Answers to some frequently asked questions
How do I login using WRDS Two-Factor (2FA) Authentication by Duo
Learn how to register your smartphone and use Duo Mobile two-factor authentication here.
What are the Terms of Use for WRDS?
Please review the full WRDS Terms of Use for additional information, highlighting topics including access by Co-Authors, Privacy and Account Information.
What data are provided at no cost?
As part of the subscription to WRDS, the following data are available at no cost:
How do I access data through WRDS?
- You can access data using your browser:
Use Our Web Query Forms
All you need is a web browser and Internet access to query data from WRDS. After you've decided on which dataset to use, you can use our web-based query form to extract and output data in the format of your choice. Each dataset on WRDS includes a description of what's included as well as links to the pages for each query. The web-based version of WRDS is designed to work with any modern browser.
Our web queries have the same general format for all databases in WRDS. Full documentation: Web Queries or Introduction to Web Queries
Use SAS Studio
Access WRDS data from any web browser using SAS Studio. SAS Studio is a web-based version of SAS, that combines the ease of a point-and-click web interface with the power of the underlying SAS language and data files. WRDS provides data in SAS format, allowing native querying of WRDS data right within your SAS programs. Full documentation: SAS Studio Direct link: SAS Studio (upenn.edu)
Use RStudio Server
With a minimal amount of setup, WRDS provides a direct interface for R access, allowing native querying of WRDS data right within your R program. All WRDS data is stored in a PostgreSQL database, and is available through R via a native R Postgres driver. Full documentation: RStudio Server Direct link: https://wrds-rstudio.wharton.upenn.edu/
Use Jupyter Notebooks
Access WRDS data in Jupyter notebooks using our WRDS Python module. Use Jupyter to create and share documents that contain live code, equations, visualizations, and narrative text. Full documentation: JupyterHub Direct link: WRDS JupyterHub
2. You can access data using the WRDS Cloud
WRDS provides a high-performance computing cluster, the WRDS Cloud. WRDS Cloud provides command-line access to a powerful research computing platform. It enables access to all of our data and includes support for many programming languages. Some of the benefits of the WRDS Cloud include:
- Servers offer up to 24 cores and 256GB RAM each.
- Store up to 10GB of your programs and data in your own directory.
- Access up to 500GB of temporary disk space to process programs and store results.
The WRDS Cloud is accessible via SSH, a way of securely connecting to WRDS. Once connected, you'll be able to access WRDS data directly in your favorite programming languages. Languages supported include SAS, Python, R--and if you have an active license--Stata and MATLAB.
Some knowledge of Linux is helpful when working on the WRDS Cloud, but we've included everything you need to get started in our documentation. Full documentation: The WRDS Cloud
3. You can connect to WRDS via your PC:
WRDS data is further accessible remotely from your computer through many popular programming applications.
You can connect to WRDS and access WRDS datasets using the following options:
- SAS via PC-SAS/Connect
- R via R Console or RStudio IDE Download
- MATLAB
- Stata
- Local language installations such as Python
- WRDS provides ODBC and JDBC interfaces, so any application that can use ODBC/JDBC can retrieve data from WRDS.
These methods allow you to connect to the WRDS data on our PostgreSQL database cluster via ODBC, or our SAS data on disk. Each solution requires a small amount of initial setup, but once connected allows straightforward access from within your preferred programming environment. Full documentation: Programming at WRDS
What data is available through WRDS?
WRDS data is compiled from independent sources that specialize in specific historical data. Some sources include Capital IQ, NYSE, CRSP, and Refinitiv (formerly Thomson Reuters), and more specialized sources such as Markit, FactSet, Hedge Fund Research, Inc., Eventus, and GSIOnline with more added regularly to meet the growing needs of our clients.
View our extensive list of databases: Data By Concept
How can I get more information about subscribing to WRDS?
Email WRDS Support for subscription information.
What is a trial account?
Trial account allows access to WRDS and sample sets of data, and all WRDS features for a limited period. Trial accounts are offered to full-time faculty and staff at qualifying academic and government institutions and corporate firms.
Email WRDS Support for trial information.
What is WRDS?
Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS) is the leading business intelligence, data analytics, and research platform for global institutions ̶ enabling comprehensive thought leadership, historical analysis, and insight into the latest innovations in academic research.
WRDS democratizes data access so that all disciplines, Accounting, Banking, Economics, ESG, Finance, Healthcare, Insurance, Marketing, and Statistics, can easily search for concepts across the data repository. Partnering with global vendors, WRDS hosts 350+TB of data — the broadest collection of data on the most robust computing infrastructure to give users the power to analyze complex information at speeds of up to 400MB per second.
Flexible data delivery options include a powerful web query method that reduces research time; the WRDS Cloud for executing research and strategy development; and the WRDS client server using SAS, Python, R, Stata, Matlab, and more. Our rigorous data review and validation give users the confidence to tailor research and create a wide range of reliable data models.
WRDS’ unique array of Services include access to a suite of Analytics tools and Learning Pathways —providing curated, guided resources for Researchers, Instructors, and Information Professionals. Through data, analytics, research and technology, approach your research using real world examples and advance your analysis to answer the most critical questions with your data.
WRDS is a leader in impactful research. Through a partnership with SSRN, WRDS is elevating the visibility of universities and researchers working across an array of fields. The WRDS Research Paper Series is a searchable repository of all papers submitted to SSRN that cite WRDS in their work. In addition, the two organizations have launched the WRDS-SSRN Innovation Award™ to honor rising business schools in the North America, Asia Pacific, and EMEA regions.
WRDS is more than just a data platform. Supporting over 75,000 commercial, academic, and government users at 500+ institutions in 38 countries, WRDS is the global gold standard in data management, innovative tools, analytics, and research services — all backed by the credibility and leadership of the Wharton School.