Best Trading Software for Day Traders: Day Trade Guide

What’s the best day trading platform for you?

That’s kind of a big question…

As a day trader, one of your most vital tools is your trading platform. It’s your gateway to executing trades, so it’s important to one that suits your needs.

There’s only one I truly love (more on that in a bit) … but these days everyone wants options, right?

Read on to find out about some of the ‘best’ day trading platforms available, why they matter, and what you should look for before you choose.

(Please note: The definition of ‘best day trading platform’ is subjective and may differ depending on your trading strategy, knowledge, goals, and circumstances.)

What Is a Trading Platform?

Even the most talented Olympic diver couldn’t win the gold if they didn’t have a sturdy diving board to jump from.

As a day trader, you can think of your day trading platform as your diving board. It doesn’t do all the work for you, but it’s the starting point from which you leap into trades.

A trading platform is software that allows you to manage your market positions through a third-party facilitator. You can open and close positions through the platform, as well as manage them.

How Day Trading Platforms Work

These days, day trading platforms are typically online. Many are offered by brokers. The platforms may be free in exchange for maintaining an account with the broker.

If you believe there’s no such thing as free lunch, you’re right to be wary. There may be stipulations to keep the platform fee-free, such as maintaining a specific monthly balance or conducting a certain number of trades per month.

While a trading platform is technically as simple as that, many platforms offer additional bells and whistles to attract traders.  That could include charting software, scanners, news feeds, real-time quotes, and other stock analysis tools.

How to Choose the Best Day Trading Platform for Your Strategy

Consider multiple factors when choosing the best day trading platform for you…

What indicators do you look for in trades? Do you focus on highly volatile stocks — like penny stocks? Are you short or long biased?

Yep, a lot goes into picking a broker.

For example, Robinhood may have no commission fees, but its trading execution is allegedly extremely slow. You might end up losing trades while waiting for your orders to execute.

For the record, these are the brokers I use.

Why It’s Important to Choose the Right Platform

What really matters when choosing among all the trading platforms for day traders?

First, you need a trading platform that suits your style.

Your comfort as a trader is key because this is literally the launch pad for every trade! Is it easy for you to use? Does it work well with your strategy?

Second, choose a platform that offers the resources you want and need in your trading.

For example, if you rely on Level 2 quotes or in-depth charting tools, stick to platforms that offer that resource.

And consider the specific rules or limitations of your platform.

For instance, if the platform in question requires a certain number of trades per month to remain ‘free,’ consider how well that works for you. You don’t want to start bleeding your account in little ways!

Also, take specific care when choosing a platform offered directly from the broker…

• Is it a well-respected broker?
• Do they have good reviews?
• How much do you trust them?

I should note that while many platforms are attached to a specific broker, that’s not always the case.

StocksToTrade is a stand-alone platform that has broker integration. This means you can use its tools and pair it with a variety of different brokers. Its Breaking News Chat add-on feature is a game-changer.

Spoiler: This is my go-to platform. I use StocksToTrade every day to scan for gainers, news, check charts, and so much more.

It fits the penny stocks I trade because I helped design. And I’m a proud investor in it.

Yes, there are other options, so let’s break down the…

Top Trading Platforms for Day Traders

There’s a wide variety of trading platforms out there, each a little different.

So … which is the best for you? Of course I can’t answer that. But here are some decent contenders.

TD Ameritrade

Benefits of Choosing TD Ameritrade

Many say TD Ameritrade is the best trading platform for day traders.

I’ve used TD Ameritrade and know some traders who swear by it.

TD Ameritrade is one of the biggest and well-known brokers out there. It’s a publicly traded broker, with millions of users and hundreds of thousands of trades executed daily.

And it’s generally well regarded and respected. As a broker-platform bundle goes, it has a decent reputation. Here are a few reasons why…

Trading Platform for Day Traders

Sometimes, a broker that also offers a platform falls into a sort of ‘jack of all trades, master of none’ sort of situation. But TD Ameritrade reportedly does a good job on both fronts.

TD Ameritrade’s trading platform thinkorswim was a separate entity until 2009 when TD Ameritrade took it over. In terms of platforms, it’s considered one of the biggest and best.

On the platform, you can trade stocks, options, futures, forex, and other securities. They feature chat rooms and daily programming offered by TD Ameritrade professionals.

