Finviz review: a quick US screener with one paid plan
Official site: finviz.com
Finviz is a web-based stock screener run by Finviz s.r.o. of Bratislava, Slovakia, and the site has been live since 2007. It does one job very well: it filters thousands of US-listed stocks in seconds and shows the result as tables, charts or heat maps. It is also the one platform in our test that states its prices in US dollars, which makes budgeting from Canada simpler.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free version with delayed quotes, basic filters, 50 saved presets and 1 portfolio
- One paid tier: Elite at US$39.50/mo or US$299.50/yr
- Intraday heat maps and 12-chart multi-layouts
- Unlimited stock, price, screener and portfolio alerts on Elite
- Export to Excel and CSV
Cons
- Covers US-listed stocks only, with no TSX or TSX-V coverage
- Runs in a web browser only
- The Elite trial needs a card and renews automatically
- Futures data is delayed
Key facts
| Company | Finviz s.r.o. |
|---|---|
| Founded | Site live since 2007; Finviz s.r.o. incorporated January 8, 2009 |
| Headquarters | Bratislava, Slovakia |
| Plans | Free; Elite US$39.50/mo or US$299.50/yr (US$24.96/mo billed annually) |
| Free trial | Elite trial offered (length not published; card required, renews automatically) |
| Refunds | On request within the initial 30 days |
| Platforms | Web |
| Markets | US stocks (NASDAQ, NYSE, AMEX), ETFs, futures (delayed), forex, crypto |
| Canadian coverage | None: Finviz covers US markets only |
| Support | Contact form, email, knowledge base |
| Level | Beginner |
Free version vs Elite
The free version is genuinely useful: delayed quotes, the basic screener filters, 50 saved presets and one portfolio. Elite costs US$39.50/mo or US$299.50/yr, which works out to US$24.96/mo. It adds advanced filters, real-time quotes with premarket and after-hours data, unlimited alerts and 8 years of financial statements. Finviz offers a free Elite trial. Its length isn't published, a card is required and it renews automatically, so set a reminder. Refunds are available on request within the first 30 days. For casual use the free version is often enough; Elite earns its fee mainly if you act on intraday moves or need alerts.
Screening and heat maps
Most screens take a few clicks. Pick an exchange, a market cap band, a sector and a couple of technical filters, and the results update straight away. The intraday heat maps show at a glance which sectors are moving, and the 12-chart layout helps when you are working through a shortlist. Results export to Excel or CSV, which suits anyone who keeps a trading spreadsheet. During our test, a typical screen returned results faster than any other platform here, even with a dozen filters applied at once.
The Canadian catch
Finviz covers US markets only: NASDAQ, NYSE and AMEX. It says it has "no plans for expanding into new markets at the moment", so TSX and TSX-V stocks never appear in a screen. That is the main drawback for Canadians. If you trade on the TSX you will need a second tool, and 
StockCharts sells real-time TSX and TSX-V data for $9.95/mo.
Who it suits
Beginners and part-time investors who want US stock ideas quickly, without installing anything. It also works well as a second screen next to a broker's own charts. Traders who need order entry, futures depth or automated strategies should look at 
MotiveWave or 
cTrader instead.
How we scored Finviz
Each criterion is scored from 1 to 10 after 30 days of use. The average of 9.2 gives the 4.6 out of 5 rating.
| Criterion | Score (1-10) |
|---|---|
| Charting tools | 10 |
| Scanning and screening | 10 |
| Alerts | 10 |
| Ease of use | 10 |
| Device coverage | 8 |
| Market coverage | 9 |
| Canadian access | 5 |
| Value for money | 10 |
| Free plan or trial | 10 |
| Data and add-ons | 10 |
| Automation and testing | 9 |
| Support and learning | 9 |
| Average | 9.2 / 10 |
Use the free version for a week first. Upgrade to Elite only if you need real-time quotes or alerts.
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Tickeron
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Join TickeronRisk warning. Trading stocks, options, futures, forex or crypto carries a high risk of losing money, and leveraged products can cost you more than you deposit. TickerBench reviews software only. Nothing on this site is investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell anything, so consider speaking with a registered adviser before you trade.