Searching for the ultimate guide to stock screening tools? You just landed on the right page. In this comprehensive post, I’ll walk you through how Finviz can transform your research process and help you pinpoint winning investment opportunities with blazing speed and precision.

Whether you’re a day trader seeking real-time data or a long-term investor building a robust portfolio, I know how overwhelming it can be to sift through endless market data. Finviz has been the go-to platform for traders and investors worldwide since its launch, boasting millions of users and accolades from top financial publications. And with the free plan available right now, there’s no better time to elevate your workflow. Get Started with Finviz for Free Today.

What is Finviz?

Finviz is a leading stock screening tool designed to help traders and investors analyze thousands of securities in seconds. By combining real-time quotes, flexible filters, and intuitive charts, Finviz streamlines your decision-making process so you can focus on strategy instead of data gathering. Whether you’re scanning for high-growth tech stocks or undervalued value plays, this platform turns complex market data into actionable insights.

At its core, Finviz empowers you to sort, filter, and visualize stocks using criteria ranging from market capitalization to technical indicators. This means you can uncover hidden gems, track market leaders, and stay ahead of emerging trends without subscribing to multiple data services or juggling clunky spreadsheets.

Finviz Overview

Founded in 2007, Finviz emerged from a desire to democratize advanced market analytics. The platform’s mission is simple: provide professional-grade data and tools at an accessible price point. Over the last decade and a half, Finviz has grown from a niche tool used by a handful of day traders into a widely respected hub serving retail and institutional investors alike.

Key milestones in Finviz’s journey include the introduction of a free, ad-supported version in 2010, followed by the launch of Elite with real-time data and extended features in 2012. Since then, continuous innovations—such as advanced charting, backtesting, and correlation modules—have cemented its reputation as a top-tier solution for discovering, analyzing, and tracking investment opportunities.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Completely ad-free layout in Elite for distraction-free analysis.
• Real-time and extended hours data, including premarket and aftermarket quotes.
• Advanced charts with overlays, indicators, and drawing tools for deep technical analysis.
• Backtesting functionality with 24 years of historical data and 100+ technical indicators.
• Correlation feature to track related or inversely correlated stocks and diversify risk.
• Highly customizable screener with export options and custom filters.
• Instant email and push notifications for price movements, news, ratings, and more.
• Intuitive interface that caters to beginners and pros alike.

Cons:

• Elite plan cost can be steep for casual investors.
• Learning curve for mastering all advanced features.
• Mobile interface lacks some Elite functionalities available on desktop.

Features

Finviz packs an impressive array of features designed to streamline your analysis. Below is an in-depth look at its most powerful capabilities.

Real-Time and Extended Hours Data

Access live quotes for every stock, ETF, and index with zero delays. Extended hours data begins at 4:00AM, keeping you in the loop well before the opening bell.

• Homepage and maps updated in real-time.
• Intraday and historical charts with premarket and aftermarket sessions.
• Stock screener results reflect live order flow.

Advanced Charts and Technical Studies

Dive deep into price action with a full suite of charting tools. Whether you’re analyzing gaps or flag patterns, Finviz charts have you covered.

• Multiple layouts to compare securities side by side.
• 50+ overlays and indicators, from moving averages to Bollinger Bands.
• Drawing tools to mark trendlines, support/resistance, and Fibonacci levels.

Backtests

Validate your trading strategies before risking capital. Backtesting in Finviz uses extensive historical data to simulate performance over time.

• 100+ technical indicators including MACD and RSI.
• 24 years of data for accurate trend analysis.
• Compare results against SPY and other benchmarks.

Correlation Analysis

Understand how securities move in relation to one another. Whether you want to hedge positions or discover new pairing strategies, correlation insights help you manage risk.

• Proprietary algorithm optimized for financial markets.
• Identify strongly correlated or inversely correlated stocks.
• Use correlation matrices to diversify your portfolio effectively.

Advanced Screener

Filter the entire market with laser-focused criteria to discover stocks that match your exact strategy.

• Custom filters for valuation, momentum, technical, and fundamentals.
• Statistics view offers metrics like VRP, short float, and insider transactions.
• Data export to Excel or API for further analysis.

Alerts and Notifications

Stay on top of market-moving events with real-time alerts delivered via email or push notifications.