They also offer a bunch of nice touches, including live-streaming CNBC to keep track of the news, an interactive market calendar that helps you access events, and the ability to link your desktop and smartphone so that you can sync the symbol you’re viewing on both.

TD Ameritrade Fees

TD Ameritrade has no subscription or platform fees, and there’s no minimum cash deposit amount required to open or maintain an account.

Recently, TD Ameritrade dropped its flat-rate fee from $6.95 per trade to $0. This has drawn in many traders looking to save on fees.

However, there’s still a flat-rate fee of $6.95 for trading any OTC stocks.

Order Execution Time and Customer Service

When it comes to order execution time and customer service, TD Ameritrade gets a thumbs up in both departments from many reports.

Traders say the platform is reliable and fast, so orders will likely go through in a timely fashion.

Customer service also seems to be responsive. The team is available 24/7 and can be contacted in multiple ways. You can call in and talk to a real person or use its live-chat feature.

Stock Chart Analysis with TD Ameritrade

One of the biggest draws for TD Ameritrade is its stock chart analysis tools.

Fundamental and technical analysis are important for trading survival and consistency. My Trading Challenge focuses partly on day trading patterns and identifying trends. Charts are key for my strategy.

With TD Ameritrade, you’ll get access to plenty of charts with real-time data, and the charts include technical information and studies you can tailor to your needs.

You can use any number of built-in indicators, and you also can create your own indicators, as well (if you don’t have the capability, there are plenty of developers who make them, too).

It’s reliable and advanced but also pretty user-friendly and easy to customize. So a lot of traders report liking this platform.

Disadvantages of Choosing TD Ameritrade

With every broker, there are pros and cons.

That’s why I’ve tried so many. And I found the ones that suck the least for my trading style.

Even though TD Ameritrade has lots of positive reviews, there are a few downsides to using this platform to trade…

Short Selling

I don’t consider TD Ameritrade to be great for shorting. I think it’s better for buying, and that’s primarily how I have used it.

So how do I handle the problem of shorting? First of all, I don’t short much these days. It’s overcrowded and risky right now.

I don’t use TD Ameritrade much anymore, but when I did, I had multiple accounts — a TD Ameritrade for buying and a different account for shorting.

TD Ameritrade doesn’t have an account minimum, so there aren’t many problems with maintaining multiple accounts.

Options Trading Fee

Personally, I don’t trade options. But my top student Mark Croock does. And for anyone who does, TD Ameritrade has a fee of 65 cents per contract. That’s higher than other brokers that allow free options contracts.

65 cents per contract is still extremely low, but with a free option at other brokers, you might want to look elsewhere for options trading.

Check out my student Mark Croock and his Evolved Trader options trading course here.

E-Trade

Benefits of Choosing E-Trade

Another popular broker is E-Trade…

E-Trade is largely beloved and many will say it’s the best trading platform for day traders.

As a broker, E-Trade is well respected. I find it better for selling short, but it offers the ability to trade the same equities as TD Ameritrade.

As a platform, it has plenty to offer. You can analyze and trade stocks, options, ETFs, and futures from the web or virtually any tablet device.

Here are some specific benefits …

Advanced Mobile Trading

One of the biggest draws for a lot of traders when it comes to E-Trade is its mobile apps. They get good reviews.

They have two different mobile trading options: E-Trade mobile, and the advanced mobile trading app, OptionsHouse.

E-Trade mobile is respectable. It gives you access to your account, real-time quotes, charts, and streaming news. You can execute trades, and from some operating systems you can execute more advanced trading.

The OptionsHouse app lets you take your mobile trading to the next level, with customizable features, interactive charts, technical analysis, and more.

OptionsHouse is the mobile companion to its web-based platform of the same name.

As a mobile platform, it’s incredibly powerful and detailed so you can keep up with trades, even when you’re away from your computer.

You can use interactive charting software and technical studies from your phone or tablet, and get real-time market quotes in streaming time. There’s also news, earnings, gains, and more. So you have plenty of tools to do your research on your phone.

You can trade and modify orders right from the platform, so as a one-stop mobile shop, it’s got a lot to offer.

E-Trade Fees

In terms of fees, E-Trade is comparable to other brokers…

First off, you need a minimum balance to open an account with E-trade. It’s only $500, which isn’t too much, but it’s definitely more than TD Ameritrade, which doesn’t have a minimum.

