VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON
Tool details checked August 23, 2026
Tool Comparison
LIQN vs Portfolio123
Pick LIQN if
LIQN
Free · Web
- You want money flow, risk metrics, and short interest.
Pick Portfolio123 if
Portfolio123
Free • From $25/mo · Web · API · Desktop
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You want screeners, scores, and valuation models.
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
LIQN and Portfolio123 cover a lot of the same ground (8 shared categories, including data visualizations, quant, and factor exposure), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Portfolio123 simply does more: 19 categories to LIQN's 16, including screeners, scores, and valuation models. LIQN counters by being completely free.
What readers say
LIQN
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Portfolio123
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Key differences at a glance
- Global coverage
- Portfolio123
- Broader coverage
- Portfolio12319 vs 16 categories
- Desktop app
- Portfolio123
- API access
- Portfolio123
- Broker sync
- Portfolio123
- Asset coverage
- Portfolio123Adds ETFs and closed-end funds
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 $25/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | — | Free Screener & Backtesting Access: duration days: 30 |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | No | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | No | Yes |
Broker sync | No | Yes |
Integrations | — | Interactive Brokers and Tradier |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +6 more | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +5 more |
Categories covered | 16 | 19 |
Regions | North America | North America, Europe |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 4 signals: Latency: Streaming, Real-time, and End of Day, Granularity: Tick, Minute, and EOD +2 more | 5 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +3 more |
Data partners | — | 4 partners: FactSet, S&P Global Market Intelligence +2 more |
Capabilities | Factor exposure | 6 signals: Custom formulas, Ranking backtests +4 more |
| Try it | Visit LIQN | Visit Portfolio123 |
Where each one shines
What LIQN and Portfolio123 each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What LIQN and Portfolio123 each do best.What LIQN does best
- Track more than 150 thematic factors across more than 3,000 U.S. equities in live list, grid, and heatmap views.
- Use Macro Pulse to review the market regime, confidence, confirming factors, divergences, and current stories.
- Five analysis lenses for factor rotation with distribution tails, monthly-return heatmaps, long/short spreads, side-by-side factor comparison, and market-stress monitoring.
- Classified net and gross flows, short-interest context, and multi-period factor returns.
- Social IQ for daily X attention breakouts, post-volume surges relative to each ticker's baseline, co-mentions, and crowd sentiment context.
What Portfolio123 does best
- Build multifactor ranking systems, stock screens, ETF screens, and rules-based strategies.
- Run simulations with custom universes, buy and sell rules, position sizing, hedging, rebalancing, slippage, and commissions.
- Point-in-time data designed to avoid survivorship and look-ahead bias, with fundamentals, estimates, corporate actions, sector and industry classifications, and historical issues.
- Create ranking systems from fundamental, technical, sentiment, and macro factors, including public factor documentation and FRED-linked economic series.
- AI Factor to train machine-learning predictors for expected returns and feed those predictions into rankings, simulations, and asset-level analysis.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for LIQN and Portfolio123, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for LIQN and Portfolio123, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | Stocks | StocksETFsClosed-End Funds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailSwing TradersAnalystsQuants/DevelopersInstitutional InvestorsAsset ManagersHedge Funds | Retail TradersPro RetailInstitutional InvestorsAnalystsQuants/DevelopersFinancial AdvisorsStudents/Researchers |
Regions | North America | North AmericaEurope |
Coverage details | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker | Countries: US and CAIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | StreamingReal-timeEnd of Day | Real-timeEnd of Day |
Data granularity | TickMinuteEOD | EOD |
Data partners | Not specified | FactSetS&P Global Market IntelligenceICE Data ServicesFRED |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | Not specified | REST |
API auth & delivery | Not specified | Auth: APIKeyDocs |
Import methods | Manual | BrokerOAuthCSV |
Integrations | Not specified | Interactive BrokersTradier |
Export formats | Not specified | CSVJSON |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Factor exposure | Custom formulasRanking backtestsUniverse builderBroker syncRebalancingCorrelation |
Vendor & support | LIQN.AI Holdings, Inc.Support: Email | Portfolio123Support: Forum |
Curation ratings | Methodology 4/5Reliability 3/5UX 4/5 | Not specified |
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“Current access” | Free“Manage (Free)” |
| Entry paid plan | — | $25/mo“Retail Research Plans” |
| Custom / enterprise | — | Contact sales“Professional / API & Data Licenses” |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between LIQN and Portfolio123?
LIQN leans toward data visualizations, quant, and money flow, while Portfolio123 puts more weight on screeners, data visualizations, and quant. They overlap in 8 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do LIQN and Portfolio123 cost?
Good news: both LIQN and Portfolio123 have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Does LIQN or Portfolio123 have an API?
Portfolio123 has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. LIQN doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose LIQN or Portfolio123?
It depends on what you're after. Pick LIQN if money flow and risk metrics matter to you; go with Portfolio123 if you'd rather have screeners and scores. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do LIQN and Portfolio123 cover?
Both cover stocks. Portfolio123 adds ETFs and closed-end funds on top.
Do LIQN and Portfolio123 offer real-time data?
Yes, both serve real-time market data, so either works when timing matters.
Which covers international markets: LIQN or Portfolio123?
Portfolio123 has documented international coverage (North America and Europe), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. LIQN is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from LIQN and Portfolio123?
Portfolio123 exports to CSV. LIQN is stingier about getting data out.
Can LIQN or Portfolio123 connect to my broker?
Portfolio123 syncs with brokers automatically. With LIQN, you're entering holdings by hand or importing files.
Which has a better stock screener: LIQN or Portfolio123?
Portfolio123 has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; LIQN doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with LIQN or Portfolio123?
Portfolio123 handles portfolio tracking. LIQN is really a research tool; you'd track your portfolio 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.