This is not an exhaustive list of offerings by our brokerage service. Nor it is a complete list of features, but this information is intended to streamline the basic overview to help traders simplify the process of narrowing down to the best fit for their individual needs. If you would like to learn more about choosing the right trading platform for your particular trading needs, click here to view "How to choose the right futures trading platform"
 

FREE StoneX Futures and Options PlatformCQG Desktop - StoneX Futures Trading Platform

Our most popular FREE platform is StoneX Futures. It is a customized version of CQG Desktop, a feature-rich application capable of trading futures, options on futures, futures spreads, and options spreads. StoneX Futures also features fully customizable workspaces, or you can use the pre-built pages we have designed for an out-of-the-box experience. Because it is web-based, this platform doesn't require a software download and can be run on any computer or device; it is entirely MAC compatible.

Key Features of the StoneX Futures platform -

  1. Fully Customizable
  2. Quick and responsive interface
  3. Option chains with the Greeks: Commodity Option Chain
  4. Option Strategy/Spread Building capabilities
  5. Interactive charting
  6. DOM panel and HOT trade ticket
  7. Futures Spread matrix for easy point-and-click order entry for futures calendar spreads
  8. Backed by a reliable CQG data feed and order entry server
  9. Bracket orders (OCO, OSO)
  10. Timed release orders (MOO, MOC, and more)
  11. Point-and-click trading
  12. Trade from the chart, an order pad, or the quote board
  13. Futures time and sales
  14. Heatmap
 

iBroker Web (Gain Futures/Stonex)

 
1. Mac-compatible futures trading platform.
2. No downloads; access this commodity trading platform via your web browser (Safari, Chrome, Edge, etc.)
3. Simple and efficient user interface.
4. Live futures quotes and charts, option chains.
5. Lacks option Greeks and spread order placement. 
6. No need to be familiar with commodity symbols and months (user-friendly)
7. Option selling friendly policies and margin.
8. This platform is available as a stand-alone product, or as a backup to the Zaner360.
9. Comes with a mobile application.
 

Oak (ADMIS)

 
1. Desktop, low-end web platform, and nice mobile application.
2. Option trading friendly, but aggressive traders charged higher than SPAN
3. No charts, not user-friendly
4. DOM panel (waterfall), sturdy
5. Time-consuming to enter option orders
6. Option trading friendly, but aggressive traders can expect a margin upcharge
7. High transaction costs
 
 

Affordable and Worthy Upgrades

 
 

Track n’ Trade Live (Gain Futures/Stonex)

 
1. Ask us about the special monthly rate Gecko Software offers our clients.
2. High-end charting with unique features (seasonals, COT, autopilot trading, etc.).
3. Analytical tool with Greeks AND a platform.
4. Place futures and option orders directly from a futures chart.
5. Effortlessly place option spread trades with customizable pre-built templates
6. We can set up with option-friendly trading & margin policies.
7. Complimentary mobile iBroker application included.
8. Highly recommended in the "Affordable Upgrade" category.
 

CQG Desktop (Gain Futures/Stonex, or other clearing arrangements)

1. Simplified and convenient CQG product capable of executing futures and options on futures. 
2. Option-friendly margin policy (if using Gain Futures/Stonex for clearing). 
3. Includes a mobile application.
4. Place option orders directly from a futures chart.
5. Option spread capabilities.
6. Charting, trading, and market analytics in a single platform.
7. Highly recommended in the "Affordable Upgrade" category.
 

SierraChart (multiple clearing choices)

1. Easy-to-use and popular charting software.
2. Trade futures using manual, automated and simulated trading.
3. Real-time and historical futures market charts. 
4. Excellent value with low pricing starting at $24 per month.
5. Lacks option trading capabilities (futures trading only).
 

CTS (multiple clearing choices)

 
1. Charged 25 cents per trade, $25 monthly minimum.
2. Feature-rich and server-saved settings.
3. Desktop, web-based, and mobile applications.
4. Option spreads, but Greeks and analytics require an expensive upgrade (hundreds $ per month).
5. Very convenient and affordable for low to moderate-volume traders, not appropriate for high-volume traders due per-trade fee.
6. Despite multiple clearing arrangements, difficult to find an option-friendly arrangement.
 

CQG Q-Trader (multiple clearing choices)

 
1. $40 per month.
2. A fully loaded platform, designed for professional traders beginning traders get frustrated with it. 
3. Not necessarily intuitive/user-friendly.
4. No web-based version, but there is a mobile application requiring an additional monthly fee or you can log in via the iBroker app (no monthly fee but 25 cents per trade).
 

TradingView (Gain Futures/Stonex)

 
1. $50 per month plus $10 monthly CQG connection fee.
2. A futures-only (no options) social network trading platform.
3. Strong on charting and interaction with other traders. 
4. Web-based futures platform that can be used on a Mac computer. 
 
 

High-end Platforms

 
 

QST (multiple clearing choices)

 
1. Starts at $50 per month, goes up to $300 per month ($200 per month sufficient for retail trading).
2. Not necessarily well-known, but it is top-of-the-line.
3. High-end option chains, option charts, Greeks, option spreads (somewhat challenged), and analytics.
4. Mac compatible.
5. Mobile app $60 per month (or iBroker)
6. Can be set up to use option trading-friendly clearing.
7. Expensive, but highly recommended for serious traders.
 

BarchartTrader (multiple clearing choices)

 
1. $129 per month.
2. Web-based.
3. High-end charting and user-friendly interface.
4. Option Greeks, spread builder, and analytics.
5. Mac compatible.
6. Can be set up to use option trading-friendly clearing.
7. Complimentary mobile application.
8. Settings synced to the server, convenient.
 

TradeNavigator (multiple clearing choices)

 
 
1. $70 per month for the standard version, or $130 per month w/options package (one-time cost of $495 to $1495 for upgraded packages).
2. Massive charting and historical data package.
3. High-end features and plugins (seasonals, replay, market profile…).
4. iBroker app is available depending on the data feed provider.
5. Can be set up to use option trading-friendly clearing.
 

eSignal (multiple clearing arrangements)

 
 
1. $152 per month ($61 for stock indices only, or $416 for the elite version)
2. Advanced charting
3. Complimentary mobile application and web platform
4. Market screener, data export, market data, and volume analyzer, etc.
5. Can be set up to use option trading-friendly clearing.
 

Futures and Options Trading Booksby Carley Garner

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