The right stock analysis software can transform your trading strategy, helping you earn higher returns with less risk and stress along the way.

Beginners and seasoned traders alike can leverage these solutions. But it can be tough to narrow it down to truly the “best” investment app with so many options at your fingertips. We’ll help you weigh the most popular platforms in 2025, VectorVest vs Zacks. Here’s a snapshot:

Feature VectorVest Zacks
Buy/Sell/Hold Signals ✅ Yes – Updated Daily for 16,000+ Stocks ❌ Limited Access in Premium Plans
Market Timing System ✅ Yes – Proven Signals Across 20+ Years ❌ Not Offered
Track Record ✅ Outperformed S&P 500 by 10x Since 2000 ✅ +23.89% Annual Return Since 1988
Ease of Use ✅ Simple Interface with Clear Guidance ⚠️ More Suited for DIY Research
Stock Picks ✅ VST-Ranked Picks Delivered Daily ✅ Zacks Rank-Based Picks & Strategies
Pricing ⚠️ $69–$149/month (30-day trial for $9.95) ✅ $59–$299/month (Varies by service)
Mobile App ✅ Full-Featured App with Live Signals ✅ Zacks App Available for Premium Users
Customer Support & Education ✅ Live U.S. Support + Daily Coaching ⚠️ Helpful Resources, Less Personalized

 

Both platforms use powerful quantitative models, deliver expert research, and simplify smart investing for everyday users. But only one is right for you between Zacks vs VectorVest, and when you dig into the details, it becomes clear which is the right choice.

VectorVest has outperformed the S&P 500 index by 10x over the past 20 years and counting, and we’ve called every major market move along the way. We’re the only stock rating system that actually shows you historical data so you can confirm our accuracy over the years.

Our data is pulled directly from the Nasdaq so you get as relevant, timely insights as possible – leveling the playing field between you and institutional investors. But the best part of VectorVest is how seamless investing is with our stock advisory.

We tell you what to buy, when to buy it, and when to sell it based on three simple ratings. Spend less time glued to your screen and more time counting profits. Join over 1 million investors and see what’s possible with a free stock analysis today!

 

“I originally got this app as a “2nd opinion” brokerage app to determine if Robinhood’s stock ratings were viable or not.”I’ve made +27% in the past 4 months.”

“I have been using VestorVest for a number of years and am averaging 30% annual returns. VectorVest is instrumental in my success.”

“I’ve been with VectorVest +10 years and took their course that covers Spread Trading. The next 12 months I pocketed over $110,000 trading SPX only while risking only $20K at any one time.”

What is VectorVest?

VectorVest is an all-in-one stock analysis and portfolio management system that helps you make smarter, faster investing decisions. Our system was born in 1978 on a simple promise: we’ll tell you what to buy, when to buy it, and when to sell based on data, not guesswork.

This is all possible through our intuitive VST system. You’re giving everything you need to know about a stock at a glance, using three ratings:

  • Relative Value: The RV rating compares a stock’s long-term price appreciation potential (forecasted 3 years out), AAA corporate bond rates, and risk. It offers much better insight than a simple comparison of price to value alone.
  • Relative Safety: The RS rating is a risk indicator. It’s calculated through an analysis of the company’s financial consistency & predictability, debt-to-equity ratio, business longevity, sales volume, price volatility, and other factors.
  • Relative Timing: The RT rating is based on the direction, dynamics, and magnitude of the stock’s price movement day over day, week over week, quarter over quarter, and year over year.

Each sits on a simple scale of 0.00-2.00 with 1.00 being the average. Pick safe, undervalued stocks rising in price to win more trades with less work! Better yet, you’re given a clear buy, sell, or hold recommendation for any given stock at any given time based on its overall VST rating.

VectorVest also provides real-time market timing signals, built-in screeners, portfolio tracking, risk management tools, and even options analysis via OptionsPro. No matter your strategy, there’s a way you can leverage our toolkit for smarter, more profitable trading.

You never have to wonder where your next trade will come from either. VectorVest’s stock picker brings the best opportunities to your fingertips on a daily basis. You gain access to screeners for swing trading, retirement investing, options trading – you name it, we support it.

