★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Friday, June 12, 2026
Tool Comparison · Friday, June 12, 2026
Magic Formula Investing vs Qfinr
Trying to decide between Magic Formula Investing and Qfinr? Here's how they compare on pricing, features, and platforms — and which one fits the way you invest.
Magic Formula Investing
Best for screeners and stock ideas
Free stock screener based on Joel Greenblatt’s Magic Formula strategy. Covers only U.S.-listed equities, excluding financials and utilities. Users choose a minimum market cap and get either 30 or 50 ranked results. Prices are updated daily on trading mornings, and fundamentals refresh quarterly. Free registration is required.
Qfinr
Best for portfolio and watchlist
Subscription-based portfolio analytics platform with support for multiple asset classes. Portfolios can be imported via CSV templates or broker/custodian statements. No direct broker sync is advertised. A developer API is linked from the site, though not publicly documented. Public pages continue to emphasize portfolio stress testing, analytics education, and subscription terms, but specific current pricing remains unpublished.
Outbound links may include affiliate or sponsor codes.
The verdict
The bottom line: Magic Formula Investing and Qfinr 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. Qfinr simply does more — 8 categories to Magic Formula Investing's 2, including portfolio, watchlist, and backtesting, plus a mobile app. Magic Formula Investing counters by being completely free.
Key differences at a glance
Free plan
Magic Formula Investing
Magic Formula Investing only
Broader coverage
Qfinr
8 vs 2 categories
Mobile app
Qfinr
Qfinr only
Choose
Magic Formula Investing if…
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
Choose
Qfinr if…
- You care about portfolio, watchlist, and backtesting — things Magic Formula Investing doesn't offer
- You want more under one roof — 8 categories to Magic Formula Investing's 2
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
Consider alternatives if…
- You'd rather have one tool that does it all.
- Neither price feels right for what you'd get.
Comparison snapshot
Standout features
What Magic Formula Investing does best
- Straightforward screener with only two inputs: minimum market cap (USD, millions) and number of results (30 or 50).
- Universe restricted to U.S.-listed equities, excluding financial and utility companies.
- Ranks companies on two factors: high earnings yield (low P/E) and high return on capital, with minor accounting adjustments.
- Update cadence: price data refreshed daily around 8:00 AM ET on trading days; financial data updated quarterly.
- Underlying data source is S&P Compustat.
What Qfinr does best
- Multi-country, multi-asset portfolio tracking and analysis covering stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, commodities, and deposits.
- Portfolio import via manual entry, Excel/CSV templates, or statements from Indian custodians and brokers, including CAMS, KFintech, NSDL, CDSL, Zerodha, HDFC Securities, ICICI Securities, and Kotak Securities.
- Screeners for stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs, along with a “Discover Ideas” module for new opportunities.
- Portfolio risk and stress testing tools with daily return benchmarking and what-if analysis.
- Backtested stock ideas with the ability to generate customized strategies and view results.
Data & access details
| Attribute | Magic Formula Investing | Qfinr |
|---|---|---|
Asset types | Stocks | StocksETFsMutual FundsBondsCommoditiesOther |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North America | Not specified |
Data freshness | End of Day | End of Day |
API access | Not specified | Not specified |
Export formats | Not specified | Not specified |
Seen enough? The fastest way to decide is to open both and poke around for five minutes.
Pricing breakdown
Tool
Magic Formula Investing
—
Starting price
Plans & pricing
Tool
Qfinr
—
Starting price
Plans & pricing
Coverage overlap
What you only get with Magic Formula Investing.
No unique categories.
What you only get with Qfinr.
Community category leaders
Vote sentiment comparison
Loading sentiment chart...
Still deciding? Get hands-on with both — most plans offer a free tier or trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Magic Formula Investing and Qfinr?
Magic Formula Investing leans toward screeners and stock ideas, while Qfinr puts more weight on portfolio, watchlist, and backtesting. They overlap in 2 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
Is Magic Formula Investing or Qfinr free to use?
Magic Formula Investing has a free tier, so you can get started without paying anything. Qfinr is paid-only. If budget matters, start with Magic Formula Investing and see how far it takes you before opening your wallet.
Can I use Magic Formula Investing or Qfinr on my phone?
Qfinr has a proper mobile app, so it travels better. Magic Formula Investing is web-only — it'll load in a phone browser, but it's not the same experience.
Should I choose Magic Formula Investing or Qfinr?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Magic Formula Investing if you prefer its overall approach; go with Qfinr if you'd rather have portfolio and watchlist. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Magic Formula Investing and Qfinr cover?
Both cover stocks. Qfinr adds ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds on top.
Which has a better stock screener—Magic Formula Investing or Qfinr?
Both Magic Formula Investing and Qfinr 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 Qfinr?
Qfinr handles portfolio tracking. Magic Formula Investing is really a research tool — you'd track your portfolio elsewhere.
Other tools you might like
These profiles share overlapping coverage with both sides of this matchup.
Keep Exploring
Global rankings of the highest-rated tools across all categories.
Ranked list of companies with durable competitive advantages.
Proven models entering their growth phase with solid economics.
Track votes, sentiment, and engagement across the community.
Learn moat types, red flags, and real-company examples.
Browse other head-to-head tool comparisons and alternatives.
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.