Stock picking services are typically paid subscriptions or membership programs that give you stock research and, most importantly, recommendations. The best stock picking services are ones that balance cost with reliable analysis and other valuable features. They’re services you can trust and likely have a proven track record of providing good recommendations.
Finder’s investment experts analyzed at least 20 stock picking services to find the best for traders and investors of different experience levels. Here are the five best stock picking services of 2024, according to Finder’s analysis.
Our picks for stock picking services and research tools
Alpha Picks is a straightforward stock picking service from the reputable Seeking Alpha that delivers two new stock recommendations each month, exclusive webinars and sell alerts if ratings change. Customer reviews are fairly positive, though its yearly price is on the high end.
Reviews
Customers have mixed experiences. A few mention underwhelming returns and, as a result, are considering trying a different service.
Investing philosophy
Seeking Alpha’s Alpha Picks employs a buy-and-hold investing approach designed to beat the market. Capital appreciation across multiple sectors is its main focus.
Cost
$449 for the first year, then $499 each year thereafter
The Motley Fool focuses specifically on the business fundamentals of the companies it invests in rather than daily stock highs and lows. This allows them to make recommendations with long-term investors in mind. Between its flagship Stock Advisor service, which delivers two stock picks each month among other features, to its growth-oriented Rule Breakers, The Motley Fool remains a popular choice for buy-and-hold investors looking for expert recommendations.
Reviews
On Reddit, there are mixed reviews by customers. One one hand customers praise Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor service for outperforming the S&P for numerous years, but others argue these picks have underperformed.
Investing philosophy
Buy at least 25 Fool-recommended stocks and hold for at least five years to target long-term returns.
Cost
$89 for the first year, then $199 each year thereafter
Free trial and/or guarantee
30-day money-back guarantee on its 1-year membership
Moby inspires beginner investors by simplifying stock analysis and providing engaging visual lessons and courses to build confidence in investing. Its research and insights are designed to be straightforward, enjoyable to read and available in video and audio formats. The platform offers a diverse range of resources, including stock picks, courses, morning newsletters and video and audio reports, all accessible through a user-friendly mobile app.
Reviews
Reviews are mixed. Some users praise the app for providing valuable stock analysis and investment recommendations, especially for beginners, as well as its user-friendly interface, educational materials and regular stock picks. However, some users have criticized the service, claiming the recommendations led to financial losses.
Investing philosophy
Provide accessible and easy-to-understand investment research and education for beginners.
Cost
$99.96 for an annual subscription for new members or $29.95 monthly
Free trial and/or guarantee
7-day trial and 30-day money-back guarantee
Best for swing trading: Mindful Trader
Why we chose it
Mindful Trader is a stock and option picking service that focuses solely on swing trades. Picks are posted in real time and are easy to follow, with positions meant to last about a week. The Mindful Trader is also pleasantly transparent with its approach and performance, which is reassuring in a stock picking service.
Reviews
Some users on Reddit have outlined how the service works, explaining that it provides trade alerts and lists entry and exit points. Others portray skepticism about the service’s trade recommendations and complain about the lack of a chat room for communicating with other members.
Investing philosophy
Stock and option swing trades that typically last a week.
Cost
$47 per month with 1-3 stock picks per day
Free trial and/or guarantee
No free trial
Best free stock picking service: AltIndex
AltIndex
Why we chose it
Users can experience AltIndex’s platform, including its AI stock picking capabilities, at no cost. This makes it an attractive, budget-friendly option for those interested in exploring AI-based stock picking software.
Reviews
Since AltIndex is a relatively new platform, there isn’t much customer feedback at this time.
Investing philosophy
AltIndex utilizes advanced alternative data analytics and AI-driven insights to provide unique stock picks with an investment outlook of at least six months.
Cost
AltIndex Free comes at no cost. AltIndex Starter is $29 per month or $199 if you pay annually. Meanwhile, AltIndex Pro, which provides access to even more features, including additional stock picks, stock alerts and the ability to download data via the API, is available for $99 per month.
Free trial and/or guarantee
7-day free trial of AltIndex Starter for the month of March
Methodology: How we choose the best stock picking services
Finder’s investing experts review at least 20 stock picking services on the market to narrow down the best for beginner-to-intermediate investors. We analyze such factors as features, past performance, pricing and any free trial or money-back guarantee. We don’t include services that only provide access to investment research — the service must make stock pick recommendations.
We update our best picks as products change, disappear or emerge in the market. We also regularly review and revise our selections to ensure our list reflects the most competitive available.
Honorable mentions
While these platforms do not engage in actual stock picking, they provide valuable analysis and research to assist in potential investment selection.
Zacks
Zacks offers tools such as a stock screener and a stock ranking system known as the Zacks Rank, which classifies securities into five groups from Strong Buy to Strong Sell. The platform provides a free version as well as paid versions, namely Zacks Premium and Zacks Ultimate. Zacks Premium is $249 per year, while Zacks Ultimate is $2,995 per year, offering investors additional features and research tools.
