The Philosopher Investor vs OpenInsider
By Daniel, The Philosopher Investor · updated September 5, 2026
OpenInsider is the free screener for SEC Form 4 filings: the latest purchases and sales, cluster buys, large CEO and CFO buys, weekly and monthly top lists, aggregate buy and sell charts, drill-downs by sector and by insider, and CSV export, refreshed through the US business day. It is the tool most insider-buying research starts from. The Philosopher Investor reads the same public filings per stock, deduplicated and dated, next to the options flow, the dealer gamma and the chart, so an insider cluster is judged against the setup rather than on its own.
OpenInsider is the free screener for SEC Form 4 filings, with ready-made screens for cluster buys and large officer buys and CSV export. The Philosopher Investor reads the same public filings per stock, deduplicated and dated, next to the options flow, the dealer gamma and the chart, so an insider buy is judged against the setup.
What is OpenInsider great at?
- Every Form 4 filing, filterable, with ready-made screens for cluster buys and large officer buys.
- Aggregate buy versus sell charts and drill-downs by insider or sector.
- Free, with CSV export.
What does The Philosopher Investor do differently?
- Insider buys and sells per stock, deduplicated by insider and side, on the same page as the flow, the gamma and the Congress filings.
- Insider clusters crossed with the desk's boards and with the chart, so a buy counts more when the setup agrees.
- Insider markers on the price chart, and an insider column on the fundamentals board.
| OpenInsider | The Philosopher Investor | |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | A screener of filings | Filings read per stock inside a desk |
| Coverage | Every Form 4 | Open-market buys and sells per covered name |
| Context | Filing tables and aggregate charts | Flow, gamma, Congress and the chart on the same name |
| Best for | Screening insider activity market-wide | Traders judging one name |
| Price | Free | $20 a month or $200 a year, everything included |
When OpenInsider wins
Choose OpenInsider to screen insider filings across the whole market, for free, and export them.
When we win
Choose The Philosopher Investor if you want the insider record of a stock read against everything else on that stock.
Common questions
Is OpenInsider free?
Yes, fully. It reads the SEC's Form 4 filings and refreshes through the US business day. For screening the whole market by insider activity it is the tool to start from.
What is a cluster buy?
Several insiders of the same company buying on the open market within a short window. One officer buying can be routine; three buying the same week is a stronger tell. Both tools flag clusters; the desk also checks them against the chart and the flow.
Is there a free insider page here?
Yes. Every public stock page carries the recent insider buys and sells on that name, deduplicated by insider. The cross-name insider board and the chart markers stay with members.
Can I use both?
Yes. OpenInsider to screen the market and export filings, the desk to judge one name where an insider bought, with everything else known about it.