12 PLATFORMS
Compare costs.
Price, speed and score. Ranked for browser access and value.
Reference plans · data and other fees may be extra.
One nonprofessional user · one CME exchange with depth · analysis only.
What’s included?
These are selected software plans, not identical feature bundles. Different editions or add-ons may be needed for the scored features. Data, tax and account fees vary; expand a platform for its plan and conditions.
Regular monthly billing, one data connection and no live order execution. Missing feed or connection charges require a quote. Taxes, FX fees, hardware, account funding, optional extras and trading fees are excluded. Annual figures use 12 monthly payments plus upfront software, without annual discounts.
Speed figures measure different things. Expand a platform for sources and limits.
Market filters describe the platform; the displayed plan may cover a different market.
Liquivue#1
Futures heatmaps in your browser
BrowserWebGPU desktop browser€20/moData connection extra€20/moData quote neededGPU renderingArchitecture72–92/100Provisional
Liquivue#1
Futures heatmaps in your browser
Speed & lag · published evidence
GPU rendering Architecture
Liquivue documents WebGPU hardware acceleration for its browser chart and says the demo uses the same engine. Its help page recommends current Chrome or Edge and enabled graphics acceleration.
No numeric FPS, event-to-screen latency or controlled comparison was found in the reviewed sources. A recorded demo cannot establish live-feed latency. Historical loading and the NinjaTrader bridge introduce separate dependencies.
Speed rating: Unrated · No comparable benchmark found.
Research checked 4 Oct 2026. Figures describe different components and are not directly comparable.Monthly · heatmap
Bring a compatible Rithmic connection or NinjaTrader bridge. Provider, exchange and account charges need a quote.
- Upfront software
- No separate purchase
- 12-month software subtotal
- €240 + data quote
Price components & sources
- Monthly €20 ↗
Check your setup
One route: a WebGPU desktop browser. The NinjaTrader bridge additionally requires Windows and NT8 on the same computer.
Features & requirements →MotiveWaveTied #2
Order flow on Mac, Windows or Linux
DesktopWindows · macOS · LinuxUS$49/moMarket data extraUS$88/moSoftware + data100 ms DOM defaultRefresh setting64–84/100Provisional
MotiveWaveTied #2
Order flow on Mac, Windows or Linux
Speed & lag · published evidence
100 ms DOM default Refresh setting
MotiveWave’s DOM documentation gives a default bid/ask quantity update threshold of 100 ms, configurable by the user.
This is a display threshold, not a feed or execution-latency benchmark. Historical loading, studies, open workspaces and tick-history settings can affect responsiveness.
Reported experience: A July 2025 V7-beta user reported lower CPU load after reducing live tick history. This is one configuration-specific report, not evidence that current versions generally lag.
Speed rating: Unrated · No comparable benchmark found.
Research checked 4 Oct 2026. Figures describe different components and are not directly comparable.Order Flow + dxFeed · footprints / heatmap
One data connection per workspace. An additional simultaneous broker connection may require a higher edition.
- Upfront software
- No separate purchase
- 12-month basis
- US$1,056
Check your setup
Three routes: native Windows, macOS and Linux. Mobile apps and an unverified browser order-flow terminal do not add points.
Features & requirements →TensorChartsTied #2
Visual crypto order book analysis
BrowserCrypto analyticsUS$18/moCrypto analyticsNot establishedCME depth unverified0.8 s chart updatesPremium plan cadence64–89/100Provisional
TensorChartsTied #2
Visual crypto order book analysis
Speed & lag · published evidence
0.8 s chart updates Premium plan cadence
The live pricing page lists Premium chart updates at 0.8 seconds and trade updates at 0.1 seconds. Free lists 10 seconds and 0.7 seconds; Team lists 0.8 seconds and 0.7 seconds, respectively.
These are published plan update intervals, not rendering FPS or measured total data latency. The cost comparison uses Premium; Free and Team have different trade-update cadences.
Speed rating: Unrated · No comparable benchmark found.
- TensorCharts live pricing and update rates ↗ (Live plan selectors checked 4 Oct 2026)
CME depth availability
Current CME availability and depth permissions are unverified. Confirmed directory coverage is crypto; no CME setup total is claimed.
Price components & sources
- No matching CME depth setup was established.
