VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★

PRICE: 5 CENTS

Sunday, December 7, 2025

Tool Comparison

SEC API (sec-api.io) vs Visible Alpha comparison

Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.

Quick takeaways

SEC API (sec-api.io) adds Regulatory Filings Monitoring, Insider Data, 13F, 13D/13G, Management Compensation, and IPO coverage that Visible Alpha skips.

Visible Alpha includes Analyst Forecasts, Analyst Price Targets, Analyst Recommendations, Data Visualizations, Stock Comparison, Sheets / Excel Add-ins, Blogs, and Playbooks & Case Studies categories that SEC API (sec-api.io) omits.

SEC API (sec-api.io) has a free tier, while Visible Alpha requires a paid plan.

In depth comparison

SEC API (sec-api.io)

sec-api.io

Editor’s pick Hands-on review

A commercial API suite for SEC/EDGAR data, designed for developers, quants, and compliance teams. The free tier includes 100 calls per month. Paid tiers unlock higher rate limits, more data (5 GB vs 15 GB monthly, with $0.30/GB overage), and features such as multiple API keys or redistribution rights for enterprise users. The platform emphasizes speed, with new filings typically available in under 300 ms.

Platforms

WebAPI

Pricing

FreeSubscription

Quick highlights

Comprehensive API endpoints: query, full-text search, real-time streaming via WebSocket, download/PDF generator, XBRL-to-JSON conversion, and section extractors for 10-K/10-Q/8-K filings.
Specialized form coverage including ADV, insider filings (Forms 3/4/5), 13F, 13D/G, Form 144, IPO registrations (S-1, 424B4), crowdfunding (Form C, Form D), Reg A filings, and fund reports (N-PORT, N-PX, N-CEN).
Datasets include executive compensation, directors and board members, audit fees, subsidiaries, and public float/outstanding shares.
Historical coverage back to 1993 with support for all 400+ EDGAR form types; new filings made available within ~300 ms of posting.
Live filing feeds available in real time via WebSocket for instant integration.

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Visible Alpha

visiblealpha.com

Granular, line‑item consensus from full sell‑side models (7,000+ companies; 250+ contributing brokers) with VA Actuals historicals, Excel add‑in, and enterprise delivery via API/Data Feed/Snowflake. Now part of S&P Global Market Intelligence and available as an add‑on within S&P Capital IQ Pro. Includes modules like Target Price & Ratings and a Line Item Monitor for alerts and revision analysis.

Platforms

WebDesktopAPI

Pricing

Subscription

Quick highlights

Deep, line‑item consensus built from full working sell‑side models; 7,000+ companies, 250+ contributing brokers, 1M+ consensus line items; 170+ industries covered.
VA Actuals: stitched historical fundamentals not always disclosed in filings, integrated with forward estimates for seamless time series.
Excel Add‑in with real‑time updating of figures, pre‑built templates, and one‑click tear‑sheets/export from the web app.
Target Price & Ratings: consensus rating distributions, target prices and valuation context with an ‘Open Entitlements’ contributor‑visibility framework.
Company & Line Item Monitor: alerting on threshold changes, dispersion, trend and revision analysis at the metric level.

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Where they differ

SEC API (sec-api.io)

Distinct strengths include:

Regulatory Filings Monitoring Insider Data 13F 13D/13G Management Compensation IPO

Comprehensive API endpoints: query, full-text search, real-time streaming via WebSocket, download/PDF generator, XBRL-to-JSON conversion, and section extractors for 10-K/10-Q/8-K filings.
Specialized form coverage including ADV, insider filings (Forms 3/4/5), 13F, 13D/G, Form 144, IPO registrations (S-1, 424B4), crowdfunding (Form C, Form D), Reg A filings, and fund reports (N-PORT, N-PX, N-CEN).
Datasets include executive compensation, directors and board members, audit fees, subsidiaries, and public float/outstanding shares.
Historical coverage back to 1993 with support for all 400+ EDGAR form types; new filings made available within ~300 ms of posting.

Visible Alpha

Distinct strengths include:

Analyst Forecasts Analyst Price Targets Analyst Recommendations Data Visualizations Stock Comparison Sheets / Excel Add-ins Blogs Playbooks & Case Studies

Deep, line‑item consensus built from full working sell‑side models; 7,000+ companies, 250+ contributing brokers, 1M+ consensus line items; 170+ industries covered.
VA Actuals: stitched historical fundamentals not always disclosed in filings, integrated with forward estimates for seamless time series.
Excel Add‑in with real‑time updating of figures, pre‑built templates, and one‑click tear‑sheets/export from the web app.
Target Price & Ratings: consensus rating distributions, target prices and valuation context with an ‘Open Entitlements’ contributor‑visibility framework.

