Both cover stocks. GuruFocus also handles ETFs, bonds, and mutual funds.
Does GuruFocus or Insider Screener have real-time data?
Insider Screener offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. GuruFocus 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.
Can I export data from GuruFocus and Insider Screener?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV and Excel), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Can GuruFocus or Insider Screener connect to my broker?
GuruFocus syncs with brokers automatically. With Insider Screener, you're entering holdings by hand or importing files.
Which has a better stock screener: GuruFocus or Insider Screener?
Both GuruFocus and Insider Screener include stock screeners, and they differ more in interface than raw power; try both and see which one clicks for you.
Can I track my portfolio with GuruFocus or Insider Screener?
GuruFocus handles portfolio tracking. Insider Screener 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.