VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★

PRICE: 5 CENTS

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) adds Data APIs, APIs & SDKs, and Data Visualizations coverage that PCAOB AuditorSearch skips.

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) logo

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

Web
API

Pricing

Free

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).

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PCAOB AuditorSearch logo

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.

Platforms

Web

Pricing

Free

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.

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Overlap

Shared focus areas

1 overlap

Both 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

AttributeOpen 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

  • 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).
  • Supplemental/lookup tables (e.g., Covered Recipient Profile Supplement; distinct physician profile) to aid joins.

Unique

  • 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.
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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..

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.