The trade fee is $6.95, with active traders receiving a discount of $2. How do you score this discount? “Active trading” is defined as 10+ trades per month, which for some traders is a snap, for others a stretch. So keep this in mind.

While the fees are on the higher side, they’re not underhanded about it. It’s easy to find all of the fees listed on its website.

Order Execution Time and Customer Service

E-Trade also gets a good rating for both order execution time and customer service.

The platform is fast and dependable, so you can stress less about your orders going through in a timely fashion. This goes for both mobile and web-based platforms.

E-Trade’s customer service is available by phone, email, chat, and at its branches — if you happen to be close to one.

Stock Chart Analysis With E-Trade

E-Trade has plenty of resources to assist with your stock research.

First off, it has a nice-sized library of learning materials so you can guide yourself through some of the basics of the stock market and trading.

Its resources are largely more general though.

So to learn more about the stock market, apply for my Trading Challenge. It can help you take the basics and learn how to put them to work in a strategy that suits you.

In terms of charting, OptionsHouse is good. It used to be a stand-alone platform, but E-Trade acquired it in 2016. It has a lot of data, a wide variety of charting tools, technical studies, easy-to-execute market orders, customizable options, and more.

Then there’s E-Trade Pro. It’s similar to OptionsHouse but it has a few different features that traders seem to like.

Disadvantages of Choosing E-Trade

There are a few fees included with E-Trade that active traders might consider disadvantages.

But you can get a list of all the fees easily. Do your research before committing to this brokerage (or any broker for that matter), so you won’t be disappointed.

ECN Fee

For day traders who like extended hours trading, there is a $0.005 per share surcharge. This isn’t much, but it can be a disappointment to active extended-hours traders.

As a teacher, I tell beginner traders to stay away from extended-hours trading. Premarket and after-hours trading have less volume, more volatility, and don’t follow my top patterns quite like regular market hours.

(Struggling with volatility in the pandemic market? Get up to speed with my no-cost “Volatility Survival Guide” and prepare for any market.)

E-Trade Pro

E-Trade Pro is cool, but it has a downside…

It’s only available to those with accounts of $250,000 or higher. Or if you’re executing at least 30 stock or options trades per quarter, which is a LOT.

Most of my students start with small accounts of a few thousand dollars. Nothing even close to a quarter-million.

Fidelity

Benefits of Choosing Fidelity Trading Platform

Fidelity gets overall high reviews from traders. It has a great reputation for mutual funds and other funds.

I know that day traders aren’t looking for brokerages with good mutual fund reliability though… The good thing about Fidelity is that it has other strong suits too that apply more to day traders.

Fidelity works to upgrade their platform to keep with the times. If there’s a new idea on any platform, Fidelity probably won’t be too far behind with updating their platform.

Commission Free Stock Trading

Commission-free trading has become one of the biggest factors for most traders ever since Robinhood came around and changed the game.

Fidelity hopped on the bandwagon of commission-free trading too. Investors and traders are now able to save a few dollars per trade and love it.

Customizable News Feed

Fidelity has added customizable news feeds for their clients.

The news feeds can be sorted by watchlist or holdings.

I prefer the new and social media feeds on StocksToTrade. And the new Breaking News Chat has helped me nab some of the hottest trades in 2020. I’m now up over $6 million in trading profits.*

(*These results are not typical. Individual results will vary. Most traders lose money. My top students and I have the benefit of many years of hard work and dedication. Trading is inherently risky. Always do your due diligence and never risk more than you can afford to lose.)

But hey, every trader’s different. You gotta go with what works for you.

Disadvantages of Choosing Fidelity

One reason I don’t consider Fidelity the best for day trading is because they’re more focused on long-term investments over day trading.

They’re one of the top brokers for mutual funds for a reason. They focus most of their time and money on improving aspects pertaining to funds.

As a day trader, it’s not the best sign when the brokerage cares more about mutual fund investors than they do about day traders.

Manually Refresh Data

Customers on Fidelity must manually refresh the data on the website.

This can be a big downside for day traders who rely on quick real-time news and price action. I don’t think I would’ve made millions in profits without access to quick real-time news and price action* … Consider that before picking any broker.

May Need Multiple Brokerage Accounts

There aren’t many available tools for traders to scan for patterns and setups. This can be a big disadvantage and you might need multiple brokerage accounts to keep track of potential setups.

