VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON
Tool details checked August 23, 2026
Tool Comparison
Insider Screener vs Smartfin
Pick Insider Screener if
Insider Screener
Free • Paid plans available · Web · API
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You want screeners and APIs & data feeds.
- You've outgrown the basics and want pro-level depth
Pick Smartfin if
Smartfin
Free • From $8.33/mo · Web
- You want stock ideas, financials, 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
Insider Screener and Smartfin cover a lot of the same ground (4 shared categories, including watchlist, alerts, and insider data), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Smartfin simply does more: 12 categories to Insider Screener's 6, including stock ideas, financials, and data visualizations. Insider Screener counters by being completely free.
What readers say
Insider Screener
No votes yet. Cast the first one.
Smartfin
No votes yet. Cast the first one.
Key differences at a glance
- Global coverage
- Insider Screener
- Broader coverage
- Smartfin12 vs 6 categories
- API access
- Insider Screener
- 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 • Paid plans available | Free • From $8.33/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | Yes | No |
Broker sync | No | — |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 6 | 12 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC | North America |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | Latency: Real-time | Latency: Real-time and End of Day and Granularity: EOD |
Capabilities | Universe builder | AI summaries: Filings |
| Try it | Visit Insider Screener | Visit Smartfin |
Where each one shines
What Insider Screener and Smartfin each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What Insider Screener and Smartfin each do best.What Insider Screener does best
- Insider buying and selling across 16 markets in North America, Europe, India, and Australia.
- Screening for insider buys, sells, cluster activity, buying-the-dip behavior, executive transactions, and earnings-related trades.
- Standardized cross-market data to compare insider activity across jurisdictions that normally publish filings in different formats.
- Updates within minutes of regulatory filings, according to Insider Screener.
- Saved searches, daily email reports, and alerts on paid web plans.
What Smartfin does best
- AI overviews summarize positives, negatives, recent financials, trends, and sector context.
- Scores compare value, profit, growth, and financial-health metrics with companies in the same sector.
- The visual explorer supports annual and quarterly charts, more than 200 metrics and ratios, and image downloads.
- Available financial history depends on plan: five years on Starter, ten years on Premium, and more than 30 years on Pro.
- Email and in-app alerts cover insider trades and analyst price-target changes.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Insider Screener and Smartfin, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Insider Screener and Smartfin, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | Stocks | Stocks |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediate |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPAC | North America |
Coverage details | 16 countriesIdentifiers: Ticker | Countries: USExchanges: XNYS and XNASIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Real-time | Real-timeEnd of Day |
Data granularity | Not specified | EOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | Not specified |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKey | Not specified |
Export formats | CSVExcel | Image |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Universe builder | AI summaries: Filings |
Vendor & support | insiderscreener.com Inc.Country: United StatesSupport: Email | SmartfinSupport: Email |
Curation ratings | Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 | Methodology 3/5Reliability 3/5UX 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 (browse/limited)” | Free“Starter” |
| Entry paid plan | Subscription“Plus” | $8.33/mo“Premium” |
| Tier 2 | Subscription“Pro” | $16.99/mo“Pro” |
| Tier 3 | Subscription“Premium” | — |
| Tier 4 | €42/mo“API Starter” | — |
| Tier 5 | €129/mo“API Pro” | — |
| Top plan | €429/mo“API Research” | — |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Insider Screener and Smartfin?
Insider Screener leans toward screeners, watchlist, and alerts, while Smartfin puts more weight on stock ideas, financials, and scores. They overlap in 4 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Insider Screener and Smartfin cost?
Good news: both Insider Screener and Smartfin have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Which is better for beginners: Insider Screener or Smartfin?
Honestly, neither is aimed at beginners. Expect a learning curve either way; that's the trade-off for the depth they offer.
Does Insider Screener or Smartfin have an API?
Insider Screener has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. Smartfin doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose Insider Screener or Smartfin?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Insider Screener if screeners and APIs & data feeds matter to you; go with Smartfin if you'd rather have stock ideas and financials. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
Do Insider Screener and Smartfin offer real-time data?
Yes, both serve real-time market data, so either works when timing matters.
Which covers international markets: Insider Screener or Smartfin?
Insider Screener has documented international coverage (North America, Europe, and APAC), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. Smartfin is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from Insider Screener and Smartfin?
Insider Screener exports to CSV and Excel. Smartfin is stingier about getting data out.
Which has a better stock screener: Insider Screener or Smartfin?
Insider Screener has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; Smartfin doesn't, and focuses its energy 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.