The core difference in one sentence
PortfolioPilot is an AI advisor — it scores your portfolio, suggests trades, and models macro scenarios. Guardfolio is a risk monitor — it watches your live holdings for concentration, overlap, drift, drawdown, and volatility, and sends you an alert the moment something crosses a threshold you set.
Quick verdict
If your main need is AI-driven recommendations and macro analysis, PortfolioPilot is the stronger tool. If your main need is "what risks are building in my real portfolio right now?" with alerts across multiple accounts and 30+ global exchanges, that's exactly what Guardfolio was built for.
At a glance
- AI portfolio scoring & trade suggestions
- Macro-economic scenario modelling
- Fee optimisation recommendations
- Research-forward dashboard
- Live risk monitoring across all accounts
- Concentration, drift & ETF overlap alerts
- Drawdown & volatility limits with alerts
- Read-only sync across 30+ brokers
Six risk dimensions Guardfolio watches
PortfolioPilot provides a portfolio-level score and macro view. These are the six granular risk dimensions Guardfolio monitors continuously on your live holdings, with threshold-based alerts — the kind of operational detail that sits below a portfolio score.
1. Concentration
Single-holding exposure across all accounts, as a percentage of total net worth.
2. Allocation drift
How far your actual allocation has moved from your target mix.
3. ETF overlap
Look-through detection of the same underlying holdings across different ETFs.
4. Drawdown
Live peak-to-trough drawdown per holding and at portfolio level.
5. Volatility
Rolling realised volatility per holding and at portfolio level, with band alerts.
6. Sector exposure
Sector weights with drift and caps — catches tech or energy creep before it's obvious.
See all six metrics on your own portfolio
Connect your accounts and Guardfolio surfaces concentration, hidden ETF overlap, allocation drift, drawdown, volatility, and sector exposure — live, across every brokerage. The first 7 days are free.
Start Free Trial → 7-day free trial · Cancel anytime · Read-only broker accessFeature comparison
| Feature | Guardfolio | PortfolioPilot |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Live portfolio risk monitoring | AI scoring & trade recommendations |
| Holdings overlap & concentration | ||
| Live brokerage sync | ||
| Global exchange coverage | ||
| Proactive alerts (email / Telegram) | ||
| Allocation drift monitoring | ~ Static allocation view | |
| Drawdown & volatility alerts | ||
| AI trade recommendations | ||
| Macro / factor-style analytics | ||
| Sector exposure caps | ~ Sector view only | |
| Crypto support | ||
| Free risk check (no signup) | ||
| UX approach | Simple, focused on DIY investors | Complex, research-heavy dashboard |
Pricing verdict
What you pay vs what you get
| Plan | Price | Core value |
|---|---|---|
| PortfolioPilot Free | $0 | Basic portfolio score and limited analysis |
| PortfolioPilot Premium | Varies | AI trade suggestions, macro modelling, advanced analytics |
| Guardfolio Free | $0 | One-time risk snapshot: overlap, concentration, sector exposure |
| Guardian Pro | $29.99/mo ($20.99 annual) | Continuous monitoring, alerts, multi-account sync |
| Guardian Elite | $59/mo ($41.30 annual) | Everything in Pro + crypto, advanced metrics |
Both tools offer free tiers. Guardfolio's free snapshot covers ETF overlap, concentration, and sector exposure with no signup. The paid plans add continuous monitoring and alerts.
Best for
Best for Guardfolio
- Investors who want alerts when concentration, overlap, or drift crosses a threshold
- Multi-brokerage investors who need a unified live risk view across 30+ exchanges
- ETF holders who want look-through detection of hidden mega-cap concentration
- Self-directed investors who make their own decisions and want guardrails, not advice
- International investors tracking positions across multiple countries and platforms
Best for PortfolioPilot
- Investors who want AI-driven trade recommendations and portfolio scoring
- Macro-oriented investors interested in economic scenario modelling
- Fee-conscious investors who want optimisation suggestions
- Users who prefer a research-heavy dashboard with AI commentary
- US-focused portfolios that benefit from AI scoring workflows
Can you use both?
Yes. The tools serve different jobs. PortfolioPilot helps you decide what to hold — scoring your portfolio and suggesting improvements. Guardfolio watches what you already hold — monitoring concentration, overlap, drift, drawdown, and volatility across accounts, and alerting you when something crosses a line.
If you already use PortfolioPilot for recommendations, adding Guardfolio gives you the operational monitoring layer — the automated alerts that fire between your AI-assisted reviews.
Migration path
Switching or adding Guardfolio alongside PortfolioPilot takes minutes:
- Step 1: Run a free risk snapshot on your current portfolio (no signup required)
- Step 2: If you want ongoing alerts, connect your brokerage accounts via read-only API during the 7-day free trial
- Step 3: Keep PortfolioPilot for AI recommendations. Let Guardfolio handle the risk monitoring layer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Guardfolio and PortfolioPilot?
Guardfolio monitors structural portfolio risk — concentration, ETF overlap, sector drift, and drawdown — with live brokerage sync and automated alerts. PortfolioPilot scores your portfolio against macro factors and provides AI trade recommendations. They solve different problems.
What is the best alternative to PortfolioPilot?
For self-directed investors, Guardfolio is one of the strongest alternatives when the priority is live portfolio monitoring rather than AI recommendations. It is especially useful for overlap analysis, concentration tracking, and proactive alerts across multiple brokers and global markets.
Is there a free alternative to PortfolioPilot?
Yes. Guardfolio offers a free no-signup risk snapshot and a 7-day free trial of all paid features. You can connect brokerages and see hidden overlap, concentration, and drift before committing.
Which is better for ETF overlap and concentration detection?
Guardfolio is purpose-built for ETF look-through, overlap analysis, and concentration monitoring at the holdings level. PortfolioPilot provides a broader portfolio score but is less granular on individual overlap metrics.
Does Guardfolio give AI recommendations like PortfolioPilot?
No. Guardfolio is a monitoring tool, not an advisory tool. It detects when a risk threshold is crossed and alerts you, but does not suggest trades. This is by design for self-directed investors who make their own decisions.
Which is better for international stocks and multiple exchanges?
Guardfolio supports 30+ brokers and exchanges across 39+ markets in 30 countries. This makes it the stronger choice for portfolios spread across multiple countries and platforms.
Can I try Guardfolio before subscribing?
Yes. Every paid feature is available free for 7 days. You can also run a no-signup snapshot first at /risk.
PortfolioPilot scores the portfolio. Guardfolio watches it live.
AI scores tell you what might improve. Guardfolio shows what's actually changing right now.
- Live concentration & ETF overlap alerts
- Drift, drawdown & volatility monitoring
- Read-only sync across 30+ brokers