VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON
Tool details checked August 23, 2026
Tool Comparison
GuruFocus vs OTC Markets
Start here
GuruFocus
Free • From $549/yr · Web · Mobile · API
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want stock ideas, ETF screeners, and top analysts.
- You're a long-term investor who cares more about fundamentals than headlines
Pick OTC Markets instead if
OTC Markets
Free • Contact for pricing · Web · API · Other
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You want order book / level II and official sources.
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 OTC Markets cover a lot of the same ground (4 shared categories, including screeners, news, and APIs & data feeds), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. GuruFocus simply does more: 49 categories to OTC Markets's 6, including stock ideas, ETF screeners, and top analysts, plus a mobile app. OTC Markets counters by being completely free.
What readers say
GuruFocus
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OTC Markets
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Key differences at a glance
- Real-time data
- OTC Markets
- Free trial
- GuruFocus7 days
- Broader coverage
- GuruFocus49 vs 6 categories
- Mobile app
- GuruFocus
- Global coverage
- GuruFocus
- Asset coverage
- GuruFocusAdds ETFs and mutual funds
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 • Contact for pricing |
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 | Market Data Licensing: note: Level 2 includes Level 1. CUSIP and Global OTC require additional ent... and OTC Disclosure API: rate limit per min: 1,000 |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | No |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Broker sync | Yes | — |
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 | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +3 more |
Categories covered | 49 | 6 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa | North America |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 5 signals: Latency: End of Day, Granularity: EOD +3 more | 3 signals: Latency: Streaming, 15-min Delayed, and End of Day, Granularity: Tick and EOD +1 more |
Data partners | 5 partners: QuoteMedia, Morningstar +3 more | ICE Data Services |
Capabilities | 9 signals: Custom formulas, Ranking backtests +7 more | — |
Security | Status page and Encryption in transit | — |
| Try it | Visit GuruFocus | Visit OTC Markets |
Where each one shines
What GuruFocus and OTC Markets each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What GuruFocus and OTC Markets 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 OTC Markets does best
- Research OTCQX, OTCQB, OTCID, Pink Limited, and Expert Market securities through issuer pages with quotes, charts, financials, news, and tier context.
- The OTC Markets Stock Screener to narrow OTC securities before moving into issuer pages, filings, quote history, and disclosure context.
- License real-time Level 1 and Level 2 feeds for quotes, trades, reference data, and market-participant depth.
- Level 2+ for quote-book depth and market-participant information, with licensing that also includes Level 1 access.
- Use end-of-day files for closing trades, quotes, Caveat Emptor flags, and market tier.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for GuruFocus and OTC Markets, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for GuruFocus and OTC Markets, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsBondsMutual FundsOptionsFundsOther | StocksBonds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsValue InvestorsQuality InvestorsDividend InvestorsAnalystsQuants/Developers+3 more | Retail TradersPro RetailInstitutional InvestorsAnalystsQuants/Developers |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | North America |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and CIK | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker and CUSIP |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | End of Day | Streaming15-min DelayedEnd of Day |
Data granularity | EOD | TickEOD |
Pricing sources | ExchangeVendorModel | Not specified |
Data partners | QuoteMediaMorningstarRefinitivFREDSEC / local regulators | ICE Data Services |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | REST |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKeySDKs: Python and GoDocs | Auth: APIKey1,000 req/minDocs |
Import methods | CSVBrokerOAuthManual | Not specified |
Integrations | GuruFocus Data APIGuruFocus MCP ServerGuruFocus Excel Add-inGuruFocus Google Sheets Add-onSnapTrade | Not specified |
Export formats | CSVExcelJSON | JSONCSVXML |
| 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 | OTC Markets Group Inc.Country: United StatesSupport: Email and Phone |
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“Public Website” |
| Entry paid plan | $549/yr≈ $45.75/mo“Premium”billing: Annual only · data api requests: 200/month included with Premium membership · +2 more | Subscription“Market Data Licensing”note: Level 2 includes Level 1. CUSIP and Global OTC require additional ent... |
| Tier 2 | $1398/yr≈ $116.50/mo“Premium Plus”billing: Annual only · data api requests: 500/month included with Premium Plus membership · +2 more | — |
| Tier 3 | $200/mo“Data API Builder”billing: Billed annually · monthly request limit: No limit · +12 more | — |
| 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” | Contact sales“OTC Disclosure API”rate limit per min: 1,000 |
| Free trial | 7 days | — |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between GuruFocus and OTC Markets?
GuruFocus leans toward stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners, while OTC Markets puts more weight on screeners, news, and APIs & data feeds. They overlap in 4 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do GuruFocus and OTC Markets cost?
Good news: both GuruFocus and OTC Markets have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Can I use GuruFocus or OTC Markets on my phone?
GuruFocus lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. OTC Markets doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web, API, and other.
Do GuruFocus and OTC Markets 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 OTC Markets?
It depends on what you're after. Pick GuruFocus if stock ideas and ETF screeners matter to you; go with OTC Markets if you'd rather have order book / level II and official sources. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do GuruFocus and OTC Markets cover?
Both cover stocks and bonds. GuruFocus also handles ETFs, mutual funds, and options.
Does GuruFocus or OTC Markets have real-time data?
OTC Markets 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.
Which covers international markets: GuruFocus or OTC Markets?
GuruFocus has documented international coverage (North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, and more), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. OTC Markets is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from GuruFocus and OTC Markets?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Which has a better stock screener: GuruFocus or OTC Markets?
Both GuruFocus and OTC Markets 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 OTC Markets?
GuruFocus handles portfolio tracking. OTC Markets is really a research tool; you'd track your portfolio elsewhere.
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