BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON

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Checked September 24, 2026

Tool Comparison

GuruFocus vs Zacks (Zacks.com)

GuruFocus

TestedMost versatile pick
Review & pricing
Paid from
$200/mo, billed monthly
Free plan
Yes
Platforms
Web, Mobile, API

Best if

  • You want an API so you can script or automate things
  • You want stock ideas, top analysts, and stock comparison.
  • You're a long-term investor who cares more about fundamentals than headlines
Paid from
$59/mo, billed monthly
Free plan
Yes
Platforms
Web, Mobile

Best if

  • You want a lower paid starting price: $59/mo, billed monthly instead of $200/mo, billed monthly
  • Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
Most versatile pick

Start here

GuruFocus logo

GuruFocus

gurufocus.comTested

Free • From $200/mo, billed monthly · Web · Mobile · API

  • You want an API so you can script or automate things
  • You want stock ideas, top analysts, and stock comparison.
  • You're a long-term investor who cares more about fundamentals than headlines

Pick Zacks (Zacks.com) instead if

Zacks (Zacks.com) logo

Zacks (Zacks.com)

zacks.comTested

Free • From $59/mo, billed monthly · Web · Mobile

  • You want a lower paid starting price: $59/mo, billed monthly instead of $200/mo, billed monthly
  • Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data

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 Zacks (Zacks.com) cover a lot of the same ground (12 shared categories, including screeners, ETF screeners, and portfolio), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. GuruFocus simply does more: 49 categories to Zacks (Zacks.com)'s 12, including stock ideas, top analysts, and stock comparison. Zacks (Zacks.com) counters by offering a lower paid starting price at $59/mo, billed monthly.

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Zacks (Zacks.com)

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Key differences at a glance

Cheaper paid plan
Zacks (Zacks.com)$59/mo, billed monthly vs $200/mo, billed monthly
Broader coverage
GuruFocus49 vs 12 categories
API access
GuruFocus
Real-time data
Zacks (Zacks.com)
Broker sync
GuruFocus
Asset coverage
GuruFocusAdds bonds and options
See the full side-by-side table
GuruFocus logo

What GuruFocus does best

  1. Research coverage for global stocks with long historical financials, valuation data, charts, comparisons, market valuation indicators, economic indicators, industry data, and company-level fundamentals.
  2. 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.
  3. ETF Screener and ETF GF Scores for filtering and comparing more than 5,000 U.S.
  4. Corporate and government bond screening by yield, maturity, ratings, coupon structure, outstanding amount, issuer, and industry, plus company-level bond tabs.
  5. 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.
Zacks (Zacks.com) logo

What Zacks (Zacks.com) does best

  1. Zacks Rank scores from #1 to #5 and Zacks Industry Rank on company pages for earnings-revision research.
  2. Comparison tools for Value, Growth, and Momentum Style Scores alongside the rank when screening or reviewing individual stocks.
  3. Screening for stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds with hundreds of filters, with 45+ Premium Screens gated behind paid access.
  4. Direct access to ticker pages with analyst forecasts, earnings estimates, price targets, company research, and related market context.
  5. Review Price-Consensus-EPS Surprise charts that connect historical estimates, actual earnings, and surprise patterns.

Side by side

Pricing & plans
Starting price
Free • From $200/mo, billed monthly
Free • From $59/mo, billed monthly
Free tier
Yes
Yes
Free trial
7 days
30 days
Platforms & access
Web app
Yes
Yes
Mobile app
Yes
Yes
API access
Yes
No
Broker sync
Yes
No
Integrations
GuruFocus Data API, GuruFocus MCP Server +3 more
—
Coverage & data
Asset types
StocksETFsBondsMutual FundsOptionsFundsOther
StocksETFsMutual Funds
Target audience
Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsValue InvestorsQuality InvestorsDividend InvestorsAnalystsQuants/Developers+3 more
Not specified
Data freshness
End of Day
Real-timeEnd of Day
Data granularity
EOD
EOD
Export formats
CSVExcelJSON
Not specified

Pricing comparison

Tier
Zacks (Zacks.com)Lower monthly price
Free plan
Free
Free
Entry paid plan
$549/yrBilled annually≈ $45.75/mo“Premium”
$249/yrBilled annually≈ $20.75/mo“Premium Annual”
Tier 2
$200/moBilled monthly“Data API Builder”
$495/yrBilled annually≈ $41.25/mo“Investor Collection Annual”
Tier 3
$2000/moBilled monthly“Data API Commercial”
$59/moBilled monthly“Investor Collection Monthly”
Tier 4
SubscriptionBilled annually“Premium Plus”
$2995/yrBilled annually≈ $249.58/mo“Ultimate Annual”
Tier 5
SubscriptionBilled annually“Professional”
$299/moBilled monthly“Ultimate Monthly”
Top plan
$100 per unit“Data API Pay As You Go”
—
Custom / enterprise
Contact sales“Custom API / Enterprise Package”
—
Free trial
7 days
30 days

