If you trade ETFs using momentum, you need a screener that can filter by recent performance, RSI, moving average crossovers, and relative strength — all without a monthly subscription. The best free ETF screeners for momentum in 2026 are TradingView (for technical filters and global coverage), Finviz (for its 98 ETF filter categories on the free tier), and ETF.com (for holdings overlap and fund-flow analysis). Each covers different angles of a momentum screening workflow.
The Short Version
- TradingView — best for technical momentum filters (RSI, MACD, moving average ribbons). Free tier covers global ETFs. Supports saved screeners and multi-chart comparison.
- Finviz — 98 ETF filter categories on the free plan. Includes performance (1-day through 52-week), volume, and technical indicators. No registration required to screen.
- ETF.com — 60+ free filters including total return periods, expense ratio, AUM, and holdings overlap. Best for narrowing a shortlist to the single best fund.
- ETF Database (ETFdb) — simple free screener with asset class, yield, and performance filters. Good for quick scans but limited technical screening.
- JustETF — the best choice for European (UCITS) ETF momentum screening. Free tier covers 2,400+ funds with performance and cost filters.
Below is a head-to-head comparison of the five platforms, followed by a step-by-step workflow for using them to find momentum ETFs.
What Makes a Good Free ETF Screener for Momentum?
A momentum screener needs more than just a “performance” column. To identify ETFs with genuine trending behaviour, look for platforms that offer:
- Multiple time-frame returns — 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, 12-month, and year-to-date views. Momentum persistence varies by lookback window.
- Technical indicator filters — RSI (Relative Strength Index), MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence), and moving average crossovers. These help distinguish trending funds from random noise.
- Relative strength ranking — the ability to compare an ETF’s recent return against its category or a broad benchmark.
- Volume and liquidity filters — average daily volume, AUM (assets under management), and bid-ask spread estimates. Low-liquidity ETFs produce slippage that eats into momentum profits.
- Export or save functionality — so you can track your screener results over time and backtest selection rules.
Most free screeners offer a subset of these. The trick is combining two or three tools to cover what each one misses.
Free ETF Screener Comparison Table
| Screener | Free Filters | Technical Filters (Free) | Global ETFs | Export | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TradingView | Unlimited (custom) | RSI, MACD, MA, Stochastic, 100+ indicators | Yes | Screenshot, share link | Technical momentum analysis |
| Finviz | 98 ETF filters | RSI, MA crossover, volume signals | No (US-listed) | CSV (paid) | Quick ETF screening with technical overlays |
| ETF.com | 60+ filters | No technical indicators (fundamental only) | US-listed only | Save screen (free account) | Holdings overlap and fund comparison |
| ETF Database | Basic (asset class, yield, performance) | None | No (US-listed) | CSV (Pro) | Simple initial screening |
| JustETF | Full (asset class, region, provider, cost) | No technical indicators | Yes (UCITS focus) | CSV (free) | European ETF momentum screening |
How to Screen for Momentum ETFs Using TradingView (Free)
TradingView’s free ETF screener offers the best technical filter set without a paywall. Here is the step-by-step workflow:
- Go to TradingView → Products → Screeners → ETF Screener. The free tier covers all US-listed ETFs and many international exchanges.
- Add the following momentum filters in the top panel:
- Return 1 Month → set a minimum, e.g. > 3%
- Return 3 Months → set > 5%
- RSI (14) → range 50–80 (avoids overbought extremes while confirming upward momentum)
- Volume → minimum 100,000 daily average (ensures liquidity)
- AUM → minimum $50M (avoids micro-ETFs that may close)
- Sort the results table by Return 3 Months descending. The top 10–20 funds are your momentum candidate list.
- Click any ticker to open a multi-timeframe chart. Check whether the price is above both its 50-day and 200-day moving average — a classic trend-confirmation signal.
- Save the screener configuration (requires a free TradingView account) so you can re-run it weekly.
TradingView also lets you plot the screener results directly on a heatmap or watchlist, which is useful for tracking changes week over week.
How to Use Finviz for ETF Momentum Screening (Free)
Finviz’s free screener does not require registration and provides 98 ETF-specific filter categories. Here is how to configure it for momentum:
- Open Finviz.com → Screener → ETF tab (next to the “All” tab).
- In the Performance group, set:
- Performance (Week) → Over 0% (eliminates short-term losers)
- Performance (Quarter) → Over 5%
- Performance (Half Year) → Over 8%
- In the Technical group, set:
- RSI (14) → Between 50 and 80
- 20-Day Simple Moving Average → Price above SMA20 (confirms short-term trend)
- 50-Day Simple Moving Average → Price above SMA50 (confirms medium-term trend)
- Use the Volume filter to set a minimum (e.g., 200,000 average volume). This avoids illiquid ETFs that produce poor fills.
- Click the column headers to sort by any metric. The free view displays the data inline — no CSV export without Elite, but the screen is usable for manual review.
Finviz’s strength is speed: the interface loads fast and the results table is dense with information. For a quick weekly scan, it is hard to beat.
What About ETF.com and ETF Database?
