Use this comparison to choose how to investigate a question, produce a report, or track future developments.
This comparison covers the web app. Availability differs on iOS and through integrations; Capabilities by surface explains what is available in each. Portrait MCP does not provide access to Easel.
| Workflow | Use it when… | Interaction | Primary result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easel | The route is open-ended, multi-step, or likely to change as you inspect evidence | Conversational; you can redirect the work | An inline response by default, or a file when requested or warranted |
| Deep Research | You can define the companies, period, sources, and report question before execution | Submit a defined scope, then review the report | Portrait Review and Appendix |
| Screening | You have explicit quantitative or textual filters for a company universe | Configure and run a screen | Company-level filter results |
| Mosaic | You need to apply a reusable research framework across an investment universe | Define common research criteria and investigate companies in stages; requires account access | Research for each company, with ranking available for screening frameworks |
| Scheduled Research | You want Easel to repeat a saved investigation while you are away | Save instructions, cadence, timezone, and notification preferences, then authorize and enable | Run history and answers, with notifications according to the selected policy |
| Monitors | You know which companies, signals, sources, and delivery cadence to follow | Configure once, then review matching updates | Inbox items and configured notifications |
| Charts | You need a visual comparison of supported time-series data | Select series and presentation | Line or bar chart |
Easel or Deep Research
Use Easel when the work benefits from follow-up questions or changes of direction as you inspect evidence. Use Deep Research when you want a report generated from a scope you can define in advance. You can use both in sequence: run Deep Research for a structured base, then ask Easel to examine a specific question or compare it with later evidence.
For new conversational research, use Ask Easel. To find or continue an earlier Quick Chat thread, see Quick Chat (legacy).
Screening or Mosaic
Use Screening for explicit filters and repeatable screens. Mosaic applies a reusable set of research instructions and criteria across companies, with staged research and ranking for screening frameworks. Access depends on your account. If Mosaic is not visible in your account, use Screening or contact the team to discuss availability.
Monitors or a one-time investigation
Use a Monitor when you need future updates about a question or signal. Define the companies, signals, sources, and cadence narrowly enough that each update can be judged against the original intent. Use Easel or Deep Research for a one-time question.
Review is part of every workflow
Generated research is not a guarantee of accuracy or completeness. Confirm scope, inspect available citations, and verify material claims against primary sources before acting on the result.
Read Mosaic overview for its research stages, or choose a tutorial in Getting started.
Scheduled Research, briefs, or scheduled screens
For “research my portfolio every Monday”, use Scheduled Research when the recurring job needs Easel's open-ended investigation. Use a Monitor or scheduled brief for defined signals and source coverage. Schedule a screen when the repeated job is applying saved company filters. These are separate workflows: their pause controls, credit commitments, and notifications differ.