VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON
Tool details checked August 23, 2026
Tool Comparison
Portfolio123 vs Visual Capitalist
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 want screeners, quant, and stock ideas.
Pick Visual Capitalist instead if
Visual Capitalist
Free • From $7.49/mo · Web
- You want the cheaper way in: plans start at $7.49/mo instead of $25/mo
- You want newsletters.
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 Visual Capitalist cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, data visualizations, education, and blogs), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Portfolio123 simply does more: 19 categories to Visual Capitalist's 4, including screeners, quant, and stock ideas. Visual Capitalist counters by starting cheaper at $7.49/mo.
What readers say
Portfolio123
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Visual Capitalist
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Key differences at a glance
- Cheaper paid plan
- Visual Capitalist$7.49/mo vs $25/mo
- Broader coverage
- Portfolio12319 vs 4 categories
- Desktop app
- Portfolio123
- API access
- Portfolio123
- Real-time data
- 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 • From $25/mo | Free • From $7.49/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 | No |
API access | Yes | No |
Broker sync | Yes | — |
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 | 4 |
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 Visual Capitalist |
Where each one shines
What Portfolio123 and Visual Capitalist each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What Portfolio123 and Visual Capitalist each do best.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 Visual Capitalist does best
- Articles, maps, charts, and infographics based on economic, market, commodity, technology, and business data.
- Broad thematic coverage for macro context, including GDP, trade, energy, metals, demographics, market structure, company rankings, and other global datasets.
- Public access to many articles and visuals without a paid membership.
- VC+ for member-only editorial products such as The Trendline, Special Dispatches, Markets This Month, Global Forecast Series, archives, events, and ad-free browsing where offered.
- The Global Forecast Series and market outlooks for scenario research.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Portfolio123 and Visual Capitalist, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Portfolio123 and Visual Capitalist, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsClosed-End Funds | Other |
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 | Not specified |
| 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: APIKeyDocs | Not specified |
Import methods | BrokerOAuthCSV | Not specified |
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 | Visual CapitalistCountry: Canada |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 4/5Reliability 4/5UX 5/5 |
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” | $7.49/mo“VC+ Annual” |
| Tier 2 | — | Subscription“Ad-Free” |
| Top plan | — | $369 once“VC+ Lifetime” |
| Custom / enterprise | Contact sales“Professional / API & Data Licenses” | — |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Portfolio123 and Visual Capitalist?
Portfolio123 leans toward screeners, data visualizations, and quant, while Visual Capitalist puts more weight on data visualizations, blogs, and newsletters. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Portfolio123 and Visual Capitalist cost?
Good news: both Portfolio123 and Visual Capitalist have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Does Portfolio123 or Visual Capitalist have an API?
Portfolio123 has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. Visual Capitalist doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose Portfolio123 or Visual Capitalist?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Portfolio123 if screeners and quant matter to you; go with Visual Capitalist if you'd rather have newsletters. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Portfolio123 and Visual Capitalist cover?
Portfolio123 covers stocks, ETFs, and closed-end funds. Visual Capitalist covers other.
Does Portfolio123 or Visual Capitalist have real-time data?
Portfolio123 offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. Visual Capitalist 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 Visual Capitalist?
Portfolio123 exports to CSV. Visual Capitalist is stingier about getting data out.
Which has a better stock screener: Portfolio123 or Visual Capitalist?
Portfolio123 has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; Visual Capitalist doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with Portfolio123 or Visual Capitalist?
Portfolio123 handles portfolio tracking. Visual Capitalist 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.