★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Source check: Zacks (Zacks.com) checked August 4, 2026
Tool Comparison
MSN Money vs Zacks (Zacks.com)
Pick MSN Money if
MSN Money
Free · Web · Mobile · Desktop
- You care about financials, fund analysis, and retirement calculator, things Zacks (Zacks.com) doesn't offer
Pick Zacks (Zacks.com) if
Zacks (Zacks.com)
Free • From $20.75/mo · Web · Mobile
- You care about screeners, ETF screeners, and portfolio, things MSN Money doesn't offer
- You've outgrown the basics and want pro-level depth
Already use these? The faster win is ranked stock ideas or the free-tools shortlist.
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
MSN Money and Zacks (Zacks.com) cover a lot of the same ground (5 shared categories, including news, calendar, and watchlist), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Zacks (Zacks.com) simply does more: 12 categories to MSN Money's 8, including screeners, ETF screeners, and portfolio. MSN Money counters by being completely free.
What readers say
MSN Money
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Zacks (Zacks.com)
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Key differences at a glance
- Asset coverage
- MSN MoneyAdds commodities and currencies
- Free trial
- Zacks (Zacks.com)30 days
- Broader coverage
- Zacks (Zacks.com)12 vs 8 categories
- Desktop app
- MSN Money
- Free plan
- Both
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 | Free | Free • From $20.75/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | 30 days |
Plan limits | — | 4 limits: Premium Annual: annual price usd: 249, Ultimate Monthly: trial promo: $1 for 30 days shown on current product page +2 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | Yes | No |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | No | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 8 | 12 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa | North America, Europe |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | Latency: Real-time, 15-min Delayed, and End of Day and Granularity: EOD | 3 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +1 more |
Capabilities | — | Factors: Value, Momentum, and Growth |
| Try it | Visit MSN Money | Visit Zacks (Zacks.com) |
Where each one shines
What MSN Money and Zacks (Zacks.com) each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What MSN Money and Zacks (Zacks.com) each do best.What MSN Money does best
- Reading access to free finance and business news aggregated from a broad publisher network in an ad-supported Microsoft-owned experience.
- Tracking stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds in customizable watchlists, with syncing across MSN web and mobile when signed into a Microsoft account.
- Stock quote pages for charts, fundamentals, related news, and stock Grades sourced from third-party providers.
- Views for reviewing earnings calendar and estimates data powered by Zacks Investment Research.
- Fundamentals, charts, and fund data supplied by Refinitiv, OTC coverage from OTC Markets, and Grades from S&P Global Market Intelligence.
What Zacks (Zacks.com) does best
- The Zacks Rank system from #1 to #5 and Zacks Industry Rank on company pages to frame earnings-revision-driven research.
- Comparison tools for Value, Growth, and Momentum Style Scores alongside the rank when screening or reviewing individual stocks.
- Screening for stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds with hundreds of filters, with 45+ Premium Screens gated behind paid access.
- Direct access to ticker pages with analyst forecasts, earnings estimates, price targets, company research, and related market context.
- Views for reviewing Price-Consensus-EPS Surprise charts that connect historical estimates, actual earnings, and surprise patterns.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for MSN Money and Zacks (Zacks.com), side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for MSN Money and Zacks (Zacks.com), side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsMutual FundsCommoditiesCurrencies | StocksETFsMutual Funds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediate | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | North AmericaEurope |
Coverage details | 27 exchangesIdentifiers: Ticker | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Real-time15-min DelayedEnd of Day | Real-timeEnd of Day |
Data granularity | EOD | EOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
Import methods | Manual | Manual |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Not specified | Factors: Value, Momentum, and Growth |
Vendor & support | Microsoft CorporationCountry: United StatesSupport: Email | Zacks Investment Research |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free | Free |
| Entry paid plan | — | $20.75/mo“Premium Annual”annual price usd: 249 |
| Tier 2 | — | $41.25/mo“Investor Collection Annual” |
| Tier 3 | — | $59/mo“Investor Collection Monthly” |
| Tier 4 | — | $249.58/mo“Ultimate Annual”annual price usd: 2,995 · trial promo: $1 for 30 days shown on current product page |
| Top plan | — | $299/mo“Ultimate Monthly”trial promo: $1 for 30 days shown on current product page |
| Free trial | — | 30 days |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between MSN Money and Zacks (Zacks.com)?
MSN Money leans toward news, calendar, and watchlist, while Zacks (Zacks.com) puts more weight on screeners, ETF screeners, and watchlist. They overlap in 5 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do MSN Money and Zacks (Zacks.com) cost?
Good news: both MSN Money and Zacks (Zacks.com) have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Which is better for beginners: MSN Money or Zacks (Zacks.com)?
Honestly, neither is aimed at beginners. Expect a learning curve either way; that's the trade-off for the depth they offer.
Should I choose MSN Money or Zacks (Zacks.com)?
It depends on what you're after. Pick MSN Money if financials and fund analysis matter to you; go with Zacks (Zacks.com) if you'd rather have screeners and ETF screeners. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do MSN Money and Zacks (Zacks.com) cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds. MSN Money also handles commodities and currencies.
Do MSN Money and Zacks (Zacks.com) offer real-time data?
Yes, both serve real-time market data, so either works when timing matters.
Which has a better stock screener: MSN Money or Zacks (Zacks.com)?
Zacks (Zacks.com) has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; MSN Money doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with MSN Money or Zacks (Zacks.com)?
Zacks (Zacks.com) handles portfolio tracking. MSN Money is really a research tool; you'd track your portfolio elsewhere.
Keep researching
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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.