VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON
Tool details checked September 24, 2026
Tool Comparison
GuruFocus vs Tracefour
Start here
GuruFocus
Free • From $549/yr · Web · Mobile · API
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You want stock ideas, ETF screeners, and top analysts.
Pick Tracefour instead if
Tracefour
Free · Web
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You want market sentiment and reddit.
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 Tracefour cover a lot of the same ground (8 shared categories, including screeners, data visualizations, and watchlist), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. GuruFocus simply does more: 49 categories to Tracefour's 10, including stock ideas, ETF screeners, and top analysts, plus a mobile app. Tracefour counters by being completely free.
What readers say
GuruFocus
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Tracefour
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Key differences at a glance
- Real-time data
- Tracefour
- Free trial
- GuruFocus7 days
- Broader coverage
- GuruFocus49 vs 10 categories
- Mobile app
- GuruFocus
- API access
- GuruFocus
- Asset coverage
- GuruFocusAdds bonds 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
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free • From $549/yr | Free |
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 | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | No |
API access | Yes | No |
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 | — |
Categories covered | 49 | 10 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa | North America, Europe |
| 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 | Universe builder |
Security | Status page and Encryption in transit | — |
| Try it | Visit GuruFocus | Visit Tracefour |
Where each one shines
What GuruFocus and Tracefour each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
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 Tracefour does best
- Heatmaps of insider and director-dealing activity from US, UK, Swedish, German, Dutch, and US Congress disclosures.
- Filters for ticker, market, role, transaction type, sector, date, and trade size.
- Review cluster, aggressive-buy, material, and fresh-trade tags designed to surface higher-signal insider activity.
- Methodology notes that explain how cluster scoring works and why disclosed 10b5-1 planned sales are excluded from that score.
- Company and insider pages with links back to the original regulatory disclosures.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for GuruFocus and Tracefour, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsBondsMutual FundsOptionsFundsOther | StocksETFs |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsValue InvestorsQuality InvestorsDividend InvestorsAnalystsQuants/Developers+3 more | Not specified |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | North AmericaEurope |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and CIK | 5 countriesIdentifiers: Ticker and CIK |
| 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 | 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 | Not specified |
Export formats | CSVExcelJSON | Not specified |
| 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 | Universe builder |
Vendor & support | GuruFocus.com, LLCCountry: United StatesFounded 2004Support: Email, Chat, Phone, and Forum | Not specified |
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
| 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 · region price: $549/year for USA, Asia, or Europe; $369/year for several other regions · +7 more | — |
| Tier 2 | $200/mo“Data API Builder”billing: Billed annually · monthly request limit: No limit · +12 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” | — |
| Free trial | 7 days | — |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between GuruFocus and Tracefour?
GuruFocus leans toward stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners, while Tracefour puts more weight on insider data, screeners, and data visualizations. They overlap in 8 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do GuruFocus and Tracefour cost?
Good news: both GuruFocus and Tracefour have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Can I use GuruFocus or Tracefour on my phone?
GuruFocus lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. Tracefour doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web.
Does GuruFocus or Tracefour have an API?
GuruFocus has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. Tracefour doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose GuruFocus or Tracefour?
It depends on what you're after. Pick GuruFocus if stock ideas and ETF screeners matter to you; go with Tracefour if you'd rather have market sentiment and reddit. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do GuruFocus and Tracefour cover?
Both cover stocks and ETFs. GuruFocus also handles bonds, mutual funds, and options.
Does GuruFocus or Tracefour have real-time data?
Tracefour 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 Tracefour?
GuruFocus exports to CSV and Excel. Tracefour is stingier about getting data out.
Which has a better stock screener: GuruFocus or Tracefour?
Both GuruFocus and Tracefour 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 Tracefour?
GuruFocus handles portfolio tracking. Tracefour 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.