Tool Comparison
MarketScreener vs The Zen of Investing
- Paid from
- $34/mo
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile
Best if
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want news, alerts, and screeners.
- You're a long-term investor who cares more about fundamentals than headlines
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web
Best if
- You want corporate actions & special situations.
Start here
MarketScreener
Free • From $34/mo · Web · Mobile
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want news, alerts, and screeners.
- You're a long-term investor who cares more about fundamentals than headlines
Pick The Zen of Investing instead if
The Zen of Investing
Free · Web
- You want corporate actions & special situations.
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
MarketScreener and The Zen of Investing cover a lot of the same ground (2 shared categories, calendar and blogs), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. MarketScreener simply does more: 16 categories to The Zen of Investing's 3, including news, alerts, and screeners, plus a mobile app. The Zen of Investing counters by being completely free.
What readers say
MarketScreener
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The Zen of Investing
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Key differences at a glance
- Mobile app
- MarketScreener
- Broader coverage
- MarketScreener16 vs 3 categories
- Global coverage
- MarketScreener
- Asset coverage
- MarketScreenerAdds ETFs and commodities
- Free plan
- Both
What MarketScreener does best
- Monitor market news and quotes across equities, ETFs, commodities, currencies, forex, and cryptocurrencies.
- Build watchlists with quotes, news, earnings releases, valuation trends, broker recommendations, and email alerts.
- Screening for stocks globally with hundreds of fundamental and technical criteria, with higher filter counts reserved for Premium and Expert tiers.
- Use dynamic charts with technical indicators and switch between stocks and personal lists.
- Explore thematic lists and compare them with index trends and past performance.
What The Zen of Investing does best
- Tracking definitively announced upcoming spinoffs with company names, transaction details, timing, and supporting source links where available.
- Review recent spinoffs to find completed transactions, prospectuses, investor decks, and related company materials.
- The site as a focused spinoff calendar when broader market news tools bury special-situation events.
- Open press releases, investor presentations, prospectuses, and filings from the event lists.
- Discovery tools for archived investor-relations PDFs from major spinoff companies when original context matters.
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 • From $34/mo | Free |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | 13 limits: Free Member: lists: 5, Free Member: securities per list: 25 +11 more | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | No |
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 | 16 | 3 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa | North America |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data partners | 3 partners: FactSet, Morningstar +1 more | — |
Capabilities | Universe builder | — |
| Try it | Visit MarketScreener | Visit The Zen of Investing |
Standout features
The best features of MarketScreener and The Zen of Investing.ShowHide
Standout features
What MarketScreener does best
- Monitor market news and quotes across equities, ETFs, commodities, currencies, forex, and cryptocurrencies.
- Build watchlists with quotes, news, earnings releases, valuation trends, broker recommendations, and email alerts.
- Screening for stocks globally with hundreds of fundamental and technical criteria, with higher filter counts reserved for Premium and Expert tiers.
- Use dynamic charts with technical indicators and switch between stocks and personal lists.
- Explore thematic lists and compare them with index trends and past performance.
What The Zen of Investing does best
- Tracking definitively announced upcoming spinoffs with company names, transaction details, timing, and supporting source links where available.
- Review recent spinoffs to find completed transactions, prospectuses, investor decks, and related company materials.
- The site as a focused spinoff calendar when broader market news tools bury special-situation events.
- Open press releases, investor presentations, prospectuses, and filings from the event lists.
- Discovery tools for archived investor-relations PDFs from major spinoff companies when original context matters.
All details
Every attribute we track for MarketScreener and The Zen of Investing.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsCommoditiesCurrenciesCryptos | Stocks |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsValue InvestorsGrowth InvestorsDividend Investors | Not specified |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | North America |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and ISIN | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data partners | FactSetMorningstarS&P Global Market Intelligence | Not specified |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Universe builder | Not specified |
Vendor & support | Surperformance SASCountry: France | Support: Email |
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 Member”lists: 5 · securities per list: 25 · +1 more | Free |
| Entry paid plan | $34/mo“Access”financial history years: 5 · company reports per month: 3 · +4 more | — |
| 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 MarketScreener and The Zen of Investing?
MarketScreener leans toward news, alerts, and calendar, while The Zen of Investing puts more weight on corporate actions & special situations, calendar, and blogs. They overlap in 2 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do MarketScreener and The Zen of Investing cost?
Good news: both MarketScreener and The Zen of Investing have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Can I use MarketScreener or The Zen of Investing on my phone?
MarketScreener lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. The Zen of Investing doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web.
Should I choose MarketScreener or The Zen of Investing?
It depends on what you're after. Pick MarketScreener if news and alerts matter to you; go with The Zen of Investing if you'd rather have corporate actions & special situations. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do MarketScreener and The Zen of Investing cover?
Both cover stocks. MarketScreener also handles ETFs, commodities, and currencies.
Which covers international markets: MarketScreener or The Zen of Investing?
MarketScreener has documented international coverage (North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, and more), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. The Zen of Investing is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Which has a better stock screener: MarketScreener or The Zen of Investing?
MarketScreener has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; The Zen of Investing doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with MarketScreener or The Zen of Investing?
MarketScreener handles portfolio tracking. The Zen of 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.