VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Tool Comparison · Wednesday, June 3, 2026

ORTEX vs The Zen of Investing

ORTEX vs The Zen of Investing: which investing tool fits your workflow? Compare pricing, features, platforms, and verdict in seconds.

Quick verdict
ORTEX logo

ORTEX

public.ortex.com

Best for short interest, and insider data

Pricing
Free • Paid plans available
Platforms
Web, Mobile, API
VS
The Zen of Investing logo

The Zen of Investing

thezenofinvesting.com

Best for spin-offs, and special situations

Pricing
Free
Platforms
Web

Outbound links may include affiliate or sponsor codes.

Comparison snapshot

Attribute
ORTEX
The Zen of Investing
Starting price
Free • Paid plans available
Free
Categories covered
16
4
Web app
Yes
Yes
Mobile app
Yes
No
API access
Yes
No
Regions
North America, Europe
North America

Who should choose which?

Choose

ORTEX if…

  • You build with APIs or automate workflows
  • You need a mobile app for on-the-go research
  • You need real-time data, not delayed quotes
  • You need short interest and lending analytics including utilization, cost to borrow, shares on loan, and percentage of free float on loan, with intraday and real-time estimates from a large pool of lenders and brokers.

Choose

The Zen of Investing if…

  • You need covers u.s. spinoffs and select international cases, with a clear focus on special situations.
  • You need upcoming spinoffs list tracks definitively announced events, with fields for company, transaction details, timing, and supporting information such as press releases, investor presentations, and prospectuses.
  • You need “recent spinoffs” page compiles completed transactions, including prospectuses and investor decks.
  • You need archives investor-relations pdfs from major spinoff companies, such as dupont or ge vernova.

Consider alternatives if…

  • You want broader category coverage in one tool.
  • Neither pricing tier fits your budget.
See alternatives

Side-by-side feature breakdown

AttributeORTEXThe Zen of Investing
Asset types
StocksETFsOptions
Stocks
Experience
BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced
BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced
Regions
North AmericaEurope
North America
Data freshness
Real-timeEnd of Day
Not specified
API access
REST
Not specified
Export formats
CSV
Not specified

Seen enough? Open either tool and try it now.

Pricing breakdown

Pricing details

Tool

ORTEX

$39/mo

Starting price

Free tierYes
Free trial

Plans & pricing

FreeFree
Basic$39/mo
Advanced$129/mo
APIsSubscription

Tool

The Zen of Investing

Starting price

Free tierNo
Free trial

Plans & pricing

Pricing not published

Coverage overlap

Shared categories2

Categories where both tools offer overlapping coverage.

Community category leaders

Vote sentiment comparison

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Still deciding? Get hands-on with both — most plans offer a free tier or trial.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between ORTEX and The Zen of Investing?

ORTEX focuses on Short Interest, Insider Data, and Quant while The Zen of Investing specializes in Spin-offs, Special Situations, and Calendar. They overlap in 2 categories, so choose based on your preferred workflow and pricing.

How much do ORTEX and The Zen of Investing cost?

Good news—both ORTEX and The Zen of Investing offer free plans. You can try each platform without commitment and only pay when you need premium features.

Can I use ORTEX or The Zen of Investing on my phone?

ORTEX has a mobile app so you can check your research on the go. The Zen of Investing is web-only, so you'll need a browser to access it from mobile devices.

Does ORTEX or The Zen of Investing have an API?

ORTEX provides API access for programmatic data retrieval and custom integrations. The Zen of Investing doesn't currently offer an API, so you'll need to use their web interface.

Should I choose ORTEX or The Zen of Investing?

Choose ORTEX if you need Short interest and lending analytics including utilization, cost to borrow, shares on loan, and percentage of free float on loan, with intraday and real-time estimates from a large pool of lenders and brokers., and Official U.S. exchange-reported short interest (bi-monthly) and European flagged shorts, alongside lending-based estimates.. Go with The Zen of Investing if Covers U.S. spinoffs and select international cases, with a clear focus on special situations., and Upcoming Spinoffs list tracks definitively announced events, with fields for company, transaction details, timing, and supporting information such as press releases, investor presentations, and prospectuses. better fits how you invest.

What asset classes do ORTEX and The Zen of Investing cover?

Both cover Stocks. ORTEX also includes ETFs, and Options.

Does ORTEX or The Zen of Investing have real-time data?

ORTEX offers real-time data feeds, which is essential for active traders. The Zen of Investing 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 ORTEX and The Zen of Investing?

ORTEX supports data exports to CSV. The Zen of Investing has more limited export options.

Which has a better stock screener—ORTEX or The Zen of Investing?

ORTEX includes a stock screener for finding investment ideas. The Zen of Investing focuses on other analytical tools.

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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.