★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
GuruFocus vs MarketXLS
GuruFocus
Best for stock ideas and ETF screeners
Free • From $549/yr
MarketXLS
Best for options p&l and monte carlo
From $70/mo
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The verdict
The bottom line
GuruFocus and MarketXLS cover a lot of the same ground (11 shared categories, including screeners, correlation, and portfolio), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. GuruFocus simply does more: 48 categories to MarketXLS's 16, including stock ideas, ETF screeners, and top analysts, plus a mobile app. MarketXLS counters by keeping things simpler.
Key differences at a glance
- Mobile app
- GuruFocus
- Free plan
- GuruFocus
- Cheaper paid plan
- GuruFocus$45.75/mo vs $70/mo
- Free trial
- GuruFocus7 days
- Broader coverage
- GuruFocus48 vs 16 categories
- Desktop app
- MarketXLS
Choose
GuruFocus if…
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- You want the cheaper way in: plans start at $45.75/mo instead of $70/mo
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
Choose
MarketXLS if…
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You care about options p&l, monte carlo, and risk metrics, things GuruFocus doesn't offer
Comparison snapshot
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free • From $549/yr | From $70/mo |
Free tier | Yes | No |
Free trial | 7 days | — |
Plan limits | 41 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 +39 more | 3 limits: Standard: annual price usd: 850, Advanced: annual price usd: 1,500 +1 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | No | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | No |
API access | Yes | No |
Broker sync | Yes | No |
Integrations | GuruFocus Data API, GuruFocus MCP Server +3 more | Interactive Brokers, Thinkorswim +10 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +9 more | — |
Categories covered | 48 | 16 |
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 | 4 signals: Latency: Real-time, 15-min Delayed, and End of Day, Granularity: Minute and EOD +2 more |
Data partners | 5 partners: QuoteMedia, Morningstar +3 more | — |
Capabilities | 8 signals: Custom formulas, Ranking backtests +6 more | 5 signals: Factors: Value, Quality, and Momentum, Multi-leg options +3 more |
Security | Status page and Encryption in transit | Status page |
| Try it | Visit GuruFocus | Visit MarketXLS |
Standout features
What GuruFocus does best
- Research global stocks with long historical financials, valuation data, charts, comparisons, market valuation indicators, economic indicators, industry data, and company-level fundamentals.
- Use 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.
- Backtest screener strategies across many countries with configurable stock count, ranking metric, sort order, date range, and rebalance frequency.
- Use GF Score to compare stocks through a 0-100 framework built around financial strength, profitability, growth, valuation, and momentum.
- Use GF Value to frame fair value from historical multiples, past returns, and analyst estimates, then classify stocks by valuation range.
What MarketXLS does best
- Use MarketXLS in Excel for Windows, Mac, and Excel Online, with 1,000+ spreadsheet functions for market data and analytics.
- Pull quotes, fundamentals, historical statements, ETF data, options data, mutual-fund data, crypto pairs, FRED economic series, and selected technical data into workbooks.
- Use real-time streaming quotes on Advanced and Business plans for covered U.S. and Canadian stocks, ETFs, and options.
- Expect Standard to default to 15-minute delayed stock, ETF, and crypto data, with EOD options, mutual-fund, and economic data as recorded in the profile.
- Analyze options with chains, Greeks, implied-volatility tools, order-flow functions, strategy P&L templates, and symbology conversion.
Data & access details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsBondsMutual FundsOptionsFundsOther | StocksETFsOptionsMutual FundsCurrenciesFuturesCryptos |
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 | Countries: US and CA5 exchangesIdentifiers: Ticker and CUSIP |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | End of Day | Real-time15-min DelayedEnd of Day |
Data granularity | EOD | MinuteEOD |
Pricing sources | ExchangeVendorModel | Not specified |
Data partners | QuoteMediaMorningstarRefinitivFREDSEC / local regulators | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | Not specified |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKeySDKs: Python and GoDocs | Not specified |
Import methods | CSVBrokerOAuthManual | Not specified |
Integrations | GuruFocus Data APIGuruFocus MCP ServerGuruFocus Excel Add-inGuruFocus Google Sheets Add-onSnapTrade | Interactive BrokersThinkorswimTradierOrionCharles Schwab (OpenView Gateway)QuoteMediaIEX CloudNasdaq+4 more |
Export formats | CSVExcelJSON | ExcelCSV |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Status pageEncryption in transit | Status page |
Capability signals | Custom formulasRanking backtestsUniverse builderFactors: Value, Quality, Momentum, and GrowthBroker syncMulti-currencyYield curvesAI summaries: Transcripts | Factors: Value, Quality, and MomentumMulti-leg optionsGreeksMonte CarloCorrelation |
Vendor & support | GuruFocus.com, LLCCountry: United StatesFounded 2004Support: Email, Chat, Phone, and Forum | MarketXLS LimitedCountry: IrelandFounded 2016Support: Email and Phone |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing breakdown
$549/yr
Lower starting price
Plans & pricing
- portfolio 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
- billing: Annual only
- data api requests: 200/month included with Premium membership
- +2 more
- billing: Annual only
- data api requests: 500/month included with Premium Plus membership
- +2 more
- billing: Annual only
- data api requests: 2,000/month included with Professional membership
- requests: 100/month
- billing: Billed annually
- monthly request limit: No limit
- +10 more
- billing: Billed annually
- monthly request limit: No limit
- +1 more
- initial top up: $100 credit
- company profile: $0.10/request
- +10 more
$70/mo
Starting price
Plans & pricing
- annual price usd: 850
- annual price usd: 1,500
- annual price usd: 2,400
Coverage overlap
Shared categories
11Where the two tools cover the same ground.
GuruFocus strengths
37What you only get with GuruFocus.
MarketXLS strengths
5What you only get with MarketXLS.
Community category leaders
Vote sentiment comparison
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between GuruFocus and MarketXLS?
GuruFocus leans toward stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners, while MarketXLS puts more weight on sheets / excel add-ins, broker connectors, and screeners. They overlap in 11 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
Is GuruFocus or MarketXLS free to use?
GuruFocus has a free tier, so you can get started without paying anything. MarketXLS is paid-only. If budget matters, start with GuruFocus and see how far it takes you before opening your wallet.
Can I use GuruFocus or MarketXLS on my phone?
GuruFocus lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. MarketXLS doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is desktop and web.
Does GuruFocus or MarketXLS have an API?
GuruFocus has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. MarketXLS doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose GuruFocus or MarketXLS?
It depends on what you're after. Pick GuruFocus if stock ideas and ETF screeners matter to you; go with MarketXLS if you'd rather have options p&l and monte carlo. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do GuruFocus and MarketXLS cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and options. GuruFocus also handles bonds, funds, and other. MarketXLS adds currencies, futures, and cryptos on top.
Does GuruFocus or MarketXLS have real-time data?
MarketXLS 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 MarketXLS?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV and Excel), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Can GuruFocus or MarketXLS connect to my broker?
GuruFocus syncs with brokers automatically. With MarketXLS, you're entering holdings by hand or importing files.
Which has a better stock screener: GuruFocus or MarketXLS?
Both GuruFocus and MarketXLS 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 MarketXLS?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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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.