TradeStation

TradeStation has the unique distinction of being the most and least expensive platforms I support. The platform costs $249 USD for a monthly lease. If you open an account of $5000 USD or more, the monthly platform fee is reduced to $99 USD (you must maintain a minimum balance of $2500 USD to continue to receive this discount). If you trade a minimum of 10 contracts or 100 mini-contracts in any month then that month’s fee is waived making the platform entirely free. Unlike the other three platforms, TradeStation only has a broker relationship with themselves.

There are two concepts which seem to confuse a lot of potential TradeStation users so I will address each:

TradeStation is both a platform and a broker. You do not have to use them as your broker but there are certainly obvious financial incentives for doing so. You cannot use them as a broker if you don’t use them as a platform.
TradeStation is programmable. Many people mistakenly believe that they have to understand programming before using the platform. The truth is that the programming has been done for you. No programming knowledge is required to use TradeStation.

I have been approved to offer a 1 month trial to TradeStation’s US clients for $25 USD and a 2 month free trial to non-US residents. For the record, the $25 USD goes to TradeStation to pay for “bandwidth.”

For more information, visit www.tradestation.com.