★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Source check: StreamXLS checked July 22, 2026
Tool Comparison
MarketXLS vs StreamXLS
Start here
MarketXLS
From $70/mo · Desktop · Web
- You care about screeners, options, and options p&l, things StreamXLS doesn't offer
- You're newer to investing and want something approachable
Pick StreamXLS instead if
StreamXLS
From $590/yr · Desktop
- You want the cheaper way in: plans start at $49.17/mo instead of $70/mo
- You care about custom dashboards, something MarketXLS 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.
Our take
The bottom line
MarketXLS and StreamXLS cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, sheets / excel add-ins, broker connectors, and portfolio), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. MarketXLS simply does more: 16 categories to StreamXLS's 4, including screeners, options, and options p&l. StreamXLS counters by starting cheaper at $49.17/mo.
What readers say
MarketXLS
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StreamXLS
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Key differences at a glance
- Cheaper paid plan
- StreamXLS$49.17/mo vs $70/mo
- Free trial
- StreamXLS30 days
- Broader coverage
- MarketXLS16 vs 4 categories
- Broker sync
- StreamXLS
- Asset coverage
- MarketXLSAdds ETFs and mutual funds
- Beginner friendly
- MarketXLS
See for yourself
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.ShowHide
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | From $70/mo | From $590/yr |
Free tier | No | No |
Free trial | — | 30 days |
Plan limits | 3 limits: Standard: annual price usd: 850, Advanced: annual price usd: 1,500 +1 more | 15 limits: 30-Day Full-Featured Trial: duration days: 30, Personal Monthly: licensed machines: 1 +13 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | No |
Desktop app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | No | Yes |
Integrations | Interactive Brokers, Thinkorswim +10 more | Microsoft Excel for Windows, Interactive Brokers Trader Workstation +2 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +4 more |
Categories covered | 16 | 4 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC | — |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 4 signals: Latency: Real-time, 15-min Delayed, and End of Day, Granularity: Minute and EOD +2 more | Latency: Streaming, Real-time, and 15-min Delayed |
Capabilities | 5 signals: Factors: Value, Quality, and Momentum, Multi-leg options +3 more | — |
Security | Status page | — |
| Try it | Visit MarketXLS | Visit StreamXLS |
Where each one shines
What MarketXLS and StreamXLS each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What MarketXLS and StreamXLS each do best.What MarketXLS does best
- MarketXLS in Excel for Windows, Mac, and Excel Online, with 1,000+ spreadsheet functions for market data and analytics.
- Access to quotes, fundamentals, historical statements, ETF data, options data, mutual-fund data, crypto pairs, FRED economic series, and selected technical data into workbooks.
- Real-time streaming quotes on Advanced and Business plans for covered U.S. and Canadian stocks, ETFs, and options.
- Standard defaults to 15-minute delayed stock, ETF, and crypto data, with EOD options, mutual-fund, and economic data.
- Analysis of options with chains, Greeks, implied-volatility tools, order-flow functions, strategy P&L templates, and symbology conversion.
What StreamXLS does best
- Use native Excel RTD formulas to stream IBKR market quotes, account values, positions, live P&L, and open orders into a workbook.
- Connect locally to Trader Workstation or IB Gateway through the user's own TWS API installation and IBKR account.
- Work with stocks, futures, options, and FX supported by the documented contract syntax and the user's IBKR permissions.
- Monitor multiple IBKR accounts and multiple Excel instances on one licensed Windows machine.
- Reuse and deduplicate identical RTD topics, buffer updates while Excel is busy, and resubscribe after supported reconnect scenarios.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for MarketXLS and StreamXLS, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for MarketXLS and StreamXLS, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsOptionsMutual FundsCurrenciesFuturesCryptos | StocksOptionsFuturesCurrencies |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | IntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Not specified | Retail TradersPro RetailDay TradersSwing TradersAlgo TradersQuants/Developers |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPAC | Not specified |
Coverage details | Countries: US and CA5 exchangesIdentifiers: Ticker and CUSIP | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Real-time15-min DelayedEnd of Day | StreamingReal-time15-min Delayed |
Data granularity | MinuteEOD | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
Integrations | Interactive BrokersThinkorswimTradierOrionCharles Schwab (OpenView Gateway)QuoteMediaIEX CloudNasdaq+4 more | Microsoft Excel for WindowsInteractive Brokers Trader WorkstationInteractive Brokers GatewayInteractive Brokers TWS API |
Export formats | ExcelCSV | Not specified |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Status page | Not specified |
Capability signals | Factors: Value, Quality, and MomentumMulti-leg optionsGreeksMonte CarloCorrelation | Not specified |
Vendor & support | MarketXLS LimitedCountry: IrelandFounded 2016Support: Email and Phone | StreamXLS LLCCountry: United StatesSupport: Email |
Curation ratings | Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 | Not specified |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.ShowHide
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Entry paid plan | $70/mo“Standard”annual price usd: 850 | $590/yr≈ $49.17/mo“Personal Annual”annual price usd: 590 · licensed machines: 1 · +1 more |
| Tier 2 | $125/mo“Advanced”annual price usd: 1,500 | $59/mo“Personal Monthly”licensed machines: 1 · named users: 1 |
| Tier 3 | $200/mo“Business”annual price usd: 2,400 | $1950/yr≈ $162.50/mo“Professional Annual”annual price usd: 1,950 · licensed machines: 1 · +1 more |
| Top plan | — | $195/mo“Professional Monthly”licensed machines: 1 · named users: 1 |
| Free trial | — | 30 days |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between MarketXLS and StreamXLS?
MarketXLS leans toward sheets / excel add-ins, broker connectors, and screeners, while StreamXLS puts more weight on sheets / excel add-ins, broker connectors, and portfolio. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do MarketXLS and StreamXLS cost?
Neither has a free plan, but StreamXLS offers a free trial. Compare the paid tiers against your required data coverage before committing.
Which is better for beginners: MarketXLS or StreamXLS?
MarketXLS is the friendlier place to start; its interface takes less getting used to. Both work fine once you're past the basics.
Should I choose MarketXLS or StreamXLS?
It depends on what you're after. Pick MarketXLS if screeners and options matter to you; go with StreamXLS if you'd rather have custom dashboards. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do MarketXLS and StreamXLS cover?
Both cover stocks, options, currencies, and futures. MarketXLS also handles ETFs, mutual funds, and cryptos.
Do MarketXLS and StreamXLS offer real-time data?
Yes, both serve real-time market data, so either works when timing matters.
Can I export data from MarketXLS and StreamXLS?
MarketXLS exports to Excel and CSV. StreamXLS is stingier about getting data out.
Can MarketXLS or StreamXLS connect to my broker?
StreamXLS syncs with brokers automatically. With MarketXLS, you're entering holdings by hand or importing files.
Is MarketXLS or StreamXLS better for day trading?
StreamXLS is the one positioned more for active traders. MarketXLS 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: MarketXLS or StreamXLS?
MarketXLS has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; StreamXLS doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with MarketXLS or StreamXLS?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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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.