Tool Comparison
GuruFocus vs SEC API (sec-api.io)
- Paid from
- $45.75/mo
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile, API
Best if
- You want the cheaper way in: plans start at $45.75/mo instead of $55/mo
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners.
- Paid from
- $55/mo
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, API
Best if
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You want regulatory filings monitoring and management compensation.
Start here
GuruFocus
Free • From $549/yr · Web · Mobile · API
- You want the cheaper way in: plans start at $45.75/mo instead of $55/mo
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners.
Pick SEC API (sec-api.io) instead if
SEC API (sec-api.io)
Free • From $55/mo · Web · API
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You want regulatory filings monitoring and management compensation.
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
GuruFocus and SEC API (sec-api.io) cover a lot of the same ground (5 shared categories, including institutional ownership, APIs & data feeds, and IPO), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. GuruFocus simply does more: 49 categories to SEC API (sec-api.io)'s 7, including stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners, plus a mobile app. SEC API (sec-api.io) counters by keeping things simpler.
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Key differences at a glance
- Cheaper paid plan
- GuruFocus$45.75/mo vs $55/mo
- Free trial
- GuruFocus7 days
- Broader coverage
- GuruFocus49 vs 7 categories
- Mobile app
- GuruFocus
- Real-time data
- SEC API (sec-api.io)
- Broker sync
- GuruFocus
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 SEC API (sec-api.io) does best
- Search tools across SEC filings through query and full-text APIs covering all EDGAR form types and historical filings back to 1993.
- Real-time WebSocket filing streams when new SEC filings need to trigger alerts, workflows, or downstream processing quickly.
- Convert XBRL filings to standardized JSON financial statements for income statement, balance sheet, cash flow, and US GAAP line-item workflows.
- Extract clean filing sections such as MD&A, Risk Factors, and other 10-K, 10-Q, or 8-K sections for research or AI pipelines.
- Access to specialized APIs for Forms 3/4/5, 13F, 13D/G, Form 144, ADV, S-1, 424B4, Form C, Form D, Reg A, N-PORT, N-PX, and N-CEN data.
Side by side
Pricing comparison
See for yourself
Side by side
Price, platforms, data, and market coverage.ShowHide
Side by side
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free • From $549/yr | Free • From $55/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | 7 days | — |
Plan limits | 57 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 +55 more | 9 limits: Free Tier: api calls: 100, Personal & Startups: query api rate limit: 20 requests/second/API key +7 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 | 7 |
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 | Latency: Real-time |
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 SEC API (sec-api.io) |
Standout features
The best features of GuruFocus and SEC API (sec-api.io).ShowHide
Standout features
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 SEC API (sec-api.io) does best
- Search tools across SEC filings through query and full-text APIs covering all EDGAR form types and historical filings back to 1993.
- Real-time WebSocket filing streams when new SEC filings need to trigger alerts, workflows, or downstream processing quickly.
- Convert XBRL filings to standardized JSON financial statements for income statement, balance sheet, cash flow, and US GAAP line-item workflows.
- Extract clean filing sections such as MD&A, Risk Factors, and other 10-K, 10-Q, or 8-K sections for research or AI pipelines.
- Access to specialized APIs for Forms 3/4/5, 13F, 13D/G, Form 144, ADV, S-1, 424B4, Form C, Form D, Reg A, N-PORT, N-PX, and N-CEN data.
All details
Every attribute we track for GuruFocus and SEC API (sec-api.io).ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsBondsMutual FundsOptionsFundsOther | StocksETFsMutual FundsFunds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsValue InvestorsQuality InvestorsDividend InvestorsAnalystsQuants/Developers+3 more | Not specified |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | North America |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and CIK | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker and CUSIP |
| 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 | RESTWebSocket |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKeySDKs: Python and GoDocs | Auth: APIKeySDKs: Python and TS |
Import methods | CSVBrokerOAuthManual | Not specified |
Integrations | GuruFocus Data APIGuruFocus MCP ServerGuruFocus Excel Add-inGuruFocus Google Sheets Add-onSnapTrade | Not specified |
Export formats | CSVExcelJSON | JSONPDF |
| 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 | Data2Value GmbHSupport: Email |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 4/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing
Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.ShowHide
Pricing
| 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 Tier”api calls: 100 |
| Entry paid plan | $549/yr≈ $45.75/mo“Premium”billing: Annual only · region price: $549/year for USA, Asia, or Europe; $369/year for several other regions · +7 more | $55/mo“Personal & Startups”query api rate limit: 20 requests/second/API key · included download gbper month: 50 · +2 more |
| Tier 2 | $200/mo“Data API Builder”billing: Billed annually · monthly request limit: No limit · +12 more | $239/mo“Business (Internal Use)”query api rate limit: 40 requests/second/API key · included download gbper month: 100 · +2 more |
| Tier 3 | $2000/mo“Data API Commercial”billing: Billed annually · monthly request limit: No limit · +1 more | — |
| Tier 4 | Subscription“Premium Plus”billing: Annual only · public price: Current rendered pricing could not establish the Premium Plus amount · +4 more | — |
| Tier 5 | Subscription“Professional”billing: Annual only · public price: Current rendered pricing could not establish the Professional amount · +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“Enterprise & Institutions” |
| Free trial | 7 days | — |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between GuruFocus and SEC API (sec-api.io)?
GuruFocus leans toward stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners, while SEC API (sec-api.io) puts more weight on APIs & data feeds, regulatory filings monitoring, and insider data. They overlap in 5 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do GuruFocus and SEC API (sec-api.io) cost?
Good news: both GuruFocus and SEC API (sec-api.io) have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Can I use GuruFocus or SEC API (sec-api.io) on my phone?
GuruFocus lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. SEC API (sec-api.io) doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web and API.
Do GuruFocus and SEC API (sec-api.io) 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 SEC API (sec-api.io)?
It depends on what you're after. Pick GuruFocus if stock ideas and screeners matter to you; go with SEC API (sec-api.io) if you'd rather have regulatory filings monitoring and management compensation. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do GuruFocus and SEC API (sec-api.io) cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and funds. GuruFocus also handles bonds, options, and other.
Does GuruFocus or SEC API (sec-api.io) have real-time data?
SEC API (sec-api.io) 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 SEC API (sec-api.io)?
GuruFocus has documented international coverage (North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, and more), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. SEC API (sec-api.io) is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from GuruFocus and SEC API (sec-api.io)?
GuruFocus exports to CSV and Excel. SEC API (sec-api.io) is stingier about getting data out.
Can GuruFocus or SEC API (sec-api.io) connect to my broker?
GuruFocus syncs with brokers automatically. With SEC API (sec-api.io), you're entering holdings by hand or importing files.
Which has a better stock screener: GuruFocus or SEC API (sec-api.io)?
GuruFocus has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; SEC API (sec-api.io) doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with GuruFocus or SEC API (sec-api.io)?
GuruFocus handles portfolio tracking. SEC API (sec-api.io) is really a research tool; you'd track your portfolio elsewhere.
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