However, if you’re smart and try StocksToTrade, it won’t matter if your broker has good scanning capabilities. I think StocksToTrade has the best scanners out there! It’s how I find the hottest opportunities every day.

Interactive Brokers

Benefits of Choosing Interactive Brokers

Even though this is the fourth broker in this post, Interactive Brokers and E-Trade are my personal favorites for my trading style.

For me, Interactive Brokers has proven to be one of the top brokers for day trading. I’ve found it has quick executions and reliable services.

Not everything about it is perfect. But since I’m experienced in the stock market, Interactive Brokers sucks the least for me.

Short Selling

I used to be a short-biased trader. Now I tell my students to be very cautious while short selling.

he started tracking everything. He figured out what was working for him. As it turns out, it was only two patterns. He’d tried Short selling used to be predictable and fairly safe. These days short selling is too risky. The short squeeze is real and can take you out of the game fast. You have to be meticulous in all trading — but especially in short selling.

Interactive Brokers has a good amount of borrows for short sellers though. Especially for stocks under $2 a share. But do your own research on shorting with this broker — or any other. There may be additional fees.

Worldwide Access

Some of these brokers I’ve mentioned only operate in the U.S. or a few other countries. Interactive Brokers allows clients from so many countries.

I have students in over 100 countries worldwide and it’s great that they can use a reliable broker and not some sketchy offshore crap.

Disadvantages of Choosing Interactive Brokers

The biggest disadvantages that I’ve seen with Interactive Brokers deal with their fees.

They have fees for almost everything and it adds up.

For me, the fees aren’t that big of a deal. I care about quality over how cheap it is. The problem comes for my students who have small accounts and the fees eat into their capital. But I think fees can help prevent overtrading. That’s a good thing if you want to stay in the game.

Inactivity Fee

For any trader who isn’t constantly trading at least monthly, inactivity fees can add up.

This can be a problem for newbies because they should be studying not overtrading. I tell my students to study hard and start small once they gain confidence.

Inactivity fees can lead to overtrading — no trader wants to get charged for not trading.

Develop Your Trading Skills With StocksToTrade

Yeah, I know. I said this already … but StocksToTrade is my favorite platform. Designed by traders for traders, this is the ultimate software for scanning and research. I even helped with its design, so it suits the stocks I trade.

It’s among the most powerful and intuitive online stock trading platforms out there. It includes paper trading, awesome charts, Level 2, new feeds, watchlists, and much more available all in one place.

And you can link to your brokerage to execute trades right from the platform.

Stock Chart Analysis and Trading Alerts

Let’s talk specifically about the stock chart analysis and trading alerts at your fingertips with StocksToTrade.

Charts and chart patterns are my jam, and the platform has fast and reliable charts, including candlesticks. You can alter the time frames as you need to do your research and add plenty of indicators. (I like to keep my charts clean and simple, but you do you.)

There are 40+ built-in scans or you can customize your own based on your trading journal analysis. You can scan stocks on the Nasdaq and NYSE, as well as pink sheets, AMEX, and OTCBB.

All that and more — on one platform. See why I use it every day?

Opportunity to Develop Your Trading Skills

StocksToTrade can help you further develop your trading skills.

For example, the powerful paper trading module is a great way to build up your trading chops.

Paper trading is simulated trading. You choose stocks, place orders, and watch to see if your trade works … but without actual money.

It’s a stepping stone to live trading. The tools on StocksToTrade can help you make educated trades. Combined with my Trading Challenge, it’s how you can work to become a self-sufficient trader.

How Day Traders Use Their Broker

As I mentioned before, your broker is like your diving board…

You should constantly make sure it is working well for you and giving you the best advantage to beat your opponents.

I’ve given you a variety of brokers to consider. Make sure that no matter which one you pick you research whether it’s right for you.

In day trading, the right broker for your strategy is key. Especially if you trade volatile stocks, like the penny stocks I love to trade.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best Day Trading Platform

The Bottom Line

So, which is the best day trading platform for you?

The good news is that there’s not necessarily a right or wrong choice. It’s mostly about doing research and finding the platform that’s best for your trading style.

The platforms listed here are some of the day trading platforms that I believe suck the least. Ultimately, you’ve got to choose a platform that suits your specific trading style.

This is just your first step in platform research. Consider the platforms listed here, check out what other traders have to say, and when you’re ready, give your top candidates a try.

What do you think is the best day trading platform for day traders — and why? Share your feedback below!