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Investment Analytics · head to head

MSCI vs Preqin

MSCI logo

MSCI

Investment Analytics

Indexes, Barra factor models, RiskMetrics risk, ESG ratings and private asset data

From
On request
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
Preqin logo

Preqin

Investment Analytics

Alternative assets data on funds, managers, investors, deals and performance

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Preqin has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: MSCI no prices are published for any index licence, model or platform; every product page routes to a demo request or contact form (checked November 2026).; Preqin no paid prices are published; Preqin's product pages lead to a demo request, and the free account lists what it includes but not where its limits are.
  • They diverge on capability: MSCI covers MSCI indexes, Preqin covers Preqin Pro.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 12 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MSCI and Preqin actually diverge.

Attributes where MSCI and Preqin differ
AttributeMSCIPreqin
Starting priceOn requestFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, API, CloudWeb, API

Identical on both: pricing model (quote), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Investment Analytics).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in MSCI

  • MSCI indexes
  • Barra equity factor models
  • RiskMetrics RiskManager
  • BarraOne
  • ESG Ratings and climate data
  • Private asset data (Burgiss)
  • MSCI Connector (MCP)
  • Cloud and API delivery

Only in Preqin

  • Preqin Pro
  • Investor (LP) profiles
  • Benchmarks and Indices
  • Term Intelligence
  • Transaction and Company Intelligence
  • Cash flow pacing and forecasting
  • Enterprise Data Solutions
  • Preqin MCP

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

MSCI

  • Benchmarking equity portfolios against MSCI ACWI, World or Emerging Markets indexesnot Preqin
  • Measuring factor exposures and ex-ante risk with Barra modelsnot Preqin
  • Enterprise VaR, stress testing and regulatory risk reporting with RiskManagernot Preqin
  • Screening and reporting on portfolio ESG and climate characteristicsnot Preqin
  • Benchmarking private equity and private credit funds against peer datanot Preqin
  • Running total portfolio risk across public and private allocationsnot Preqin

Preqin

  • Finding and qualifying LPs to approach during a fundraisenot MSCI
  • Manager selection and due diligence by LPs and investment consultantsnot MSCI
  • Benchmarking fund performance against private market peer groups and indicesnot MSCI
  • Comparing fund terms such as fees against similar fundsnot MSCI
  • Forecasting capital calls and distributions for a private markets portfolionot MSCI
  • Feeding private markets data into a data warehouse or AI workflownot MSCI

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

MSCI

  • No prices are published for any index licence, model or platform; every product page routes to a demo request or contact form (checked November 2026).
  • It is a set of separately licensed products, so indexes, Barra models, RiskManager, BarraOne, ESG Ratings and Private i are each bought and entitled on their own rather than as one subscription.
  • Not a market terminal: MSCI does not offer real-time news, quotes or trade execution, so firms still need Bloomberg, LSEG or FactSet alongside it.
  • ESG Ratings are relative to industry peers on the AAA to CCC scale, so a high rating says a company manages its industry's risks better than peers, not that its absolute impact is low.
  • Coverage figures on product pages carry different and sometimes old as-of dates (ESG coverage as of June 2024, factor model coverage as of March 2024), and the RiskManager page's own 'Which asset classes are covered?' FAQ has no answer.

Preqin

  • No paid prices are published; Preqin's product pages lead to a demo request, and the free account lists what it includes but not where its limits are.
  • Coverage figures are inconsistent across Preqin's own and BlackRock's pages, with firm counts of 48,000 and 67,000+ and fund counts of 135,000+, 210,000 and 235,000+, so what a licence covers has to be confirmed in a demo.
  • Performance data comes from GP-to-LP reports enriched by FOIA requests, which means coverage is strongest where public pension investors are obliged to disclose and thinner for funds without such LPs.
  • It is a private markets specialist; public equity and fixed income analytics, real-time prices and portfolio risk need a separate terminal or platform.
  • Since March 2025 Preqin is owned by BlackRock, itself a large alternatives manager, and integration into Aladdin and eFront is described only as happening over time, which leaves the standalone roadmap uncertain for firms that do not use BlackRock technology.
  • Preqin MCP is listed only for ChatGPT and works within existing entitlements, so it extends a paid licence rather than offering a separate way in.

Pricing, plan by plan

MSCI

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the MSCI review.

Preqin

Free
  • Free accountFree
    • Selected free alternative assets datasets and analytics
    • Free benchmarks
    • Industry reports and news
  • Preqin Pro and data products$undefined/mo
    • No prices published; access is arranged through a demo request
    • Preqin Pro, Benchmarks and Indices, Term Intelligence, Transaction Intelligence and Company Intelligence sold as named products
    • Global Reports included with the Private Markets Research (Insights+) subscription
  • Enterprise Data Solutions$undefined/mo
    • Priced by quotation
    • Feeds APIs, Operational APIs and data feeds
    • Snowflake and AWS marketplace listings

Which should you pick?

