VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON
Tool details checked August 23, 2026
Tool Comparison
Insider Monitor vs ORTEX
Pick Insider Monitor instead if
Insider Monitor
Free · Web
- You want regulatory filings monitoring.
Start here
ORTEX
Free • From $39/mo · 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 short interest, quant, and data visualizations.
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
ORTEX simply does more: 16 categories to Insider Monitor's 2, including short interest, quant, and data visualizations, plus a mobile app. Insider Monitor counters by being completely free. On paper they're closely matched, so let pricing, platform fit, and the details below break the tie.
What readers say
Insider Monitor
No votes yet. Cast the first one.
ORTEX
No votes yet. Cast the first one.
Key differences at a glance
- Mobile app
- ORTEX
- Broader coverage
- ORTEX16 vs 2 categories
- API access
- ORTEX
- Global coverage
- ORTEX
- Free plan
- Both
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
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free | Free • From $39/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | — | 9 limits: API Trader: credits per month: 1,000, API Trader: rate limit: 1 req/s +7 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | No | Yes |
Broker sync | — | No |
Integrations | — | Microsoft Excel (Add-in), Python SDK +1 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 2 | 16 |
Regions | North America | North America, Europe, APAC |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | Latency: Real-time and Timezone: America/New_York | 3 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: Minute and EOD +1 more |
Capabilities | — | 4 signals: Universe builder, Multi-leg options +2 more |
| Try it | Visit Insider Monitor | Visit ORTEX |
Where each one shines
What Insider Monitor and ORTEX each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What Insider Monitor and ORTEX each do best.What Insider Monitor does best
- Browse a real-time insider table with purchases, sales, filing times, issuer details, insider roles, values, and SEC links.
- Officer cluster-buy reports to find tickers bought by multiple corporate officers over the past two weeks.
- Review weekly and monthly top-10 lists for the largest insider purchases when looking for high-value Form 4 activity.
- Direct access to company and trader pages for per-issuer and per-insider transaction history, monthly summaries, year summaries, CIK references, and SEC source links.
- Industry views to compare Form 4 filing counts across broad industry divisions since 2020.
What ORTEX does best
- Monitor short interest and securities-lending conditions with utilization, cost to borrow, shares on loan, and percentage of free float on loan.
- Comparison tools for lending-based short-interest estimates with official U.S. exchange-reported short interest and European flagged-short disclosures.
- Tracking intraday and real-time estimates from ORTEX lender and broker data pools where plan access supports those views.
- Research coverage for options activity and flow signals using OPRA-sourced options data, with OPRA terms required before access.
- Rule-based Short Squeeze, EPS, RSI, MACD, and Company Events signals with historical performance shown beside each trigger.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Insider Monitor and ORTEX, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Insider Monitor and ORTEX, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksClosed-End Funds | StocksETFsOptionsCurrencies |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North America | North AmericaEuropeAPAC |
Coverage details | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Real-time | Real-timeEnd of Day |
Data granularity | Not specified | MinuteEOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | Not specified | REST |
API auth & delivery | Not specified | Auth: APIKeySDKs: Python |
Integrations | Not specified | Microsoft Excel (Add-in)Python SDKMCP |
Export formats | Not specified | CSV |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Not specified | Universe builderMulti-leg optionsGreeksEarnings vol edge |
Vendor & support | Insider MonitorSupport: Email | Ortex Technologies LimitedCountry: United KingdomSupport: Email and Phone |
Curation ratings | Methodology 2/5Reliability 3/5UX 3/5 | Methodology 4/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
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
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free | Free |
| Entry paid plan | — | $39/mo“Basic Annual” |
| Tier 2 | — | $49/mo“Basic Monthly” |
| Tier 3 | — | $99/mo“Advanced Annual” |
| Tier 4 | — | $149/mo“Advanced Monthly” |
| Tier 5 | — | €49/mo“API Trader”credits per month: 1,000 · rate limit: 1 req/s · +1 more |
| Tier 6 | — | €129/mo“API Quant”credits per month: 10,000 · rate limit: 5 req/s · +1 more |
| Tier 7 | — | €379/mo“API Developer”credits per month: 100,000 · rate limit: 50 req/s · +1 more |
| Top plan | — | Subscription“API Enterprise” |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Insider Monitor and ORTEX?
Insider Monitor leans toward insider data and regulatory filings monitoring, while ORTEX puts more weight on short interest, insider data, and quant. They overlap in 1 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Insider Monitor and ORTEX cost?
Good news: both Insider Monitor and ORTEX have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Can I use Insider Monitor or ORTEX on my phone?
ORTEX lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. Insider Monitor doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web.
Does Insider Monitor or ORTEX have an API?
ORTEX has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. Insider Monitor doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose Insider Monitor or ORTEX?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Insider Monitor if regulatory filings monitoring matter to you; go with ORTEX if you'd rather have short interest and quant. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Insider Monitor and ORTEX cover?
Both cover stocks. Insider Monitor also handles closed-end funds. ORTEX adds ETFs, options, and currencies on top.
Do Insider Monitor and ORTEX offer real-time data?
Yes, both serve real-time market data, so either works when timing matters.
Which covers international markets: Insider Monitor or ORTEX?
ORTEX has documented international coverage (North America, Europe, and APAC), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. Insider Monitor is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from Insider Monitor and ORTEX?
ORTEX exports to CSV. Insider Monitor is stingier about getting data out.
Which has a better stock screener: Insider Monitor or ORTEX?
ORTEX has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; Insider Monitor doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Keep researching
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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.