Choose from three different plans – Basic, Enhanced, or Premium. These range from $69/month to $149/month, but the value you get is unparalleled. The difference comes down to how “real time” you want your data to be, how much automation you want, and additional features.

All plans come with onboarding lessons, educational resources, and world-class phone support to help you make the most of the VectorVest system. You can try any plan for just $9.95 for 30-days to see what’s possible.

This is the right choice whether you need a stocks app for Android or an iPhone stock app. But, let’s take a look at the other half of the VectorVest vs Zacks comparison to see what they have to offer.

What is Zacks?

Zacks Investment Research is one of the most well-established names in the world of investment analysis. Its earnings-focused rankings system is one-of-a-kind, which is what sets it apart from other solutions on the market.

Since launching in 1978 Zacks has found that earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful factor influencing stock prices. This is the backbone of the Zacks Rank system, a quantitative model that categorizes thousands of stocks from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell).

The track record Zacks boasts is pretty impressive, too – the Zacks Rank has been backtested to deliver annualized returns of +23.89% since 1988.

You gain access to quite a few different services through Zacks, including stock screening tools, analyst reports, ETF and mutual fund rankings, and proprietary indicators like the Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) and Price Response Indicator.

Their product lineup ranges from Zacks Premium ($249/year) to Zacks Ultimate ($2,995/year), with access to curated portfolios like Home Run Investor, Options Trader, and Value Investor.

If you’re comfortable digging into reports and making your own calls, Zacks can be a powerful research partner. That said, it lacks the real-time buy/sell guidance and visual simplicity you’d expect in the best stock analysis app for beginners and expert traders alike.

You do get free content and educational tools to help you understand market trends and stock opportunities. But which is really the better solution between VectorVest vs Zacks? Let’s take a closer look at the two platforms side by side below to help you feel more confident choosing.

VectorVest vs Zacks: Which Platform Has the Better Investment Tools For Your Goals?

To be clear – both Zacks and VectorVest present compelling solutions for the modern investor who wants to win more trades with less work and stress. But the approaches are very different, as are the user experiences, track records, prices, and customer service.

When you take a closer look at the two platforms side by side, you start to see VectorVest pull ahead in more ways than one. Here’s what you need to know about the top 2 investment apps for beginners.

Technical Analysis

The methods for analyzing stocks differ between VectorVest vs Zacks. That means the buy, sell, and hold recommendations you’re getting can be traced back to different types of data.

Our proprietary VST™ is as simple and straightforward as it gets. It’s built upon 30+ years of mathematical models that have been constantly refined to generate the highest and most consistent returns possible.

This means you don’t need to toil over complex technical indicators or spend hours staring at charts in different time frames. Just use the VST stock trading system to see which opportunities resonate with your goals and risk tolerance.

You also gain access to more advanced technical analysis tools if you’re interested in digging deeper into the details, though. That includes advanced charting capabilities and indicators for in-depth analysis.

Zacks focuses primarily on earnings estimates and revisions. Don’t get us wrong, earnings drive the market, and they’re important. But they don’t tell you everything. This is putting too much weight into fundamental analysis and not enough into data.

While it provides some technical analysis tools, such as charts and indicators, it falls short of VectorVest in terms of technical analysis. The TAZR (Technical Analysis & Zacks Rank) feature combines technical patterns with Zacks Rank to uncover timely investment opportunities.

Other than that, though, VectorVest users gain a clear advantage here.

Track Record and Success Rate

Both platforms have strong performance histories. Zacks has averaged +23.89% annual returns since 1988, which is nothing short of impressive. It’s a solid strategy that’s stood the test of time.

On the other hand, VectorVest has outperformed the S&P 500 by 10x over the past two decades, with a real-world tested methodology that combines technical and fundamental signals.

Unlike Zacks, you can go back and test every call VectorVest made through its market timing system back to 1995. We’ve called every major market move along the way – from the Dot Com Bubble to the Crash of 2008 and even the Covid recovery back in 2020-2021.

Transparency and verifiable performance are baked into the platform, which is something most services, including Zacks, don’t offer to the same degree. But something they don’t offer at all is access to Nasdaq last sale data (NLS).

