Finviz vs MarketSmith (2026) — Which Is Better?
Compare Finviz and MarketSmith — features, pricing, pros and cons.
Fees, feature availability, and plan details come from each provider's current documentation. If you're about to act on this, confirm the specific numbers on the vendor's site first. Methodology →
At-a-Glance
Higher Rated
Finviz (4.5)
More Affordable
Finviz (Free)
Finviz
Powerful stock screener with market heat maps, fundamentals, technical filters, and real-time quotes on the Elite plan.
MarketSmith
IBD's MarketSurge/MarketSmith research platform for growth stock investors using CAN SLIM-style ratings, screens and chart pattern tools.
Screener Head-to-Head
Finviz and MarketSmith serve fundamentally different investor profiles. Finviz excels as a free-to-low-cost stock screener with institutional-grade tools on its Elite plan, accessible to retail traders who value quick market scanning. MarketSmith, priced at $149.95/month, positions itself as IBD's premium growth-stock research platform built on the CAN SLIM methodology—a proven framework combining technical pattern recognition with fundamental analysis.
Finviz's competitive edge lies in its iconic heat maps and exceptional screening flexibility with dozens of filterable metrics, available without spending a dollar for basic functionality. MarketSmith differentiates through proprietary IBD ratings and automatic chart pattern recognition that surfaces stocks matching CAN SLIM criteria, eliminating manual chart analysis for growth-focused investors.
Pick Finviz if you're a technical trader who enjoys screening across broad universes and building custom criteria—you'll maximize flexibility for free. Choose MarketSmith if you're committed to CAN SLIM and willing to pay premium prices for institutional research and pre-vetted growth stock candidates that meet strict criteria.
Filter & Data Feature Breakdown
| Feature | Finviz | MarketSmith |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.5 | ★ 4.2 |
| Starting Price | Free | $149.95/mo |
| Free Tier | Yes | No |
| Markets | stocks, futures, forex, crypto, bonds | stocks |
| AI Analysis | ✗ | ✗ |
| Backtesting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Paper Trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Price Alerts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile App | ✗ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✗ |
| Social Features | ✗ | ✗ |
| Broker Integration | ✗ | ✗ |
| Custom Indicators | ✗ | ✗ |
| Automated Trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Trade Journaling | ✗ | ✗ |
| Performance Analytics | ✗ | ✗ |
| Risk Management | ✗ | ✗ |
| News Feed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Education Content | ✗ | ✓ |
Finviz: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Best free stock screener available -- 60+ filters with fast, responsive results
- + Iconic heat maps provide instant visual market overview by sector and market cap
- + Generous free tier that millions of traders use daily without needing to upgrade
- + Screener speed is genuinely best-in-class -- results load in fractions of a second
- + Insider trading data and news aggregation included free for every stock
- + Elite premarket/after-hours data useful for gap scanners and pre-open preparation
Cons
- - US stocks only -- no international market coverage (no LSE, TSE, European exchanges)
- - Free version has 15-20 minute data delay and banner ads throughout
- - Charting is basic even on Elite -- not comparable to TradingView or thinkorswim
- - No options screening, options flow, or meaningful options chain data
- - No mobile app -- browser-only with unoptimized mobile experience
MarketSmith: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + CAN SLIM methodology is proven over decades
- + Proprietary ratings simplify stock selection
- + Automatic chart pattern recognition
- + Institutional sponsorship tracking
Cons
- - Very expensive at $149.95/month
- - Only useful for CAN SLIM and growth investing
- - US stocks only
- - Steep learning curve for the methodology