★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Source check: The Motley Fool checked August 4, 2026
Tool Comparison
Portfolio123 vs The Motley Fool
Start here
Portfolio123
Free • From $25/mo · Web · API · Desktop
- 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, data visualizations, and quant, things The Motley Fool doesn't offer
Pick The Motley Fool instead if
The Motley Fool
Free • From $16.58/mo · Web · Mobile
- You want the cheaper way in: plans start at $16.58/mo instead of $25/mo
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
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
Portfolio123 and The Motley Fool cover a lot of the same ground (6 shared categories, including stock ideas, portfolio, and watchlist), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Portfolio123 simply does more: 19 categories to The Motley Fool's 8, including screeners, data visualizations, and quant. The Motley Fool counters by starting cheaper at $16.58/mo.
What readers say
Portfolio123
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
The Motley Fool
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Key differences at a glance
- Cheaper paid plan
- The Motley Fool$16.58/mo vs $25/mo
- Broader coverage
- Portfolio12319 vs 8 categories
- Mobile app
- The Motley Fool
- Desktop app
- Portfolio123
- API access
- Portfolio123
- Real-time data
- Portfolio123
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 $25/mo | Free • From $16.58/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | Free Screener & Backtesting Access: duration days: 30 | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | Yes | No |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | Yes | No |
Broker sync | Yes | No |
Integrations | Interactive Brokers and Tradier | — |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +5 more | — |
Categories covered | 19 | 8 |
Regions | North America, Europe | — |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 5 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +3 more | — |
Data partners | 4 partners: FactSet, S&P Global Market Intelligence +2 more | — |
Capabilities | 6 signals: Custom formulas, Ranking backtests +4 more | — |
| Try it | Visit Portfolio123 | Visit The Motley Fool |
Where each one shines
What Portfolio123 and The Motley Fool each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What Portfolio123 and The Motley Fool each do best.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.
What The Motley Fool does best
- Reading access to free investing articles, market news, educational content, podcasts, and market snapshots on Fool.com.
- Stock Advisor for two new stock recommendations per month at $199/year for the annual plan.
- Upgrade to Epic for broader access including Rule Breakers, Dividend Investor, Hidden Gems, FoolIQ/GamePlan, AI-powered tools, and five monthly recommendations.
- Epic Plus for more recommendation volume, including 8+ monthly stock recommendations and daily Moneyball recommendations.
- Evaluation tools for Fool Portfolios and Fool One for higher-priced portfolio access, real-money portfolio context, specialized research, events, and broader membership coverage.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Portfolio123 and The Motley Fool, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Portfolio123 and The Motley Fool, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsClosed-End Funds | StocksETFs |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailInstitutional InvestorsAnalystsQuants/DevelopersFinancial AdvisorsStudents/Researchers | Not specified |
Regions | North AmericaEurope | Not specified |
Coverage details | Countries: US and CAIdentifiers: Ticker | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Real-timeEnd of Day | Not specified |
Data granularity | EOD | Not specified |
Data partners | FactSetS&P Global Market IntelligenceICE Data ServicesFRED | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | Not specified |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKeySDKs: PythonDocs | Not specified |
Import methods | BrokerOAuthCSV | Manual |
Integrations | Interactive BrokersTradier | Not specified |
Export formats | CSVJSON | Not specified |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Custom formulasRanking backtestsUniverse builderBroker syncRebalancingCorrelation | Not specified |
Vendor & support | Portfolio123Support: Forum | The Motley Fool, LLCCountry: USFounded 1993Support: Phone |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 3/5Reliability 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“Manage (Free)” | Free |
| Entry paid plan | $25/mo“Retail Research Plans” | $16.58/mo“Stock Advisor (Annual)” |
| Tier 2 | — | $41.58/mo“Epic (Annual)” |
| Tier 3 | — | $166.58/mo“Epic Plus (Annual)” |
| Tier 4 | — | $333.25/mo“Fool Portfolios (Annual)” |
| Top plan | — | $1166.58/mo“Fool One” |
| Custom / enterprise | Contact sales“Professional / API & Data Licenses” | — |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Portfolio123 and The Motley Fool?
Portfolio123 leans toward screeners, data visualizations, and quant, while The Motley Fool puts more weight on stock ideas, portfolio, and watchlist. They overlap in 6 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Portfolio123 and The Motley Fool cost?
Good news: both Portfolio123 and The Motley Fool have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Can I use Portfolio123 or The Motley Fool on my phone?
The Motley Fool lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. Portfolio123 doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web, API, and desktop.
Does Portfolio123 or The Motley Fool have an API?
Portfolio123 has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. The Motley Fool doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose Portfolio123 or The Motley Fool?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Portfolio123 if screeners and data visualizations matter to you; go with The Motley Fool if you'd rather have news and newsletters. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Portfolio123 and The Motley Fool cover?
Both cover stocks and ETFs. Portfolio123 also handles closed-end funds.
Does Portfolio123 or The Motley Fool have real-time data?
Portfolio123 offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. The Motley Fool 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 Portfolio123 and The Motley Fool?
Portfolio123 exports to CSV. The Motley Fool is stingier about getting data out.
Can Portfolio123 or The Motley Fool connect to my broker?
Portfolio123 syncs with brokers automatically. With The Motley Fool, you're entering holdings by hand or importing files.
Which has a better stock screener: Portfolio123 or The Motley Fool?
Portfolio123 has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; The Motley Fool doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with Portfolio123 or The Motley Fool?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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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.