Tool Comparison
Magic Formula Investing vs Portfolio123
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web
Best if
- Paid from
- $25/mo
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, API, Desktop
Best if
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You want data visualizations, quant, and scores.
Pick Magic Formula Investing instead if
Magic Formula Investing
Free · Web
- Go this way if it's completely free.
Start here
Portfolio123
Free • From $300/yr · Web · API · Desktop
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You want data visualizations, quant, and scores.
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
Magic Formula Investing and Portfolio123 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. Portfolio123 simply does more: 19 categories to Magic Formula Investing's 2, including data visualizations, quant, and scores. Magic Formula Investing counters by being completely free.
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Magic Formula Investing
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Portfolio123
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Key differences at a glance
- Real-time data
- Portfolio123
- Broader coverage
- Portfolio12319 vs 2 categories
- Desktop app
- Portfolio123
- API access
- Portfolio123
- Global coverage
- Portfolio123
- Asset coverage
- Portfolio123Adds ETFs and closed-end funds
What Magic Formula Investing does best
- The official Magic Formula screener with two inputs, minimum market cap and either 30 or 50 results.
- Screening for companies ranked on high earnings yield and high return on capital, with the accounting adjustments described by the official methodology.
- A narrow value and quality idea list for further research.
- Focus on U.S.-listed equities because the official universe excludes foreign companies and ADRs.
- Financial and utility companies are excluded from the official screen.
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.
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 | Free • From $300/yr |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | — | 25 limits: Free Screener & Backtesting Access: duration days: 30, Screener (Annual): backtest history years: 5 +23 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | No | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | No | Yes |
Broker sync | — | Yes |
Integrations | — | Interactive Brokers and Tradier |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +5 more |
Categories covered | 2 | 19 |
Regions | North America | North America, Europe |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 3 signals: Latency: End of Day, Granularity: EOD +1 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 | — | 6 signals: Custom formulas, Ranking backtests +4 more |
| Try it | Visit Magic Formula Investing | Visit Portfolio123 |
Standout features
The best features of Magic Formula Investing and Portfolio123.ShowHide
Standout features
What Magic Formula Investing does best
- The official Magic Formula screener with two inputs, minimum market cap and either 30 or 50 results.
- Screening for companies ranked on high earnings yield and high return on capital, with the accounting adjustments described by the official methodology.
- A narrow value and quality idea list for further research.
- Focus on U.S.-listed equities because the official universe excludes foreign companies and ADRs.
- Financial and utility companies are excluded from the official screen.
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.
All details
Every attribute we track for Magic Formula Investing and Portfolio123.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | Stocks | StocksETFsClosed-End Funds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Not specified | 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 | End of Day | Real-timeEnd of Day |
Data granularity | EOD | 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 | Not specified | BrokerOAuthCSV |
Integrations | Not specified | Interactive BrokersTradier |
Export formats | Not specified | CSVJSON |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Not specified | Custom formulasRanking backtestsUniverse builderBroker syncRebalancingCorrelation |
Vendor & support | Not specified | Portfolio123Support: Forum |
Curation ratings | Methodology 4/5Reliability 4/5UX 3/5 | 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 | Free“Manage (Free)” |
| Entry paid plan | — | $300/yr≈ $25/mo“Screener (Annual)”backtest history years: 5 · resource units: 400 · +1 more |
| Tier 2 | — | $35/mo“Screener (Monthly)”backtest history years: 5 · resource units: 400 · +1 more |
| Tier 3 | — | $1000/yr≈ $83.33/mo“Backtest (Annual)”backtest history years: 10 · resource units: 1,000 · +1 more |
| Tier 4 | — | $116/mo“Backtest (Monthly)”backtest history years: 10 · resource units: 1,000 · +1 more |
| Tier 5 | — | $1500/yr≈ $125/mo“Portfolio (Annual)”backtest history years: 15 · resource units: 5,000 · +1 more |
| Tier 6 | — | $174/mo“Portfolio (Monthly)”backtest history years: 15 · resource units: 5,000 · +1 more |
| Tier 7 | — | $2400/yr≈ $200/mo“Ultimate (Annual)”backtest history years: 20 · resource units: 10,000 · +1 more |
| Top plan | — | $278/mo“Ultimate (Monthly)”backtest history years: 20 · resource units: 10,000 · +1 more |
| Custom / enterprise | — | Contact sales“Professional / API & Data Licenses” |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Magic Formula Investing and Portfolio123?
Magic Formula Investing leans toward screeners and stock ideas, while Portfolio123 puts more weight on screeners, data visualizations, and quant. They overlap in 2 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Magic Formula Investing and Portfolio123 cost?
Good news: both Magic Formula Investing and Portfolio123 have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Does Magic Formula Investing or Portfolio123 have an API?
Portfolio123 has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. Magic Formula Investing doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose Magic Formula Investing or Portfolio123?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Magic Formula Investing if you prefer its overall approach; go with Portfolio123 if you'd rather have data visualizations and quant. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Magic Formula Investing and Portfolio123 cover?
Both cover stocks. Portfolio123 adds ETFs and closed-end funds on top.
Does Magic Formula Investing or Portfolio123 have real-time data?
Portfolio123 offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. Magic Formula Investing runs on delayed or end-of-day data, which is perfectly fine for longer-term investors who don't live and die by the tick.
Which covers international markets: Magic Formula Investing or Portfolio123?
Portfolio123 has documented international coverage (North America and Europe), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. Magic Formula Investing is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from Magic Formula Investing and Portfolio123?
Portfolio123 exports to CSV. Magic Formula Investing is stingier about getting data out.
Which has a better stock screener: Magic Formula Investing or Portfolio123?
Both Magic Formula Investing and Portfolio123 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 Portfolio123?
Portfolio123 handles portfolio tracking. Magic Formula 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.