MarketXLS vs Refinitiv Eikon (LSEG Workspace) for Excel Users
Last updated: September 28, 2026
MarketXLS and Refinitiv Eikon, now LSEG Workspace, both bring market data into Excel. MarketXLS is an Excel and Google Sheets add-in for stocks, ETFs, options, and fundamentals, with published plans from $850 to $2,400 per year. LSEG Workspace is an institutional multi-asset platform with Reuters news, FX and fixed income data, ESG data, and an Excel add-in, sold by quote.
Choose LSEG Workspace if you need global multi-asset data, Reuters news, FX and rates depth, or ESG datasets. Choose MarketXLS if you mainly pull equity and options data into Excel and want a published, self-service plan.
Which one should you choose?
Choose LSEG Workspace (Refinitiv Eikon) if:
- Global multi-asset data: You cover FX, rates, fixed income, and commodities across many countries.
- Reuters news: You rely on Reuters news inside your research platform.
- ESG data: ESG scores and sustainability data are central to your process.
- Long econometric history: You use Datastream time series for research.
Choose MarketXLS if:
- Equities and options in Excel: Your work is mostly stocks, ETFs, funds, and options pulled into spreadsheets.
- Options focus: You need option chains, Greeks, and an options profit calculator in Excel.
- Published pricing: You want to see the price and buy without an enterprise sales process.
- Mac or Google Sheets: You work in Excel on Mac, Excel for the web, or Google Sheets.
MarketXLS vs Refinitiv Eikon (LSEG Workspace) at a glance
This table compares what each product offers an Excel user. LSEG details are general descriptions; confirm specifics and pricing with LSEG.
| Feature | MarketXLS | Refinitiv Eikon (LSEG Workspace) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Published plans: Standard $850/year, Advanced $1,500/year, Business $2,400/year billed annually Quarterly billing also available. Cancel anytime. | Quote-based subscription Contact LSEG for pricing |
| Main interface | Excel add-in and Google Sheets add-on No separate terminal or web app needed | LSEG Workspace desktop and web With an Excel add-in |
| Excel access | Excel add-in with 1,000+ functions Windows desktop add-in, plus a Microsoft 365 add-in for Excel on Mac and the web (formulas use the mxls. prefix) | LSEG Excel add-in Including Datastream access |
| Real-time stock data | US stocks: 15-minute delayed on Standard, real-time streaming on Advanced and Business Quotes from QuoteMedia | Real-time multi-asset data Depends on the package |
| Options data | Option chains, Greeks, historical option chains, options profit calculator End-of-day on Standard, real-time streaming on Advanced and Business | Options data and analytics |
| Market coverage | US, Canadian, UK, German, and Australian markets ASX live data needs an additional Barchart subscription | Global multi-asset coverage |
| FX and fixed income | Forex quotes; bonds are not a focus Forex real-time on the Business plan | Core strength FX, rates, and fixed income data |
| News | Not a news terminal | Reuters news |
| ESG data | Not a focus | ESG scores and datasets |
| Google Sheets | Google Sheets add-on Same pricing as MarketXLS for Excel | Not covered on this page; check with the vendor |
| Setup | Self-service install of the add-in Book a demo at /book-demo if you want a walkthrough | Enterprise deployment through LSEG |
| Support | Email support@marketxls.com or call 1-877-778-8358 (US toll-free) | LSEG account and support teams |
What MarketXLS costs
MarketXLS publishes three US plans. Compare them with the quote LSEG gives you for the same users and data.
| MarketXLS plan | Billed annually | Billed quarterly | US stocks and ETFs | Options |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $850/year ($70/month) | $255/quarter ($85/month) | 15-minute delayed | End-of-day |
| Advanced | $1,500/year ($125/month) | $450/quarter ($150/month) | Real-time streaming | Real-time streaming |
| Business | $2,400/year ($200/month) | $720/quarter ($240/month) | Real-time streaming | Real-time streaming |
Prices are for non-professional users and include data and exchange fees; taxes may apply. Professional users have different entitlements and exchange fees. Forex is 15-minute delayed on Standard and Advanced and real-time on Business.
Where LSEG Workspace (Refinitiv Eikon) is stronger
- Global multi-asset coverage: Equities, fixed income, FX, commodities, and derivatives across global markets.
- Reuters news: Reuters news content inside the platform.
- ESG data: ESG scores and sustainability datasets.
- Datastream: Long financial and economic time series for research.
- FX and fixed income analytics: Rates, currencies, and credit data.
If these capabilities drive your work, LSEG Workspace is the better fit.
Where MarketXLS is stronger
- Published pricing: Plans are listed on the MarketXLS pricing page, from $850 to $2,400 per year billed annually, with quarterly billing and cancel-anytime subscriptions.
- Formulas in your own workbook: Functions such as =Last("AAPL"), =QM_GetHistory("AAPL"), and =hf_revenue("AAPL", 2024) return data straight into cells, and VBA can call MarketXLS functions.
- Options in Excel: =QM_GetOptionChain("AAPL") returns an option chain, streaming functions return live Greeks on the Advanced and Business plans, and the options profit calculator models strategy payoffs.
- Excel on Windows, Mac, and the web, plus Google Sheets: The Windows desktop add-in, the Microsoft 365 add-in (Mac and Excel for the web), and a Google Sheets add-on share one function library.
- Floating license: One license can be used on any machine, one machine at a time.
Moving Excel workbooks from Refinitiv (LSEG) to MarketXLS
Refinitiv (LSEG) formulas do not run in MarketXLS, so workbooks are rebuilt with MarketXLS functions rather than imported. LSEG Excel formulas are specific to the LSEG add-in.
Map each data point to its MarketXLS function in the formula library at /formulas: =Last("AAPL") for the last price, =QM_GetHistory("AAPL") for price history, hf_ functions such as =hf_revenue("AAPL", 2024) for statement data, and =QM_GetOptionChain("AAPL") for option chains. To walk through your own workbook, book a demo at /book-demo or email support@marketxls.com.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
For users focused on US stocks, ETFs, funds, and options in Excel, MarketXLS covers that work with 1,000+ Excel functions and option chains. It does not replace LSEG Workspace (Refinitiv Eikon) for global multi-asset data, Reuters news, ESG datasets, or Datastream history.
Both offer an Excel add-in. LSEG uses its own formulas and Datastream access. MarketXLS uses formulas such as =Last("AAPL") and =QM_GetOptionChain("AAPL") in the Windows desktop add-in, the Microsoft 365 add-in (Mac and web, with the mxls. prefix), and a Google Sheets add-on.
MarketXLS publishes its prices: Standard $850/year, Advanced $1,500/year, and Business $2,400/year billed annually, or $255, $450, and $720 per quarter. LSEG Workspace is sold by quote, so compare these prices with your LSEG quote.
ESG data is not a MarketXLS focus. MarketXLS centers on prices, fundamentals, options, and screening. If ESG scores are central to your work, LSEG Workspace is the better fit.
LSEG Workspace (Refinitiv Eikon) is stronger for global multi-asset coverage, Reuters news, ESG data, Datastream history, and FX and fixed income analytics.
I invite you to book a demo with me or my team to save time, enhance your investment research, and streamline your workflows.