Feature-by-feature breakdown

Attribute	SEC API (sec-api.io)	Visible Alpha
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets	Shared: Data APIs, Financials, APIs & SDKs Unique: Regulatory Filings Monitoring, Insider Data, 13F, 13D/13G, Management Compensation, IPO	Shared: Data APIs, Financials, APIs & SDKs Unique: Analyst Forecasts, Analyst Price Targets, Analyst Recommendations, Data Visualizations, Stock Comparison, Sheets / Excel Add-ins, Blogs, Playbooks & Case Studies
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes	Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Funds	Stocks
Experience levels Who each product is built for	Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced	Intermediate, Advanced
Platforms Where you can access the product	Web, API	Web, Desktop, API
Pricing High-level pricing models	Free, Subscription	Subscription
Key features Core capabilities called out by each vendor	Unique Comprehensive API endpoints: query, full-text search, real-time streaming via WebSocket, download/PDF generator, XBRL-to-JSON conversion, and section extractors for 10-K/10-Q/8-K filings. Specialized form coverage including ADV, insider filings (Forms 3/4/5), 13F, 13D/G, Form 144, IPO registrations (S-1, 424B4), crowdfunding (Form C, Form D), Reg A filings, and fund reports (N-PORT, N-PX, N-CEN). Datasets include executive compensation, directors and board members, audit fees, subsidiaries, and public float/outstanding shares. Historical coverage back to 1993 with support for all 400+ EDGAR form types; new filings made available within ~300 ms of posting. Live filing feeds available in real time via WebSocket for instant integration. XBRL-to-JSON service delivers standardized financial statements (income, balance sheet, cash flow) mapped to US GAAP items; dataset is survivorship-bias free.	Unique Deep, line‑item consensus built from full working sell‑side models; 7,000+ companies, 250+ contributing brokers, 1M+ consensus line items; 170+ industries covered. VA Actuals: stitched historical fundamentals not always disclosed in filings, integrated with forward estimates for seamless time series. Excel Add‑in with real‑time updating of figures, pre‑built templates, and one‑click tear‑sheets/export from the web app. Target Price & Ratings: consensus rating distributions, target prices and valuation context with an ‘Open Entitlements’ contributor‑visibility framework. Company & Line Item Monitor: alerting on threshold changes, dispersion, trend and revision analysis at the metric level. Enterprise data delivery: REST API for ad‑hoc queries, file‑based data feeds (S3/SFTP), and Snowflake data shares; feeds/cloud updated throughout the day.
Tested Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat	Yes	Not yet
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists	Highlighted	Standard listing

Frequently Asked Questions

Which workflows do SEC API (sec-api.io) and Visible Alpha both support?

Both platforms cover Data APIs, Financials, and APIs & SDKs workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.

Which tool offers a free plan?

SEC API (sec-api.io) offers a free entry point, while Visible Alpha requires a paid subscription. Review the pricing table to see how the paid tiers compare.

How can you access SEC API (sec-api.io) and Visible Alpha?

Both SEC API (sec-api.io) and Visible Alpha prioritize web or desktop access. Investors wanting a mobile-first workflow may need to rely on responsive web views.

What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?

SEC API (sec-api.io) differentiates itself with Comprehensive API endpoints: query, full-text search, real-time streaming via WebSocket, download/PDF generator, XBRL-to-JSON conversion, and section extractors for 10-K/10-Q/8-K filings., Specialized form coverage including ADV, insider filings (Forms 3/4/5), 13F, 13D/G, Form 144, IPO registrations (S-1, 424B4), crowdfunding (Form C, Form D), Reg A filings, and fund reports (N-PORT, N-PX, N-CEN)., and Datasets include executive compensation, directors and board members, audit fees, subsidiaries, and public float/outstanding shares., whereas Visible Alpha stands out for Deep, line‑item consensus built from full working sell‑side models; 7,000+ companies, 250+ contributing brokers, 1M+ consensus line items; 170+ industries covered., VA Actuals: stitched historical fundamentals not always disclosed in filings, integrated with forward estimates for seamless time series., and Excel Add‑in with real‑time updating of figures, pre‑built templates, and one‑click tear‑sheets/export from the web app..

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