The 5 best stock screeners: Investors and analysts in 2024

Since its inception in 2007, FINVIZ's stock screener has remained a favored choice among investors. What sets it apart for swing traders is its extensive toolkit, providing real-time data, interactive charts, pre-market information, and backtesting using historical data. This makes FINVIZ particularly appealing for all types of investors and traders, with a notable emphasis on swing trading. The platform's name, derived from "Financial Visualizations," reflects its intuitive presentation of information, enhancing user experience. A key feature is its comprehensive screener stacked with numerous tools and capabilities. The Elite version offers access to real-time data, advanced charts, pre-market updates, customizable filters, and data export functions. Its interactive charts enable precise data analysis, including comparisons with the S&P 500 index, with all information saved to user portfolios. While FINVIZ offers a free plan with delayed data, the Elite subscription at $39.50 monthly or $299.50 annually provides real-time data, making it an excellent value for active traders.

Trade Ideas Pro is the ultimate choice for day traders needing instant access to real-time data. Powered by advanced artificial intelligence, this stock screener swiftly scans thousands of trading opportunities using technical, fundamental, and social data to pinpoint those with the most significant potential for profit. Founded in 2003 to cater to DIY investors, Trade Ideas' cutting-edge server-based technology connects directly to exchanges, analyzing every stock and ETF tick in real time. This comprehensive analysis, combined with backtesting and automated trading features, provides day traders with a competitive edge. While the subscription fee starts at $118 per month for the standard plan, the $228 monthly investment in Trade Ideas Pro is well worth the advantage it offers. A free version is also available for testing layouts, scans, and screeners, with the option to upgrade as your day trading skills progress.

Stock Rover may not be ideal for day traders due to its limited technical indicator filters. However, it's a top pick for long-term investors who prefer buy-and-hold strategies, thanks to its robust research and analysis tools. Founded in 2008 by software engineers passionate about investing, Stock Rover simplifies investment research, selection, and tracking through its advanced web application. Offering nearly 500 screening filters for financial indicators across stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds, users can refine results with complex equations and combined filters. Investors appreciate Stock Rover's rating system, evaluating securities in categories like growth, valuation, efficiency, financial strength, dividends, and momentum. The platform also provides preset screeners like fair market value and margin of safety, appealing to Warren Buffet followers. Users can integrate Stock Rover with their brokerage accounts for enhanced reporting, portfolio analysis, and rebalancing recommendations. While a free account is available, the Essentials plan starts at $7.99 monthly for expanded functionality, with higher tiers offering additional features like more financial metrics, historical data, charts, and priority support.

Zacks has earned a strong reputation as a trusted provider of stock data, offering investors a valuable edge in stock selection. Their free stock screener provides nearly everything investors need for well-informed and timely stock picks, making Zacks our top choice for the best free stock screener. One notable feature is the ability for users to input their own segmentation criteria, allowing for precise filtering based on custom values or ranges. Zacks also stands out for its extensive earnings per share (EPS) metrics, enabling a deeper analysis of a company's performance relative to its EPS history.

The free plan offers access to almost all features, including over 96 predefined screens and a Custom Screener that tailors stock suggestions based on your preferences and trading style, such as Value, Growth, Momentum, or Income. For more advanced tools and research, Zacks Premium membership is available for $249 annually. Additionally, users can explore Zacks Premium Screener and other powerful tools with a complimentary 30-day membership trial.

TradingView offers a comprehensive stock screening experience with a robust range of fundamental, economic, and financial criteria alongside advanced charting features powered by HTML5 technology. However, its standout feature is its extensive coverage of international stocks across 70+ global exchanges, making it our top pick for global investing. Developed by a group of traders and software developers aiming to democratize trading, TradingView is user-friendly, powerful, and accessible to all. With over 50 million active users worldwide, its global reach is unmatched.

The stock screener provides over 100 fundamental and technical criteria, allowing users to customize filters and views as desired. Notable features include mapping and comparing economic indicators with a company's financial metrics to assess performance across various economic conditions and an interactive chat room for idea sharing among traders worldwide. TradingView offers free access to its stock screener, list alerts, and advanced filter customization. Paid plans, starting at $14.95 monthly and going up to $59.95, provide complete access to TradingView's robust tools and include a 30-day free trial.