The core difference in one sentence
Simply Wall St is a stock research platform - it visualizes fundamentals with snowflake charts, fair value models, and portfolio tracking. Guardfolio is a risk monitor - it watches your connected holdings for concentration, overlap, drift, drawdown, and volatility, and sends you an alert when something crosses a threshold you set.
Quick verdict
If your main need is visual stock research, fair value, and screening, Simply Wall St is the stronger tool. If your main need is "what risks are building in my real portfolio right now?" with alerts across multiple accounts and 30+ global exchanges, that's exactly what Guardfolio was built for.
At a glance
- Connected risk monitoring across all accounts
- Concentration, drift & ETF overlap alerts
- Drawdown & volatility limits with alerts
- Read-only sync across 30+ brokers
- Visual snowflake stock research
- Fair value & dividend forecasts
- Stock screener & watchlists
- Portfolio tracker with broker links
+ 30 more
Six risk dimensions Guardfolio watches that Simply Wall St does not
Simply Wall St shows portfolio context when you open the app. These are the six granular risk dimensions that can change between research sessions - and that Guardfolio monitors after each sync on your connected holdings, with threshold-based alerts.
1. Concentration
Single-holding exposure across all accounts, as a percentage of total net worth.
2. Allocation drift
How far your actual allocation has moved from your target mix.
3. ETF overlap
Look-through detection of the same underlying holdings across different ETFs.
4. Drawdown
Peak-to-trough drawdown per holding and at portfolio level.
5. Volatility
Rolling realised volatility per holding and at portfolio level, with band alerts.
6. Sector exposure
Sector weights with drift and caps — catches tech or energy creep before it's obvious.
See all six metrics on your own portfolio
Connect your accounts and Guardfolio surfaces concentration, hidden ETF overlap, allocation drift, drawdown, volatility, and sector exposure — across every connected brokerage. The first 7 days are free.
Start Free Trial → 7-day free trial · Cancel anytime · Read-only broker accessFeature comparison
| Feature | Guardfolio | Simply Wall St |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Connected portfolio risk monitoring | Visual stock research & portfolio tracking |
| Stock snowflake research | ||
| Fair value & dividend forecasts | ||
| Holdings overlap & concentration | ||
| Brokerage sync | ||
| Global exchange coverage | ||
| Proactive alerts (email / Telegram) | ||
| Allocation drift monitoring | ~ Static allocation view | |
| Drawdown & volatility alerts | ||
| Stock screener | ||
| ETF pair overlap tool | ||
| Sector exposure caps | ~ Sector view only | |
| Crypto support | ||
| Mobile app (iOS & Android) | ||
| Free risk check (no signup) | ~ Limited free tier | |
| UX approach | Simple, focused on DIY investors | Visual, research-first stock dashboard |
Pricing verdict
What you pay vs what you get
| Plan | Price | Core value |
|---|---|---|
| Simply Wall St Free | $0 | Limited stock views and basic portfolio tracking |
| Simply Wall St Premium | Varies by region | Unlimited stock research, fair value, screener, portfolio tools |
| Guardfolio Free | $0 | One-time risk snapshot: overlap, concentration, sector exposure |
| Guardian Pro | $24.99/mo ($15.62 annual) | Continuous monitoring, alerts, multi-account sync |
| Guardian Elite | $49/mo ($33.25 annual) | 10 accounts & 10 brokers, everything in Pro + crypto, advanced metrics |
Both tools offer free tiers. Guardfolio's free snapshot covers ETF overlap, concentration, and sector exposure with no signup. The paid plans add continuous monitoring and alerts.
Best for
Best for Guardfolio
- Investors who want alerts when concentration, overlap, or drift crosses a threshold
- Multi-brokerage investors who need a unified risk view across 30+ exchanges
- ETF holders who want look-through detection of hidden mega-cap concentration
- Self-directed investors who make their own decisions and want guardrails, not advice
- International investors tracking positions across multiple countries and platforms
Best for Simply Wall St
- Investors researching individual stocks with visual fundamentals
- DIY investors who want fair value and dividend forecast context
- Users who screen for new ideas before buying
- Portfolio trackers who want valuation and diversification views in one app
- Investors comparing stocks on growth, value, and health metrics
Can you use both?
Yes. The tools serve different jobs. Simply Wall St helps you decide what to research and buy with snowflake charts, fair value, and screeners. Guardfolio watches what you already hold - monitoring concentration, overlap, drift, drawdown, and volatility across accounts, and alerting you when something crosses a line.
If you already use Simply Wall St for stock research, adding Guardfolio gives you the operational monitoring layer - the automated alerts that fire between research sessions.
Migration path
Adding Guardfolio alongside Simply Wall St takes minutes:
- Step 1: Run a free risk snapshot on your current portfolio (no signup required)
- Step 2: If you want ongoing alerts, connect your brokerage accounts via read-only API during the 7-day free trial
- Step 3: Keep Simply Wall St for stock research. Let Guardfolio handle the risk monitoring layer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Guardfolio and Simply Wall St?
Guardfolio monitors structural portfolio risk - concentration, ETF overlap, sector drift, and drawdown - with brokerage sync and automated alerts. Simply Wall St is a visual stock research platform with snowflake charts, fair value estimates, and portfolio tracking. They solve different problems.
Is Simply Wall St good for portfolio risk monitoring?
Simply Wall St is strong for researching individual stocks and viewing portfolio diversification visually. It is not built for threshold-based alerts on concentration, ETF overlap, allocation drift, drawdown, or volatility across connected accounts.
Is there a free alternative to Simply Wall St for risk checks?
Yes. Guardfolio offers a free no-signup risk snapshot and a 7-day free trial of all paid features. You can connect brokerages and see hidden overlap, concentration, and drift before committing.
Which is better for ETF overlap and concentration detection?
Guardfolio is purpose-built for ETF look-through, overlap analysis, and concentration monitoring at the holdings level. Simply Wall St focuses on stock-level research rather than ETF-pair overlap alerts.
Does Simply Wall St send portfolio risk alerts?
No. Simply Wall St does not offer automated portfolio risk alerts for concentration, drift, or volatility. Its workflow is research and portfolio visualization, not proactive monitoring.
Can I use Guardfolio and Simply Wall St together?
Yes. Many investors use Simply Wall St to research stocks and fair value, then use Guardfolio to monitor concentration, overlap, and drift across connected brokerage accounts with automated alerts.
Can I try Guardfolio before subscribing?
Yes. Every paid feature is available free for 7 days. You can also run a no-signup snapshot first at /risk.
Simply Wall St researches the stock. Guardfolio monitors the portfolio.
Research tells you what looks attractive. Guardfolio shows what's actually changing in risk across your connected accounts.
- Automated concentration & ETF overlap alerts
- Drift, drawdown & volatility monitoring
- Read-only sync across 30+ brokers