VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Investors comparing IBISWorld and Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) will find that Both IBISWorld and Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) concentrate on Data APIs, and Blogs workflows, making them natural alternatives for similar investment research jobs. IBISWorld leans into Scores, AI Chat, and Custom Dashboards, which can be decisive for teams that need depth over breadth. Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) stands out with Data Visualizations, Shipping & Trade, and Education that the competition lacks. Use the feature-by-feature table to inspect unique capabilities and confirm which roadmap best maps to your process.
Head-to-head
IBISWorld vs Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC)
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
- IBISWorld adds Scores, AI Chat, and Custom Dashboards coverage that Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) skips.
- Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) includes Data Visualizations, Shipping & Trade, and Education categories that IBISWorld omits.
- IBISWorld highlights: Industry Research Reports (30–40 pages) across multiple countries, with PDF downloads and Key Statistics exportable to Excel., Business Environment Profiles with proprietary forecasts across hundreds of economic indicators., and Industry Risk Ratings and an Early Warning System to assess forward-looking industry risk..
- Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) is known for: Visualizations and rankings based on Economic Complexity Index (ECI) and Product Complexity Index (PCI), with reports by HS classification., Monthly international trade data and subnational coverage across 30+ countries available on Pro plans., and Premium tier adds company-level U.S. Bill of Lading data through a Company Explorer sourced from U.S. Customs..
- Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) keeps a free entry point that IBISWorld lacks.
IBISWorld
ibisworld.com
Subscription-based industry research platform with options to purchase single reports. Full industry reports (30–40 pages) are downloadable as PDF, while Key Statistics tables can be exported to Excel. API access requires an API-enabled account and uses OAuth2 with documented rate limits. Add-ons include custom dashboards, a Salesforce app, and specialized Excel-based tools. AI features are delivered through Phil, a chat assistant trained on IBISWorld data.
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Industry Research Reports (30–40 pages) across multiple countries, with PDF downloads and Key Statistics exportable to Excel.
- Business Environment Profiles with proprietary forecasts across hundreds of economic indicators.
- Industry Risk Ratings and an Early Warning System to assess forward-looking industry risk.
- REST API (OAuth2) for retrieving full reports or sections, with rate limits (10 requests/sec, 100/min, 5,000/hr).
- Phil AI — an assistant trained on IBISWorld content, linking directly to report sections for context.
Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC)
oec.world
A global trade and economic complexity platform with rich visualizations, country and product rankings, and an API. Pro plans unlock the latest monthly and subnational datasets, while Premium adds company-level Bill of Lading data and bulk downloads. Academic discounts and enterprise options with SSO support are also available.
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Visualizations and rankings based on Economic Complexity Index (ECI) and Product Complexity Index (PCI), with reports by HS classification.
- Monthly international trade data and subnational coverage across 30+ countries available on Pro plans.
- Premium tier adds company-level U.S. Bill of Lading data through a Company Explorer sourced from U.S. Customs.
- REST API with a free tier for historical data and Pro/Premium tokens for the latest datasets, subnational access, and higher query volumes.
- Data downloads in CSV, Excel, or JSON, with bulk access and larger query limits available for subscribers.
Shared focus areas
Both platforms align on these research themes, so you can stay within one workflow when your use case involves them.
Where they differ
IBISWorld
Distinct strengths include:
- Industry Research Reports (30–40 pages) across multiple countries, with PDF downloads and Key Statistics exportable to Excel.
- Business Environment Profiles with proprietary forecasts across hundreds of economic indicators.
- Industry Risk Ratings and an Early Warning System to assess forward-looking industry risk.
- REST API (OAuth2) for retrieving full reports or sections, with rate limits (10 requests/sec, 100/min, 5,000/hr).
Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC)
Distinct strengths include:
- Visualizations and rankings based on Economic Complexity Index (ECI) and Product Complexity Index (PCI), with reports by HS classification.
- Monthly international trade data and subnational coverage across 30+ countries available on Pro plans.
- Premium tier adds company-level U.S. Bill of Lading data through a Company Explorer sourced from U.S. Customs.
- REST API with a free tier for historical data and Pro/Premium tokens for the latest datasets, subnational access, and higher query volumes.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | IBISWorld | Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Data APIs, Blogs Unique: Scores, AI Chat, Custom Dashboards | Shared: Data APIs, Blogs Unique: Data Visualizations, Shipping & Trade, Education |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Other | Other |
Experience levels Who each product is built for | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Platforms Where you can access the product | Web, API | Web, API |
Pricing High-level pricing models | Subscription, One-time | Free, Subscription |
Key features Core capabilities called out by each vendor | Unique
| Unique
|
Tested Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat | Not yet | Not yet |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Standard listing | Standard listing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do IBISWorld and Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) both support?
Both platforms cover Data APIs, and Blogs workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Which tool offers a free plan?
Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) offers a free entry point, while IBISWorld requires a paid subscription. Review the pricing table to see how the paid tiers compare.
How can you access IBISWorld and Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC)?
Both IBISWorld and Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) prioritize web or desktop access. Investors wanting a mobile-first workflow may need to rely on responsive web views.
What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?
IBISWorld differentiates itself with Industry Research Reports (30–40 pages) across multiple countries, with PDF downloads and Key Statistics exportable to Excel., Business Environment Profiles with proprietary forecasts across hundreds of economic indicators., and Industry Risk Ratings and an Early Warning System to assess forward-looking industry risk., whereas Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) stands out for Visualizations and rankings based on Economic Complexity Index (ECI) and Product Complexity Index (PCI), with reports by HS classification., Monthly international trade data and subnational coverage across 30+ countries available on Pro plans., and Premium tier adds company-level U.S. Bill of Lading data through a Company Explorer sourced from U.S. Customs..
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.