Wall Street analysts make thousands of predictions every year. How many of them are actually right?
That’s the question TipRanks set out to answer when it launched in 2012. The platform now tracks over 96,000 financial experts—analysts, bloggers, hedge fund managers, corporate insiders—and ranks them by their actual performance. Not their credentials. Not their employer’s prestige. Their real, measurable track record.
If you’ve ever followed an analyst recommendation only to watch it tank, TipRanks offers something rare: accountability. But is the Premium subscription worth $99/year when so much financial data is free? Let’s find out.
Quick Verdict: Is TipRanks Premium Worth It?
Yes, TipRanks Premium is worth it for investors who want to verify which analysts are actually accurate before following their recommendations. At $99/year (67% off the regular $299 price), you get access to performance-ranked data on 8,000+ Wall Street analysts and 96,000+ total financial experts.
| Rating | 4.4/5 |
|---|---|
| Verdict | Very Good |
| Best For | Investors who want to know which experts to trust |
| Price | $99/year (promo) / $299/year (regular) |
| Guarantee | 30-day money-back |
The catch: TipRanks is a research tool, not a stock-picking service. It won’t tell you what to buy. It helps you evaluate who to trust—then you make your own decisions. If you want someone to hand you picks, look elsewhere. If you want to stop blindly following analysts and start verifying their track records, this is the platform.
What Makes TipRanks Different
Most financial platforms give you analyst ratings. TipRanks tells you whether those analysts have been right.
The core insight is simple but powerful: Wall Street analysts make public predictions constantly, but almost no one tracks whether those predictions pan out. TipRanks does. Every rating, every price target, every recommendation—tracked and measured against actual stock performance.
This creates a performance database that didn’t exist before TipRanks built it. You can see which analysts have the best success rates, which hedge funds are actually beating the market, and which corporate insiders have track records worth following.
The platform tracks three key groups:
Wall Street Analysts: Over 8,000 analysts ranked by success rate and average return. You can filter by sector, see their recent calls, and verify whether their track record justifies your attention.
Hedge Fund Managers: Real-time tracking of 13F filings showing what the smart money is actually buying and selling—not what they’re saying on TV.
Corporate Insiders: When executives buy or sell their own company’s stock, TipRanks tracks it. More importantly, it tracks whether those insiders have historically been right.
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The Smart Score System
TipRanks’ proprietary Smart Score rates stocks from 1-10 based on eight key factors:
- Analyst recommendations
- Blogger sentiment
- Hedge fund activity
- Corporate insider trading
- News sentiment
- Technical analysis (SMA)
- Investor sentiment
- Fundamental analysis
The algorithm weighs these factors to produce a single score. Stocks scoring 8-10 are considered “Outperform” candidates; 4-7 are “Neutral”; 1-3 are “Underperform.”
Important caveat: Smart Score performance is based on backtested results. TipRanks is transparent about this: “Backtested performance is not an indicator of future actual results.” This isn’t a crystal ball—it’s a data aggregation tool that’s shown historical correlation with performance.
The value isn’t in blindly following high Smart Scores. It’s in having a systematic way to aggregate multiple data points that would take hours to compile manually.
What You Get With TipRanks Premium
The free tier gives you basic stock data and limited features. Premium ($99/year) unlocks the full platform:
Analyst Rankings & Coverage Access performance-ranked data on 8,000+ Wall Street analysts. See success rates, average returns, and recent track records before deciding whether to follow any recommendation.
Expert Credibility Rankings Beyond analysts—rankings for financial bloggers, hedge fund managers, and corporate insiders based on their actual performance.
Advanced Stock Screener Filter by Smart Score, analyst ratings, insider activity, technical indicators, and more. Build watchlists based on multiple criteria.
Portfolio Management Tools The Smart Portfolio feature tracks your holdings against analyst ratings and insider activity. Get alerts when experts change their stance on stocks you own.
Market Calendars Earnings, dividends, IPOs, stock splits, buybacks, FDA decisions—all in one place with filtering options.
Comparison Tools Side-by-side stock analysis with all relevant data points. Useful for deciding between similar opportunities.
Multi-Asset Coverage Beyond stocks: ETF screener covering 3,000+ funds, plus crypto, options, and commodities data.
Get TipRanks Premium — $99/Year
Institutional Credibility
Here’s what convinced me TipRanks isn’t just another fintech startup making bold claims: major financial institutions use their data.
TipRanks data is integrated into:
- Nasdaq — TipRanks ratings appear on Nasdaq.com stock pages
- Schwab/TD Ameritrade — Integration with thinkorswim platform
- E*TRADE — TipRanks data in research tools
- Interactive Brokers — Available through IBKR platform
These institutions have compliance departments, due diligence processes, and reputations to protect. They wouldn’t integrate unreliable data into their platforms. This doesn’t guarantee TipRanks’ methodology is perfect, but it’s meaningful validation.
