★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
Magic Formula Investing vs TradingView
Pick Magic Formula Investing instead if
Magic Formula Investing
Best for screeners and stock ideas
Free · Web
- Go this way if it's completely free.
Start here
TradingView
Best for data visualizations and quant
Free • From $12.95/mo · Web · Mobile · Desktop · 70% positive (23 votes)
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You care about data visualizations, quant, and ETF screeners, things Magic Formula Investing doesn't offer
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
See alternativesOutbound links may include affiliate or sponsor codes.
The verdict
The bottom line
Magic Formula Investing and TradingView 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. TradingView simply does more: 27 categories to Magic Formula Investing's 2, including data visualizations, quant, and ETF screeners, plus a mobile app. Magic Formula Investing counters by being completely free.
Key differences at a glance
- Mobile app
- TradingView
- Free trial
- TradingView30 days
- Broader coverage
- TradingView27 vs 2 categories
- Desktop app
- TradingView
- Real-time data
- TradingView
- Asset coverage
- TradingViewAdds ETFs and cryptos
Comparison snapshot
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free | Free • From $12.95/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | 30 days |
Plan limits | — | 52 limits: Basic: charts per tab: 1, Basic: indicators per chart: 2 +50 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | No | Yes |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | — | No |
Integrations | — | Trading panel brokers (100+ partners), Pine Script +1 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +4 more |
Categories covered | 2 | 27 |
Regions | North America | — |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 3 signals: Latency: End of Day, Granularity: EOD +1 more | 3 signals: Latency: Streaming, Real-time, 15-min Delayed, and End of Day, Granularity: Tick, Second, Minute, and EOD +1 more |
Data partners | — | 3 partners: ICE Data Services, FactSet +1 more |
Capabilities | — | 8 signals: Custom formulas, Universe builder +6 more |
Security | — | Status page |
| Try it | Visit Magic Formula Investing | Visit TradingView |
Standout features
What Magic Formula Investing does best
- Run the official Magic Formula screener with only two inputs: minimum market cap and either 30 or 50 ranked results.
- Screen for companies ranked on high earnings yield and high return on capital, with the accounting adjustments described by the official methodology.
- Use it 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.
- Account for sector exclusions: financial and utility companies are removed from the official screen.
What TradingView does best
- Build multi-asset charts for stocks, ETFs, crypto, FX, futures, bonds, commodities, options, and indices from one charting workspace.
- Use Supercharts with multi-chart layouts, custom intervals, drawing tools, chart templates, Volume Profile, auto chart patterns, and other technical-analysis overlays.
- Screen markets with stock, ETF, bond, crypto, CEX/DEX, and Pine screeners using hundreds of technical and fundamental fields.
- Create and test indicators, alerts, and strategies with Pine Script, TradingView’s cloud IDE, strategy tester, Deep Backtesting, Bar Magnifier, and exportable strategy data.
- Set cloud alerts on prices, drawings, indicators, and Pine scripts, with delivery through browser, email, mobile apps, and webhooks on eligible plans.
Data & access details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | Stocks | StocksETFsCryptosBondsCommoditiesCurrenciesFuturesOptions |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Not specified | Retail TradersPro RetailDay TradersSwing TradersAlgo TradersQuants/Developers |
Regions | North America | Not specified |
Coverage details | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | End of Day | StreamingReal-time15-min DelayedEnd of Day |
Data granularity | EOD | TickSecondMinuteEOD |
Data partners | Not specified | ICE Data ServicesFactSetQuartr |
| Access & integrations | ||
Integrations | Not specified | Trading panel brokers (100+ partners)Pine ScriptWebhook alerts |
Export formats | Not specified | CSVImage |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Not specified | Status page |
Capability signals | Not specified | Custom formulasUniverse builderMulti-leg optionsGreeksIV surfacePortfolio attributionCorrelationYield curves |
Vendor & support | Not specified | TradingView, Inc. |
Curation ratings | Methodology 4/5Reliability 4/5UX 3/5 | Not specified |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing breakdown
Free
Lower starting price
Plans & pricing
$12.95/mo
Starting price
Plans & pricing
- charts per tab: 1
- indicators per chart: 2
- +7 more
- charts per tab: 2
- indicators per chart: 5
- +8 more
- charts per tab: 4
- indicators per chart: 10
- +8 more
- charts per tab: 8
- indicators per chart: 25
- +9 more
- charts per tab: 16
- indicators per chart: 50
- +10 more
Coverage overlap
Shared categories
2Where the two tools cover the same ground.
Magic Formula Investing strengths
0What you only get with Magic Formula Investing.
No unique categories.
TradingView strengths
25Community category leaders
Vote sentiment comparison
Loading sentiment chart...
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Magic Formula Investing and TradingView?
Magic Formula Investing leans toward screeners and stock ideas, while TradingView puts more weight on data visualizations, quant, and screeners. They overlap in 2 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Magic Formula Investing and TradingView cost?
Good news: both Magic Formula Investing and TradingView 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 TradingView on my phone?
TradingView 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 TradingView?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Magic Formula Investing if you prefer its overall approach; go with TradingView 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 TradingView cover?
Both cover stocks. TradingView adds ETFs, cryptos, and bonds on top.
Does Magic Formula Investing or TradingView have real-time data?
TradingView 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.
Can I export data from Magic Formula Investing and TradingView?
TradingView exports to CSV. Magic Formula Investing is stingier about getting data out.
Is Magic Formula Investing or TradingView better for day trading?
TradingView is the one positioned more for active traders. Magic Formula Investing is the better fit if you care less about fast trading workflows and more about a calmer research process.
Which has a better stock screener: Magic Formula Investing or TradingView?
Both Magic Formula Investing and TradingView 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 TradingView?
TradingView 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.
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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.