★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Monday, June 15, 2026
Tool Comparison · Monday, June 15, 2026
MarketXLS vs Portfolio123
Trying to decide between MarketXLS and Portfolio123? Here's how they compare on pricing, features, and platforms — and which one fits the way you invest.
MarketXLS
Best for sheets / excel add-ins and options & derivatives
Excel‑first market data & analytics add‑in with 1,000+ functions. Current U.S. pricing is Standard $70/mo, Advanced $125/mo, and Business $200/mo, with annual savings and data/exchange fees included for non-professional users. Default data is 15‑min delayed, while Advanced/Business include real-time streaming for many U.S./Canadian stocks, ETFs, and options; futures/international data are 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.
Portfolio123
Best for data visualizations and quant
Rules‑based quant research and portfolio‑management platform. Free Manage module covers multi‑account tracking, watchlists, and broker connectivity, while paid Research/DataMiner/API tiers unlock multifactor ranking, screening, long history backtests, AI Factor, and programmatic access. Current homepage copy advertises 30 days of free screener and backtesting access, while public research/special-offer pages disagree on whether the 21-day Research trial is $9 or $19; API and DataMiner are excluded from the trial.
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The verdict
The bottom line: MarketXLS and Portfolio123 cover a lot of the same ground — 10 shared categories, including broker connectors, screeners, and portfolio — so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Portfolio123 simply does more — 24 categories to MarketXLS's 21, including data visualizations, quant, and stock ideas. MarketXLS counters by keeping things simpler.
Key differences at a glance
Free plan
Portfolio123
Portfolio123 only
Cheaper paid plan
Portfolio123
$25/mo vs $70/mo
Broader coverage
Portfolio123
24 vs 21 categories
API access
Portfolio123
Portfolio123 only
Choose
MarketXLS if…
- You care about sheets / excel add-ins, options & derivatives, and options — things Portfolio123 doesn't offer
Choose
Portfolio123 if…
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- You want the cheaper way in — plans start at $25/mo instead of $70/mo
- You care about data visualizations, quant, and stock ideas — things MarketXLS doesn't offer
- You want more under one roof — 24 categories to MarketXLS's 21
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 MarketXLS does best
- 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 on Advanced/Business for covered U.S./Canadian stocks, ETFs, and options; Standard defaults to 15‑minute delayed stock/ETF/crypto data and EOD options/mutual-fund/economic data.
- 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.
What Portfolio123 does best
- Web‑based quant research terminal for building multifactor ranking systems, stock/ETF screens, and complete rules‑based strategies with no programming, powered by point‑in‑time FactSet data and marketed as free of survivorship and look‑ahead bias.
- Supports realistic simulations and backtests over roughly 20 years of history for US, Canadian, and European equities, with custom universes, separate buy/sell rules, position sizing, hedging, and “Book of Strategies” to combine and analyze correlated systems.
- Stock & ETF coverage uses fundamentals, estimates, corporate actions, plus industry/sector classification, with “over 15,000 current US, Canadian, and European stocks” and many more historical issues.
- AI Factor lets users train machine‑learning predictors for expected returns and plug the predictions into ranking systems, strategy simulations and asset-level analysis, with no-code model evaluation, blocked K-fold cross validation, lift charts and model/portfolio statistics.
- Homepage currently advertises 30 days of free screener and backtesting access with no credit card required, in addition to the free Manage module.
Data & access details
| Attribute | MarketXLS | Portfolio123 |
|---|---|---|
Asset types | StocksETFsOptionsMutual FundsCurrenciesFuturesCryptos | StocksETFsClosed-End Funds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPAC | North AmericaEurope |
Data freshness | Real-time15-min DelayedEnd of Day | Real-timeEnd of Day |
API access | Not specified | REST |
Export formats | ExcelCSV | CSVJSON |
Seen enough? The fastest way to decide is to open both and poke around for five minutes.
Pricing breakdown
Tool
MarketXLS
$70/mo
Starting price
Plans & pricing
Tool
Portfolio123
$19
Starting price
Plans & pricing
Coverage overlap
Where the two tools cover the same ground.
What you only get with MarketXLS.
What you only get with Portfolio123.
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 MarketXLS and Portfolio123?
MarketXLS leans toward sheets / excel add-ins, broker connectors, and screeners, while Portfolio123 puts more weight on screeners, data visualizations, and quant. They overlap in 10 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
Is MarketXLS or Portfolio123 free to use?
Portfolio123 has a free tier, so you can get started without paying anything. MarketXLS is paid-only. If budget matters, start with Portfolio123 and see how far it takes you before opening your wallet.
Does MarketXLS or Portfolio123 have an API?
Portfolio123 has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. MarketXLS doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose MarketXLS or Portfolio123?
It depends on what you're after. Pick MarketXLS if sheets / excel add-ins and options & derivatives matter to you; go with Portfolio123 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 MarketXLS and Portfolio123 cover?
Both cover stocks and ETFs. MarketXLS also handles options, mutual funds, and currencies. Portfolio123 adds closed-end funds on top.
Do MarketXLS and Portfolio123 offer real-time data?
Yes, both serve real-time market data, so either works when timing matters.
Can I export data from MarketXLS and Portfolio123?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV) — handy if you like running your own numbers.
Can MarketXLS or Portfolio123 connect to my broker?
Yes, both connect to brokers, so your portfolio syncs automatically instead of you keying in every trade.
Which has a better stock screener—MarketXLS or Portfolio123?
Both MarketXLS and Portfolio123 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 MarketXLS or Portfolio123?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking — holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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.