VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Investors comparing Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) and Visual Capitalist will find that Both Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) and Visual Capitalist concentrate on Data Visualizations, Education, and Blogs workflows, making them natural alternatives for similar investment research jobs. Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) leans into Data APIs, and Shipping & Trade, which can be decisive for teams that need depth over breadth. Visual Capitalist stands out with Newsletters 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
Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) vs Visual Capitalist
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
- Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) adds Data APIs, and Shipping & Trade coverage that Visual Capitalist skips.
- Visual Capitalist includes Newsletters categories that Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) omits.
- Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) highlights: Visualizations and rankings based on Economic Complexity Index (ECI) and Product Complexity Index (PCI), with reports by HS classification., Monthly international trade data and subnational coverage across 30+ countries available on Pro plans., and Premium tier adds company-level U.S. Bill of Lading data through a Company Explorer sourced from U.S. Customs..
- Visual Capitalist is known for: Well-known for data-rich charts, maps, and infographics across markets, energy, technology, and macroeconomics., Coverage spans major themes like GDP trends, market share breakdowns, commodities, and economic freedom indices., and VC+ membership unlocks The Trendline newsletter (twice weekly), monthly market outlooks, special research dispatches, archives, and member-only events..
Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC)
oec.world
A global trade and economic complexity platform with rich visualizations, country and product rankings, and an API. Pro plans unlock the latest monthly and subnational datasets, while Premium adds company-level Bill of Lading data and bulk downloads. Academic discounts and enterprise options with SSO support are also available.
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Visualizations and rankings based on Economic Complexity Index (ECI) and Product Complexity Index (PCI), with reports by HS classification.
- Monthly international trade data and subnational coverage across 30+ countries available on Pro plans.
- Premium tier adds company-level U.S. Bill of Lading data through a Company Explorer sourced from U.S. Customs.
- REST API with a free tier for historical data and Pro/Premium tokens for the latest datasets, subnational access, and higher query volumes.
- Data downloads in CSV, Excel, or JSON, with bulk access and larger query limits available for subscribers.
Visual Capitalist
visualcapitalist.com
Publisher of striking, data-driven infographics and explainers on business, markets, and the global economy. Their premium tier, VC+, offers exclusive research notes, newsletters, webinars, and ad-free browsing, while a licensing program enables organizations to reuse and reprint their visuals under set terms.
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Well-known for data-rich charts, maps, and infographics across markets, energy, technology, and macroeconomics.
- Coverage spans major themes like GDP trends, market share breakdowns, commodities, and economic freedom indices.
- VC+ membership unlocks The Trendline newsletter (twice weekly), monthly market outlooks, special research dispatches, archives, and member-only events.
- Ad-free browsing included with VC+ for a cleaner reading experience.
- Content licensing available through a dedicated portal, with clear guidelines for reprints and permitted reuse.
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
Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC)
Distinct strengths include:
- Visualizations and rankings based on Economic Complexity Index (ECI) and Product Complexity Index (PCI), with reports by HS classification.
- Monthly international trade data and subnational coverage across 30+ countries available on Pro plans.
- Premium tier adds company-level U.S. Bill of Lading data through a Company Explorer sourced from U.S. Customs.
- REST API with a free tier for historical data and Pro/Premium tokens for the latest datasets, subnational access, and higher query volumes.
Visual Capitalist
Distinct strengths include:
- Well-known for data-rich charts, maps, and infographics across markets, energy, technology, and macroeconomics.
- Coverage spans major themes like GDP trends, market share breakdowns, commodities, and economic freedom indices.
- VC+ membership unlocks The Trendline newsletter (twice weekly), monthly market outlooks, special research dispatches, archives, and member-only events.
- Ad-free browsing included with VC+ for a cleaner reading experience.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) | Visual Capitalist |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Data Visualizations, Education, Blogs Unique: Data APIs, Shipping & Trade | Shared: Data Visualizations, Education, Blogs Unique: Newsletters |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Other | Other |
Experience levels Who each product is built for | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Platforms Where you can access the product | Web, API | Web |
Pricing High-level pricing models | Free, 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 Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) and Visual Capitalist both support?
Both platforms cover Data Visualizations, Education, and Blogs workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Do Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) and Visual Capitalist require subscriptions?
Both Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) and Visual Capitalist keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.
How can you access Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) and Visual Capitalist?
Both Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) and Visual Capitalist 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?
Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) differentiates itself with Visualizations and rankings based on Economic Complexity Index (ECI) and Product Complexity Index (PCI), with reports by HS classification., Monthly international trade data and subnational coverage across 30+ countries available on Pro plans., and Premium tier adds company-level U.S. Bill of Lading data through a Company Explorer sourced from U.S. Customs., whereas Visual Capitalist stands out for Well-known for data-rich charts, maps, and infographics across markets, energy, technology, and macroeconomics., Coverage spans major themes like GDP trends, market share breakdowns, commodities, and economic freedom indices., and VC+ membership unlocks The Trendline newsletter (twice weekly), monthly market outlooks, special research dispatches, archives, and member-only events..
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.