VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Investors comparing MarketXLS and OpenBB will find that Both MarketXLS and OpenBB concentrate on Sheets / Excel Add-ins, Options & Derivatives, and Financials workflows, making them natural alternatives for similar investment research jobs. MarketXLS leans into Broker Connectors, Screeners, and Options, which can be decisive for teams that need depth over breadth. OpenBB stands out with APIs & SDKs, Custom Dashboards, and Data APIs that the competition lacks. Use the feature-by-feature table to inspect unique capabilities and confirm which roadmap best maps to your process.
Head-to-head
MarketXLS vs OpenBB
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
- MarketXLS adds Broker Connectors, Screeners, Options, Options P&L, Monte Carlo, Risk Metrics (VaR/ES/Drawdown), Portfolio, Watchlist, Correlation, ETF Fundamentals, Which ETF includes this Stock?, and Blogs coverage that OpenBB skips.
- OpenBB includes APIs & SDKs, Custom Dashboards, Data APIs, News, IPO, Dividends, Splits, Commitment of Traders (COT), Dark Pool & Off-Exchange, Data Visualizations, Quant, Transcripts, ETF Performance, Analyst Forecasts, Analyst Price Targets, Regulatory Filings Monitoring, AI, and AI Chat categories that MarketXLS omits.
- MarketXLS highlights: Excel add‑in works on Windows, Mac, and Excel Online; updates delivered automatically for Mac/Excel Online/Office 365 users., Built‑in real‑time streaming quotes (with exchange agreements) and default 15‑minute delayed market data; EOD history ~15+ years; intraday historical up to 1‑minute for ~1 year., and Options analytics: live option chains & Greeks, IV tools, order‑flow functions, strategy P&L templates; options symbology converter..
- OpenBB is known for: REST API and Python client with JSON-serializable endpoints; local API deployment supported., Wide coverage across equities, ETFs, options, fixed income, macroeconomics, news, transcripts, and regulatory filings., and Command-line interface (successor to the legacy OpenBB Terminal) plus Python workflows..
- OpenBB keeps a free entry point that MarketXLS lacks.
MarketXLS
marketxls.com
Excel‑first market data & analytics add‑in with 1,000+ functions. Default data is 15‑min delayed (QuoteMedia); real‑time streams and intraday history available with data add‑ons. Web screener, ETF database/overlap tools, options chains & Greeks, and portfolio templates (incl. Efficient Frontier). Direct order‑ticket functions for Thinkorswim, Tradier, Orion, plus IBKR integration via TWS API. No public data API for redistribution; personal use license.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Excel add‑in works on Windows, Mac, and Excel Online; updates delivered automatically for Mac/Excel Online/Office 365 users.
- Built‑in real‑time streaming quotes (with exchange agreements) and default 15‑minute delayed market data; EOD history ~15+ years; intraday historical up to 1‑minute for ~1 year.
- Options analytics: live option chains & Greeks, IV tools, order‑flow functions, strategy P&L templates; options symbology converter.
- Portfolio & research templates: Efficient Frontier, correlation/volatility/drawdowns, fundamentals and historical statements via hf_* functions.
- Web screener with hundreds of metrics; stock ranks (Value/Quality/Technical); spreadsheet builder to generate ready‑made workbooks.
OpenBB
openbb.co
Open-source data and analytics platform with a REST API, Python SDK, and an enterprise workspace for custom dashboards and apps. The free Community plan includes unlimited dashboards and 20 AI Copilot queries per day. Pro adds collaboration features, Excel integration, secure deployment (VPC/on-prem), and export options. Infrastructure is SOC 2 Type II certified, with SSO support and a public status page.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- REST API and Python client with JSON-serializable endpoints; local API deployment supported.
- Wide coverage across equities, ETFs, options, fixed income, macroeconomics, news, transcripts, and regulatory filings.
- Command-line interface (successor to the legacy OpenBB Terminal) plus Python workflows.
- Workspace dashboards and apps with customizable widgets; unlimited dashboards on the Community tier.