If you already use one of these brokerages, you may have seen TipRanks data without realizing it. The Premium subscription gives you the full, unfiltered version with advanced features.
Pricing and Value
| Tier | Price | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Basic stock data, limited features |
| Premium | $99/year | Full access to screeners, portfolio tools, expert rankings |
| Ultimate | $299/year | All Premium features + advanced analytics |
The Math:
At $99/year, TipRanks Premium costs $8.25/month—less than a single Netflix subscription. For comparison:
- Seeking Alpha Premium: $299/year
- Zacks Premium: $249/year
- MarketBeat: Free (ad-supported) to $197/year
TipRanks sits at the affordable end of the research tool spectrum while offering unique value (expert performance tracking) that competitors don’t match.
Breakeven calculation: If TipRanks helps you avoid one bad analyst recommendation that would have cost you $100+, the subscription pays for itself. Given the platform tracks 96,000+ experts and shows you which ones to avoid, that’s a low bar.
The guarantee: 30-day money-back, no questions asked. Try the full platform for a month; if it doesn’t fit your process, cancel for a full refund.
Start TipRanks Premium — 30-Day Guarantee
The Trade-Offs
What TipRanks Does Well
- Comprehensive expert tracking — 96,000+ experts ranked by actual results, not reputation
- Transparent methodology — Shows historical track records, not just current recommendations
- Institutional credibility — Used by Nasdaq, Schwab/TD Ameritrade, E*TRADE, Interactive Brokers
- Affordable pricing — $99/year with 30-day guarantee
- Robust free tier — Meaningful features available without paying
- Multi-asset coverage — Stocks, ETFs, crypto, options, commodities
- Real-time updates — Data refreshed throughout trading day
What TipRanks Doesn’t Do
- No stock picks — This is a research tool, not an advisory service. You get data, not “buy this now” recommendations.
- Proprietary algorithm — Smart Score methodology isn’t fully disclosed. It’s a black box you’re trusting based on backtested results.
- Backtested performance — Historical correlation doesn’t guarantee future results. TipRanks is transparent about this, but some users expect more.
- Premium features behind paywall — The best tools require the paid subscription. Free tier has meaningful limitations.
- Auto-renewal at full price — The $99 promotional rate is for the first year. Renewal is $299 unless you find another promotion.
Who TipRanks Is For
Subscribe if you:
- Research stocks before buying and want to verify analyst credibility
- Follow Wall Street analysts but want to know which ones are actually accurate
- Track insider buying/selling as part of your investment process
- Want institutional-grade data without institutional-grade pricing
- Prefer data-driven decisions over gut feelings
- Already use Schwab/TD Ameritrade, E*TRADE, or Interactive Brokers and want deeper data
The ideal user is someone who does their own research but wants better information. You’re not looking for someone to tell you what to buy—you want to verify whether the experts you’re considering have track records worth following.
Who TipRanks Is NOT For
Don’t subscribe if:
-
You want stock picks. TipRanks provides data, not recommendations. If you want someone to tell you exactly what to buy, try Motley Fool Stock Advisor or Alpha Picks instead.
-
You’re a passive index investor. If you buy total market index funds and ignore individual stocks, you don’t need research tools. Keep doing what you’re doing.
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You expect guaranteed returns. TipRanks shows you which experts have been accurate historically. That’s not a guarantee they’ll be accurate tomorrow. If you want certainty, the stock market isn’t for you.
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You’re a complete beginner. TipRanks assumes you know what analyst ratings, insider trading, and hedge fund filings mean. If these concepts are foreign, start with educational resources first.
Best Alternatives to TipRanks
If TipRanks doesn’t fit your needs, consider these alternatives:
Seeking Alpha Premium — $299/year Best for: Investors who want crowd-sourced analysis from thousands of contributors. Seeking Alpha offers Quant ratings and contributor rankings, but doesn’t track expert performance as comprehensively as TipRanks. More expensive, different focus.
Morningstar Investor — $249/year Best for: Fundamental analysis and fair value estimates. Morningstar’s strength is deep company research and their proprietary moat ratings. Less focus on analyst performance tracking.
MarketBeat — Free to $197/year Best for: Basic analyst ratings and dividend tracking. Free tier is robust. Doesn’t offer TipRanks’ depth of expert performance tracking.
Zacks Premium — $249/year Best for: The Zacks Rank system and earnings estimate revisions. Strong quantitative approach, but different methodology than TipRanks’ expert accountability focus.
For stock picks instead of research tools:
- Motley Fool Stock Advisor — $199/year, specific buy recommendations
- Alpha Picks — $99/year, value-focused picks
Final Verdict
TipRanks Premium solves a specific problem: holding financial experts accountable for their predictions.
In a market where analysts make thousands of recommendations annually—and face zero consequences when they’re wrong—TipRanks built the accountability layer that didn’t exist. You can finally see which experts have earned your attention and which ones you should ignore.
