★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
Magic Formula Investing vs Ziggma
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
Ziggma
Best for ETF screeners and financials
Free • From $6.99/mo · Web
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You care about ETF screeners, financials, and ESG ratings, 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.
The verdict
The bottom line
Magic Formula Investing and Ziggma 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. Ziggma simply does more: 10 categories to Magic Formula Investing's 2, including ETF screeners, financials, and ESG ratings. Magic Formula Investing counters by being completely free.
Key differences at a glance
- Real-time data
- Ziggma
- Free trial
- Ziggma7 days
- Broader coverage
- Ziggma10 vs 2 categories
- Asset coverage
- ZiggmaAdds ETFs and mutual funds
- Free plan
- Both
Comparison snapshot
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free | Free • From $6.99/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | 7 days |
Plan limits | — | 13 limits: Free: virtual portfolios: 3, Starter (Monthly): brokerage links: 1 +11 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | — | Yes |
Integrations | — | Plaid and SnapTrade |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +4 more |
Categories covered | 2 | 10 |
Regions | North America | North America |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 3 signals: Latency: End of Day, Granularity: EOD +1 more | 4 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +2 more |
Data partners | — | 4 partners: Intrinio, Plaid +2 more |
Capabilities | — | Universe builder and Broker sync |
Security | — | 3 signals: Data residency: US, Encryption at rest +1 more |
| Try it | Visit Magic Formula Investing | Visit Ziggma |
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 Ziggma does best
- Track portfolios across linked brokerage and retirement accounts, CSV uploads, and manual or virtual portfolios, with consolidated performance, allocation, and risk views.
- Use account linking through third-party aggregation providers where supported; Ziggma states it does not access or store broker login credentials and uses OAuth where available.
- Screen stocks and ETFs with slider-based filters, real-time-updating results, saved screen presets, and watchlist actions.
- Use Ziggma Stock Score for a 0-100 fundamentals-based rating built around growth, profitability, valuation, financial strength, and related quality dimensions.
- Monitor dividend income, portfolio yield, and dividend opportunities across accounts and holdings.
Data & access details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | Stocks | StocksETFsMutual Funds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Not specified | Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsDividend InvestorsValue InvestorsGrowth Investors |
Regions | North America | North America |
Coverage details | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | End of Day | Real-timeEnd of Day |
Data granularity | EOD | EOD |
Pricing sources | Not specified | Vendor |
Data partners | Not specified | IntrinioPlaidSnapTradeAWS |
| Access & integrations | ||
Import methods | Not specified | BrokerOAuthPlaidCSVManual |
Integrations | Not specified | PlaidSnapTrade |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Not specified | Data residency: USEncryption at restEncryption in transit |
Capability signals | Not specified | Universe builderBroker sync |
Vendor & support | Not specified | Ziggma Analytics Inc.Country: USFounded 2019Support: Email |
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
$6.99/mo
Starting price
Plans & pricing
- virtual portfolios: 3
- brokerage links: 1
- virtual portfolios: 5
- brokerage links: 5
- virtual portfolios: 10
- brokerage links: Unlimited
- virtual portfolios: Unlimited
- brokerage links: 1
- virtual portfolios: 5
- brokerage links: 5
- virtual portfolios: 10
- brokerage links: Unlimited
- virtual portfolios: Unlimited
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.
Ziggma strengths
8What you only get with Ziggma.
Community category leaders
Vote sentiment comparison
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Magic Formula Investing and Ziggma?
Magic Formula Investing leans toward screeners and stock ideas, while Ziggma puts more weight on stock ideas, screeners, and ETF 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 Ziggma cost?
Good news: both Magic Formula Investing and Ziggma have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Should I choose Magic Formula Investing or Ziggma?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Magic Formula Investing if you prefer its overall approach; go with Ziggma if you'd rather have ETF screeners and financials. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Magic Formula Investing and Ziggma cover?
Both cover stocks. Ziggma adds ETFs and mutual funds on top.
Does Magic Formula Investing or Ziggma have real-time data?
Ziggma 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 has a better stock screener: Magic Formula Investing or Ziggma?
Both Magic Formula Investing and Ziggma 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 Ziggma?
Ziggma 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.