★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
Perplexity Finance vs SEC API (sec-api.io)
Pick Perplexity Finance if
Perplexity Finance
Free • From $20/mo · Web · Mobile · API
- You want the cheaper way in: plans start at $20/mo instead of $55/mo
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You care about screeners, watchlist, and data visualizations, things SEC API (sec-api.io) doesn't offer
Pick SEC API (sec-api.io) if
SEC API (sec-api.io)
Free • From $55/mo · Web · API
- You care about regulatory filings monitoring, financials, and management compensation, things Perplexity Finance 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
Perplexity Finance and SEC API (sec-api.io) cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, insider data, institutional ownership, and APIs & data feeds), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Perplexity Finance simply does more: 12 categories to SEC API (sec-api.io)'s 7, including screeners, watchlist, and data visualizations, plus a mobile app. SEC API (sec-api.io) counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
Perplexity Finance
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
SEC API (sec-api.io)
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Key differences at a glance
- Cheaper paid plan
- Perplexity Finance$20/mo vs $55/mo
- Broader coverage
- Perplexity Finance12 vs 7 categories
- Mobile app
- Perplexity Finance
- Global coverage
- Perplexity Finance
- 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 • From $20/mo | Free • From $55/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | 6 limits: Standard (Free): pro searches: Limited, Pro: pro searches: Extended access +4 more | 3 limits: Free Tier: api calls: 100, Personal & Startups: query api rate limit: 20 requests/second/API key +1 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | No |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Broker sync | — | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +6 more | — |
Categories covered | 12 | 7 |
Regions | North America, APAC | North America |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | Latency: Real-time | Latency: Real-time |
Data partners | 6 partners: Financial Modeling Prep, Unusual Whales +4 more | — |
Capabilities | Universe builder and AI summaries: Filings and News | — |
Security | SOC2 and Status page | — |
| Try it | Visit Perplexity Finance | Visit SEC API (sec-api.io) |
Where each one shines
What Perplexity Finance and SEC API (sec-api.io) each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What Perplexity Finance and SEC API (sec-api.io) each do best.What Perplexity Finance does best
- Finance pages for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, crypto, options, charts, news, financial data, analyst estimates, ownership data, filings, and earnings context.
- Support for asking cited finance questions that can reference SEC filings, company documents, news, and third-party finance datasets.
- Upgraded charts with volume, OHLCV tooltips, candlestick or area views, comparison overlays, moving averages, and custom date ranges.
- Tools for building watchlists and review AI-generated briefings that combine watchlist price movement with relevant market news.
- Screening for stocks in natural language with filters, columns, sorting, and coverage that includes U.S. and Indian equities.
What SEC API (sec-api.io) does best
- Search tools across SEC filings through query and full-text APIs covering all EDGAR form types and historical filings back to 1993.
- Real-time WebSocket filing streams when new SEC filings need to trigger alerts, workflows, or downstream processing quickly.
- Convert XBRL filings to standardized JSON financial statements for income statement, balance sheet, cash flow, and US GAAP line-item workflows.
- Extract clean filing sections such as MD&A, Risk Factors, and other 10-K, 10-Q, or 8-K sections for research or AI pipelines.
- Access to specialized APIs for Forms 3/4/5, 13F, 13D/G, Form 144, ADV, S-1, 424B4, Form C, Form D, Reg A, N-PORT, N-PX, and N-CEN data.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Perplexity Finance and SEC API (sec-api.io), side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Perplexity Finance and SEC API (sec-api.io), side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsMutual FundsCryptosOptions | StocksETFsMutual FundsFunds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsDay TradersStudents/ResearchersFinancial AdvisorsAnalystsInstitutional Investors | Not specified |
Regions | North AmericaAPAC | North America |
Coverage details | Countries: US and INIdentifiers: Ticker | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker and CUSIP |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Real-time | Real-time |
Data partners | Financial Modeling PrepUnusual WhalesQuartrFiscal.aiS&P Global Market IntelligenceMorningstar | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | RESTWebSocket |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKeyDocs | Auth: APIKeySDKs: Python |
Export formats | Not specified | JSONPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | SOC2Status page | Not specified |
Capability signals | Universe builderAI summaries: Filings and News | Not specified |
Vendor & support | Perplexity AI, Inc.Support: Email, Chat, and Forum | Data2Value GmbHSupport: Email |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 4/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
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“Standard (Free)”pro searches: Limited | Free“Free Tier”api calls: 100 |
| Entry paid plan | $20/mo“Pro”pro searches: Extended access · annual price usd: 200 | $55/mo“Personal & Startups”query api rate limit: 20 requests/second/API key |
| Tier 2 | $200/mo“Max”pro searches per day: Unlimited · annual price usd: 2,000 | $239/mo“Business (Internal Use)”query api rate limit: 40 requests/second/API key |
| Top plan | Subscription“Agent API finance_search”tool call pricing: $5 per 1,000 invocations | — |
| Custom / enterprise | — | Contact sales“Enterprise & Institutions” |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Perplexity Finance and SEC API (sec-api.io)?
Perplexity Finance leans toward screeners, watchlist, and data visualizations, while SEC API (sec-api.io) puts more weight on APIs & data feeds, regulatory filings monitoring, and insider data. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Perplexity Finance and SEC API (sec-api.io) cost?
Good news: both Perplexity Finance and SEC API (sec-api.io) have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Can I use Perplexity Finance or SEC API (sec-api.io) on my phone?
Perplexity Finance lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. SEC API (sec-api.io) doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web and API.
Do Perplexity Finance and SEC API (sec-api.io) have APIs?
Yes, both offer API access, so developers and quants can pull data programmatically or wire up their own integrations.
Should I choose Perplexity Finance or SEC API (sec-api.io)?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Perplexity Finance if screeners and watchlist matter to you; go with SEC API (sec-api.io) if you'd rather have regulatory filings monitoring and financials. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Perplexity Finance and SEC API (sec-api.io) cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds. Perplexity Finance also handles cryptos and options. SEC API (sec-api.io) adds funds on top.
Do Perplexity Finance and SEC API (sec-api.io) offer real-time data?
Yes, both serve real-time market data, so either works when timing matters.
Which covers international markets: Perplexity Finance or SEC API (sec-api.io)?
Perplexity Finance has documented international coverage (North America and APAC), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. SEC API (sec-api.io) is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Is Perplexity Finance or SEC API (sec-api.io) better for day trading?
Perplexity Finance is the one positioned more for active traders. SEC API (sec-api.io) is the better fit if you care less about fast trading workflows and more about a calmer research process.
Which has a better stock screener: Perplexity Finance or SEC API (sec-api.io)?
Perplexity Finance has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; SEC API (sec-api.io) doesn't, and focuses its energy 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.