Morningstar
Morningstar provides tools to help investors with stock selection, including email alerts, research and analysis. The platform offers free access to these tools, along with a paid subscription service called Morningstar Investor. The paid version, priced at $199 for the digital version and $219 for the print version, grants users access to analyst research, watchlists, bonus reports and email alerts.
WallStreetZen
WallStreetZen provides email alerts, research and analysis to help with stock selection. The platform caters to part-time investors, offering intuitive data visualizations and automated stock analysis. While a free plan with limited features is available, WallStreetZen also offers a Premium plan, which includes access to additional tools such as the Zen Score, a powerful stock screener, and in-depth research reports, all available for a 14-day trial at just $1 then $19.50 per month.
What is a stock picking service?
A stock picking service provides stock recommendations of potentially high-performing stocks based on insight from analysts or unique algorithms. These services are designed to anticipate which stocks will beat the average market return, giving you stock ideas or stock picks to consider to save you from having to do a ton of research yourself.
Stock picking services are not:
Stock screeners. Screeners help you filter your results based on specific criteria but don’t provide recommendations for which stocks to pick.
Stock scanners. Scanners are research tools used to consolidate and streamline stock-related data and alerts in real time.
Stock brokers. Brokers are the service providers you use to buy and sell stocks online — for example, Charles Schwab, SoFi Invest and tastytrade.
What to look for in a stock picking service
Consider the following when selecting a stock picking service:
Aligns with your strategy. Some stock picking services are targeted toward day traders or penny stock holders while others are for long-term investors. Pick the service that best fits your needs and investment goals.
Strong track record. Make sure the service you pick has solid reviews and a good eye for picking stocks that beat the market. The longer the track record, the better, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t write off newcomer services altogether.
Transparent and honest. Pick a service that’s honest about its wins and losses. Avoid signing up without testing the service with a free trial period, and look for money-back guarantees so you can cancel if you’re not satisfied with your results.
Affordable. Some stock picking services are free, but most cost money — ranging between $10 and several thousand dollars per year. Mix and match a paid service with a free service to get the best repertoire of stock picks without spending a fortune.
Educational content and research. Stock picking services that provide educational content and research help people learn and grow as investors as well as feel more confident in their decisions.
Benefits and drawbacks of a stock picking service
Picking your own stocks versus using a stock picking service can usually mean a trade-off between having a larger dependency on your own analysis with a larger time commitment or a preference for expert external research.
Benefits
Good for beginners who want to invest in individual stocks but don’t know where to start
Saves time if you have a busy schedule
Offers opportunities for diversification
Drawbacks
Potential for bias if stock picking service has a conflict of interest
Lack of control since you’re not doing the analysis
Most have an annual fee and can be expensive
Compare stock picking services and research tools
Compare stock picking services and research tools by cost and available free trials. Select Go to site to sign up or More Info to read our comprehensive review of that product.
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Bottom line
By offering expert analysis and recommendations, stock picking services can help cut down on time and effort when buying stocks online. But after you choose the best stock picking service, you’ll still need to choose a broker. Compare the best stock trading apps to find the broker that’s right for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a stock picking service for day trading?
Many day trading services focus on providing real-time alerts and trading signals rather than individual stock picks. Trading signals are notifications about market changes, potential trading and recommended actions you can take. These services often cater to the fast-paced nature of day trading, offering timely information to help traders make quick decisions.
What is the best app for stock picks?
The best app for stock picks can vary depending on individual preferences and investment goals. Some popular apps and platforms for stock picks include Seeking Alpha Alpha Picks and The Motley Fool, each offering unique features such as expert stock recommendations and research tools.
Dhara Singh is a freelance personal finance writer at Finder specializing in loans. Formerly she was a top 10 journalist at Yahoo Finance with more than 38+ million content views where she covered retirement and mortgages. She has also written for Bankrate, and CNET and continues to write for a variety of outlets, such as Investopedia and Worth magazine. Her articles focus on equipping readers with the right information and data so they can make the most informed decisions related to their finances.
Dhara previously worked as an insights analyst for Finder’s PR team, where she started the Deadliest Cities to Drive series in 2018, connecting interesting data analysis to a suite of car insurance products. When she’s not writing, Dhara coaches small business owners through her Stories to Sales programs and empowers them to use their life experiences to help other people. She has also self-published a poetry book on Amazon called Tell her She’s Lovely.
Dhara holds a B.S. in Finance and Supply Chain Management from Rutgers University and a M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University.
If you’re new to investing, you need to read this.
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finder.com is an independent comparison platform and information service that aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions. While we are independent, the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which finder.com receives compensation. We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn't influence our assessment of those products. Please don't interpret the order in which products appear on our Site as any endorsement or recommendation from us. finder.com compares a wide range of products, providers and services but we don't provide information on all available products, providers or services. Please appreciate that there may be other options available to you than the products, providers or services covered by our service.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
