VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★

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Friday, January 30, 2026

Tool Comparison

Open Payments (CMS) vs Visible Alpha comparison

Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.

Open Payments (CMS) logo

Open Payments (CMS)

openpaymentsdata.cms.gov

PricingFree
PlatformsWeb, API
Visible Alpha logo

Visible Alpha

visiblealpha.com

PricingSubscription
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, API
Top 50 Investing ToolsThe global ranking of the best investing tools, ranked by community votes.

At a glance

Platforms
Open Payments (CMS)Web, API
Visible AlphaWeb, Desktop, API
Categories
Open Payments (CMS)4
Visible Alpha11
Pricing details
Open Payments (CMS)Visible Alpha
Free tier
Free trial
Starting price
Enterprise option
Available plansFreeEnterprise

Vote sentiment comparison

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Platform details

AttributeOpen Payments (CMS)Visible Alpha
Asset types
Other
Stocks
Experience
BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced
IntermediateAdvanced
Regions
North America
North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica
Data freshness
End of Day
Real-timeEnd of Day
API access
REST
Not specified
Export formats
CSVJSON
Excel

Coverage overlap

Shared categories3

Categories where both tools offer overlapping coverage.

Open Payments (CMS) strengths1

Categories covered by Open Payments (CMS) only.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Open Payments (CMS) and Visible Alpha?

Open Payments (CMS) focuses on Data APIs, APIs & SDKs, and Data Visualizations while Visible Alpha specializes in Financials, Analyst Forecasts, and Analyst Price Targets. They overlap in 3 categories, so choose based on your preferred workflow and pricing.

Is Open Payments (CMS) or Visible Alpha free to use?

Open Payments (CMS) offers a free tier that lets you get started without paying, while Visible Alpha requires a subscription. If budget is a concern, start with Open Payments (CMS) and upgrade later if you need more advanced features.

Which is better for beginners—Open Payments (CMS) or Visible Alpha?

Open Payments (CMS) is more beginner-friendly with an approachable interface. Both can work for intermediate users.

Do Open Payments (CMS) and Visible Alpha 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 Visible Alpha?

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 Visible Alpha if Deep, line‑item consensus built from full working sell‑side models; 7,000+ companies, 250+ contributing brokers, 1M+ consensus line items; 170+ industries covered., and VA Actuals: stitched historical fundamentals not always disclosed in filings, integrated with forward estimates for seamless time series. better fits how you invest.

What asset classes do Open Payments (CMS) and Visible Alpha cover?

Both cover common asset types. Open Payments (CMS) also includes Other. Visible Alpha adds coverage for Stocks.

Does Open Payments (CMS) or Visible Alpha have real-time data?

Visible Alpha offers real-time data feeds, which is essential for active traders. Open Payments (CMS) uses delayed or end-of-day data, which works fine for longer-term investors who don't need up-to-the-second quotes.

Can I export data from Open Payments (CMS) and Visible Alpha?

Both platforms let you export data to spreadsheets (). This is useful for custom analysis or record-keeping.

Keep Exploring

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.