ChartMill vs Portfolio123
A detailed comparison to help you choose the right tool in 2026.
ChartMill
Filter-rich stock screener with automated chart pattern recognition across US and European markets
Free plan available
Portfolio123
Quantitative stock screening and portfolio backtesting for systematic investors
Free plan available
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ChartMill | Portfolio123 |
|---|---|---|
| Fundamental screening | ✓ | ✓ |
| Technical screening | ✓ | ✓ |
| Real-time scanning | ✗ | ✗ |
| Custom filters | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visual screener/heat maps | ✗ | ✗ |
| Data export | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alerts | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pre-built screens | ✓ | ✓ |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
ChartMill Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Most screening filters among affordable screeners (238 lab-tested criteria)
- + Covers US, Canadian, and European markets — rare at this price point
- + Proprietary Setup Rating and Trend Indicator are genuinely unique
- + 29 chart patterns and 30 candlestick patterns scanned automatically
- + 260+ pre-built screens covering value, growth, momentum, and swing strategies
- + Credit-based free tier is genuinely usable for casual screening
Cons
- − No real-time data on any plan — 15-minute delay for all users
- − Charting is basic compared to TradingView (85 indicators, no scripting)
- − No mobile app for iOS or Android
- − Cannot save chart annotations
- − No integrated trading functionality
- − Customer support response times are slow
Portfolio123 Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Institutional-grade FactSet data with point-in-time accuracy
- + Deepest fundamental backtesting engine available to retail investors
- + 64 pre-built ranking systems spanning value, growth, quality, and momentum
- + No programming required for quantitative strategies
- + Commission-free live execution via Tradier and Interactive Brokers
Cons
- − Steep learning curve for factor modeling and ranking systems
- − No mobile app — web-only platform
- − Interface is functional but dated compared to modern fintech tools
- − No integrated news feed or social features
- − Charting and technical analysis tools are limited
Our Take
ChartMill: ChartMill is the most filter-rich affordable stock screener available, with over 180 filters, 29 chart patterns, 30 candlestick patterns, and proprietary ratings that no competitor replicates. Its coverage of European markets alongside North American exchanges makes it uniquely valuable for traders who operate across both regions. Charting is its weak spot — pair it with TradingView for deep chart analysis. If you trade patterns and want automated setup detection at a fair price, ChartMill deserves a place in your workflow.
Portfolio123: Portfolio123 is the most powerful quantitative screening and backtesting platform available to retail investors. Its combination of institutional-grade FactSet data, 20-year point-in-time backtesting, multi-factor ranking systems, and commission-free broker integration creates genuine analytical depth that no consumer alternative matches. The learning curve is steep and the interface is dated, but for systematic investors willing to invest the time, no other platform delivers this level of quantitative rigor at $25-83/month.
Pricing Comparison
ChartMill Pricing
ChartMill's pricing structure is notably flexible. The free tier provides 6,000 credits per month — enough for roughly 80 screener runs or 12 analyzer reports — with unused credits rolling over up to a maximum of 60,000. Casual screeners who run a few scans per week may never need to pay. When credits run short, a top-up of 10,000 credits costs 10 dollars. The monthly subscription removes all credit limits at 34.97 dollars per month, while the annual plan brings the effective rate to roughly 25 dollars per month at 299.97 dollars per year — a 29 percent savings. An introductory offer of 13.97 dollars for the first month lowers the barrier further. Compared to Finviz Elite at 39.50 dollars monthly or Trade Ideas at over 150 dollars, ChartMill delivers more screening filters and European coverage at a lower price point. The trade-off is the lack of real-time data, which Finviz Elite provides.
Portfolio123 Pricing
Portfolio123's pricing is straightforward and competitive for the depth of tooling it provides. The free tier includes broker integration with Tradier and Interactive Brokers, fundamental charting, and a consolidated brokerage account view — useful but limited for research. The Screener plan at $25/month unlocks the full financial database, 460-plus screening metrics, and five years of backtesting data. The Pro plan at $83/month adds 20 years of backtesting, multi-factor ranking systems, rolling screens, position sizing, and API access. Annual billing saves 28% on Retail plans and 23% on Pro plans. A 21-day trial at $19 provides full Pro-level access with 10 years of data and no auto-renewal — a low-risk way to evaluate the platform. For context, Stock Rover Premium Plus costs $28/month with shallower backtesting, while Trade Ideas starts at $118/month for a narrower use case.
