The Motley Fool vs Zacks
The Motley Fool and Zacks both sit in Equity & Company Research, and are compared here on the same fields used across the index: Research Authority Score, published price, asset class, format and vintage. Both are classified independently, and neither pays for its position on this page.
Choose The Motley Fool for
- —a higher Research Authority Score (84 against 80)
- —mixed-style publishing rather than analysis
Choose Zacks for
- —analysis-style publishing rather than mixed
- —a longer track record (publishing since 1978)
Data verified 2026-10-04 · independent scoring, no paid rankings
| Field | The Motley Fool | Zacks |
|---|---|---|
| Research Authority | 84/100 | 80/100 |
| Type | Mixed | Analysis |
| Category | Equity & Company Research | Equity & Company Research |
| Asset classes | Equities | Equities |
| Niche | Retail stock recommendations & education | Quantitative earnings estimates & ranks |
| Price | ~$199/yr | ~$249/yr |
| Access | Freemium | Freemium |
| Founded | 1993 | 1978 |
| Region | United States | United States |
| HQ | United States | United States |
Also consider
Desks that overlap with The Motley Fool and Zacks on category, tags or asset class, ranked by Research Authority.
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Quantitative stock screening & ranks
Niche · Quantitative stock screening & ranks
Frequently asked questions
Is The Motley Fool better than Zacks?
They lead on different things. The Motley Fool scores 84/100 on Research Authority and covers Retail stock recommendations & education; Zacks scores 80/100 and covers Quantitative earnings estimates & ranks. The Motley Fool is the stronger pick if you want a higher Research Authority Score (84 against 80), or mixed-style publishing rather than analysis. Zacks is the stronger pick for analysis-style publishing rather than mixed, or a longer track record (publishing since 1978).
Is The Motley Fool cheaper than Zacks?
The Motley Fool lists ~$199/yr (Freemium); Zacks lists ~$249/yr (Freemium). Price is only comparable at the tier level: an entry tier at one desk and an institutional tier at another are not the same product, so check which tier actually gives you the coverage you need.
What is the difference between The Motley Fool and Zacks?
The Motley Fool is classified as Mixed covering Equities, publishing since 1993 from United States. Zacks is classified as Analysis covering Equities, publishing since 1978 from United States. The practical difference is usually format: one publishes analysis and the other publishes actionable positioning, which suit different workflows.
Can I subscribe to both The Motley Fool and Zacks?
Yes, and for desks in the same category it is often rational: overlapping coverage confirms or contradicts a thesis, which is useful when you are sizing a position. The cost test is whether the second subscription changes a decision. If it only repeats the first, the money is better spent on a desk in a category you do not currently read.