★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
OTC Markets vs Portfolio123
Pick OTC Markets if
OTC Markets
Free • Contact for pricing · Web · API · Other
- You care about news, improved filings, and order book / level II, things Portfolio123 doesn't offer
Pick Portfolio123 if
Portfolio123
Free • From $25/mo · Web · API · Desktop
- You care about data visualizations, quant, and stock ideas, things 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 and Portfolio123 cover a lot of the same ground (2 shared categories, screeners and APIs & data feeds), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Portfolio123 simply does more: 19 categories to OTC Markets's 6, including data visualizations, quant, and stock ideas. OTC Markets counters by being completely free.
What readers say
OTC Markets
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Portfolio123
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Key differences at a glance
- Global coverage
- Portfolio123
- Broader coverage
- Portfolio12319 vs 6 categories
- Desktop app
- Portfolio123
- 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 • From $25/mo |
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 | Free Screener & Backtesting Access: duration days: 30 |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | No | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Broker sync | — | Yes |
Integrations | — | Interactive Brokers and Tradier |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +3 more | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +5 more |
Categories covered | 6 | 19 |
Regions | North America | North America, Europe |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 3 signals: Latency: Streaming, 15-min Delayed, and End of Day, Granularity: Tick and EOD +1 more | 5 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +3 more |
Data partners | ICE Data Services | 4 partners: FactSet, S&P Global Market Intelligence +2 more |
Capabilities | — | 6 signals: Custom formulas, Ranking backtests +4 more |
| Try it | Visit OTC Markets | Visit Portfolio123 |
Where each one shines
What OTC Markets and Portfolio123 each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What OTC Markets and Portfolio123 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 Portfolio123 does best
- Tools for building multifactor ranking systems, stock screens, ETF screens, and complete rules-based strategies through a web research environment.
- Tools for running simulations and backtests with long historical equity data, custom universes, buy and sell rules, position sizing, hedging, rebalancing, and realistic assumptions.
- Point-in-time data designed to avoid survivorship and look-ahead bias, with fundamentals, estimates, corporate actions, sector and industry classifications, and historical issues.
- Tools for creating ranking systems from fundamental, technical, sentiment, and macro factors, including public factor documentation and FRED-linked economic series.
- AI Factor to train machine-learning predictors for expected returns and feed those predictions into rankings, simulations, and asset-level analysis.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for OTC Markets and Portfolio123, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for OTC Markets and Portfolio123, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksBonds | StocksETFsClosed-End Funds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailInstitutional InvestorsAnalystsQuants/Developers | Retail TradersPro RetailInstitutional InvestorsAnalystsQuants/DevelopersFinancial AdvisorsStudents/Researchers |
Regions | North America | North AmericaEurope |
Coverage details | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker and CUSIP | Countries: US and CAIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Streaming15-min DelayedEnd of Day | Real-timeEnd of Day |
Data granularity | TickEOD | EOD |
Data partners | ICE Data Services | FactSetS&P Global Market IntelligenceICE Data ServicesFRED |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | REST |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKey1,000 req/minDocs | Auth: APIKeySDKs: PythonDocs |
Import methods | Not specified | BrokerOAuthCSV |
Integrations | Not specified | Interactive BrokersTradier |
Export formats | Not specified | CSVJSON |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Not specified | Custom formulasRanking backtestsUniverse builderBroker syncRebalancingCorrelation |
Vendor & support | OTC Markets Group Inc.Country: United StatesSupport: Email and Phone | Portfolio123Support: Forum |
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“Manage (Free)” |
| Entry paid plan | Subscription“Market Data Licensing”note: Level 2 licenses include Level 1 licenses; CUSIP and Global OTC add-o... | $25/mo“Retail Research Plans” |
| Custom / enterprise | Contact sales“OTC Disclosure API”rate limit per min: 1,000 | Contact sales“Professional / API & Data Licenses” |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between OTC Markets and Portfolio123?
OTC Markets leans toward screeners, news, and APIs & data feeds, while Portfolio123 puts more weight on screeners, data visualizations, and quant. They overlap in 2 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do OTC Markets and Portfolio123 cost?
Good news: both OTC Markets and Portfolio123 have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Do OTC Markets and Portfolio123 have APIs?
Yes, both offer API access, so developers and quants can pull data programmatically or wire up their own integrations.
Should I choose OTC Markets or Portfolio123?
It depends on what you're after. Pick OTC Markets if news and improved filings matter to you; go with Portfolio123 if you'd rather have data visualizations and quant. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do OTC Markets and Portfolio123 cover?
Both cover stocks. OTC Markets also handles bonds. Portfolio123 adds ETFs and closed-end funds on top.
Do OTC Markets and Portfolio123 offer real-time data?
Yes, both serve real-time market data, so either works when timing matters.
Which covers international markets: OTC Markets or Portfolio123?
Portfolio123 has documented international coverage (North America and Europe), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. OTC Markets is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from OTC Markets and Portfolio123?
Portfolio123 exports to CSV. OTC Markets is stingier about getting data out.
Which has a better stock screener: OTC Markets or Portfolio123?
Both OTC Markets and Portfolio123 include stock screeners, and they differ more in interface than raw power; try both and see which one clicks for you.
Can I track my portfolio with OTC Markets or Portfolio123?
Portfolio123 handles portfolio tracking. OTC Markets is really a research tool; you'd track your portfolio elsewhere.
Keep researching
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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.