★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
GuruFocus vs SEC.gov (EDGAR)
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, screeners, and ETF screeners, things SEC.gov (EDGAR) doesn't offer
- You're a long-term investor who cares more about fundamentals than headlines
Pick SEC.gov (EDGAR) instead if
SEC.gov (EDGAR)
Free · Web · API
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You care about official sources and regulatory filings monitoring, things 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 SEC.gov (EDGAR) cover a lot of the same ground (7 shared categories, including institutional ownership, alerts, and APIs & data feeds), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. GuruFocus simply does more: 49 categories to SEC.gov (EDGAR)'s 9, including stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners, plus a mobile app. SEC.gov (EDGAR) counters by being completely free.
What readers say
GuruFocus
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SEC.gov (EDGAR)
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Key differences at a glance
- Real-time data
- SEC.gov (EDGAR)
- Free trial
- GuruFocus7 days
- Broader coverage
- GuruFocus49 vs 9 categories
- Mobile app
- GuruFocus
- Global coverage
- GuruFocus
- Asset coverage
- GuruFocusAdds bonds and options
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 |
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 | Free: automated access policy: Automated access is monitored; the current max request rate is 10 req... |
| 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 | data.sec.gov public APIs, EDGAR RSS Feeds +2 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +9 more | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +4 more |
Categories covered | 49 | 9 |
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 and Timezone: America/New_York |
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.gov (EDGAR) |
Where each one shines
What GuruFocus and SEC.gov (EDGAR) each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What GuruFocus and SEC.gov (EDGAR) 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 SEC.gov (EDGAR) does best
- Search tools across and open official EDGAR filings for U.S. public companies, funds, insiders, institutional managers, IPOs, registration statements, proxy materials, and current reports.
- Company Search, Full Text Search, Latest Filings, Mutual Fund Search, CIK lookup, SIC lookup, EDGAR RSS feeds, and filing assistance tools from one official source.
- Search tools across full filing text since 2001, including exhibits and attachments, with filters for ticker, company, CIK, reporter name, form type, filing date, location, and incorporation jurisdiction.
- Monitoring latest filings in near real time and use RSS feeds or search pages as the practical free alert layer for public users.
- Data.sec.gov public APIs for company submission histories and XBRL-derived companyconcept, companyfacts, and frames data are available without an API key.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for GuruFocus and SEC.gov (EDGAR), side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for GuruFocus and SEC.gov (EDGAR), side by side.| 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 | Retail TradersPro RetailInstitutional InvestorsAnalystsQuants/DevelopersStudents/Researchers |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | North America |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and CIK | Countries: USIdentifiers: CIK and 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: NoneDocs |
Import methods | CSVBrokerOAuthManual | Not specified |
Integrations | GuruFocus Data APIGuruFocus MCP ServerGuruFocus Excel Add-inGuruFocus Google Sheets Add-onSnapTrade | data.sec.gov public APIsEDGAR RSS FeedsEDGAR Public Dissemination Service (PDS)EDGAR API Development Toolkit for filers |
Export formats | CSVExcelJSON | JSONXMLPDF |
| 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 | U.S. Securities and Exchange CommissionCountry: United StatesSupport: Email |
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 | Freeautomated access policy: Automated access is monitored; the current max request rate is 10 req... |
| Entry paid plan | $549/yr≈ $45.75/mo“Premium”billing: Annual only · data api requests: 200/month included with Premium membership · +2 more | — |
| 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” | — |
| Free trial | 7 days | — |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between GuruFocus and SEC.gov (EDGAR)?
GuruFocus leans toward stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners, while SEC.gov (EDGAR) puts more weight on official sources, regulatory filings monitoring, and improved filings. They overlap in 7 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do GuruFocus and SEC.gov (EDGAR) cost?
Good news: both GuruFocus and SEC.gov (EDGAR) 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.gov (EDGAR) on my phone?
GuruFocus lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. SEC.gov (EDGAR) doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web and API.
Do GuruFocus and SEC.gov (EDGAR) 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.gov (EDGAR)?
It depends on what you're after. Pick GuruFocus if stock ideas and screeners matter to you; go with SEC.gov (EDGAR) if you'd rather have official sources and regulatory filings monitoring. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do GuruFocus and SEC.gov (EDGAR) cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and funds. GuruFocus also handles bonds, options, and other.
Does GuruFocus or SEC.gov (EDGAR) have real-time data?
SEC.gov (EDGAR) 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.gov (EDGAR)?
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.gov (EDGAR) is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from GuruFocus and SEC.gov (EDGAR)?
GuruFocus exports to CSV and Excel. SEC.gov (EDGAR) is stingier about getting data out.
Which has a better stock screener: GuruFocus or SEC.gov (EDGAR)?
GuruFocus has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; SEC.gov (EDGAR) doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with GuruFocus or SEC.gov (EDGAR)?
GuruFocus handles portfolio tracking. SEC.gov (EDGAR) is really a research tool; you'd track your portfolio elsewhere.
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