★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
GuruFocus vs MarineTraffic
Start here
GuruFocus
Free • From $549/yr · Web · Mobile · API
- You care about stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners, things MarineTraffic doesn't offer
- You're a long-term investor who cares more about fundamentals than headlines
Pick MarineTraffic instead if
MarineTraffic
Free • Paid plans available · Web · Mobile · API
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You care about shipping & trade, something GuruFocus 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
GuruFocus and MarineTraffic cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, data visualizations, alerts, and APIs & data feeds), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. GuruFocus simply does more: 49 categories to MarineTraffic's 4, including stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners. MarineTraffic counters by being completely free.
What readers say
GuruFocus
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
MarineTraffic
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Key differences at a glance
- Real-time data
- MarineTraffic
- Free trial
- GuruFocus7 days
- Broader coverage
- GuruFocus49 vs 4 categories
- Broker sync
- GuruFocus
- Asset coverage
- GuruFocusAdds stocks and ETFs
- 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 • 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 | Yes |
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 | 4 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 5 signals: Latency: End of Day, Granularity: EOD +3 more | Latency: Streaming |
Data partners | 5 partners: QuoteMedia, Morningstar +3 more | — |
Capabilities | 9 signals: Custom formulas, Ranking backtests +7 more | — |
Security | Status page and Encryption in transit | — |
| Try it | Visit GuruFocus | Visit MarineTraffic |
Where each one shines
What GuruFocus and MarineTraffic each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What GuruFocus and MarineTraffic 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 MarineTraffic does best
- Tracking vessels on a live AIS map with filters for ship type, capacity, status, destination, and custom smart filters.
- Tools for creating notifications for port calls, area entries, speed or course changes, drifting, ETA updates, draught updates, proximity events, and AIS coverage changes.
- Email, mobile push, and notification archives to monitor maritime events are available without constantly watching the map.
- Views for reviewing Past Track playback, with history depth varying by plan from limited free access to deeper Enterprise history.
- Route-forecast tools for path previews, ETA detail, and speed detail where the plan supports them.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for GuruFocus and MarineTraffic, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for GuruFocus and MarineTraffic, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsBondsMutual FundsOptionsFundsOther | Other |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsValue InvestorsQuality InvestorsDividend InvestorsAnalystsQuants/Developers+3 more | Not specified |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and CIK | Not specified |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | End of Day | Streaming |
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 | CSVManual |
Integrations | GuruFocus Data APIGuruFocus MCP ServerGuruFocus Excel Add-inGuruFocus Google Sheets Add-onSnapTrade | Not specified |
Export formats | CSVExcelJSON | CSV |
| 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 | Not specified |
Vendor & support | GuruFocus.com, LLCCountry: United StatesFounded 2004Support: Email, Chat, Phone, and Forum | Kpler (MarineTraffic)Support: 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 |
| Entry paid plan | $549/yr≈ $45.75/mo“Premium”billing: Annual only · data api requests: 200/month included with Premium membership · +2 more | Subscription“Basic” |
| 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“Essential” |
| Tier 3 | $200/mo“Data API Builder”billing: Billed annually · monthly request limit: No limit · +12 more | Subscription“Enterprise” |
| Tier 4 | $2448/yr≈ $204/mo“Professional”billing: Annual only · data api requests: 2,000/month included with Professional membership | — |
| Tier 5 | $2000/mo“Data API Commercial”billing: Billed annually · monthly request limit: No limit · +1 more | — |
| Top plan | $100 per unit“Data API Pay As You Go”initial top up: $100 credit · stock daily prices: $0.05/request · +16 more | — |
| Custom / enterprise | Contact sales“Custom API / Enterprise Package” | — |
| Free trial | 7 days | — |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between GuruFocus and MarineTraffic?
GuruFocus leans toward stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners, while MarineTraffic puts more weight on data visualizations, APIs & data feeds, and shipping & trade. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do GuruFocus and MarineTraffic cost?
Good news: both GuruFocus and MarineTraffic have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Do GuruFocus and MarineTraffic 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 MarineTraffic?
It depends on what you're after. Pick GuruFocus if stock ideas and screeners matter to you; go with MarineTraffic if you'd rather have shipping & trade. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do GuruFocus and MarineTraffic cover?
Both cover other. GuruFocus also handles stocks, ETFs, and bonds.
Does GuruFocus or MarineTraffic have real-time data?
MarineTraffic 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 MarineTraffic?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Can GuruFocus or MarineTraffic connect to my broker?
GuruFocus syncs with brokers automatically. With MarineTraffic, you're entering holdings by hand or importing files.
Which has a better stock screener: GuruFocus or MarineTraffic?
GuruFocus has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; MarineTraffic doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with GuruFocus or MarineTraffic?
GuruFocus handles portfolio tracking. MarineTraffic 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.