★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
Magic Formula Investing vs MarketScreener
Pick Magic Formula Investing instead if
Magic Formula Investing
Free · Web
- Go this way if it's completely free.
Start here
MarketScreener
Free • From $34/mo · Web · Mobile
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You care about news, alerts, and calendar, things Magic Formula Investing doesn't offer
- You're a long-term investor who cares more about fundamentals than headlines
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
Magic Formula Investing and MarketScreener cover a lot of the same ground (2 shared categories, screeners and stock ideas), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. MarketScreener simply does more: 16 categories to Magic Formula Investing's 2, including news, alerts, and calendar, plus a mobile app. Magic Formula Investing counters by being completely free.
What readers say
Magic Formula Investing
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
MarketScreener
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Key differences at a glance
- Mobile app
- MarketScreener
- Broader coverage
- MarketScreener16 vs 2 categories
- Global coverage
- MarketScreener
- Asset coverage
- MarketScreenerAdds ETFs and commodities
- 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 $34/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | — | 6 limits: Access: annual equivalent monthly usd: 28, Access: annual billing usd: 336 +4 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | — | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +4 more |
Categories covered | 2 | 16 |
Regions | North America | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 3 signals: Latency: End of Day, Granularity: EOD +1 more | — |
Data partners | — | 3 partners: FactSet, Morningstar +1 more |
Capabilities | — | Universe builder |
| Try it | Visit Magic Formula Investing | Visit MarketScreener |
Where each one shines
What Magic Formula Investing and MarketScreener each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What Magic Formula Investing and MarketScreener each do best.What Magic Formula Investing does best
- Tools for running the official Magic Formula screener with only two inputs: minimum market cap and either 30 or 50 ranked results.
- Screening for companies ranked on high earnings yield and high return on capital, with the accounting adjustments described by the official methodology.
- Magic Formula Investing serves as a simple value-quality idea list before checking financial statements, business quality, debt, cyclicality, and current valuation context.
- Focus on U.S.-listed equities because the official universe excludes foreign companies and ADRs.
- Sector exclusions: financial and utility companies are removed from the official screen.
What MarketScreener does best
- Monitoring market news and quotes across equities, ETFs, commodities, currencies, forex, and cryptocurrencies.
- Tools for building custom watchlists with quotes, news, earnings releases, valuation trends, broker recommendations, and smart email alerts.
- Screening for stocks globally with hundreds of fundamental and technical criteria, with higher filter counts reserved for Premium and Expert tiers.
- Dynamic charts with configurable technical indicators and quick switching between individual stocks and personal lists.
- Tools for exploring thematic investment lists for idea discovery and compare themes against index trends and historical performance.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Magic Formula Investing and MarketScreener, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Magic Formula Investing and MarketScreener, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | Stocks | StocksETFsCommoditiesCurrenciesCryptos |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Not specified | Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsValue InvestorsGrowth InvestorsDividend Investors |
Regions | North America | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica |
Coverage details | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker | Identifiers: Ticker and ISIN |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | End of Day | Not specified |
Data granularity | EOD | Not specified |
Data partners | Not specified | FactSetMorningstarS&P Global Market Intelligence |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Not specified | Universe builder |
Vendor & support | Not specified | Surperformance SASCountry: France |
Curation ratings | Methodology 4/5Reliability 4/5UX 3/5 | 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 | Free“Free (Member)” |
| Entry paid plan | — | $34/mo“Access”annual equivalent monthly usd: 28 · annual billing usd: 336 |
| Tier 2 | — | $59/mo“Premium”annual billing usd: 600 · annual equivalent monthly usd: 50 |
| Top plan | — | $279/mo“Expert”annual billing usd: 2,628 · annual equivalent monthly usd: 219 |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Magic Formula Investing and MarketScreener?
Magic Formula Investing leans toward screeners and stock ideas, while MarketScreener puts more weight on news, alerts, and calendar. They overlap in 2 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Magic Formula Investing and MarketScreener cost?
Good news: both Magic Formula Investing and MarketScreener have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Can I use Magic Formula Investing or MarketScreener on my phone?
MarketScreener lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. Magic Formula Investing doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web.
Should I choose Magic Formula Investing or MarketScreener?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Magic Formula Investing if you prefer its overall approach; go with MarketScreener if you'd rather have news and alerts. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Magic Formula Investing and MarketScreener cover?
Both cover stocks. MarketScreener adds ETFs, commodities, and currencies on top.
Which covers international markets: Magic Formula Investing or MarketScreener?
MarketScreener has documented international coverage (North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, and more), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. Magic Formula Investing is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Which has a better stock screener: Magic Formula Investing or MarketScreener?
Both Magic Formula Investing and MarketScreener include stock screeners, and they differ more in interface than raw power; try both and see which one clicks for you.
Can I track my portfolio with Magic Formula Investing or MarketScreener?
MarketScreener handles portfolio tracking. Magic Formula Investing is really a research tool; you'd track your portfolio elsewhere.
Keep researching
More comparisons to check
Other tools you might like
Keep Exploring
Feedback
Spot stale pricing, missing features, or a comparison that feels off? Send feedback on the verdict, table, alternatives, or recommendation.
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.