Check your setup
One route: browser. Native desktop and full mobile parity are not established by the public application.
Features & requirements →Bookmap#4
Liquidity visualization across markets
DesktopWindows · macOSUS$49/moMarket data extraUS$83/moSoftware + data40 FPS defaultRefresh setting62–82/100Provisional
Bookmap#4
Liquidity visualization across markets
Speed & lag · published evidence
40 FPS default Refresh setting
Bookmap documents a default chart refresh of 40 FPS, or 25 ms, with adjustable refresh and GPU acceleration. Under heavy load, automatic event aggregation helps avoid processing delays.
40 FPS is a configured refresh rate, not measured feed latency. Aggregation can reduce the accuracy of microstructure-dependent indicators such as Stops & Icebergs; performance depends on hardware and workload.
Speed rating: Unrated · No comparable benchmark found.
- Bookmap chart refresh documentation ↗ (Updated 10 Aug 2026)
- Bookmap aggregation and heavy-load tradeoffs ↗
Global + BookmapData · heatmap
Regular single-exchange data rate; first-month promotion excluded. Global does not include live futures execution or Footprint.
- Upfront software
- No separate purchase
- 12-month basis
- US$996
Check your setup
Two routes: Windows and macOS desktop. The separate Web product is excluded from this count because its workflow coverage was not established.
Features & requirements →Sierra Chart#5
Configurable futures analysis
DesktopWindowsUS$46/moExchange data extraUS$59.50/moSoftware + dataPer-chart tuningRefresh controls56–76/100Provisional
Sierra Chart#5
Configurable futures analysis
Speed & lag · published evidence
Per-chart tuning Refresh controls
Sierra Chart exposes per-chart and DOM update intervals. Its timer guide discusses 10–20 ms settings for a small number of priority charts, with slower updates for other windows.
These are tuning options, not achieved latency. The separate lag guide warns that globally aggressive intervals can saturate a CPU and increase delay; workload, timer mode, feed and network conditions matter.
Speed rating: Unrated · No comparable benchmark found.
Research checked 4 Oct 2026. Figures describe different components and are not directly comparable.Package 11 + Denali · footprints / heatmap
Requires eligible nonprofessional status and verified live funded futures account. Evaluation accounts do not qualify for this data rate.
- Upfront software
- No separate purchase
- 12-month basis
- US$714
Check your setup
One route: native Windows. Wine configurations are not vendor-supported native Mac/Linux versions, and the full application is not browser based.
Features & requirements →NinjaTrader#6
Order flow in a futures trading platform
DesktopWindows · Order Flow+US$0plan feeDepth + trading fees extraUS$16/mo+ inactivity or trading fees50 ms price markerVersion-specific55–75/100Provisional
NinjaTrader#6
Order flow in a futures trading platform
Speed & lag · published evidence
50 ms price marker Version-specific
NinjaTrader 8.1.7.0 changed the last-price marker update from 250 ms to 50 ms. Its general rendering API documentation still describes a 250 ms ChartControl timer.
The release notes explicitly say the marker change does not change overall chart performance. Neither timer measures feed processing or order execution; Volumetric studies can add workload.
Speed rating: Unrated · No comparable benchmark found.
Research checked 4 Oct 2026. Figures describe different components and are not directly comparable.Eligible funded Free plan + CME depth
Eligible US funded account with Order Flow+. Add US$35 for each qualifying 30-day period with login but no live trade. Trading instead incurs transaction charges; neither is treated as free.
- Upfront software
- No separate purchase
- 12-month basis
- US$192 + conditional fees
Check your setup
One route for the audited Order Flow+ workflow: Windows Desktop. Separate Web/Mobile offerings do not establish desktop feature parity.
Features & requirements →GoCharting#7
Browser-based footprint charting
BrowserRegional plansUS$35/moDepth plan coming soonNot establishedCME depth unverifiedAdjustable updatesRefresh controls54–89/100Provisional
GoCharting#7
Browser-based footprint charting
Speed & lag · published evidence
Adjustable updates Refresh controls
GoCharting documents configurable data-update intervals and warns that requesting updates faster than a computer can process them may cause lag.
No numeric rendering or end-to-end latency benchmark was found. Its published script execution limits are resource ceilings, not speed measurements.
