VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Thursday, February 19, 2026

Tool Comparison

ORTEX vs Unusual Whales comparison

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

ORTEX logo

ORTEX

public.ortex.com

PricingFree, Subscription
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, API
Hands-on review
Unusual Whales logo

Unusual Whales

unusualwhales.com

PricingFree, Subscription
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, API
Editor's pickHands-on review
Top 50 Investing ToolsThe global ranking of the best investing tools, ranked by community votes.

At a glance

Platforms
ORTEXWeb, Mobile, API
Unusual WhalesWeb, Mobile, API
Categories
ORTEX16
Unusual Whales12
Pricing details

Tool

ORTEX

$39/mo

Starting price

Free tierYes
Free trial

Plans & pricing

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

Tool

Unusual Whales

$44/mo

Starting price

Free tierYes
Free trial

Plans & pricing

Free (limited)Free
Subscription (Monthly)$48/mo
Subscription (Annual)$528/yr
API Advanced (WebSocket streaming)Subscription

Vote sentiment comparison

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Platform details

AttributeORTEXUnusual Whales
Asset types
StocksETFsOptions
OptionsStocksETFsCryptos
Experience
BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced
IntermediateAdvanced
Regions
North AmericaEurope
North America
Data freshness
Real-timeEnd of Day
StreamingReal-time
API access
REST
RESTWebSocket
Export formats
CSV
Not specified

Coverage overlap

Shared categories8

Categories where both tools offer overlapping coverage.

Unusual Whales strengths4

Categories covered by Unusual Whales only.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between ORTEX and Unusual Whales?

ORTEX focuses on Short Interest, Insider Data, and Quant while Unusual Whales specializes in Options & Derivatives, Money Flow, and Screeners. They overlap in 8 categories, so choose based on your preferred workflow and pricing.

How much do ORTEX and Unusual Whales cost?

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

Which is better for beginners—ORTEX or Unusual Whales?

ORTEX is more beginner-friendly with an approachable interface. Both can work for intermediate users.

Do ORTEX and Unusual Whales 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 ORTEX or Unusual Whales?

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 Unusual Whales if Options flow tool: tracks options trades (docs: “every options trade placed across the entire US stock exchange”) and displays trade details across options exchanges; includes filters, configurable columns, sorting, and saved trades., and Multi-leg tagging in the flow feed; multileg icon can open a pop-up that preloads the Options Profit Calculator with a P/L profile for the trade. better fits how you invest.

What asset classes do ORTEX and Unusual Whales cover?

Both cover Stocks, ETFs, and Options. Unusual Whales adds coverage for Cryptos.

Do ORTEX and Unusual Whales offer real-time data?

Yes, both platforms provide real-time market data. This makes either suitable for active trading strategies where timing matters.

Can I export data from ORTEX and Unusual Whales?

ORTEX supports data exports to CSV. Unusual Whales has more limited export options.

Is ORTEX or Unusual Whales better for day trading?

Unusual Whales is built with active traders in mind, offering features like real-time data and technical analysis. ORTEX is better suited for buy-and-hold investors focused on fundamentals.

Which has a better stock screener—ORTEX or Unusual Whales?

Both ORTEX and Unusual Whales include stock screeners. Try each to see which filtering options and interface you prefer.

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.