Tool Comparison
Portfolio123 vs QuantConnect
- Paid from
- $300/yr, billed annually
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, API, Desktop
Best if
- You want screeners, data visualizations, and stock ideas.
- Paid from
- On request
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, Desktop, API
Best if
- You want paper trading, auto-trading & bots, and options.
Pick Portfolio123 if
Portfolio123
Free • From $300/yr, billed annually · Web · API · Desktop
- You want screeners, data visualizations, and stock ideas.
Pick QuantConnect if
QuantConnect
Free • Contact for pricing · Web · Desktop · API
- You want paper trading, auto-trading & bots, and options.
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
Portfolio123 and QuantConnect cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, quant, backtesting, and APIs & data feeds), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Portfolio123 simply does more: 19 categories to QuantConnect's 6, including screeners, data visualizations, and stock ideas. QuantConnect counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
Portfolio123
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QuantConnect
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Key differences at a glance
- Broader coverage
- Portfolio12319 vs 6 categories
- Free plan
- Both
What Portfolio123 does best
- Build multifactor ranking systems, stock screens, ETF screens, and rules-based strategies.
- Run simulations with custom universes, buy and sell rules, position sizing, hedging, rebalancing, slippage, and commissions.
- Point-in-time data designed to avoid survivorship and look-ahead bias, with fundamentals, estimates, corporate actions, sector and industry classifications, and historical issues.
- Create 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.
What QuantConnect does best
- Build strategies on the LEAN engine in Python 3.11 or C#, then run them locally or in QuantConnect cloud infrastructure.
- Run notebook-style research, backtests, and live deployments on the same engine.
- Backtest multi-asset strategies across equities, ETFs, options, futures, FX, CFDs, and crypto where data and broker support are available.
- Options helpers, Greeks, implied volatility, and multi-leg strategy support for strategies such as covered calls, verticals, and iron condors.
- Deploy live or paper strategies through broker integrations including Interactive Brokers, Charles Schwab, TradeStation, tastytrade, Alpaca, Tradier, and crypto venues.
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 $300/yr, billed annually | Free • Contact for pricing |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | 25 limits: Free Screener & Backtesting Access: duration days: 30, Screener (Annual): backtest history years: 5 +23 more | 15 limits: Free: backtest nodes: 1, Free: research nodes: 1 +13 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Broker sync | Yes | Yes |
Integrations | Interactive Brokers and Tradier | Interactive Brokers, Charles Schwab +17 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +5 more | — |
Categories covered | 19 | 6 |
Regions | North America, Europe | North America, Europe, APAC |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 5 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +3 more | 4 signals: Latency: Streaming, Real-time, and End of Day, Granularity: Tick, Second, Minute, and EOD +2 more |
Data partners | 4 partners: FactSet, S&P Global Market Intelligence +2 more | — |
Capabilities | 6 signals: Custom formulas, Ranking backtests +4 more | 5 signals: Universe builder, Multi-leg options +3 more |
Security | — | Status page |
| Try it | Visit Portfolio123 | Visit QuantConnect |
Standout features
The best features of Portfolio123 and QuantConnect.ShowHide
Standout features
What Portfolio123 does best
- Build multifactor ranking systems, stock screens, ETF screens, and rules-based strategies.
- Run simulations with custom universes, buy and sell rules, position sizing, hedging, rebalancing, slippage, and commissions.
- Point-in-time data designed to avoid survivorship and look-ahead bias, with fundamentals, estimates, corporate actions, sector and industry classifications, and historical issues.
- Create 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.
What QuantConnect does best
- Build strategies on the LEAN engine in Python 3.11 or C#, then run them locally or in QuantConnect cloud infrastructure.
- Run notebook-style research, backtests, and live deployments on the same engine.
- Backtest multi-asset strategies across equities, ETFs, options, futures, FX, CFDs, and crypto where data and broker support are available.
- Options helpers, Greeks, implied volatility, and multi-leg strategy support for strategies such as covered calls, verticals, and iron condors.
- Deploy live or paper strategies through broker integrations including Interactive Brokers, Charles Schwab, TradeStation, tastytrade, Alpaca, Tradier, and crypto venues.
