TradeStation Review v2

One of TradeStation’s most popular features is the Matrix. It lets traders see market activity at a glance and instantly place trades at the price level they want. A quick look can help traders decide when to pull the trigger on a stock, futures or options trade. It combines the benefits of a detailed market depth window, a highly advanced order-entry tool and a precise order-tracking system into a single view.

You can tap into the power of the Matrix from our desktop, mobile, and web trading platforms. The Matrix displays the session’s trading range, with lines marking the high and low prices. You can see the size of buy and sell orders at each price level, as well as the total volume traded at each price.

The real power of TradeStation lies in leveraging the capabilities of the TradeStation 10 desktop platform, which includes hundreds of indicators and the ability to create custom watch lists and charts in a wide array of different colors. Traders can also set alerts on price levels or important events like earnings announcements.

If you’re not familiar with backtesting, the term refers to the process of looking at the price history of an investment to determine if any combination of chart patterns or indicators can help forecast future price moves, which can then be used to generate profits in the markets. TradeStation has a large database of historical data (40 years’ worth of stock prices) to help traders better understand how stock, options, and futures strategies fared in the past.

Once a backtest is complete, strategies can be implemented in a simulated trading account. Just like a flight simulator trains a pilot without risking people’s lives, a “sim” account is a handy way for traders to see the real-time results of their trading systems without risking real dollars. Portfolio Maestro is the analysis feature within TradeStation that helps to optimize trading strategies by highlighting what approaches are working and what strategies need adjusting.

After a profitable trading approach is identified and defined, the system can then be automated using TradeStation 10 desktop platform, so that trading signals from the backtested system automatically generate buying and selling in the TradeStation account.

Another advantage of using TradeStation is its efficient order execution. The platform’s advanced order-routing technology allows traders to execute trades quickly and reliably. TradeStation also offers a range of order types, including stop-loss and limit orders, which can help traders manage risk and optimize their trading strategies.

OptionsStation Pro clearly was built especially for options traders to customize options chains in order to display single options or complex options spreads. It is an advanced options analysis and trading platform with tools that allow traders to quickly and easily build options chains, graph and analyze any options strategy, and then quickly place trades directly into the market.

One of the main advantages of using TradeStation is its competitive pricing. For futures trading, TradeStation charges a per-contract fee of $1.50, with a minimum order size of one contract and $0 commission. Options trading is similarly priced, with a per-contract fee of $0.60, with a minimum order size of one contract and  $0 commission. While stocks and ETFs are $0 commission.

In addition to the platform fee, which is only charged if the user does not have a brokerage account, TradeStation charges a range of other fees, including data fees for real-time market data outside of the provided free data and exchange fees for trading on specific exchanges. These fees can vary depending on the type of trading activity and the markets being traded, so it’s important for traders to review the fee schedule carefully before opening an account with TradeStation.

TradeStation has generally positive reviews from customers. Many users praise the platform’s advanced trading tools and the company’s customer service. However, some users have expressed frustration with the platform’s steep learning curve. While traders should be aware of the platform’s fees and pricing, these costs are generally competitive with other leading trading platforms and are outweighed by the platform’s many advantages. Overall, TradeStation is an excellent choice for traders looking for a reliable and feature-rich trading platform.