Are you exploring the world of stock screeners to sharpen your market research and pinpoint winning trades? You’ve come to the right place. I rely on Finviz daily to scan thousands of equities in seconds, filter by dozens of criteria, and lock in on opportunities that match my trading strategy. Whether you’re a day trader looking for momentum plays, a swing trader hunting for chart patterns, or a long-term investor seeking undervalued gems, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

Understanding the complexities of modern markets can feel overwhelming. You need tools that deliver real-time data, advanced charts, alerts, and backtesting without the clutter of ads slowing you down. That’s why I turn to Finviz—the industry-leading stock screener platform trusted by millions since its inception in 2007. With features like ad-free layouts, extended hours quotes, and proprietary correlation algorithms, it’s the ultimate solution for traders and investors alike. Ready to transform the way you research stocks? Get Started with Finviz for Free Today.

What is Finviz?

Finviz is a comprehensive stock screener and market visualization platform designed for traders and investors seeking deep, actionable insights. The name stands for “Financial Visualizations,” and it delivers precisely that: an intuitive interface for filtering, sorting, and analyzing ticker data in real time. From customizable screener filters—such as price, volume, fundamentals, and technical indicators—to interactive charts and heatmaps, Finviz covers every aspect of market research.

Whether you’re scanning for high-volume, high-volatility stocks for day trading, evaluating relative strength for swing setups, or running a fundamental screen for value opportunities, Finviz has the tools to streamline your workflow. Its Elite tier unlocks real-time quotes, extended hours data, backtesting, custom alerts, and more—empowering you to make smarter decisions faster.

Finviz Overview

Founded in 2007 by Juraj Duris and his small team, Finviz set out to revolutionize how retail traders access market data. What began as a neat idea—visualizing financial metrics through intuitive charts and maps—quickly took off. Within just a few years, Finviz was serving millions of users monthly, earning praise for its speed, simplicity, and powerful feature set.

Over time, the platform has evolved significantly. Early updates introduced the stock screener and heatmap visualizations. Later, Finviz added customizable chart overlays, drawing tools, and Backtests, allowing traders to validate strategies against 24 years of historical data. The mission has remained consistent: democratize high-end trading tools for everyday investors and deliver them in a clean, ad-free environment.

Today, Finviz continues to innovate, rolling out new features and refining existing ones based on user feedback. From advanced correlation algorithms to enhanced notification systems, every update caters to the needs of active traders and long-term portfolio managers alike.

Pros and Cons

Pro: Real-time and extended hours quotes across all screener and chart features, starting at 4:00 AM. This early access lets you plan trades before markets officially open.

Pro: Completely ad-free layout in the Elite plan. Without distracting banners or pop-ups, you can focus solely on data and analysis.

Pro: Advanced interactive charts with intraday, overlays, drawing tools, and fullscreen mode—ideal for deep technical analysis.

Pro: Built-in backtests supporting over 100 technical indicators and 24 years of historical data, so you can test your strategies before risking capital.

Pro: Proprietary correlation algorithms to discover correlated and inversely correlated stocks for diversification and hedging strategies.

Pro: Customizable screener with data export, advanced filters, and statistics view—perfect for detailed stock universe analysis.

Pro: Instant e-mail and push notifications triggered by price, news, ratings, or screener criteria, keeping you on top of critical moves.

Con: Premium subscription cost—Elite is $39.50/month or $24.96/month billed annually—which may be steep for casual investors.

Con: Learning curve for advanced features like backtesting and correlation analysis. Beginners may need some time to explore all functionalities.

Features

Finviz packs a broad set of features built to give traders a complete toolkit for market analysis. Below are some of the standout capabilities:

Real-Time & Extended Hours Data

• Real-time stock quotes across all sections, including the screener, maps, and charts.
• Extended hours sessions from 4:00 AM, covering premarket and aftermarket moves.
• Access to fast, accurate data to plan entries and exits ahead of regular trading hours.

Advanced Interactive Charts

• Intraday charts with configurable time frames (1m, 5m, 15m, 1h, 4h).
• Chart overlays and technical indicators, such as EMA, Bollinger Bands, RSI, MACD, and more.
• Drawing tools for trendlines, support/resistance zones, Fibonacci retracements.
• Fullscreen layouts and performance comparison charts for multi-symbol analysis.

Backtests

• Over 100 technical indicators available for strategy building.
• 24 years of historical daily and intraday data.
• Compare your strategy’s performance against the SPY benchmark.
• Receive detailed metrics, such as CAGR, drawdown, win rate, and expectancy.