All details
Every attribute we track for Portfolio123 and QuantConnect.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsClosed-End Funds | StocksETFsOptionsFuturesCurrenciesCryptos |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailInstitutional InvestorsAnalystsQuants/DevelopersFinancial AdvisorsStudents/Researchers | Not specified |
Regions | North AmericaEurope | North AmericaEuropeAPAC |
Coverage details | Countries: US and CAIdentifiers: Ticker | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Real-timeEnd of Day | StreamingReal-timeEnd of Day |
Data granularity | EOD | TickSecondMinuteEOD |
Data partners | FactSetS&P Global Market IntelligenceICE Data ServicesFRED | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | REST |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKeyDocs | Auth: APIKeySDKs: PythonWebhooks |
Import methods | BrokerOAuthCSV | Not specified |
Integrations | Interactive BrokersTradier | Interactive BrokersCharles SchwabTradeStationTastytradeAlpacaTradierOANDABinance+11 more |
Export formats | CSVJSON | CSVJSONPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Not specified | Status page |
Capability signals | Custom formulasRanking backtestsUniverse builderBroker syncRebalancingCorrelation | Universe builderMulti-leg optionsGreeksStrategy backtests: CoveredCall, Vertical, and IronCondorBroker sync |
Vendor & support | Portfolio123Support: Forum | QuantConnect CorporationCountry: USFounded 2012Support: Email and Forum |
Curation ratings | Not specified | 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“Manage (Free)” | Freebacktest nodes: 1 · research nodes: 1 · +2 more |
| Entry paid plan | $300/yrBilled annually≈ $25/mo“Screener (Annual)”backtest history years: 5 · resource units: 400 · +1 more | Subscription“Quant Researcher”backtest nodes: 2 · live trading nodes: 2 · +1 more |
| Tier 2 | $35/moBilled monthly“Screener (Monthly)”backtest history years: 5 · resource units: 400 · +1 more | Subscription“Team”members: 10 · backtest nodes: 10 · +2 more |
| Tier 3 | $1000/yrBilled annually≈ $83.33/mo“Backtest (Annual)”backtest history years: 10 · resource units: 1,000 · +1 more | Subscription“Trading Firm”members: Unlimited · backtest nodes: Unlimited · +2 more |
| Tier 4 | $116/moBilled monthly“Backtest (Monthly)”backtest history years: 10 · resource units: 1,000 · +1 more | — |
| Tier 5 | $1500/yrBilled annually≈ $125/mo“Portfolio (Annual)”backtest history years: 15 · resource units: 5,000 · +1 more | — |
| Tier 6 | $174/moBilled monthly“Portfolio (Monthly)”backtest history years: 15 · resource units: 5,000 · +1 more | — |
| Tier 7 | $2400/yrBilled annually≈ $200/mo“Ultimate (Annual)”backtest history years: 20 · resource units: 10,000 · +1 more | — |
| Top plan | $278/moBilled monthly“Ultimate (Monthly)”backtest history years: 20 · resource units: 10,000 · +1 more | — |
| Custom / enterprise | Contact sales“Professional / API & Data Licenses” | Contact sales“Institution” |
Free alternatives
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Portfolio123 and QuantConnect?
Portfolio123 leans toward screeners, data visualizations, and quant, while QuantConnect puts more weight on quant, backtesting, and paper trading. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Portfolio123 and QuantConnect cost?
Good news: both Portfolio123 and QuantConnect have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Do Portfolio123 and QuantConnect have APIs?
Yes, both offer API access, so developers and quants can pull data programmatically or wire up their own integrations.
Should I choose Portfolio123 or QuantConnect?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Portfolio123 if screeners and data visualizations matter to you; go with QuantConnect if you'd rather have paper trading and auto-trading & bots. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Portfolio123 and QuantConnect cover?
Both cover stocks and ETFs. Portfolio123 also handles closed-end funds. QuantConnect adds options, futures, and currencies on top.
Do Portfolio123 and QuantConnect offer real-time data?
Yes, both serve real-time market data, so either works when timing matters.
Can I export data from Portfolio123 and QuantConnect?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Can Portfolio123 or QuantConnect connect to my broker?
Yes, both connect to brokers, so your portfolio syncs automatically instead of you keying in every trade.
Which has a better stock screener: Portfolio123 or QuantConnect?
Portfolio123 has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; QuantConnect doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with Portfolio123 or QuantConnect?
Portfolio123 handles portfolio tracking. QuantConnect is really a research tool; you'd track your portfolio elsewhere.
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