- OpenBB Copilot AI chat that integrates dashboard widgets as context and supports attachments (PDF, CSV, XLSX).
Shared focus areas
Both platforms align on these research themes, so you can stay within one workflow when your use case involves them.
Where they differ
MarketXLS
Distinct strengths include:
- Excel add‑in works on Windows, Mac, and Excel Online; updates delivered automatically for Mac/Excel Online/Office 365 users.
- Built‑in real‑time streaming quotes (with exchange agreements) and default 15‑minute delayed market data; EOD history ~15+ years; intraday historical up to 1‑minute for ~1 year.
- Options analytics: live option chains & Greeks, IV tools, order‑flow functions, strategy P&L templates; options symbology converter.
- Portfolio & research templates: Efficient Frontier, correlation/volatility/drawdowns, fundamentals and historical statements via hf_* functions.
OpenBB
Distinct strengths include:
- REST API and Python client with JSON-serializable endpoints; local API deployment supported.
- Wide coverage across equities, ETFs, options, fixed income, macroeconomics, news, transcripts, and regulatory filings.
- Command-line interface (successor to the legacy OpenBB Terminal) plus Python workflows.
- Workspace dashboards and apps with customizable widgets; unlimited dashboards on the Community tier.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | MarketXLS | OpenBB |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Sheets / Excel Add-ins, Options & Derivatives, Financials, ETF Overview, ETF Holdings, Interest Rates, Unemployment Rates, Inflation Rates, GDP Unique: Broker Connectors, Screeners, Options, Options P&L, Monte Carlo, Risk Metrics (VaR/ES/Drawdown), Portfolio, Watchlist, Correlation, ETF Fundamentals, Which ETF includes this Stock?, Blogs | Shared: Sheets / Excel Add-ins, Options & Derivatives, Financials, ETF Overview, ETF Holdings, Interest Rates, Unemployment Rates, Inflation Rates, GDP Unique: APIs & SDKs, Custom Dashboards, Data APIs, News, IPO, Dividends, Splits, Commitment of Traders (COT), Dark Pool & Off-Exchange, Data Visualizations, Quant, Transcripts, ETF Performance, Analyst Forecasts, Analyst Price Targets, Regulatory Filings Monitoring, AI, AI Chat |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Mutual Funds, Currencies, Futures, Cryptos | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Bonds, Commodities, Currencies, Cryptos |
Experience levels Who each product is built for | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Platforms Where you can access the product | Desktop, Web | Web, API |
Pricing High-level pricing models | Subscription | Free, Subscription |
Key features Core capabilities called out by each vendor | Unique
| Unique
|
Tested Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat | Not yet | Not yet |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Standard listing | Standard listing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do MarketXLS and OpenBB both support?
Both platforms cover Sheets / Excel Add-ins, Options & Derivatives, Financials, ETF Overview, ETF Holdings, Interest Rates, Unemployment Rates, Inflation Rates, and GDP workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Which tool offers a free plan?
OpenBB offers a free entry point, while MarketXLS requires a paid subscription. Review the pricing table to see how the paid tiers compare.
How can you access MarketXLS and OpenBB?
Both MarketXLS and OpenBB prioritize web or desktop access. Investors wanting a mobile-first workflow may need to rely on responsive web views.
What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?
MarketXLS differentiates itself with Excel add‑in works on Windows, Mac, and Excel Online; updates delivered automatically for Mac/Excel Online/Office 365 users., Built‑in real‑time streaming quotes (with exchange agreements) and default 15‑minute delayed market data; EOD history ~15+ years; intraday historical up to 1‑minute for ~1 year., and Options analytics: live option chains & Greeks, IV tools, order‑flow functions, strategy P&L templates; options symbology converter., whereas OpenBB stands out for REST API and Python client with JSON-serializable endpoints; local API deployment supported., Wide coverage across equities, ETFs, options, fixed income, macroeconomics, news, transcripts, and regulatory filings., and Command-line interface (successor to the legacy OpenBB Terminal) plus Python workflows..
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.