# Tactfolio vs Portfolio Visualizer: backtest and automate

> Looking for a Portfolio Visualizer alternative? Compare its monthly backtests and analysis tools with Tactfolio’s custom rules, daily data, and automation.

Written by [Tactfolio research team](https://tactfolio.com/about/editorial-policy.md), published 2026-10-16, updated 2026-10-17.

Portfolio Visualizer is a website for analyzing portfolios. It backtests mixes of funds and asset classes on monthly data, and it adds tools like [Monte Carlo](https://tactfolio.com/trading-tools/monte-carlo-simulation.md) and portfolio optimization. Tactfolio is a builder for your own rules-based strategies, tested on daily prices. It can also run them in your own Alpaca account. Pick Portfolio Visualizer to study a fixed mix in depth. Pick Tactfolio to build custom rules and then run them.

## Key points

- Portfolio Visualizer is for analysis only. It does not trade, and it does not connect to brokers. Tactfolio can run a strategy in a [paper account](https://tactfolio.com/paper-trading.md) or in your own Alpaca account.
- Portfolio Visualizer backtests use monthly returns. [Tactfolio backtests](https://tactfolio.com/backtesting.md) use daily prices.
- Portfolio Visualizer offers preset tactical models, like [dual momentum](https://tactfolio.com/learn/momentum-strategy.md), with settings you can change. Tactfolio lets you write your own rules from blocks.
- Portfolio Visualizer has deeper analysis tools, including factor regression, which Tactfolio does not have. Tactfolio has simpler free tools for Monte Carlo, efficient frontiers, and optimization.
- Portfolio Visualizer has a free plan with limits, and paid plans from $30 a month, billed yearly. Tactfolio has a Free plan. Plus costs $12 a month and Pro costs $29 a month, and every feature is free until billing opens.

## Tactfolio vs Portfolio Visualizer at a glance

Portfolio Visualizer facts were checked on its own website on October 16, 2026. Links are in the sources at the end.

| | Tactfolio | Portfolio Visualizer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Main job | Build, backtest, and run rules-based strategies | Analyze and backtest portfolios |
| How you build | Visual blocks for your own rules | Forms: pick funds, weights, and settings |
| Custom rules | Yes, with if/else, rank, and filters | Preset tactical models only |
| Data detail | Daily prices | Monthly returns for most backtests |
| History | Each fund's real prices, plus optional simulated history | Asset classes from 1972, tickers from 1985 |
| Markets | US-listed stocks and ETFs, plus crypto perps on Hyperliquid | US and Canadian stocks, funds, and ETFs |
| Monte Carlo and optimization | Free separate tools | Yes, built into its backtests |
| Trading | Paper accounts, or your own Alpaca account | None |
| AI assistant | MCP server, free with your account | None found |
| Price | Free, Plus $12 a month ($99 a year), Pro $29 a month ($249 a year). Everything is free until billing opens. [See pricing](https://tactfolio.com/pricing.md) | Free plan. Paid plans $30 or $55 a month, billed yearly |

## What is Portfolio Visualizer?

Portfolio Visualizer is a set of online tools for investors and financial advisers. You can backtest a portfolio, run Monte Carlo simulations, find an efficient frontier, and check a fund's factor exposure. Factor exposure means how much a fund behaves like groups such as small or cheap stocks.

Its homepage claims 5.1 million visits a year and 187,650 securities. Those are its own numbers, from October 16, 2026. The site is run by a company called SRL Global. Its terms say it is not a broker or an investment adviser, and that it does not place trades.

## What is Tactfolio?

Tactfolio is a platform where you build rules-based investing strategies, [backtest](https://tactfolio.com/learn/backtesting-explained.md) them on decades of real prices, share them, and run them automatically in your own [Alpaca account](https://tactfolio.com/alpaca-trading.md). You can build by hand in a visual builder or by asking an [AI assistant](https://tactfolio.com/ai-trading.md).

A Tactfolio strategy is a small tree of blocks. One block might say "hold [SPY](https://tactfolio.com/etf/spy.md) while it is above its [200-day average](https://tactfolio.com/learn/moving-average.md), else hold bonds." The [builder guide](https://tactfolio.com/docs/builder.md) shows every block.

## How you build a strategy

On Portfolio Visualizer, you fill in forms. You type tickers or pick asset classes, set weights, and choose options from menus. For timing ideas, it has preset models: moving averages, momentum, dual momentum, adaptive allocation, valuation, seasonal, and target volatility. You can change their settings, but you cannot write new logic.

On Tactfolio, you click blocks together. You can nest if/else conditions, rank funds by any [indicator](https://tactfolio.com/learn/best-indicators-for-trading.md), and mix several ideas in one strategy. The backtest runs again each time you change a rule.

So the question is how custom your idea is. If it fits a preset model, Portfolio Visualizer can test it in a few clicks. If it needs its own rules, Tactfolio is built for that.

## Backtests and data

Portfolio Visualizer has long asset-class data. Its asset-class backtests and tactical models start in 1972. Ticker backtests start in 1985. Most of its backtests use monthly returns. It can also model regular deposits, withdrawals, and adviser fees. Its disclosures say backtests may leave out trading costs like commissions and slippage.

Tactfolio uses daily prices for US-listed stocks and funds, with dividends reinvested. Every trade pays a cost of 0.05%. Each backtest also shows a second line that trades at the next day's open, plus "reality checks" at higher costs. [What a backtest simulates](https://tactfolio.com/docs/backtests.md) lists every assumption.

