Form of Option Agreement for Employees under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan

You (the "Grantee") have been granted an option to purchase shares of Common Stock, subject to the terms and conditions of this Notice of Stock Option Award (the "Notice"), the MarketWatch, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (the "Plan") and the Stock Option Award Agreement (the "Option Agreement") attached hereto, as follows. Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have the same defined meanings in this Notice.

Vesting Schedule:

Subject to the Grantee's Continuous Service and other limitations set forth in this Notice, the Plan and the Option Agreement, the Option may be exercised, in whole or in part, in accordance with the following schedule:

1/3 of the Shares subject to the Option shall vest twelve months after the Vesting Commencement Date, 1/3 of the Shares subject to the Option shall vest 24 months after the Vesting Commencement Date, and 1/3 of the Shares subject to the Option shall vest 36 months after the Vesting Commencement Date such that the option is fully vested on the third anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date.

During any authorized leave of absence, the vesting of the Option as provided in this schedule shall be suspended after the leave of absence exceeds a period of ninety (90) days. Vesting of the Option shall resume upon the Grantee's termination of the leave of absence and return to service to the Company or a Related Entity. The Vesting Schedule of the Option shall be extended by the length of the suspension.

In the event of the Grantee's change in status from Employee to Consultant or from an Employee whose customary employment is 20 hours or more per week to an Employee whose customary employment is fewer than 20 hours per week, vesting of the Option shall continue only to the extent determined by the Administrator as of such change in status.

In the event of termination of the Grantee's Continuous Service for Cause, the Grantee's right to exercise the Option shall terminate concurrently with the termination of the Grantee's Continuous Service, except as otherwise determined by the Administrator.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Grantee have executed this Notice and agree that the Option is to be governed by the terms and conditions of this Notice, the Plan, and the Option Agreement.

THE GRANTEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE SHARES SUBJECT TO THE OPTION SHALL VEST, IF AT ALL, ONLY DURING THE PERIOD OF THE GRANTEE'S CONTINUOUS SERVICE (NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING GRANTED THE OPTION OR ACQUIRING SHARES HEREUNDER). THE GRANTEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT NOTHING IN THIS NOTICE, THE OPTION AGREEMENT, OR THE PLAN SHALL CONFER UPON THE GRANTEE ANY RIGHT WITH RESPECT TO FUTURE AWARDS OR CONTINUATION OF THE GRANTEE'S CONTINUOUS SERVICE, NOR SHALL IT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH THE GRANTEE'S RIGHT OR THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY OR RELATED ENTITY TO WHICH THE GRANTEE PROVIDES SERVICES TO TERMINATE THE GRANTEE'S CONTINUOUS SERVICE, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE, AND WITH OR WITHOUT NOTICE. THE GRANTEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT UNLESS THE GRANTEE HAS A WRITTEN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE COMPANY TO THE CONTRARY, THE GRANTEE'S STATUS IS AT WILL.

The Grantee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and the Option Agreement, and represents that he or she is familiar with the terms and provisions thereof, and hereby accepts the Option subject to all of the terms and provisions hereof and thereof. The Grantee has reviewed this Notice, the Plan, and the Option Agreement in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Notice, and fully understands all provisions of this Notice, the Plan and the Option Agreement. The Grantee hereby agrees that all disputes arising out of or relating to this Notice, the Plan and the Option Agreement shall be resolved in accordance with Section 13 of the Option Agreement. The Grantee further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the residence address indicated in this Notice.

Dated: ______________________ Signed:

1. Grant of Option. MarketWatch, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby grants to the Grantee (the "Grantee") named in the Notice of Stock Option Award (the "Notice"), an option (the "Option") to purchase the Total Number of Shares of Common Stock subject to the Option (the "Shares") set forth in the Notice, at the Exercise Price per Share set forth in the Notice (the "Exercise Price") subject to the terms and provisions of the Notice, this Stock Option Award Agreement (the "Option Agreement") and the Company's 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (the "Plan"), which are incorporated herein by reference. Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have the same defined meanings in this Option Agreement.

If designated in the Notice as an Incentive Stock Option, the Option is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option as defined in Section 422 of the Code. However, notwithstanding such designation, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of Shares subject to Options designated as Incentive Stock Options which become exercisable for the first time by the Grantee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company) exceeds $100,000, such excess Options, to the extent of the Shares covered thereby in excess of the foregoing limitation, shall be treated as Non- Qualified Stock Options. For this purpose, Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the date the Option with respect to such Shares is awarded.

2. Exercise of Option

(a) Right to Exercise. The Option shall be exercisable during its term in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set out in the Notice and with the applicable provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement. The Option shall be subject to the provisions of Section 11 of the Plan relating to the exercisability or termination of the Option in the event of a Corporate Transaction. The Grantee shall be subject to reasonable limitations on the number of requested exercises during any monthly or weekly period as determined by the Administrator. In no event shall the Company issue fractional Shares.

(b) Method of Exercise. The Option shall be exercisable by delivery of an exercise notice or by such other procedure as specified from time to time by the Administrator which shall state the election to exercise the Option, the whole number of Shares in respect of which the Option is being exercised, and such other provisions as may be required by the Administrator. The exercise notice shall be delivered in person, by certified mail, or by such other method (including electronic transmission) as determined from time to time by the Administrator to the Company accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price. The Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by the Company of such notice accompanied by the Exercise Price, which, to the extent selected, shall be deemed to be satisfied by use of the broker-dealer sale and remittance procedure to pay the Exercise Price provided in Section 3(c), below.

(c) Taxes. No Shares will be delivered to the Grantee or other person pursuant to the exercise of the Option until the Grantee or other person has made arrangements acceptable to the Administrator for the satisfaction of applicable income tax and employment tax withholding obligations, including, without limitation, such other tax obligations of the Grantee incident to the receipt of Shares or the disqualifying disposition of Shares received on exercise of an Incentive Stock Option. Upon exercise of the Option, the Company or the Grantee's employer may offset or withhold (from any amount owed by the Company or the Grantee's employer to the Grantee) or collect from the Grantee or other person an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations and/or the employer's withholding obligations.

3. Method of Payment. Payment of the Exercise Price shall be made by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Grantee; provided, however, that such exercise method does not then violate any Applicable Law and, provided further, that the portion of the Exercise Price equal to the par value of the Shares must be paid in cash or other legal consideration permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law:

(a) cash;

(b) check; or

(c) payment through a broker-dealer sale and remittance procedure pursuant to which the Grantee (i) shall provide written instructions to a Company- designated brokerage firm to effect the immediate sale of some or all of the purchased Shares and remit to the Company sufficient funds to cover the aggregate exercise price payable for the purchased Shares and (ii) shall provide written directives to the Company to deliver the certificates for the purchased Shares directly to such brokerage firm in order to complete the sale transaction.

4. Notices. Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon personal delivery, upon deposit for delivery by an internationally recognized express mail courier service or upon deposit in the United States mail by certified mail (if the parties are within the United States), with postage and fees prepaid, addressed to the other party at its address as shown in these instruments, or to such other address as such party may designate in writing from time to time to the other party.