★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
OTC Markets vs PCAOB AuditorSearch
Start here
OTC Markets
Free • Contact for pricing · Web · API · Other
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You care about screeners, news, and APIs & data feeds, things PCAOB AuditorSearch doesn't offer
Pick PCAOB AuditorSearch instead if
PCAOB AuditorSearch
Free · Web
- You care about regulatory filings monitoring, something OTC Markets 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.
Our take
The bottom line
OTC Markets simply does more: 6 categories to PCAOB AuditorSearch's 2, including screeners, news, and APIs & data feeds. PCAOB AuditorSearch counters by being completely free. On paper they're closely matched, so let pricing, platform fit, and the details below break the tie.
What readers say
OTC Markets
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
PCAOB AuditorSearch
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Key differences at a glance
- Real-time data
- OTC Markets
- Broader coverage
- OTC Markets6 vs 2 categories
- API access
- OTC Markets
- Asset coverage
- OTC MarketsAdds bonds
- Free plan
- Both
See for yourself
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.ShowHide
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free • Contact for pricing | Free |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | Market Data Licensing: note: Level 2 licenses include Level 1 licenses; CUSIP and Global OTC add-o... and OTC Disclosure API: rate limit per min: 1,000 | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | Yes | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +3 more | Retail Traders, Analysts +2 more |
Categories covered | 6 | 2 |
Regions | North America | — |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 3 signals: Latency: Streaming, 15-min Delayed, and End of Day, Granularity: Tick and EOD +1 more | — |
Data partners | ICE Data Services | — |
| Try it | Visit OTC Markets | Visit PCAOB AuditorSearch |
Where each one shines
What OTC Markets and PCAOB AuditorSearch each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What OTC Markets and PCAOB AuditorSearch each do best.What OTC Markets does best
- Research coverage for OTCQX, OTCQB, OTCID, Pink, and Expert Market securities through public issuer pages with quotes, charts, financials, company news, and market-tier context.
- The OTC Markets Stock Screener to narrow OTC securities before moving into issuer pages, filings, quote history, and disclosure context.
- License real-time Level 1+ and Level 2+ products when quote, trade, security-reference, or market-participant depth data is needed in production systems.
- Level 2+ for quote-book depth and market-participant information, with licensing that also includes Level 1 access.
- Access to end-of-day OTC pricing files for closing trade and quote data plus OTC-specific attributes such as Caveat Emptor flags and market tier.
What PCAOB AuditorSearch does best
- Search tools across official PCAOB Form AP data to identify the audit firm and engagement partner associated with a U.S. public-company audit report.
- Lookup tools for issuers by company name, CIK, or ticker in the web interface when you need to connect an audited company to its reporting auditor.
- Search tools across audit firms by name, PCAOB ID, or country to see the public-company audits connected to a registered firm.
- Engagement-partner search to review the public-company audit reports tied to a named partner where Form AP records are available.
- Support for applying filing-date filters in advanced search to narrow audit records to a specific reporting window or event timeline.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for OTC Markets and PCAOB AuditorSearch, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for OTC Markets and PCAOB AuditorSearch, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksBonds | Stocks |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediate |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailInstitutional InvestorsAnalystsQuants/Developers | Retail TradersAnalystsInstitutional InvestorsStudents/Researchers |
Regions | North America | Not specified |
Coverage details | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker and CUSIP | Countries: USIdentifiers: CIK and Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Streaming15-min DelayedEnd of Day | Not specified |
Data granularity | TickEOD | Not specified |
Data partners | ICE Data Services | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | Not specified |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKey1,000 req/minDocs | Not specified |
Export formats | Not specified | CSV |
| Plans & trust | ||
Vendor & support | OTC Markets Group Inc.Country: United StatesSupport: Email and Phone | Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB)Country: United States |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.ShowHide
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free“Public Website” | Free |
| Entry paid plan | Subscription“Market Data Licensing”note: Level 2 licenses include Level 1 licenses; CUSIP and Global OTC add-o... | — |
| Custom / enterprise | Contact sales“OTC Disclosure API”rate limit per min: 1,000 | — |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between OTC Markets and PCAOB AuditorSearch?
OTC Markets leans toward screeners, news, and APIs & data feeds, while PCAOB AuditorSearch puts more weight on regulatory filings monitoring and official sources. They overlap in 1 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do OTC Markets and PCAOB AuditorSearch cost?
Good news: both OTC Markets and PCAOB AuditorSearch have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Which is better for beginners: OTC Markets or PCAOB AuditorSearch?
Honestly, neither is aimed at beginners. Expect a learning curve either way; that's the trade-off for the depth they offer.
Does OTC Markets or PCAOB AuditorSearch have an API?
OTC Markets has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. PCAOB AuditorSearch doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose OTC Markets or PCAOB AuditorSearch?
It depends on what you're after. Pick OTC Markets if screeners and news matter to you; go with PCAOB AuditorSearch if you'd rather have regulatory filings monitoring. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do OTC Markets and PCAOB AuditorSearch cover?
Both cover stocks. OTC Markets also handles bonds.
Does OTC Markets or PCAOB AuditorSearch have real-time data?
OTC Markets offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. PCAOB AuditorSearch 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 OTC Markets and PCAOB AuditorSearch?
PCAOB AuditorSearch exports to CSV. OTC Markets is stingier about getting data out.
Which has a better stock screener: OTC Markets or PCAOB AuditorSearch?
OTC Markets has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; PCAOB AuditorSearch doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Keep researching
Other tools you might like
Keep Exploring
Feedback
Spot stale pricing, missing features, or a comparison that feels off? Send feedback on the verdict, table, alternatives, or recommendation.
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.