See for yourself

Side by side

Price, platforms, data, and market coverage.
Show
Side-by-side comparison of GuruFocus and Zacks (Zacks.com)
Attribute
GuruFocus logo
GuruFocus
Zacks (Zacks.com) logo
Zacks (Zacks.com)
Pricing & plans
Starting price
Free • From $200/mo, billed monthlyFree • From $59/mo, billed monthly
Free tier
YesYes
Free trial
7 days30 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
YesYes
Mobile app
YesYes
API access
YesNo
Broker sync
YesNo
Integrations
GuruFocus Data API, GuruFocus MCP Server +3 more—
Audience & fit
Experience level
Beginner, Intermediate, AdvancedBeginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Best for
Retail Traders, Pro Retail +9 more—
Categories covered
4912
Regions
North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, AfricaNorth America, Europe
Data & capabilities
Data quality
5 signals: Latency: End of Day, Granularity: EOD +3 more3 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +1 more
Data partners
5 partners: QuoteMedia, Morningstar +3 more—
Capabilities
9 signals: Custom formulas, Ranking backtests +7 moreFactors: Value, Momentum, and Growth
Security
Status page and Encryption in transit—
Try itVisit GuruFocusVisit Zacks (Zacks.com)

Standout features

The best features of GuruFocus and Zacks (Zacks.com).
Show
GuruFocus logo

What GuruFocus does best

  1. Research coverage for global stocks with long historical financials, valuation data, charts, comparisons, market valuation indicators, economic indicators, industry data, and company-level fundamentals.
  2. 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.
  3. ETF Screener and ETF GF Scores for filtering and comparing more than 5,000 U.S.
  4. Corporate and government bond screening by yield, maturity, ratings, coupon structure, outstanding amount, issuer, and industry, plus company-level bond tabs.
  5. 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.
Zacks (Zacks.com) logo

What Zacks (Zacks.com) does best

  1. Zacks Rank scores from #1 to #5 and Zacks Industry Rank on company pages for earnings-revision research.
  2. Comparison tools for Value, Growth, and Momentum Style Scores alongside the rank when screening or reviewing individual stocks.
  3. Screening for stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds with hundreds of filters, with 45+ Premium Screens gated behind paid access.
  4. Direct access to ticker pages with analyst forecasts, earnings estimates, price targets, company research, and related market context.
  5. Review Price-Consensus-EPS Surprise charts that connect historical estimates, actual earnings, and surprise patterns.

All details

Every attribute we track for GuruFocus and Zacks (Zacks.com).
Show
Attribute
GuruFocus logo
GuruFocus
Zacks (Zacks.com) logo
Zacks (Zacks.com)
Coverage & fit
Asset types
StocksETFsBondsMutual FundsOptionsFundsOther
StocksETFsMutual Funds
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
Identifiers: Ticker
Data
Data freshness
End of Day
Real-timeEnd of Day
Data granularity
EOD
EOD
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
Manual
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
Factors: Value, Momentum, and Growth
Vendor & support
GuruFocus.com, LLCCountry: United StatesFounded 2004Support: Email, Chat, Phone, and Forum
Zacks Investment Research
Curation ratings
Not specified
Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5

Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.

Pricing

Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.
Show
Plan-by-plan pricing comparison of GuruFocus and Zacks (Zacks.com)
Tier
GuruFocus logo
GuruFocus
Zacks (Zacks.com) logo
Zacks (Zacks.com)Lower monthly price
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/yrBilled annually≈ $45.75/mo“Premium”billing: Annual only · region price: $549/year for USA, Asia, or Europe; $369/year for several other regions · +7 more
$249/yrBilled annually≈ $20.75/mo“Premium Annual”
Tier 2
$200/moBilled monthly“Data API Builder”billing: Billed annually · monthly request limit: No limit · +12 more
$495/yrBilled annually≈ $41.25/mo“Investor Collection Annual”
Tier 3
$2000/moBilled monthly“Data API Commercial”billing: Billed annually · monthly request limit: No limit · +1 more
$59/moBilled monthly“Investor Collection Monthly”
Tier 4
SubscriptionBilled annually“Premium Plus”billing: Annual only · public price: Current rendered pricing could not establish the Premium Plus amount · +4 more
$2995/yrBilled annually≈ $249.58/mo“Ultimate Annual”
Tier 5
SubscriptionBilled annually“Professional”billing: Annual only · public price: Current rendered pricing could not establish the Professional amount · +1 more
$299/moBilled monthly“Ultimate Monthly”
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 trial7 days30 days

Questions we keep getting

What's the difference between GuruFocus and Zacks (Zacks.com)?

GuruFocus leans toward stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners, while Zacks (Zacks.com) puts more weight on screeners, ETF screeners, and watchlist. They overlap in 12 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.

How much do GuruFocus and Zacks (Zacks.com) cost?

Good news: both GuruFocus and Zacks (Zacks.com) have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.

Does GuruFocus or Zacks (Zacks.com) have an API?

GuruFocus has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. Zacks (Zacks.com) doesn't, so you're working through its interface.

Should I choose GuruFocus or Zacks (Zacks.com)?

It depends on what you're after. Pick GuruFocus if stock ideas and top analysts matter to you; go with Zacks (Zacks.com) if you prefer its overall approach. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.

What asset classes do GuruFocus and Zacks (Zacks.com) cover?

Both cover stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds. GuruFocus also handles bonds, options, and funds.

Does GuruFocus or Zacks (Zacks.com) have real-time data?

Zacks (Zacks.com) 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 Zacks (Zacks.com)?

GuruFocus exports to CSV and Excel. Zacks (Zacks.com) is stingier about getting data out.

Can GuruFocus or Zacks (Zacks.com) connect to my broker?

GuruFocus syncs with brokers automatically. With Zacks (Zacks.com), you're entering holdings by hand or importing files.

Which has a better stock screener: GuruFocus or Zacks (Zacks.com)?

Both GuruFocus and Zacks (Zacks.com) 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 Zacks (Zacks.com)?

Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.

Feedback

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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.