Tool Comparison
ORTEX vs Visible Alpha
- Paid from
- $39/mo
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile, API
Best if
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want short interest, insider data, and quant.
- Paid from
- On request
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Desktop, API
Best if
- You want financials, analyst forecasts, and stock comparison.
Pick ORTEX if
ORTEX
Free • From $39/mo · Web · Mobile · API
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want short interest, insider data, and quant.
Pick Visible Alpha if
Visible Alpha
Contact for pricing · Web · Desktop · API
- You want financials, analyst forecasts, and stock comparison.
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
ORTEX and Visible Alpha cover a lot of the same ground (4 shared categories, including data visualizations, analyst ratings & price targets, and APIs & data feeds), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. ORTEX simply does more: 16 categories to Visible Alpha's 10, including short interest, insider data, and quant, plus a mobile app. Visible Alpha counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
ORTEX
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Visible Alpha
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Key differences at a glance
- Free plan
- ORTEX
- Broader coverage
- ORTEX16 vs 10 categories
- Mobile app
- ORTEX
- Desktop app
- Visible Alpha
- Asset coverage
- ORTEXAdds ETFs and options
- Beginner friendly
- ORTEX
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.
- Comparison tools for lending-based short-interest estimates with official U.S. exchange-reported short interest and European flagged-short disclosures.
- Tracking intraday and real-time estimates from ORTEX lender and broker data pools where plan access supports those views.
- Research coverage for options activity and flow signals using OPRA-sourced options data, with OPRA terms required before access.
- Rule-based Short Squeeze, EPS, RSI, MACD, and Company Events signals with historical performance shown beside each trigger.
What Visible Alpha does best
- Analyze line-item consensus built from full sell-side models rather than only EPS or revenue estimates.
- VA Actuals to connect stitched historical fundamentals with forward estimates for cleaner time-series analysis.
- Work in Visible Alpha Insights, S&P Capital IQ Pro, or Excel with templates, tear sheets, and updated figures.
- Review target-price and rating distributions with valuation context and consensus changes.
- Monitor line-item revisions, dispersion, trends, and threshold changes through company and metric-level monitoring workflows.
Side by side
Pricing comparison
See for yourself
Side by side
Price, platforms, data, and market coverage.ShowHide
Side by side
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free • From $39/mo | Contact for pricing |
Free tier | Yes | No |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | 6 limits: API Trader: rate limit: 1 req/s, API Trader: scope: Single-stock APIs +4 more | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | No | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | No |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Broker sync | No | — |
Integrations | Microsoft Excel (Add-in), Python SDK +1 more | S&P Capital IQ Pro, Data Feed +2 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 16 | 10 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC | 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 | 3 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +1 more |
Capabilities | 4 signals: Universe builder, Multi-leg options +2 more | — |
| Try it | Visit ORTEX | Visit Visible Alpha |
Standout features
The best features of ORTEX and Visible Alpha.ShowHide
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.
- Comparison tools for lending-based short-interest estimates with official U.S. exchange-reported short interest and European flagged-short disclosures.
- Tracking intraday and real-time estimates from ORTEX lender and broker data pools where plan access supports those views.
- Research coverage for options activity and flow signals using OPRA-sourced options data, with OPRA terms required before access.
- Rule-based Short Squeeze, EPS, RSI, MACD, and Company Events signals with historical performance shown beside each trigger.
What Visible Alpha does best
- Analyze line-item consensus built from full sell-side models rather than only EPS or revenue estimates.
- VA Actuals to connect stitched historical fundamentals with forward estimates for cleaner time-series analysis.
- Work in Visible Alpha Insights, S&P Capital IQ Pro, or Excel with templates, tear sheets, and updated figures.
- Review target-price and rating distributions with valuation context and consensus changes.
- Monitor line-item revisions, dispersion, trends, and threshold changes through company and metric-level monitoring workflows.
All details
Every attribute we track for ORTEX and Visible Alpha.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsOptionsCurrencies | Stocks |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | IntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPAC | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker | Identifiers: Ticker, CUSIP, SEDOL, and ISIN |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Real-timeEnd of Day | Real-timeEnd of Day |
Data granularity | MinuteEOD | EOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | REST |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKeySDKs: Python | Auth: APIKey |
Integrations | Microsoft Excel (Add-in)Python SDKMCP | S&P Capital IQ ProData FeedSnowflakeExcel |
Export formats | CSV | Excel |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Universe builderMulti-leg optionsGreeksEarnings vol edge | Not specified |
Vendor & support | Ortex Technologies LimitedCountry: United KingdomSupport: Email and Phone | Visible Alpha (S&P Global Market Intelligence)Country: USFounded 2015Support: Email and Phone |
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
Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.ShowHide
Pricing
| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free | — |
| Entry paid plan | $39/mo“Basic Annual” | — |
| Tier 2 | $49/mo“Basic Monthly” | — |
| Tier 3 | $99/mo“Advanced Annual” | — |
| Tier 4 | $149/mo“Advanced Monthly” | — |
| Tier 5 | $49/mo“API Trader”rate limit: 1 req/s · scope: Single-stock APIs | — |
| Tier 6 | $149/mo“API Quant”rate limit: 5 req/s · scope: All APIs including bulk endpoints | — |
| Top plan | $499/mo“API Developer”rate limit: 50 req/s · scope: All APIs including bulk endpoints | — |
| Custom / enterprise | Contact sales“API Enterprise” | Contact sales“Enterprise” |
Alternatives
Free alternatives
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between ORTEX and Visible Alpha?
ORTEX leans toward short interest, insider data, and quant, while Visible Alpha puts more weight on financials, analyst forecasts, and analyst ratings & price targets. They overlap in 4 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
Is ORTEX or Visible Alpha free to use?
ORTEX has a free tier, so you can get started without paying anything. Visible Alpha is paid-only. If budget matters, start with ORTEX and see how far it takes you before opening your wallet.
Which is better for beginners: ORTEX or Visible Alpha?
ORTEX is the friendlier place to start; its interface takes less getting used to. Both work fine once you're past the basics.
Can I use ORTEX or Visible Alpha on my phone?
ORTEX lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. Visible Alpha doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web, desktop, and API.
Do ORTEX and Visible Alpha 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 Visible Alpha?
It depends on what you're after. Pick ORTEX if short interest and insider data matter to you; go with Visible Alpha if you'd rather have financials and analyst forecasts. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do ORTEX and Visible Alpha cover?
Both cover stocks. ORTEX also handles ETFs, options, and currencies.
Do ORTEX and Visible Alpha offer real-time data?
Yes, both serve real-time market data, so either works when timing matters.
Can I export data from ORTEX and Visible Alpha?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (ORTEX: CSV; Visible Alpha: Excel), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Which has a better stock screener: ORTEX or Visible Alpha?
ORTEX has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; Visible Alpha 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.