MarketXLS vs S&P Capital IQ for Excel Users
Last updated: September 28, 2026
MarketXLS and S&P Capital IQ both feed Excel models, but for different jobs. MarketXLS is an Excel and Google Sheets add-in for stock quotes, options, and fundamentals, with published plans from $850 to $2,400 per year. S&P Capital IQ is an institutional research platform with a web portal, an Excel plug-in, private company and M&A transaction data, and S&P credit ratings, sold by quote.
Choose S&P Capital IQ if you need private company data, M&A deal comps, credit ratings, or governance data for banking and corporate finance work. Choose MarketXLS if you need live stock and options data in Excel at a published price.
Which one should you choose?
Choose S&P Capital IQ if:
- Private companies: You research private companies and their financials or ownership.
- M&A and deal comps: You screen transactions and build deal comparables.
- Credit ratings: You need S&P Global Ratings data and credit research.
- Governance data: You need executive compensation and board data.
Choose MarketXLS if:
- Live stock and options data in Excel: You want real-time streaming US stock and options data in cells (Advanced and Business plans).
- Options focus: You need option chains, Greeks, and an options profit calculator.
- 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 S&P Capital IQ at a glance
This table compares what each product offers an Excel user. Capital IQ details are general descriptions; confirm specifics and pricing with S&P Global.
| Feature | MarketXLS | S&P Capital IQ |
|---|---|---|
| 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 S&P Global for pricing |
| Main interface | Excel add-in and Google Sheets add-on No separate terminal or web app needed | Web portal With an Excel plug-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) | Capital IQ Excel plug-in Built for pulling data into financial models |
| Real-time stock data | US stocks: 15-minute delayed on Standard, real-time streaming on Advanced and Business Quotes from QuoteMedia | Market data available Confirm real-time terms with S&P Global |
| Options data | Option chains, Greeks, historical option chains, options profit calculator End-of-day on Standard, real-time streaming on Advanced and Business | Not a primary focus |
| Market coverage | US, Canadian, UK, German, and Australian markets ASX live data needs an additional Barchart subscription | Global public and private company coverage |
| Private company data | Not available | Core strength |
| M&A transaction data | Not available | Core strength Deal comps and transaction screening |
| Credit ratings | Not available | S&P Global Ratings integration |
| 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 onboarding through S&P Global |
| Support | Email support@marketxls.com or call 1-877-778-8358 (US toll-free) | S&P Global account and support teams |
What MarketXLS costs
MarketXLS publishes three US plans. Compare them with the quote S&P Global gives you for the same users.
| 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 S&P Capital IQ is stronger
- Private company database: Financials, executives, and ownership data for private companies.
- M&A and capital markets data: Deal comps and transaction screening for banking workflows.
- S&P credit ratings: Integrated S&P Global Ratings data and credit research.
- Governance data: Executive compensation and board information.
- Industry-specific data: Sector datasets for areas such as banking, energy, insurance, and real estate.
If these capabilities drive your work, S&P Capital IQ 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 Capital IQ to MarketXLS
Capital IQ formulas do not run in MarketXLS, so workbooks are rebuilt with MarketXLS functions rather than imported. Capital IQ plug-in formulas are specific to S&P Global.
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 who mainly analyze US stocks, ETFs, and options in Excel, MarketXLS covers that work with 1,000+ Excel functions, option chains, and an AI stock screener. It does not replace Capital IQ for private company data, M&A transaction data, S&P credit ratings, or governance data.
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. Capital IQ is sold by quote, so compare these prices with your S&P Global quote.
Both have Excel add-ins. The Capital IQ plug-in is built for pulling company data into financial models. MarketXLS functions such as =Last("AAPL") return a value in a cell, streaming functions update prices automatically on the Advanced and Business plans, and =QM_GetOptionChain("AAPL") returns option chains.
No. Install the Windows desktop add-in, or the Microsoft 365 add-in for Excel on Mac and the web, and sign in or enter your license key. MarketXLS also runs in Google Sheets.
Capital IQ is stronger for private company data, M&A and capital markets transactions, S&P credit ratings, executive and governance data, and industry-specific datasets.
Book a demo with our team to explore the features and workflows relevant to your research.