Choose MSCI if

  • You need msci indexes.
  • You work on Web, API, Cloud.
  • You also want barra equity factor models.
MSCI review

Choose Preqin if

  • You need preqin pro.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want investor (lp) profiles.
Preqin review

Questions people ask

Is MSCI or Preqin better?
Neither clearly leads. MSCI starts at On request and Preqin at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MSCI or Preqin?
Preqin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for MSCI and Free for Preqin.
Does MSCI or Preqin run on more platforms?
MSCI runs on Web, API, Cloud. Preqin runs on Web, API.
Can I use Preqin for free?
Yes. Preqin has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. MSCI starts at On request.
What is MSCI best used for?
MSCI is most often used for benchmarking equity portfolios against msci acwi, world or emerging markets indexes, measuring factor exposures and ex-ante risk with barra models, enterprise var, stress testing and regulatory risk reporting with riskmanager, screening and reporting on portfolio esg and climate characteristics. Of those, benchmarking equity portfolios against msci acwi, world or emerging markets indexes and measuring factor exposures and ex-ante risk with barra models are not what Preqin is typically brought in for.
What can MSCI do that Preqin cannot?
MSCI covers MSCI indexes, Barra equity factor models, RiskMetrics RiskManager, BarraOne. Preqin covers Preqin Pro, Investor (LP) profiles, Benchmarks and Indices, Term Intelligence.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

MSCI: How much does MSCI cost?

MSCI does not publish pricing. Index licences, factor models, risk platforms, ESG data and private asset products are quoted individually through its sales team.

Source
Preqin: Is Preqin owned by BlackRock?

Yes. BlackRock announced the acquisition on 30 June 2024 for £2.55 billion, approximately $3.2 billion, in cash, and announced its completion on 3 March 2025. Preqin founder Mark O'Hare joined BlackRock as a Vice Chair.

Source
MSCI: What is the difference between RiskMetrics and RiskManager?

RiskMetrics is the calculation engine; RiskManager is the hosted platform built on it. RiskManager brings VaR, factor, stress testing, liquidity and counterparty credit risk together and supports regulatory reporting, with results deliverable to a data warehouse or third-party systems by API.

Source
Preqin: Is Preqin still sold separately from Aladdin?

Yes. BlackRock states that Preqin will remain available as a standalone solution, while Preqin's data and research tools are integrated with Aladdin and eFront over time, starting with Preqin benchmarks inside Aladdin.

Source
MSCI: How are MSCI ESG Ratings scored?

Companies are rated from AAA to CCC relative to their industry peers, based on financially relevant, industry-specific environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities. MSCI states coverage of more than 17,000 issuers and 999,000 securities.

Source
Preqin: How much does Preqin cost?

Preqin does not publish prices for Preqin Pro or its data products; its product pages lead to a demo request. A free account is available with selected datasets, free benchmarks and industry reports.

Source
MSCI: Is Burgiss part of MSCI?

Yes. MSCI completed its acquisition of The Burgiss Group, a provider of private asset data and analytics, on 2 October 2023. MSCI now sells private asset data and analytics through products including MSCI Private i, private asset indexes and private asset factor models.

Source
Preqin: Where does Preqin's data come from?

Preqin says more than 500 multilingual researchers verify data at source, using direct relationships with managers and investors, regulatory filings, press releases, news, websites and Freedom of Information Act requests. Fund performance data is sourced from GP-to-LP reports and enriched via FOIA requests.

Source
MSCI: Can MSCI data be used inside AI assistants?

Through the MSCI Connector, a Model Context Protocol connection available in Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot and MSCI ONE. Responses are entitlement-controlled, and MSCI states client data is not used to train AI models.

Source
Preqin: Can Preqin data be delivered into our own systems?

Yes, through Enterprise Data Solutions: Feeds APIs for bulk structured datasets, Operational APIs for targeted on-demand access such as CRM views, more than 100 data feeds, and listings on the Snowflake and AWS marketplaces.

Source
MSCI: What do the Barra factor models cover?

MSCI lists more than 70 equity factor models covering over 90,000 securities, 49 industries and more than 85 countries, with newer Barra models adding sustainability, crowding and machine learning factors.

Source
Preqin: Does Preqin work with AI tools?

Preqin MCP brings Preqin data into AI workflows and is available on the ChatGPT Marketplace and through ChatGPT for Financial Services. It operates within a client's existing entitlements and complements Preqin Pro rather than replacing it.

Source
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