At $99/year with a 30-day money-back guarantee, the risk is minimal. If you research individual stocks and follow analyst recommendations, TipRanks gives you information you can’t easily get elsewhere: whether those analysts have actually been right.
The platform won’t make decisions for you. It won’t tell you what to buy. But it will help you stop following experts who don’t deserve your trust—and that’s worth far more than $99.
Not sure TipRanks is the right fit? Compare it with other research tools in our guide to the best stock research websites.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is TipRanks Premium worth the money?
Yes, for investors who research individual stocks and want to verify analyst credibility. At $99/year (67% off the regular $299 price), TipRanks Premium gives you performance-ranked data on 96,000+ financial experts. If it helps you avoid one bad recommendation or identify one accurate analyst, the subscription pays for itself. The 30-day money-back guarantee makes it low-risk to try.
What are the best alternatives to TipRanks?
The best alternatives depend on what you need. Seeking Alpha Premium ($299/year) offers crowd-sourced analysis and Quant ratings. Morningstar Investor ($249/year) provides deep fundamental research and fair value estimates. MarketBeat (free to $197/year) covers basic analyst ratings. For actual stock picks instead of research tools, consider Motley Fool Stock Advisor ($199/year) or Alpha Picks ($99/year).
TipRanks vs Seeking Alpha: Which is better?
TipRanks and Seeking Alpha serve different purposes. TipRanks focuses on tracking expert performance—showing you which analysts, bloggers, and hedge funds have actually been accurate. Seeking Alpha Premium provides crowd-sourced analysis from thousands of contributors with their own rating system. TipRanks is better for verifying expert credibility; Seeking Alpha is better for reading diverse analysis perspectives. TipRanks Premium ($99/year) is also cheaper than Seeking Alpha Premium ($299/year). See our TipRanks vs Seeking Alpha comparison for the full breakdown.
How do I cancel TipRanks?
To cancel TipRanks, log into your account, go to Account Settings, and select Subscription. You can cancel your subscription there. TipRanks offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on yearly plans, so if you cancel within 30 days of subscribing, you’ll receive a full refund. After 30 days, you can still cancel to prevent future billing, but won’t receive a refund for the current term.
Does TipRanks actually work?
TipRanks works as a research tool that tracks expert performance—it does what it claims. The platform accurately tracks analyst recommendations, insider trades, and hedge fund activity, then ranks experts by their historical accuracy. However, TipRanks doesn’t guarantee investment returns. Their Smart Score is based on backtested results, which don’t guarantee future performance. The platform is trusted by major institutions (Nasdaq, TD Ameritrade, E*TRADE, Interactive Brokers), which validates its data quality.
Is TipRanks free?
TipRanks offers a free tier with basic stock data and limited features. However, advanced features like full analyst rankings, the complete Smart Score system, portfolio tools, and premium screeners require a paid subscription. TipRanks Premium costs $99/year (promotional price) or $299/year (regular price). The free tier is useful for casual research, but serious investors will likely want Premium access.
How accurate is TipRanks Smart Score?
TipRanks Smart Score has demonstrated historical correlation with stock performance in backtested results. Stocks rated 8-10 (“Outperform”) have historically beaten stocks rated 1-3 (“Underperform”) by a meaningful margin. The score aggregates eight factors including analyst recommendations, hedge fund activity, insider trading, and technical indicators. However, backtested performance does not guarantee future results—TipRanks is transparent about this limitation. The Smart Score works best as one input in your research process rather than a standalone buy/sell signal. Institutional adoption by Nasdaq, TD Ameritrade, and E*TRADE suggests the methodology has passed institutional due diligence standards.
What is the difference between TipRanks Premium and Ultimate?
TipRanks Premium ($99/year promotional, $299/year regular) provides full access to expert rankings, portfolio tools, stock screeners, and the Smart Score system covering 96,000+ financial experts. TipRanks Ultimate ($299/year) includes everything in Premium plus advanced analytics features such as AI-powered insights, enhanced portfolio analysis, and priority customer support. For most individual investors, Premium offers sufficient functionality—Ultimate is better suited for power users who want maximum data depth and the latest AI-enhanced features. Both tiers include the core value proposition: performance-ranked data showing which analysts have actually been accurate.
Can I use TipRanks data with my brokerage?
Yes, TipRanks data integrates directly with several major brokerages. TD Ameritrade users can access TipRanks data through the thinkorswim platform. E*TRADE incorporates TipRanks ratings into their research tools. Interactive Brokers offers TipRanks data through the IBKR platform. Nasdaq.com displays TipRanks analyst ratings on individual stock pages. If you use one of these platforms, you may already have partial access to TipRanks data—a TipRanks Premium subscription gives you the full, unfiltered version with advanced features like complete analyst rankings, portfolio tracking, and comprehensive screeners that aren’t available through brokerage integrations.