FactSet vs S&P Capital IQ Pro
Financial Data & Terminals pricing comparison · 2026 · Updated June 2026
FactSet uses custom pricing, while S&P Capital IQ Pro uses custom pricing.
Sources & confidence
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Plans at a glance
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What users say
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FactSet and S&P Capital IQ Pro are two of the most widely adopted financial data platforms for buy-side and sell-side analysts, competing directly in screening, modeling, and fundamental research. Neither vendor publishes list prices: every FactSet configuration is quoted per user/month, while S&P Capital IQ Pro is quoted per user/year, so budgeting for either platform starts with a sales conversation.
FactSet offers four custom-quoted configurations — FactSet Workstation, FactSet Workstation with Estimates, FactSet Workstation with Analytics, and FactSet Enterprise / API — so firms pay only for the data and analytics they need. S&P Capital IQ Pro keeps the structure simpler with two tiers: Capital IQ Pro for individual professionals and Enterprise for large financial institutions with 10+ users.
Plan-by-Plan Pricing
| Plan | FactSet | S&P Capital IQ Pro |
|---|---|---|
| FactSet Workstation | Custom | Custom |
| FactSet Workstation with Estimates | Custom | Custom |
| FactSet Workstation with Analytics | Custom | — |
| FactSet Enterprise / API | Custom | — |
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S&P Capital IQ Pro
Our Verdict
Choose FactSet if you want a modular workstation that scales with your workflow: FactSet Workstation covers fundamental financial data for analysts and portfolio managers, FactSet Workstation with Estimates adds consensus data for buy-side analysts, FactSet Workstation with Analytics serves equity research teams and hedge funds needing risk and attribution, and FactSet Enterprise / API supports large institutions and quant funds requiring programmatic data access.
Choose S&P Capital IQ Pro if your primary workflow revolves around company screening, comparable analysis, and credit research. The Capital IQ Pro tier fits investment bankers, equity researchers, and corporate finance professionals, while the Enterprise tier adds real-time data, credit analytics, and data feed delivery for institutions with 10+ users. Both platforms are custom-quoted, so negotiate against your actual seat count and data needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is FactSet cheaper than S&P Capital IQ Pro?
FactSet can be cheaper at the entry level, starting at $4,000/year for the Basic Workstation compared to Capital IQ Pro's $12,000/year Essentials tier. However, at higher tiers the pricing converges -- FactSet's Standard plan costs $12,000/year (matching Capital IQ Essentials), and FactSet's Premium tier at $30,000/year exceeds Capital IQ Pro Advanced at $25,000/year. Total cost depends heavily on which data modules you need.
02 Which is better for investment banking and M&A analysis?
S&P Capital IQ Pro is generally preferred for investment banking workflows due to its superior company screening, deal comps databases, and seamless integration with S&P's proprietary credit ratings and financial data. FactSet is stronger for buy-side portfolio management and quantitative research, though its merger and acquisition datasets have improved significantly in recent years.
03 Can FactSet replace S&P Capital IQ Pro?
In many scenarios, yes. FactSet covers fundamental data, screening, charting, and Excel modeling that overlap with Capital IQ Pro's core functionality. However, S&P Capital IQ Pro has unique advantages in proprietary S&P credit ratings, Capital IQ's company hierarchy mapping, and its deep private company database. Teams that rely heavily on these S&P-exclusive datasets may find FactSet insufficient as a standalone replacement.