What Users Say
ChartMill
User sentiment toward ChartMill is positive but quiet — the platform has a smaller public footprint than competitors like Finviz or TradingView. Across blog reviews, it consistently earns ratings between 3.8 and 4.2 out of 5, with praise centered on screening versatility, the proprietary Setup Rating, and the breadth of pre-built screens. On Trustpilot, ChartMill holds a 3.4 score from seven reviews. One reviewer called it "by far the best filter from my experience," comparing it favorably to BarCharts and Finviz. Another described it as "a great research tool for swing traders." The negative feedback clusters around pricing relative to the lack of real-time data and limited API access — one reviewer noted the platform was "technically limited (no Excel API)" for their needs. The small review sample reflects lower brand awareness rather than poor satisfaction, and the absence of any one-star reviews on Trustpilot suggests the platform delivers on its core promise for those who discover it.
Portfolio123
User sentiment is overwhelmingly positive among those who invest the time to learn the platform. On Trustpilot (4.8/5, 50 reviews), 88% of ratings are five stars — an unusually high concentration. Users describe it as "the best quant platform for retail users" and "simply the best product for quantitative stock analysis." Several long-term members report that Portfolio123 "genuinely changed my life as an investor," citing the shift from intuition-based to systematic, data-driven decision-making. Professional reviewers at GreatWorkLife and LiberatedStockTrader both award 4.1/5, praising screening depth and backtesting power while noting the learning curve. The sole recurring negative theme is the steep onboarding — not the platform's capability or value. One Trustpilot reviewer gave a single star citing community dynamics, but this is an extreme outlier against 49 four- and five-star ratings.
Choose ChartMill if...
- → Swing traders and pattern-focused investors who screen US and European stocks
- → ChartMill is built for swing traders and position traders who screen stocks regularly and want a tool that goes beyond basic filtering. If you trade chart patterns — breakouts, pullbacks, consolidation setups — the proprietary Setup Rating alone justifies exploring the platform. Value investors will appreciate the Piotroski scores, ROIC variants, and sector-relative percentile rankings that put companies in context against their industry peers. Growth and momentum traders benefit from the pre-built screens modeled on strategies from William O'Neil, Peter Lynch, and Mark Minervini. European traders gain a meaningful advantage here, as ChartMill covers Euronext, Xetra, and the LSE — markets that Finviz ignores entirely. Casual screeners who run only a few scans per week can use the platform effectively without paying, thanks to the 6,000 monthly credit allowance.
Choose Portfolio123 if...
- → Systematic investors who want quantitative factor-based portfolio construction without coding
- → Portfolio123 is built for self-directed investors who want to take a systematic, data-driven approach to stock selection. If you are interested in building multi-factor ranking systems, screening across hundreds of fundamental and technical metrics, and backtesting strategies against decades of point-in-time data, this platform delivers at a level no consumer alternative matches. Dividend investors and growth-oriented stock pickers benefit especially from the factor library and pre-built screens. Portfolio managers, RIAs, and academic researchers will find institutional-grade FactSet data at a fraction of terminal costs. The platform suits anyone who wants the rigor of quantitative investing without the programming requirements of tools like QuantConnect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between ChartMill and Portfolio123?
ChartMill is best known for: Filter-rich stock screener with automated chart pattern recognition across US and European markets. Portfolio123 focuses on: Quantitative stock screening and portfolio backtesting for systematic investors.
Which is cheaper, ChartMill or Portfolio123?
ChartMill offers a free tier. Portfolio123 also offers a free tier.
Can I use ChartMill and Portfolio123 together?
Yes, many traders use both tools as they serve complementary purposes. ChartMill excels at stock screener with 180+ technical and fundamental filters, while Portfolio123 is strong in 460+ fundamental, technical, and sentiment screening metrics.