There are hundreds of stock screeners online. Most are either too basic (Finviz free version) or want your credit card after 7 days. I tested 10 free options to find the ones that are actually useful for finding investment ideas.
Finviz — Best All-Around Free Screener
Finviz is the default choice for a reason. The free version gives you access to 60+ filters — market cap, P/E ratio, dividend yield, technical patterns, and more. The heatmap view is excellent for spotting sector trends at a glance.
What I use it for: Scanning for stocks with specific P/E and dividend yield combos. The "descriptive" view shows you 15+ data points for every stock in one table.
Limitations: The free version shows data with a 15-minute delay (fine for screening, not for trading). Charts are basic. No advanced financial data like debt ratios or cash flow.
TradingView — Best Charts + Screening
TradingView is primarily a charting platform, but its stock screener is surprisingly powerful. You can filter by 100+ criteria including custom Pine Script indicators. The real advantage is that you can switch from screening to charting without leaving the page.
What I use it for: Scanning for technical setups — stocks near support levels, RSI oversold conditions, or breakout patterns. The community scripts add filters that Finviz doesn't have.
Limitations: The free tier has ads. Advanced filters are locked behind the Pro plan ($15/mo). Data is also delayed.
Yahoo Finance — Best for Quick Research
Yahoo Finance's stock screener isn't as powerful as Finviz or TradingView, but it's the fastest for quick checks. Type a criteria and get results instantly. The integration with Yahoo's financial news and analyst ratings is convenient.
What I use it for: Looking up individual stocks after Finviz finds candidates. The financial statements section (income, balance sheet, cash flow) is the easiest to read among free tools.
Limitations: Limited filter options. The interface hasn't been updated in years. No technical screening.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Finviz | TradingView | Yahoo Finance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Filters | 60+ | 100+ | ~30 |
| Best For | Fundamental screening | Technical screening | Quick lookups |
| Charts | Basic | Excellent | Good |
| Real-time Data | No (free) | No (free) | No (free) |
| Ads | Few | Many (free) | Few |
My Screening Process
I start with Finviz to narrow down candidates:
- Market cap: $2B+ (mid cap or larger)
- P/E ratio: under 25 (avoid overvalued stocks)
- Dividend yield: 2-6% (income focus)
- EPS growth this year: positive
- Debt/Equity: under 1
That usually gives me 20-40 stocks. I open each in Yahoo Finance for a quick read of their financials and recent news. Then I chart the best 5-10 in TradingView to look for good entry points.
Total time: about 30 minutes once a week.
For a complete guide to picking your first stocks, start with Stock Market Basics for Beginners.