★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
ORTEX vs Semrush
Start here
ORTEX
Best for short interest and insider data
Free • From $39/mo · Web · Mobile · API · 100% positive (1 vote)
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You want the cheaper way in: plans start at $39/mo instead of $139.95/mo
- You care about short interest, insider data, and quant, things Semrush doesn't offer
Pick Semrush instead if
Semrush
Best for app & website traffic and sheets / excel add-ins
Free • From $139.95/mo · Web · Mobile · API
- You care about app & website traffic and sheets / excel add-ins, things ORTEX doesn't offer
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
See alternativesOutbound links may include affiliate or sponsor codes.
The verdict
The bottom line
ORTEX and Semrush cover a lot of the same ground (2 shared categories, APIs & data feeds and blogs), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. ORTEX simply does more: 14 categories to Semrush's 4, including short interest, insider data, and quant. Semrush counters by keeping things simpler.
Key differences at a glance
- Real-time data
- ORTEX
- Cheaper paid plan
- ORTEX$39/mo vs $139.95/mo
- Free trial
- Semrush7 days
- Broader coverage
- ORTEX14 vs 4 categories
- Free plan
- Both
Comparison snapshot
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free • From $39/mo | Free • From $139.95/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | 7 days |
Plan limits | 9 limits: API Trader: credits per month: 1,000, API Trader: rate limit: 1 req/s +7 more | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Broker sync | No | — |
Integrations | Microsoft Excel (Add-in) and Python SDK | Google Analytics, Google Search Console +1 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 14 | 4 |
Regions | North America, Europe | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 3 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: Minute and EOD +1 more | — |
Capabilities | Universe builder | — |
Security | — | Data residency: US and SSO: SAML |
| Try it | Visit ORTEX | Visit Semrush |
Standout features
What ORTEX does best
- Monitor short interest and securities-lending conditions with utilization, cost to borrow, shares on loan, and percentage of free float on loan.
- Compare lending-based short-interest estimates with official U.S. exchange-reported short interest and European flagged-short disclosures.
- Track intraday and real-time estimates from ORTEX lender and broker data pools where plan access supports those views.
- Research options activity and flow signals using OPRA-sourced options data, with OPRA terms required before access.
- Use alpha-signal modules such as Short Squeeze, EPS, RSI, MACD, and Company Events as research context with back-tested statistics.
What Semrush does best
- Analyze website traffic, visitor sources, engagement, keywords, competitors, backlinks, SEO performance, paid search, and market benchmarks.
- Use Semrush One and AI visibility products to monitor brand and content visibility across AI search and classic SEO workflows.
- Use the Standard API for eligible SEO Toolkit Business users, with separately purchased API units and request or line-based consumption.
- Use separate API paths for Trends, Listing Management, and Map Rank Tracker, noting that local APIs and map rank APIs have their own access and billing rules.
- Export data and reports through CSV, Excel, PDF, JSON, Google Sheets, Position Tracking, Site Audit, and App Center connector workflows.
Data & access details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsOptions | Other |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North AmericaEurope | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica |
Coverage details | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker | Not specified |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Real-timeEnd of Day | Not specified |
Data granularity | MinuteEOD | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | REST |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKeySDKs: Python | Auth: APIKey and OAuth2 |
Integrations | Microsoft Excel (Add-in)Python SDK | Google AnalyticsGoogle Search ConsoleGoogle Sheets |
Export formats | CSV | CSVExcelPDFJSON |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Not specified | Data residency: USSSO: SAML |
Capability signals | Universe builder | Not specified |
Vendor & support | Ortex Technologies LimitedCountry: United KingdomSupport: Email and Phone | Semrush Inc.Country: United StatesSupport: Email |
Curation ratings | Methodology 4/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 | Methodology 4/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing breakdown
$39/mo
Lower starting price
Plans & pricing
- credits per month: 1,000
- rate limit: 1 req/s
- +1 more
- credits per month: 10,000
- rate limit: 5 req/s
- +1 more
- credits per month: 100,000
- rate limit: 50 req/s
- +1 more
$139.95/mo
Starting price
Plans & pricing
Coverage overlap
Shared categories
2Where the two tools cover the same ground.
ORTEX strengths
12Semrush strengths
2What you only get with Semrush.
Community category leaders
Vote sentiment comparison
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between ORTEX and Semrush?
ORTEX leans toward short interest, insider data, and quant, while Semrush puts more weight on app & website traffic, APIs & data feeds, and sheets / excel add-ins. They overlap in 2 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do ORTEX and Semrush cost?
Good news: both ORTEX and Semrush have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Do ORTEX and Semrush have APIs?
Yes, both offer API access, so developers and quants can pull data programmatically or wire up their own integrations.
Should I choose ORTEX or Semrush?
It depends on what you're after. Pick ORTEX if short interest and insider data matter to you; go with Semrush if you'd rather have app & website traffic and sheets / excel add-ins. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do ORTEX and Semrush cover?
ORTEX covers stocks, ETFs, and options. Semrush covers other.
Does ORTEX or Semrush have real-time data?
ORTEX offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. Semrush runs on delayed or end-of-day data, which is perfectly fine for longer-term investors who don't live and die by the tick.
Can I export data from ORTEX and Semrush?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Which has a better stock screener: ORTEX or Semrush?
ORTEX has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; Semrush doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
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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.