Open Payments (CMS) adds Data APIs, APIs & SDKs, and Data Visualizations coverage that PCAOB AuditorSearch skips.
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
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Sunday, October 5, 2025
Head-to-head
Open Payments (CMS) vs PCAOB AuditorSearch comparison
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
Open Payments (CMS) highlights: Three core datasets each year: General Payments, Research Payments, and Ownership/Investment Interests., Web search/explorer with filtering and charts; program year downloads available from the portal., and Open Data API (ODA) for programmatic access with filtering, querying, and aggregation (SoQL‑style)..
PCAOB AuditorSearch is known for: Searchable by engagement partner, audit firm, or public company, with support for company name, CIK, ticker, and firm identifiers., Displays engagement partner details, audit firm name and location, and the extent of participation of other firms., and Bulk dataset download in CSV format, updated daily. The file includes all Form AP data fields documented in the dictionary, with timestamps in Eastern Time..
Open Payments (CMS)
openpaymentsdata.cms.gov
U.S. federal open‑data program (Affordable Care Act ‘Sunshine Act’) that publishes financial relationships between drug/device manufacturers (and GPOs) and healthcare providers (physicians, NPPs since PY2021, and teaching hospitals). CMS publishes the prior program year’s full datasets on or before June 30 each year and issues a January refresh. Data are accessible via the web search tool, bulk downloads, and a REST Open Data API (filter, query, aggregate).
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Three core datasets each year: General Payments, Research Payments, and Ownership/Investment Interests.
- Web search/explorer with filtering and charts; program year downloads available from the portal.
- Open Data API (ODA) for programmatic access with filtering, querying, and aggregation (SoQL‑style).
- Publication cadence: initial annual publication on/around June 30 for the prior year, plus a January data refresh.
- Pre‑publication workflow: 45‑day recipient review & dispute (Apr 1–May 15) + 15‑day correction window (May 16–May 30).
Community votes (overall)
PCAOB AuditorSearch
pcaobus.org
Free public database built from Form AP filings. Users can search audit engagements by company, firm, or partner, or download the full dataset as a CSV file updated daily. Bulk downloads are timestamped in Eastern Time and do not include the ticker field.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Searchable by engagement partner, audit firm, or public company, with support for company name, CIK, ticker, and firm identifiers.
- Displays engagement partner details, audit firm name and location, and the extent of participation of other firms.
- Bulk dataset download in CSV format, updated daily. The file includes all Form AP data fields documented in the dictionary, with timestamps in Eastern Time.
- Form AP filings are required for each audit of a public company, forming the core of the database.
- Advanced search tools and a contact form are available for deeper queries and user support.
Community votes (overall)
Shared focus areas
1 overlapBoth tools cover this research theme.
Where they differ
Open Payments (CMS)
Distinct strengths include:
- Three core datasets each year: General Payments, Research Payments, and Ownership/Investment Interests.
- Web search/explorer with filtering and charts; program year downloads available from the portal.
- Open Data API (ODA) for programmatic access with filtering, querying, and aggregation (SoQL‑style).
- Publication cadence: initial annual publication on/around June 30 for the prior year, plus a January data refresh.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
Attribute | Open Payments (CMS) | PCAOB AuditorSearch |
---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Regulatory Filings Monitoring Unique: Data APIs, APIs & SDKs, Data Visualizations | Shared: Regulatory Filings Monitoring |
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 | Free |
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 Open Payments (CMS) and PCAOB AuditorSearch both support?
Both platforms cover Regulatory Filings Monitoring workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Do Open Payments (CMS) and PCAOB AuditorSearch require subscriptions?
Both Open Payments (CMS) and PCAOB AuditorSearch keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.
How can you access Open Payments (CMS) and PCAOB AuditorSearch?
Both Open Payments (CMS) and PCAOB AuditorSearch 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?
Open Payments (CMS) differentiates itself with Three core datasets each year: General Payments, Research Payments, and Ownership/Investment Interests., Web search/explorer with filtering and charts; program year downloads available from the portal., and Open Data API (ODA) for programmatic access with filtering, querying, and aggregation (SoQL‑style)., whereas PCAOB AuditorSearch stands out for Searchable by engagement partner, audit firm, or public company, with support for company name, CIK, ticker, and firm identifiers., Displays engagement partner details, audit firm name and location, and the extent of participation of other firms., and Bulk dataset download in CSV format, updated daily. The file includes all Form AP data fields documented in the dictionary, with timestamps in Eastern Time..
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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.