VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Tool Comparison
Open Payments (CMS) vs USAspending comparison
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
At a glance
Tool
Open Payments (CMS)
—
Starting price
Plans & pricing
Tool
USAspending
—
Starting price
Plans & pricing
Vote sentiment comparison
Loading sentiment chart...
Platform details
| Attribute | Open Payments (CMS) | USAspending |
|---|---|---|
Asset types | Other | Other |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North America | North America |
Data freshness | End of Day | End of Day |
API access | REST | REST |
Export formats | CSVJSON | CSVJSON |
Coverage overlap
Categories where both tools offer overlapping coverage.
Categories covered by Open Payments (CMS) only.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Open Payments (CMS) and USAspending?
Open Payments (CMS) focuses on Data APIs, APIs & SDKs, and Data Visualizations while USAspending specializes in Data APIs, APIs & SDKs, and Data Visualizations. They overlap in 3 categories, so choose based on your preferred workflow and pricing.
How much do Open Payments (CMS) and USAspending cost?
Good news—both Open Payments (CMS) and USAspending offer free plans. You can try each platform without commitment and only pay when you need premium features.
Do Open Payments (CMS) and USAspending have APIs?
Yes, both platforms offer API access for developers and quants who want to build custom integrations or automate their workflows.
Should I choose Open Payments (CMS) or USAspending?
Choose Open Payments (CMS) if you need Three core datasets each year: General Payments, Research Payments, and Ownership/Investment Interests., and Web search/explorer with filtering and charts; program year downloads available from the portal.. Go with USAspending if Advanced Search & profiles across awards, recipients, agencies, federal accounts; filters include date, place of performance, NAICS/PSC, Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA), DEFC for COVID/infrastructure., and Spending Explorer and Agency/Federal Account profiles for top‑down views of obligations/outlays and drill‑downs by budget hierarchy. better fits how you invest.
Can I export data from Open Payments (CMS) and USAspending?
Both platforms let you export data to spreadsheets (CSV, and JSON). This is useful for custom analysis or record-keeping.
Other tools you might like
These profiles share overlapping coverage with both sides of this matchup.
Keep Exploring
Global rankings of the highest-rated tools across all categories.
Ranked list of companies with durable competitive advantages.
Proven models entering their growth phase with solid economics.
Track votes, sentiment, and engagement across the community.
Learn moat types, red flags, and real-company examples.
Browse other head-to-head tool comparisons and alternatives.
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.