Product development agent
Helps asset managers refine a product’s positioning and launch decisions, based on flows and category analysis.
AI tools · Spreadsheets and data
Morningstar Direct AI pricing, use cases, and first steps
Morningstar Direct is Morningstar’s fund research and analysis platform. On October 7, 2026, Morningstar launched Direct AI, a new browser-based interface with three first agents: product development, distribution and manager research. Its data and research are also available in Claude, Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT, with an MCP server for licensed customers.
Morningstar Direct AI has no free plan. The recommended plan to start with: Morningstar license, by quote. Prices checked on October 20, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
Morningstar Direct AIMorningstar Direct’s agents, and its data in Claude- Vendor
- Morningstar (United States)
- Free plan
- No
- Recommended plan
- Morningstar license, by quote
- In the European Union
- Partly available
- Page checked on
- October 20, 2026
What Morningstar Direct AI does
Who it’s for: asset managers, fund sales teams, manager research teams and advisors who already use Morningstar.
Distribution agent
Helps sales teams get a fund onto approved lists or into model portfolios. It finds the gaps in a model portfolio, shows where the fund would fit and what that would change, and prepares arguments for the review meeting. It handles portfolios that mix listed and unlisted holdings.
Manager research agent
Helps due diligence teams examine strategies by applying the analytical framework of Morningstar’s analysts.
Also
- Morningstar’s methodology in the agents’ logic
- MCP server and Morningstar agent
Morningstar Direct AI pricing
The press releases mention flexible commercial models, with no prices or terms.
| Plan | Price | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Morningstar license Recommended to start | By quote | Asset managers, distribution and due diligence teams, advisors |
Nova’s advice
If you are already a Morningstar Direct customer, ask for Direct AI to be made available and test on a fund you know. Otherwise, first assess whether your need really calls for agents or just data in Claude.
A first try, in 15 minutes
Your data. Access goes through each user’s license rights. The press releases we read say nothing about retention, hosting or training.
What it does less well
- Direct AI launched on October 7, 2026 and has only three agents at the start.
- The 2025 press release described Microsoft 365 Copilot as “coming soon”: the current status is not verified here.
Have the research agent assess a managerMorningstar Direct AI- Open the manager research agent in Direct AI.
- Choose a strategy your team has already reviewed.
- Paste the prompt below, replacing the strategy name.
- Compare the conclusion with your own due diligence note.
- Note what the agent saw more or less than you did.
The prompt to copy
Assess the strategy [name] like a due diligence team: process, team, performance, fees and risks. Support each point with Morningstar’s data and methodology. Point out where the data is insufficient.
Alternatives to Morningstar Direct AI
Frequently asked questions about Morningstar Direct AI
How much does Morningstar Direct AI cost?
Morningstar license: by quote. Prices checked on October 20, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
Can you use Morningstar Direct AI for free?
No: Morningstar Direct AI has no free plan. If you are already a Morningstar Direct customer, ask for Direct AI to be made available and test on a fund you know.
What happens to my data with Morningstar Direct AI?
Access goes through each user’s license rights. The press releases we read say nothing about retention, hosting or training.
What are the alternatives to Morningstar Direct AI?
FactSet: For broader market data, connected through an MCP server. PitchBook: For private markets: companies, deals, funds and LP commitments. Claude: The assistant into which Morningstar data is plugged.
Official pages consulted
- Morningstar launches Direct AI, October 7, 2026
- Morningstar in Microsoft’s AI tools, November 18, 2025
Page checked on October 20, 2026. Brands are named to identify the tools. No affiliation.