Tool Comparison
GuruFocus vs Variant
- Paid from
- $45.75/mo
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile, API
Best if
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You want screeners, ETF screeners, and top analysts.
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web
Best if
- You want market sentiment.
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 screeners, ETF screeners, and top analysts.
Pick Variant instead if
Variant
Free · Web
- You want market sentiment.
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 Variant cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, stock ideas, AI research, and forums), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. GuruFocus simply does more: 49 categories to Variant's 4, including screeners, ETF screeners, and top analysts, plus a mobile app. Variant counters by being completely free.
What readers say
GuruFocus
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Variant
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Key differences at a glance
- Mobile app
- GuruFocus
- Free trial
- GuruFocus7 days
- Broader coverage
- GuruFocus49 vs 4 categories
- API access
- GuruFocus
- Asset coverage
- GuruFocusAdds ETFs and bonds
- Beginner friendly
- 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 Variant does best
- Build a custom investment avatar with a chosen research style, signals, and portfolio rules.
- Follow avatars focused on value, growth, activism, events, special situations, credit, quantitative investing, and micro-cap stocks.
- Use generated market commentary as an idea source, then verify each claim against primary documents and market data.
- Earn experimental tokens through avatar activity or performance.
- Variant links to a Finance Avatars API but does not publish API prices or access terms.
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 |
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 | Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +9 more | — |
Categories covered | 49 | 4 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa | — |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 5 signals: Latency: End of Day, Granularity: EOD +3 more | — |
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 Variant |
Standout features
The best features of GuruFocus and Variant.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 Variant does best
- Build a custom investment avatar with a chosen research style, signals, and portfolio rules.
- Follow avatars focused on value, growth, activism, events, special situations, credit, quantitative investing, and micro-cap stocks.
- Use generated market commentary as an idea source, then verify each claim against primary documents and market data.
- Earn experimental tokens through avatar activity or performance.
- Variant links to a Finance Avatars API but does not publish API prices or access terms.
All details
Every attribute we track for GuruFocus and Variant.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsBondsMutual FundsOptionsFundsOther | Stocks |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | IntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsValue InvestorsQuality InvestorsDividend InvestorsAnalystsQuants/Developers+3 more | Not specified |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | Not specified |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and CIK | Not specified |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | End of Day | Not specified |
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 | Not specified |
Vendor & support | GuruFocus.com, LLCCountry: United StatesFounded 2004Support: Email, Chat, Phone, and Forum | Support: Email |
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 account” |
| 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 | — |
Alternatives
Free alternatives
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between GuruFocus and Variant?
GuruFocus leans toward stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners, while Variant puts more weight on stock ideas, market sentiment, and forums. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do GuruFocus and Variant cost?
Good news: both GuruFocus and Variant have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Which is better for beginners: GuruFocus or Variant?
GuruFocus is the friendlier place to start; its interface takes less getting used to. Both work fine once you're past the basics.
Can I use GuruFocus or Variant on my phone?
GuruFocus lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. Variant doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web.
Does GuruFocus or Variant have an API?
GuruFocus has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. Variant doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose GuruFocus or Variant?
It depends on what you're after. Pick GuruFocus if screeners and ETF screeners matter to you; go with Variant if you'd rather have market sentiment. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do GuruFocus and Variant cover?
Both cover stocks. GuruFocus also handles ETFs, bonds, and mutual funds.
Can I export data from GuruFocus and Variant?
GuruFocus exports to CSV and Excel. Variant is stingier about getting data out.
Which has a better stock screener: GuruFocus or Variant?
GuruFocus has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; Variant doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with GuruFocus or Variant?
GuruFocus handles portfolio tracking. Variant is really a research tool; you'd track your portfolio elsewhere.
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