This is part of what has helped us achieve such an impressive track record of success, and why our investors are able to stay ahead of market shifts. Pulling from the NLS helps us give you more timely, accurate data while bringing costs down!

Stock Picks

Part of the value of having solutions like Zacks or VectorVest in your arsenal is being able to consistently find viable trading opportunities. Rather than doing all the heavy lifting yourself these systems bring pre-curated screeners to your fingertips every day.

Zacks has dozens of premium portfolios tailored to long-term investors, income seekers, small-cap hunters, and more. From the Home Run Investor to Stocks Under $10, there’s something for everyone.

Their equity analysts back picks with research reports, and the Zacks Rank makes stock selection simple if you buy into the earnings revision thesis.

VectorVest offers a much wider array of stock picks, though – and we give you more flexibility in how you screen for stocks. You can use the VST ratings to find stocks that fit your criteria, whether it’s the safest stocks, the most undervalued stocks, or those with the most momentum.

Or, you can find stocks based on hot industries, uncover stocks for options trading, or start building out a retirement portfolio. Just take a look at all the watchlists you gain access to and it’s not hard to see why VectorVest is the smarter choice.

Pricing

We want to be clear in saying you shouldn’t choose between VectorVest vs Zacks based on price alone. Value matters most, so you should weigh cost against what each platform gives you. That said, you will see quite a difference between Zacks vs VectorVest pricing.

Zacks Premium starts at $249/year, and more advanced services like Zacks Ultimate go up to $2,995/year. Each tier offers access to different portfolios and tools.

But these are siloed. You’re often paying separately for options trading, ETF rankings, or sector-specific insights. This isn’t something we believe in here at VectorVest.

Every plan includes full access to the VST rating system (Value, Safety, Timing), real-time market timing, daily stock picks, and prebuilt screeners. Basic starts at $69/month, Enhanced adds faster data for $99/month, and Premium unlocks full real-time data, coaching, advanced charting, and trading automation for $149/month.

At the end of the day you’ll pay more for VectorVest, but as with most things in life, you get what you pay for. You’re paying for better data, a track record that speaks for itself, and as you’ll learn below, a far better user experience.

Ease of Use

Another jarring difference between VectorVest vs Zacks comes down to user experience. Just take a look at the Zacks website and you’ll see what we mean. It looks like it hasn’t gotten a makeover since the early 2000s when the internet was born.

Of course, appearance comes secondary to results. But the learning curve can feel steep with Zacks. You’ll find incredible value if you know what you’re looking for and how to interpret it.

Newer investors or those who prefer efficiency over depth will find that navigating between portfolios, analyst reports, and screeners isn’t seamless. VectorVest has an obvious edge here.

Everything we do is to make investing simpler for you. The Buy/Sell/Hold ratings are front and center. The platform literally tells you what to do, and why. You can analyze any stock in seconds, use the traffic-light-style Market Timing Gauge, and even take your strategy on the go with our mobile app.

The best part? You can integrate your brokerage and manage your portfolio directly through the app or desktop software. This streamlines the trading process so you can place an order directly from a VectorVest stock ticker!

Customer Support and Education

Let’s be honest, investing can be complicated even with the right tools in your arsenal. Both VectorVest vs Zacks offer tons of free resources to help you master the basics and hit the ground running.

Zacks database features articles, videos, and regular newsletters. But when you want a bit more depth and structure to your learning curve, our online stock trading classes go above and beyond.

We offer classes on everything from investing 101 to swing trading strategies, selling covered calls for income – taught by real experts with track records of success. You also gain access to tons of free resources in our blog.

You get live US-based phone support, daily market coaching sessions, and more to help you make the most of every dollar you put out into the market. We’re always here for you.

Bringing Our Comparison of Zacks vs VectorVest to a Close

We hope this comparison of VectorVest vs Zacks has left you feeling clear and confident about which is best for your goals. As we said from the start, both offer seriously powerful tools for investors.

That said, VectorVest simply delivers more for investors trying to actively grow their wealth with less guesswork. It’s faster, clearer, and built to help you act with confidence using real-time data and proven strategy. You can automate a lot to win more trades with less time and effort.

Don’t just take our word for it, though. See the system in action today and start building a smarter portfolio with data, direction, and discipline!