Tool Comparison
InsideArbitrage vs The Zen of Investing
- Paid from
- $100/mo
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web
Best if
- You want news, alerts, and dividends.
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web
Best if
Start here
InsideArbitrage
Free • From $1200/yr · Web
- You want news, alerts, and dividends.
Pick The Zen of Investing instead if
The Zen of Investing
Free · Web
- Go this way if it's completely free.
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
InsideArbitrage and The Zen of Investing cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, calendar, corporate actions & special situations, and blogs), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. InsideArbitrage simply does more: 17 categories to The Zen of Investing's 3, including news, alerts, and dividends. The Zen of Investing counters by being completely free.
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InsideArbitrage
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The Zen of Investing
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Key differences at a glance
- Asset coverage
- InsideArbitrageAdds ETFs
- Broader coverage
- InsideArbitrage17 vs 3 categories
- Free plan
- Both
What InsideArbitrage does best
- Track announced mergers, spreads, calendars, deal updates and potential deals.
- Filter news, SEC filings and social posts for premium tracked-deal symbols.
- Research insider activity through transaction pages, weekly articles, cluster-buy screens and insider rankings.
- Follow buybacks, spinoffs, CVRs, tender offers, reverse splits, activist campaigns and management changes.
- Use 13F, 13D, 13G and Form 4 data for institutional and insider ownership context.
What The Zen of Investing does best
- Tracking definitively announced upcoming spinoffs with company names, transaction details, timing, and supporting source links where available.
- Review recent spinoffs to find completed transactions, prospectuses, investor decks, and related company materials.
- The site as a focused spinoff calendar when broader market news tools bury special-situation events.
- Open press releases, investor presentations, prospectuses, and filings from the event lists.
- Discovery tools for archived investor-relations PDFs from major spinoff companies when original context matters.
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 $1200/yr | Free |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | No | — |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 17 | 3 |
Regions | — | North America |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Capabilities | Universe builder | — |
| Try it | Visit InsideArbitrage | Visit The Zen of Investing |
Standout features
The best features of InsideArbitrage and The Zen of Investing.ShowHide
Standout features
What InsideArbitrage does best
- Track announced mergers, spreads, calendars, deal updates and potential deals.
- Filter news, SEC filings and social posts for premium tracked-deal symbols.
- Research insider activity through transaction pages, weekly articles, cluster-buy screens and insider rankings.
- Follow buybacks, spinoffs, CVRs, tender offers, reverse splits, activist campaigns and management changes.
- Use 13F, 13D, 13G and Form 4 data for institutional and insider ownership context.
What The Zen of Investing does best
- Tracking definitively announced upcoming spinoffs with company names, transaction details, timing, and supporting source links where available.
- Review recent spinoffs to find completed transactions, prospectuses, investor decks, and related company materials.
- The site as a focused spinoff calendar when broader market news tools bury special-situation events.
- Open press releases, investor presentations, prospectuses, and filings from the event lists.
- Discovery tools for archived investor-relations PDFs from major spinoff companies when original context matters.
All details
Every attribute we track for InsideArbitrage and The Zen of Investing.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFs | Stocks |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | Not specified | North America |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and CIK | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Universe builder | Not specified |
Vendor & support | InsideArbitrageSupport: Email | Support: Email |
Curation ratings | Methodology 3/5Reliability 3/5UX 4/5 | Not specified |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing
Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.ShowHide
Pricing
| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free“Public Articles and Data” | Free |
| Entry paid plan | $1200/yr≈ $100/mo“Premium - Annual” | — |
| Top plan | $150/mo“Premium - Monthly” | — |
| Custom / enterprise | Contact sales“IA Professional” | — |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between InsideArbitrage and The Zen of Investing?
InsideArbitrage leans toward news, alerts, and calendar, while The Zen of Investing puts more weight on corporate actions & special situations, calendar, and blogs. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do InsideArbitrage and The Zen of Investing cost?
Good news: both InsideArbitrage and The Zen of Investing have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Should I choose InsideArbitrage or The Zen of Investing?
It depends on what you're after. Pick InsideArbitrage if news and alerts matter to you; go with The Zen of Investing if you prefer its overall approach. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do InsideArbitrage and The Zen of Investing cover?
Both cover stocks. InsideArbitrage also handles ETFs.
Which has a better stock screener: InsideArbitrage or The Zen of Investing?
InsideArbitrage has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; The Zen of Investing doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with InsideArbitrage or The Zen of Investing?
InsideArbitrage handles portfolio tracking. The Zen of Investing 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.