finviz.com

One-line overview

finviz.com is a U.S.-based stock screening and visualization tool focused on helping investors quickly filter U.S. stocks, view charts, and check technical indicators. Known for its clean interface and powerful screener, its free version is enough for basic use, while the paid plan unlocks more advanced features. Many retail investors and short-term traders use it because it can identify stocks matching specific conditions from thousands of names within seconds, saving the hassle of manually digging through data.

Business details

finviz was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in the United States. It is one of the benchmark products in the U.S. stock screener market. Its core service is a web-based stock screening engine that lets users filter U.S. stocks using more than 60 criteria, such as market cap, P/E ratio, trading volume, and technical indicators, then visualize the results as tables, charts, or maps. It also offers stock news aggregation, insider trading tracking, sector analysis, and other features. In terms of market position, finviz is widely regarded as one of the go-to free U.S. stock screening tools, especially popular among individual investors and day traders. Its customer base is mainly retail investors, with some small investment teams using the paid version for preliminary screening. Its affiliate program allows users to earn commissions through referrals, but the exact commission rate is not publicly disclosed.

Who it’s for

finviz is best suited for individual investors and short-term traders, especially users who need to screen U.S. stocks quickly and focus on technical or fundamental indicators. For small teams or boutique research firms, the paid version can help reduce the time spent organizing data. Developers can also access structured data through its API, which requires the paid plan. It is not suitable if you need A-share, Hong Kong stock, or other international market data, as finviz only covers U.S. equities. It is also limited if you need deep financial analysis or automated backtesting. Overall, it is a lightweight screening tool rather than a full-featured trading platform.

Key features and highlights

• Multi-criteria screener: Supports more than 60 screening fields, including fundamentals such as P/E and EPS growth, technicals such as RSI and moving average crossovers, and chart patterns such as cup-and-handle formations. Criteria can be combined flexibly.
• Visual maps: Provides an “S&P 500 map” and “sector map,” displaying sector and stock performance as heat maps for an intuitive view of market hotspots.
• Chart analysis: Includes interactive candlestick charts, more than 20 technical indicators such as Bollinger Bands and MACD, and drawing tools, making it useful for technical analysis.
• Stock news aggregation: Automatically pulls the latest news and earnings information for each stock and links it with screening results for faster decision-making.
• Insider trading tracking: Shows the latest buying and selling activity by executives and institutions, helping users assess capital flows.
• Export screening results: Allows users to export screening results as CSV files for further analysis in Excel or other tools.

Pricing analysis

finviz is priced in the lower-middle range among similar tools. The free version already provides most core screening features, but charts and news contain ads, and market data is delayed. The paid version, Elite, does not publicly list its monthly fee, but according to third-party information, it is around $39.5/month or $299/year. It unlocks real-time data, an ad-free experience, advanced charts, API access, and more. There is no free trial, but the free version is sufficient for evaluation. Compared with TradingView’s paid plans at around $50/month, finviz is cheaper and more focused on screening. Compared with Zacks at around $249/year, finviz offers better value for money. There are no obvious hidden fees, but there is no clear refund policy after payment, so it is best to fully test the free version first.

How Chinese users can use it

In terms of network access, finviz can be reached directly from some parts of mainland China, but speeds may be slow, and some features such as real-time data and maps may not load properly. A proxy such as a VPN is recommended for a stable experience, especially when using the paid version. For payments, the finviz website does not clearly disclose supported methods, but based on common industry practice, it likely accepts international credit cards such as Visa and Mastercard, and does not support Alipay or WeChat Pay. Chinese users therefore need a foreign-currency credit card or a PayPal account. For invoices, finviz does not state whether it supports Chinese VAT invoices and will most likely only provide U.S.-style receipts. Domestic alternatives include the screeners from “同花顺” or “东方财富,” but they mainly cover A-shares, and their U.S. stock data is not as comprehensive as finviz.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Powerful free version that covers most screening needs
• Clean interface with a low learning curve, suitable for beginners
• Rich screening criteria covering both technicals and fundamentals
• Intuitive visual maps for quickly understanding overall market sentiment
• Supports an affiliate program for earning commissions

Cons

• Only covers U.S. stocks; no support for other markets
• Free version has ads and 15-20 minute delayed data
• No mobile app; web only
• No clear refund policy after payment, so users bear the risk
• Chinese users may need a proxy for smooth access

Competitor comparison

• TradingView: More focused on chart analysis and community interaction. Its screener is not as comprehensive as finviz, but it supports multiple markets, including cryptocurrencies. Pricing is slightly higher, making it better for users focused on technical analysis.
• Zacks: Focuses on fundamental analysis and stock recommendations. Its screener is more basic, but it offers paid research reports. It suits value investors, though it is more expensive.
• Yahoo Finance: The free version includes screening features, but data updates are slow and there are many ads. finviz is clearly better in screening speed and visualization.

Summary and recommendation

finviz is a good fit for individual investors who need to screen U.S. stocks quickly on a limited budget, especially short-term traders. The free version is already enough for getting started, so it is best to become familiar with the features before deciding whether to upgrade. It is not ideal for users who need deep financial analysis, multi-market coverage, or automated strategies. Chinese users should pay attention to network access and payment issues; if stable proxy access is not available, domestic alternatives may be worth considering. Overall, finviz is a cost-effective choice in the U.S. stock screening space, but its boundaries are clear, and it should not be expected to replace a professional trading platform.