Many funds are young, so Tactfolio has an optional [simulated history](https://tactfolio.com/docs/simulated-history.md). It extends a fund backwards with modelled values, clearly labeled. Real prices are always the default.

## Trading and automation

Portfolio Visualizer does not trade. Paid plans show trade [signals](https://tactfolio.com/learn/trading-signals.md) for its tactical models. You would place those trades yourself, at your own broker.

Tactfolio can run a strategy for you. Trade runs it in a paper account with pretend money, or in your own Alpaca account with your own API keys. Each strategy trades only the starting balance you give it. Tactfolio places its trades once a day, near the market close.

## Pricing

Portfolio Visualizer has three plans. The free plan allows up to 15 assets, with limited history and no saving or export. Basic costs $30 a month and Pro costs $55 a month. Both are billed yearly, so about $360 and $660 a year. Pro adds branded PDF reports and use for business. There is a 14-day free trial. These are its prices as of October 16, 2026.

Tactfolio has three plans. Free costs $0. It includes unlimited building and backtests and 1 live strategy in your own Alpaca account. Plus costs $12 a month or $99 a year and runs 10 live strategies. Pro costs $29 a month or $249 a year and runs up to 100 at once. Paid plans are not open yet, so every feature is free until billing opens. See [Tactfolio pricing](https://tactfolio.com/pricing.md).

## Where Portfolio Visualizer is the better pick

- You want factor regression, or Monte Carlo and optimization tied to your backtests.
- You want to test a fixed mix of asset classes back to 1972.
- You are an adviser who needs branded PDF reports or fee modeling.
- You hold Canadian stocks or funds.
- You only want to analyze, not trade.

## Where Tactfolio is the better pick

- Your idea needs its own rules, not a preset model.
- You want daily data, so a rule can react within days, not only at month end.
- You want the strategy to run on its own, in a paper account or your Alpaca account.
- You want an AI assistant to build and test strategies at no cost.
- You want to start from tested ideas, like the [All Weather Portfolio](https://tactfolio.com/strategies/all-weather-portfolio.md) or [dual momentum](https://tactfolio.com/strategies/dual-momentum.md). There are 60+ [classic strategies](https://tactfolio.com/strategies/classics.md) with sources.

## Who should pick which

If you plan a long-term mix and want deep analysis, pick Portfolio Visualizer. If you want to build custom rules and run them, pick Tactfolio. Many people use both: Portfolio Visualizer to study an asset mix, and Tactfolio to add rules and automate it. For more options, see our list of [Portfolio Visualizer alternatives](https://tactfolio.com/comparisons/portfolio-visualizer-alternatives.md).

## Try it on Tactfolio

Open the [builder](https://tactfolio.com/builder) and pick one of the starter patterns. You can see its backtest without an account. To learn why a good backtest can still fail, read [why past results mislead](https://tactfolio.com/docs/concepts/why-past-results-mislead.md).

## Common questions

### Is Portfolio Visualizer free?

Portfolio Visualizer has a free plan with all its core tools. It allows up to 15 assets, with limited history and no saving. Paid plans cost $30 or $55 a month, billed yearly. These prices were checked on October 16, 2026.

### Can Portfolio Visualizer trade for me?

No. Its disclosures say it does not place trades or hold client money. Paid plans show trade signals, but you place the trades yourself. Tactfolio can run a strategy in your own Alpaca account.

### Does Tactfolio have Monte Carlo or portfolio optimization?

Yes, as free tools apart from the builder. The [Monte Carlo simulator](https://tactfolio.com/trading-tools/monte-carlo-simulation.md) plays out 10,000 random paths for your savings. The [portfolio optimizer](https://tactfolio.com/trading-tools/portfolio-optimizer.md) and [efficient frontier](https://tactfolio.com/trading-tools/efficient-frontier.md) work on real past prices. Portfolio Visualizer goes deeper, with factor regression and more settings.

### Why do the two sites show different backtest results?

They use different data and assumptions. Portfolio Visualizer mostly uses monthly returns. Tactfolio uses daily prices and charges a small cost on every trade. Start dates and [rebalancing](https://tactfolio.com/learn/portfolio-rebalancing.md) days can differ too.

### Is there a Portfolio Visualizer alternative that runs strategies automatically?

Yes. Tactfolio is one. You build rules from visual blocks, backtest them on daily prices, and can run them in your own Alpaca account. It runs long-only strategies on US-listed stocks and ETFs.

## Sources

- [Portfolio Visualizer homepage](https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/), accessed 2026-10-16
- [Portfolio Visualizer pricing](https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/pricing), accessed 2026-10-16
- [Portfolio Visualizer sign up](https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/sign-up), accessed 2026-10-16
- [Portfolio Visualizer FAQ](https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/faq), accessed 2026-10-16
- [Portfolio Visualizer backtest portfolio](https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/backtest-portfolio), accessed 2026-10-16
- [Portfolio Visualizer asset class backtest](https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/backtest-asset-class-allocation), accessed 2026-10-16
- [Portfolio Visualizer tactical models](https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/tactical-asset-allocation-model), accessed 2026-10-16
- [Portfolio Visualizer disclosures](https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/global-disclosures), accessed 2026-10-16
- [Portfolio Visualizer terms of service](https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/terms-of-service), accessed 2026-10-16