Tool Comparison
Value Line vs Zacks (Zacks.com)
- Paid from
- $16.58/mo
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web
Best if
- You want the cheaper way in: plans start at $16.58/mo instead of $20.75/mo
- You want stock ideas, financials, and data visualizations.
- You're a long-term investor who cares more about fundamentals than headlines
- Paid from
- $20.75/mo
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile
Best if
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want ETF screeners, portfolio, and calendar.
Pick Value Line if
Value Line
Free • From $199/yr · Web
- You want the cheaper way in: plans start at $16.58/mo instead of $20.75/mo
- You want stock ideas, financials, and data visualizations.
- You're a long-term investor who cares more about fundamentals than headlines
Pick Zacks (Zacks.com) if
Zacks (Zacks.com)
Free • From $249/yr · Web · Mobile
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want ETF screeners, portfolio, and calendar.
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
Value Line and Zacks (Zacks.com) cover a lot of the same ground (6 shared categories, including screeners, watchlist, and alerts), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Value Line includes stock ideas and financials, and Zacks (Zacks.com) includes ETF screeners and portfolio.
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Key differences at a glance
- Cheaper paid plan
- Value Line$16.58/mo vs $20.75/mo
- Free trial
- Zacks (Zacks.com)30 days
- Mobile app
- Zacks (Zacks.com)
- Real-time data
- Zacks (Zacks.com)
- Global coverage
- Zacks (Zacks.com)
- Asset coverage
- Value LineAdds options
What Value Line does best
- Single-page equity reports combine historical financials, analyst commentary, three-to-five-year projections, and target ranges.
- Timeliness ranks estimate relative six-to-twelve-month price performance; Safety ranks address relative risk.
- Digital equity tools include movable data modules, saved templates, screens, watchlists, alerts, charts, and model portfolios.
- The current site states coverage of 5,000 equities, more than 2,800 ETFs, and 19,000 mutual funds across its services.
- Funds, ETFs, options, and stock-selection publications are sold separately from core equity research.
What Zacks (Zacks.com) does best
- Zacks Rank scores from #1 to #5 and Zacks Industry Rank on company pages for earnings-revision research.
- Comparison tools for Value, Growth, and Momentum Style Scores alongside the rank when screening or reviewing individual stocks.
- Screening for stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds with hundreds of filters, with 45+ Premium Screens gated behind paid access.
- Direct access to ticker pages with analyst forecasts, earnings estimates, price targets, company research, and related market context.
- Review Price-Consensus-EPS Surprise charts that connect historical estimates, actual earnings, and surprise patterns.
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 $199/yr | Free • From $249/yr |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | 30 days |
Plan limits | 6 limits: Investment Survey - Smart Investor (Digital): saved screener searches: 10, Investment Survey - Smart Investor (Digital): watchlists: 3 +4 more | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | — | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +3 more | — |
Categories covered | 12 | 12 |
Regions | North America | North America, Europe |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | — | 3 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +1 more |
Capabilities | Universe builder | Factors: Value, Momentum, and Growth |
| Try it | Visit Value Line | Visit Zacks (Zacks.com) |
Standout features
The best features of Value Line and Zacks (Zacks.com).ShowHide
Standout features
What Value Line does best
- Single-page equity reports combine historical financials, analyst commentary, three-to-five-year projections, and target ranges.
- Timeliness ranks estimate relative six-to-twelve-month price performance; Safety ranks address relative risk.
- Digital equity tools include movable data modules, saved templates, screens, watchlists, alerts, charts, and model portfolios.
- The current site states coverage of 5,000 equities, more than 2,800 ETFs, and 19,000 mutual funds across its services.
- Funds, ETFs, options, and stock-selection publications are sold separately from core equity research.
What Zacks (Zacks.com) does best
- Zacks Rank scores from #1 to #5 and Zacks Industry Rank on company pages for earnings-revision research.
- Comparison tools for Value, Growth, and Momentum Style Scores alongside the rank when screening or reviewing individual stocks.
- Screening for stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds with hundreds of filters, with 45+ Premium Screens gated behind paid access.
- Direct access to ticker pages with analyst forecasts, earnings estimates, price targets, company research, and related market context.
- Review Price-Consensus-EPS Surprise charts that connect historical estimates, actual earnings, and surprise patterns.
All details
Every attribute we track for Value Line and Zacks (Zacks.com).ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsMutual FundsOptions | StocksETFsMutual Funds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsValue InvestorsDividend Investors | Not specified |
Regions | North America | North AmericaEurope |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Not specified | Real-timeEnd of Day |
Data granularity | Not specified | EOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
Import methods | Not specified | Manual |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Universe builder | Factors: Value, Momentum, and Growth |
Vendor & support | Value Line, Inc.Founded 1931 | Zacks Investment Research |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 3/5Reliability 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“Free newsletters” | Free |
| Entry paid plan | $199/yr≈ $16.58/mo“Investment Survey - Investor 600 (Digital)” | $249/yr≈ $20.75/mo“Premium Annual” |
| Tier 2 | $345/yr≈ $28.75/mo“Fund Advisor Plus - Digital Edition” | $495/yr≈ $41.25/mo“Investor Collection Annual” |
| Tier 3 | $345/yr≈ $28.75/mo“Value Line ETFs Service” | $59/mo“Investor Collection Monthly” |
| Tier 4 | $598/yr≈ $49.83/mo“Investment Survey - Smart Investor (Digital)”saved screener searches: 10 · watchlists: 3 · +4 more | $2995/yr≈ $249.58/mo“Ultimate Annual” |
| Tier 5 | $695/yr≈ $57.92/mo“Value Line Select Online” | $299/mo“Ultimate Monthly” |
| Tier 6 | $795/yr≈ $66.25/mo“Investment Survey - Savvy Investor (Digital)” | — |
| Top plan | Subscription“Value Line Options Survey” | — |
| Free trial | — | 30 days |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Value Line and Zacks (Zacks.com)?
Value Line leans toward screeners, stock ideas, and watchlist, while Zacks (Zacks.com) puts more weight on screeners, ETF screeners, and watchlist. They overlap in 6 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Value Line and Zacks (Zacks.com) cost?
Good news: both Value Line and Zacks (Zacks.com) have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Can I use Value Line or Zacks (Zacks.com) on my phone?
Zacks (Zacks.com) lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. Value Line doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web.
Should I choose Value Line or Zacks (Zacks.com)?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Value Line if stock ideas and financials matter to you; go with Zacks (Zacks.com) if you'd rather have ETF screeners and portfolio. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Value Line and Zacks (Zacks.com) cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds. Value Line also handles options.
Does Value Line or Zacks (Zacks.com) have real-time data?
Zacks (Zacks.com) offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. Value Line 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.
Which covers international markets: Value Line or Zacks (Zacks.com)?
Zacks (Zacks.com) has documented international coverage (North America and Europe), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. Value Line is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Which has a better stock screener: Value Line or Zacks (Zacks.com)?
Both Value Line and Zacks (Zacks.com) include stock screeners, and they differ more in interface than raw power; try both and see which one clicks for you.
Can I track my portfolio with Value Line or Zacks (Zacks.com)?
Zacks (Zacks.com) handles portfolio tracking. Value Line is really a research tool; you'd track your portfolio elsewhere.
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