MarketWatch
marketwatch.com
Dow Jones financial news site with market data, watchlists, newsletters and the free Virtual Stock Exchange game; much reporting needs a subscription.
What it is
MarketWatch is a markets and personal finance news site owned by Dow Jones, the publisher of The Wall Street Journal and Barron's. It covers breaking market news, company stories, economic data and personal finance columns, with quotes and charts, a watchlist, email newsletters and iOS and Android apps.
Quotes, charts and many headlines are free to read, but a subscription unlocks unlimited articles and subscriber-only content. The subscribe page lists MarketWatch alone at $5 a week, including unlimited access across devices, subscriber-exclusive content, watchlists and newsletters, and a bundle with The Wall Street Journal and Barron's at $12.50 a week. Introductory first-year rates are often shown on the same page, and corporate and student subscriptions are available.
For traders, the most distinctive free tool is the Virtual Stock Exchange, a stock market game with real-time prices. You create or join a game, set the starting budget and rules such as margin and short selling, and trade with limit and stop orders against friends, colleagues or a class. It needs a free MarketWatch login and is for players aged 16 and over. MarketWatch is a news and reference site, not a trading platform.
Key features
- Market news
- Breaking market and company news, economic coverage and personal finance columns from a Dow Jones newsroom.
- Quotes and charts
- Quote pages and charts for listed securities and indexes, free to view.
- Watchlist
- Track chosen symbols; listed as part of the subscription benefits.
- Newsletters
- Email newsletters on markets and personal finance.
- Virtual Stock Exchange
- Free stock market game with real-time prices, custom starting budgets, margin, short selling, limit and stop orders.
- Mobile apps
- MarketWatch apps for iOS and Android.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Quotes, charts, some articles and the Virtual Stock Exchange |
| MarketWatch | $5/week | Unlimited MarketWatch access, subscriber-only content, watchlists and newsletters |
| WSJ, MarketWatch and Barron's | $12.50/week | Unlimited digital access to all three titles |
Prices are the standard rates on the subscribe page; lower introductory rates for the first year are often shown there. Corporate and student subscriptions are sold separately.
Free option: Market quotes, charts, a share of news articles and the Virtual Stock Exchange game with a free login; unlimited articles need a subscription.
Checked September 25, 2026 on marketwatch.com. Prices change; confirm on the provider's site before you subscribe.
Strengths
- Broad market and personal finance coverage from a large newsroom
- Free quotes and charts without a subscription
- The Virtual Stock Exchange is a free, customizable stock market game for groups and classes
- Can be bundled with The Wall Street Journal and Barron's
Limitations
- Much original reporting is behind a subscription
- A news and data site: no brokerage account or options analytics
- The Virtual Stock Exchange requires a login and is limited to ages 16 and over
- Introductory rates renew at the higher standard price
Good fit for
- Investors who want daily market news and commentary
- Teachers and groups running a stock market game
- Readers who already use other Dow Jones publications
Look elsewhere if
- Traders who need real-time flow, scanners or advanced charts
- Readers who want only free news without a paywall
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MarketWatch questions
Is MarketWatch free?
Partly. Quotes, charts and some articles are free, but unlimited access and subscriber-only content need a subscription, listed at $5 a week.
What is the MarketWatch Virtual Stock Exchange?
A free stock market game with real-time prices. You create or join games, set rules such as margin and short selling, and trade with virtual cash.
Who owns MarketWatch?
Dow Jones & Company, which also publishes The Wall Street Journal and Barron's.
Can I bundle MarketWatch with The Wall Street Journal?
Yes. A bundle with The Wall Street Journal and Barron's is listed at $12.50 a week.
Written from MarketWatch's own website and documentation. All Trading Tools lists and compares tools; it does not recommend trades or give financial advice. Sources: marketwatch.com, marketwatch.com/subscribe, marketwatch.com/games.