ETF.com (owned by VettaFi) offers 60+ free filter criteria but no technical indicator filters. It is best used after you have a shortlist from TradingView or Finviz. Its holdings overlap tool and fund-flow data (30-day, 90-day, 1-year) help you decide between two ETFs that track similar themes. For example, if your momentum screen returns two technology ETFs with similar performance, ETF.com can show you whether their top 10 holdings overlap by 80% — if they do, buy the cheaper one.
ETF Database (ETFdb) provides the simplest interface for a quick asset-class or yield-based screen. It lacks technical filters entirely, so it is not suitable as a standalone momentum tool. Use it to generate candidate ideas, then cross-reference against TradingView or Finviz for technical confirmation.
Can You Screen European (UCITS) Momentum ETFs for Free?
Yes — JustETF is the dominant free screener for UCITS ETFs listed on European exchanges. It covers 2,400+ funds with filters for asset class, region, provider, fund size, and ongoing charges. Performance data (1-month, 3-month, 1-year, 3-year) is available for every fund on the free tier. You cannot filter by RSI or moving averages, but you can sort by trailing returns and then check the underlying index methodology to confirm a momentum strategy. JustETF also lists which brokers offer savings-plan access to each ETF — a practical detail that US-focused screeners ignore.
For European traders who need technical screening, the best approach is: find candidate UCITS ETFs on JustETF, then chart them on TradingView (which covers European ETFs on its free tier) to check the moving average and RSI setup.
How to Build a Weekly Momentum Screening Routine
A repeatable weekly routine keeps your momentum watchlist current without hours of manual work each time. Here is a practical 15-minute workflow:
- Monday morning: Run your saved TradingView ETF screener (the five-filter configuration from the section above). Export the top 15 results by 3-month return to a watchlist.
- Monday morning (part 2): Cross-reference the top 5–7 candidates on Finviz. Confirm they pass the moving average and RSI filters. Remove any that triggered a volume spike that looks like a blow-off top rather than sustained momentum.
- Wednesday: Use ETF.com’s holdings overlap tool to compare your top 2–3 candidates. If they are essentially the same basket of stocks, drop the one with the higher expense ratio.
- Friday: Review the week’s performance of your watchlist. Note any that broke below their 50-day moving average — these are candidates to remove the following Monday.
This routine uses only free tools and takes under 15 minutes once the screener configurations are saved.
Quick Self-Check
Test your understanding before you start screening.
Why is an RSI filter important when screening for momentum ETFs?
RSI helps distinguish genuine trending funds from overbought spikes. A filter of 50–80 captures ETFs with confirmed upward momentum (above 50) while avoiding those that may be due for a pullback (above 80). Without it, your momentum screen might simply return the most volatile funds rather than the most consistently trending ones.
Which free screener works best for European-listed UCITS momentum ETFs?
JustETF is the best free tool for UCITS ETFs, covering over 2,400 funds with performance data across multiple time frames. It lacks technical filters, so pair it with TradingView (which supports European ETFs on its free tier) to check RSI and moving average confirmation before entering a position.
What is the minimum AUM and volume I should set in a momentum ETF screener?
A minimum AUM of $50 million and average daily volume of 100,000–200,000 shares avoids micro-ETFs that may close or produce wide bid-ask spreads. Low-liquidity ETFs can erode momentum profits through slippage alone, especially if you trade positions larger than a few thousand dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Finviz’s ETF screener really free?
Yes, the basic Finviz ETF screener is free and requires no registration. It provides 98 ETF filter categories including performance, volume, and technical indicators. The free tier displays results inline with column sorting. CSV export and real-time data require the paid Elite plan ($39.50/month or $299.50/year as of 2026), which includes a 7-day free trial.
Can I screen global ETFs for momentum, or only US-listed?
TradingView’s free ETF screener covers US-listed funds and many international exchanges. JustETF is the best option for European UCITS ETFs. Finviz and ETF.com are limited to US-listed ETFs. If you trade ETFs on Asian or Australian exchanges, TradingView or exchange-specific screeners (e.g., ASX’s ETF screener) are your best free options.
How often should I re-run my momentum ETF screener?
Weekly is the standard cadence for momentum screening. Monthly is too slow — you will miss trend reversals. Daily is overkill for most traders because momentum tends to persist on a weekly time frame (Jegadeesh and Titman, 1993). A consistent Monday morning screen gives you a fresh watchlist before the trading week begins.
Do free ETF screeners include leveraged or inverse ETFs?
All five tools listed in this guide include leveraged and inverse ETFs in their results. Most allow you to filter them out via the asset class or category filter. ETF Database has a quick “Leveraged” toggle. Finviz lets you exclude them under the “Descriptive” filter group. For momentum screening, it is generally wise to exclude leveraged ETFs — their daily rebalancing creates decay that makes multi-month momentum signals unreliable.
Can I screen for ETFs with a specific moving average crossover pattern?
Finviz offers moving average relationship filters (price vs SMA20, SMA50, SMA200) on the free tier. TradingView allows full customisation of moving average crossovers as screener conditions. Neither ETF.com nor ETF Database support MA crossover filtering. For a golden cross (SMA50 crossing above SMA200) or death cross strategy, TradingView is the best free choice.
Educational content only — not financial advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Trading involves risk of loss. Disclaimer · Affiliate Disclosure
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