FactSet vs S&P Capital IQ Pro
Financial Data & Terminals pricing comparison · 2026
FactSet pricing ranges from $333–$2500/user/year, while S&P Capital IQ Pro ranges from $1000–$2083/user/year. These products use different pricing models (Per-seat subscription vs ), so a direct price comparison isn't meaningful — costs depend on usage volume and mix.
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. FactSet offers a wider price range starting at $4,000/year for its basic workstation and scaling up to $30,000+/year for premium access, while S&P Capital IQ Pro starts higher at $12,000/year for its Essentials tier but tops out at a more predictable $25,000/year for the Advanced plan.
Plan-by-Plan Pricing
| Plan | FactSet | S&P Capital IQ Pro |
|---|---|---|
| FactSet Workstation Basic | $333 /user/year | $1K /user/month |
| FactSet Workstation Standard | $1K /user/year | $1.7K /user/month |
| FactSet Workstation Premium | $2.5K /user/year | $2.1K /user/month |
| FactSet Enterprise/API | Custom | Custom |
Cost at Scale
Total cost of ownership — licenses, implementation, and hidden costs included.
FactSet
5 scenariosS&P Capital IQ Pro
3 scenariosOur Verdict
Choose FactSet if you need a highly customizable analytics workstation with deep portfolio analytics, flexible Excel integration, and modular data feeds -- especially if you are on the buy-side or need quantitative research tools. Choose S&P Capital IQ Pro if your primary workflow revolves around company screening, comparable analysis, and credit research, or if you want access to S&P's proprietary ratings, estimates, and industry classifications at a more straightforward pricing structure starting at $12,000/year.
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.