Correlations

• Proprietary correlation algorithms optimized for financial markets.
• Identify stocks that move in tandem or inversely with your primary picks.
• Diversify portfolios or hedge positions based on correlation insights.

Advanced Screener

• Custom filters covering fundamentals, technicals, descriptive criteria, and more.
• Export filtered results to Excel or via APIs for further analysis.
• Statistics view provides aggregated metrics on your screener universe.
• Predefined presets and up to 200 custom filters for fast setup.

Alerts & Notifications

• Email and mobile push alerts for price, news, insider trades, ratings changes, and SEC filings.
• Trigger alerts when a new ticker matches your screener criteria.
• Stay on top of critical events without monitoring screens constantly.

Finviz Pricing

Finviz offers two plans: a Free tier with delayed data and basic tools, and the Elite subscription unlocking the full suite of premium features.

Free Account

Price: $0

• Delayed quotes, charts, and screener data.
• Limited presets (50) and items per page (20/36/10).
• Basic heatmaps and groups data.

Elite Account

Monthly: $39.50 / Annual: $24.96 per month (billed yearly). Includes a 7-day free trial.

• Real-time and extended hours quotes.
• Intraday, multi-layout, and fundamental charts.
• Custom filters, data export, and advanced screener stats.
• Backtesting, correlations, and expanded presets (200).
• Email & push alerts, ad-free experience, and early feature access.

Finviz Is Best For

Finviz caters to a range of market participants. Here are some key audiences and how they benefit:

Day Traders

Need lightning-fast data and heatmaps to spot breakouts? Finviz Elite’s real-time quotes, premarket data, and intraday charts give you the edge to execute swift entries and exits.

Swing Traders

Looking for technical setups over multiple days? Use customizable screener filters to isolate stocks forming triangles, flags, or other patterns. Backtest strategies on historical data to refine your approach.

Long-Term Investors

Fundamental charts, EPS growth metrics, and balance sheet filters help you identify undervalued companies. Correlation tools aid in constructing diversified portfolios to weather market swings.

Quantitative Analysts

Export large datasets and apply your own algorithms or tools. Finviz’s API access for Elite users streamlines data retrieval for sophisticated models.

Benefits of Using Finviz

• Speed: Scan thousands of tickers in seconds with minimal load times.
• Clarity: Ad-free interface keeps your workspace distraction-free.
• Depth: 100+ filters and indicators let you drill down on exactly what matters.
• Confidence: Backtest before you trade, reducing guesswork and reinforcing strategies.
• Flexibility: Real-time and extended hours sessions let you act on moves around the clock.
• Alerts: Never miss a critical price move or news event with instant notifications.
• Diversification: Correlation analysis helps you balance risk across multiple positions.

Customer Support

Finviz’s support team prides itself on fast response times and knowledgeable assistance. Whether you have a question about setting up filters, interpreting backtest results, or troubleshooting API connections, support agents are ready to help via email. Elite subscribers also receive priority support, ensuring your queries are addressed promptly.

Beyond direct support, Finviz maintains comprehensive documentation and FAQs, guiding you through common tasks and advanced features. From screener tutorials to chart customization walkthroughs, the knowledge base empowers you to master the platform at your own pace.

External Reviews and Ratings

Across trading forums and review sites, Finviz consistently earns high marks for usability and feature set. Users applaud the platform’s intuitive screener and the breadth of real-time data available. Many highlight the backtest module as a game-changer, allowing them to validate strategies before risking capital.

Some critiques point to the subscription price as a barrier for casual investors, but most agree the value outweighs the cost once you leverage Elite features daily. A handful of users requested more mobile app functionality; Finviz has since rolled out improvements, addressing feedback and steadily enhancing the mobile experience.

Educational Resources and Community

Finviz offers an official blog with regular market commentary, screener tips, and strategy deep-dives. Webinars and video tutorials walk you through feature highlights—ideal for new users. In addition, a vibrant community of traders shares custom screener presets and backtest recipes across social media and forums.

Whether you prefer step-by-step guides or peer-to-peer discussion, the Finviz ecosystem provides the educational support you need to grow as a trader or investor. Many users credit the platform’s resources for accelerating their learning curve and boosting confidence in applying technical and fundamental analysis.

Conclusion

Mastering the art of stock screening is essential to navigating today’s fast-paced markets. With its powerful filters, real-time data, advanced charting, backtesting, and correlation tools, Finviz provides everything you need to discover high-probability setups and manage your portfolio effectively. Ready to elevate your research? Explore the platform firsthand by clicking here to unlock game-changing insights.

Get Started with Finviz for Free Today and transform how you screen, analyze, and trade stocks.