• Custom triggers for price targets, news events, and screener criteria fits.
• Insider trades, analyst ratings changes, and SEC filings alerts.
• Portfolio tracking to monitor multiple tickers at once.

Finviz Pricing

Finviz offers both a free plan and the Elite subscription. Choose the option that fits your trading frequency and data requirements.

Elite

Price: $39.50/month or $24.96/month billed annually

Ideal for active traders and serious investors who need real-time data, advanced backtesting, and priority support.

• Real-time quotes, charts, and screener data.
• Intraday charts, multi-layout comparisons, and advanced technical studies.
• Backtesting, correlations, and extended hours data.
• Alert notifications for news, price, and portfolio events.
• Export capabilities and custom filters with statistics view.
• No ads for a clean experience.

Free

Price: $0

Great for beginners who want to explore basic market maps, delayed screening, and fundamental charts.

• Delayed quotes, charts, and screener results.
• Limited presets and portfolio capacity.
• Ad-supported layout with standard features.

Finviz Is Best For

Whether you’re trading intraday, swing, or investing long-term, Finviz tailors to multiple audience types.

Day Traders

Need lightning-fast data and flexible charting? With real-time quotes, intraday heat maps, and premarket insights, day traders can seize every scalp and momentum setup.

Swing Traders

With backtests, correlation tools, and advanced screener capabilities, swing traders can refine strategies over multiple timeframes and capitalize on medium-term trends.

Long-Term Investors

Evaluate fundamental charts, insider activity, and valuations to identify undervalued companies poised for growth. Alerts keep you updated on quarterly results and analyst rating changes.

Benefits of Using Finviz

Incorporating Finviz into your trading toolbox unlocks a host of advantages:

• Accelerated Research: Instantly filter thousands of stocks to match your custom criteria, shaving hours off your analysis time.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Rely on accurate, real-time data and historical backtests to build confidence in your entries and exits.
• Improved Risk Management: Correlation matrices and alert notifications help you diversify and protect your portfolio against sudden market shifts.
• Enhanced Technical Analysis: Advanced charts and drawing tools let you visualize patterns and key levels with precision.
• Portfolio Monitoring: Stay on top of every move across multiple tickers with email and push alerts.
• Cost Efficiency: Get professional-grade features at a fraction of the cost of institutional platforms.

Ready to streamline your market analysis? Get Started with Finviz for Free Today and discover the difference.

Customer Support

Finviz offers responsive customer support via email. Elite subscribers enjoy priority response times, ensuring that any issues or questions are addressed promptly within 24 hours. The support team is well-versed in the platform’s features and can guide you through advanced setups like custom filters and backtests.

For general inquiries and feedback, the platform’s help center provides detailed documentation on every feature. While there’s no live chat or phone support, the combination of email assistance and comprehensive tutorials ensures you can always find the answers you need.

External Reviews and Ratings

Traders and investors frequently praise Finviz for its intuitive interface and depth of features. On trading forums, users highlight the screener’s flexibility, calling it an essential tool for uncovering both growth and value opportunities. Many reviewers appreciate the ad-free Elite experience, noting that it feels like a premium platform without enterprise-level pricing.

Some critiques focus on the mobile layout limitations and the occasional lag during high-traffic periods. However, most users agree that the benefits—particularly real-time data and backtesting capabilities—far outweigh these minor drawbacks. The Finviz team continues to roll out optimizations, addressing performance issues and expanding mobile functionality.

Educational Resources and Community

Finviz goes beyond software by nurturing an active community and robust learning resources. The official blog covers market analysis, trading strategies, and platform updates. Regular webinars and video tutorials walk users through advanced charting, screener setups, and backtest configurations.

In addition, several independent trading communities dedicate threads to Finviz tips, sharing custom filter strings and chart templates. Whether you prefer reading articles, watching demo videos, or engaging in forum discussions, there’s no shortage of ways to deepen your understanding and get the most out of the platform.

Conclusion

By now, it should be clear how pivotal stock screening tools are to any trading or investing strategy. Finviz stands out by offering real-time data, advanced backtesting, powerful correlation analysis, and an intuitive interface—all at a price that makes sense for individual traders. With both free and Elite plans, you can start exploring market opportunities immediately and upgrade as your needs grow. Ready to take control of your research and execution? Get Started with Finviz for Free Today.