Portfolio123 vs eSignal
By Jay Rocco, Chief Editor, FullStack Alpha. Updated . Prices checked on each vendor's own site.
Quick answer
Portfolio123 does everything eSignal does plus backtesting plus stock screener. Pick eSignal only if its workflow suits you better.
Key differences
- Cheaper paid plan: Portfolio123 ($25/mo vs $60/mo)
- Free plan: Portfolio123 (Portfolio123 has one, eSignal does not)
- Broader feature set: Portfolio123 (8 vs 4 core capabilities)
- API access: Portfolio123 (Only Portfolio123 has it)
- Backtesting: Portfolio123 (Only Portfolio123 has it)
Pick Portfolio123 if
- You test strategies before risking money
- You scan the market with filters every day
- Factor based stock screening
- Backtesting rule based strategies
Pick eSignal if
- Serious real-time chart users
- Custom EFS scripting
- Futures and multi-asset traders
Side by side
| Feature | Portfolio123 | eSignal |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free, paid from $25/mo | From $60/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Stock screener | Yes | No |
| Charting | Yes | Yes |
| Backtesting | Yes | No |
| Strategy builder | Yes | Yes |
| Broker connection | Yes | Yes |
| Fundamentals | Yes | No |
| Community | Yes | No |
| Global markets | Yes | Yes |
| API access | Yes | No |
Plans
Portfolio123
- Free: Free, 30 days of Screener and Backtest access
- Non-Professional: From $25/mo
- Professional: Custom pricing
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
eSignal
- Classic: $71/mo or $60/mo yearly
- Signature: $241/mo or $183.67/mo yearly
- Elite: $493/mo or $398.58/mo yearly
Questions people ask
What is the main difference between Portfolio123 and eSignal?
Portfolio123 does everything eSignal does plus backtesting plus stock screener. Pick eSignal only if its workflow suits you better.
Which is cheaper, Portfolio123 or eSignal?
Portfolio123 has the cheaper paid plan: $25/mo for Portfolio123 vs $60/mo for eSignal (monthly equivalent, checked Oct 2026).
Do Portfolio123 or eSignal have a free plan?
Only Portfolio123 has a free plan.
Which is better for beginners?
Both target advanced users. Start with whichever has the free plan or trial so you can test before you pay.
Which has better AI features?
Portfolio123 goes deeper on AI with 2 AI features (strategy builder, backtesting).
Can I connect Portfolio123 or eSignal to ChatGPT or Claude?
Neither has an MCP server, but Portfolio123 has an API you can wire up yourself.
Is Portfolio123 or eSignal better for active trading?
Portfolio123 has more of the active-trading toolkit: alerts, scanning, signals and charts.
Should I use both Portfolio123 and eSignal?
It can make sense. They overlap on only 4 core features, so one can fill gaps the other leaves.