FactSet vs Refinitiv Eikon
Financial Data & Terminals pricing comparison · 2026 · Updated April 2026
FactSet pricing ranges from $333–$2500/user/year, while Refinitiv Eikon ranges from $300–$1830/user/year. FactSet is typically 20% more affordable, though your actual cost depends on tier and team size.
FactSet and Refinitiv Eikon are the two leading Bloomberg alternatives, each offering professional-grade financial data at 30-50% lower cost. FactSet is the buy-side analytics champion with modular pricing and superior portfolio tools. Eikon (now LSEG Workspace) offers exclusive Reuters news, the deepest FX data, and DataStream's 120+ years of historical time series.
For firms choosing between these two platforms — or evaluating a Bloomberg migration — this comparison covers the pricing, data, and workflow differences that matter.
Plan-by-Plan Pricing
| Plan | FactSet | Refinitiv Eikon |
|---|---|---|
| FactSet Workstation Basic | $333 /user/year | $300 /user/year |
| FactSet Workstation Standard | $1K /user/year | $1.3K /user/year |
| FactSet Workstation Premium | $2.5K /user/year | $1.8K /user/year |
| FactSet Enterprise/API | Custom | Custom |
| Enterprise/API | — | Custom |
Cost at Scale
Total cost of ownership — licenses, implementation, and hidden costs included.
FactSet
5 scenariosRefinitiv Eikon
3 scenariosMarket Intelligence
FactSet
- Median annual cost
- $25,160
- Based on
- 4 deals
Refinitiv Eikon
- Median annual cost
- $2,000
- Based on
- 8 deals
Our Verdict
Choose FactSet if you're a buy-side firm focused on equity research, need superior portfolio analytics and screening tools, want the best-in-class estimates database, or require modular pricing to control costs. FactSet's 95%+ retention rate on the buy-side speaks for itself.
Choose Refinitiv Eikon if you need exclusive Reuters news coverage, work primarily in FX or fixed income markets, require DataStream's 120+ years of historical data for academic-grade research, or want dealing capabilities built into your terminal. Eikon offers broader market coverage at slightly lower entry pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
01 FactSet vs Refinitiv Eikon: which is cheaper?
Entry pricing is similar: FactSet Basic at $4,000/year vs Eikon Web at $3,600/year. At the professional level, FactSet Standard ($12,000/year) is slightly cheaper than Eikon Desktop Standard ($15,000/year). Fully loaded, both range $20,000-$30,000/user/year. FactSet offers steeper volume discounts for large teams.
02 Which is better for equity research?
FactSet is the buy-side standard for equity research. Its estimates database, screening tools, and Excel integration are purpose-built for fundamental analysis. Eikon has solid fundamentals but lacks FactSet's depth in consensus estimates and portfolio analytics. For buy-side equity research, FactSet wins.
03 Which is better for FX trading?
Refinitiv Eikon, clearly. LSEG owns Matching (the world's largest FX trading venue), giving Eikon unmatched FX spot, forward, and options data plus built-in dealing capabilities. FactSet has basic FX data but isn't designed for active FX trading workflows.
04 How does historical data compare?
Eikon + DataStream offers 120+ years of financial history across 175+ countries — the gold standard for long-horizon research. FactSet's historical data is comprehensive for modern periods but doesn't match DataStream's depth. For academic research and long-term backtesting, Eikon/DataStream is superior.
05 Which offers better API access?
Both offer strong APIs. FactSet's REST/SDK APIs are well-documented and start around $25,000/year. Refinitiv Data Platform APIs cost $25,000-$150,000/year depending on scope. FactSet is generally considered more developer-friendly with better documentation and more flexible data access.
06 Can you switch between FactSet and Eikon?
Yes, migration is straightforward since both use modular pricing. Excel formulas need conversion (=FDS vs Eikon formulas). Allow 2-3 weeks for team retraining. The main consideration: Reuters news exclusives on Eikon can't be replicated on FactSet, and FactSet's estimates depth can't be matched on Eikon.
07 Which is better for multi-asset portfolios?
Eikon covers more asset classes out of the box (equities, FX, fixed income, commodities, real estate) and includes dealing capabilities. FactSet is deeper on equities and portfolio analytics but requires add-on modules for broader asset class coverage.
08 How do contract terms compare?
Both offer 1-year minimum contracts (vs Bloomberg's rigid 2-year). FactSet typically requires 60-90 days cancellation notice. Eikon requires 30-60 days. Both offer multi-year discounts of 5-20%. Both are significantly more flexible than Bloomberg.