Reported experience: A dated user data-lag complaint and a 2026 vendor reply discuss browser, network, instrument and feed-entitlement factors. They do not establish a current product-wide lag rate.
Speed rating: Unrated · No comparable benchmark found.
- GoCharting chart settings and update intervals ↗
- GoCharting script resource limits ↗
- Firsthand reviews and GoCharting replies ↗ (Complaint: 11 Apr 2024; reply: 21 May 2026)
Direct CME depth
Direct CME Level 2 is marked Coming Soon in the audit. The US$35 top-of-book plan is not a substitute for this depth scenario.
Price components & sources
- No matching CME depth setup was established.
Check your setup
One route counted: browser charting. Advertised mobile apps do not establish full order-flow feature parity or another native desktop route.
Features & requirements →Jigsaw daytradr#8
DOM and tape reading
DesktopWindows 64-bitUS$579one timeLive licence + data extraData quote neededUS$579 upfrontEvent-driven DOMVendor description53–73/100Provisional
Jigsaw daytradr#8
DOM and tape reading
Speed & lag · published evidence
Event-driven DOM Vendor description
Jigsaw describes updates to changed DOM cells as events arrive, with throttling for overloads. Its platform manual also exposes a depth throttle; a value of 50 dispatches pending depth updates 20 times per second, plus inside-market changes.
The blog and manual describe different update layers and do not establish a single measured latency. Hardware, load and throttle settings affect results; the vendor’s qualitative speed comparisons are not controlled benchmarks.
Speed rating: Unrated · No comparable benchmark found.
Research checked 4 Oct 2026. Figures describe different components and are not directly comparable.Foundation · DOM / heatmap / footprints
Depth feed and broker connection require a quote. Live exchange-routed trading also needs Active Trader; analysis example excludes execution.
- Upfront software
- US$579
- 12-month software subtotal
- US$579 + data quote
Check your setup
One route: Windows 64-bit desktop. Emulated Windows is not a native Mac route; ARM Mac/Windows ARM is unsupported in the audited manual.
Features & requirements →ExochartsTied #9
Crypto footprints and auction context
Desktop + webMac: Apple Silicon · Web: crypto€49/moVAT + legacy-market data€49 + US$39/moSoftware + data~60 FPS DesktopVendor claim51–86/100Provisional
ExochartsTied #9
Crypto footprints and auction context
Speed & lag · published evidence
~60 FPS Desktop Vendor claim
Exocharts’ FAQ claims approximately 60 FPS for Desktop with large chart workloads. It separately describes much lower cluster capacity for Web. The Desktop requirements document GPU rendering and memory-sensitive history storage.
The FAQ does not specify benchmark hardware or a reproducible workload. Desktop figures must not be applied to Web. A 2026 release-note claim about a 100 ms connection data gap describes continuity, not exchange-to-screen latency.
Speed rating: Unrated · No comparable benchmark found.
Research checked 4 Oct 2026. Figures describe different components and are not directly comparable.Desktop Pro + dxFeed · footprints
Desktop analysis, with Web Premium included. Native historical liquidity heatmap is unverified; Rithmic execution remains pending.
- Upfront software
- No separate purchase
- 12-month basis
- €588 + US$468
Check your setup
Three routes: Windows desktop, Apple Silicon macOS desktop and browser. Web is crypto focused and lacks desktop DOM, tape and replay; Intel Macs are excluded.
Features & requirements →Investor/RTTied #9
Custom footprint and profile studies
DesktopWindowsUS$50/moFootprint +US$25/mo; data extraUS$75/moData quote neededTiming diagnosticsWorkload controls51–71/100Provisional
Investor/RTTied #9
Custom footprint and profile studies
Speed & lag · published evidence
Timing diagnostics Workload controls
Investor/RT exposes per-indicator calculation timing and adjustable chart or quote-page update settings. Linnsoft’s efficiency guide explains how to find studies that consume excessive processing time.
Calculation-time examples and selectable refresh intervals are not platform-wide latency measurements. No current controlled comparison was found.
Reported experience: A 2019 high-volume lag thread and 2023 follow-up describe particular workspaces and indicator loads. Their age and differing setups prevent a present-day speed ranking.
Speed rating: Unrated · No comparable benchmark found.
Research checked 4 Oct 2026. Figures describe different components and are not directly comparable.Core + Footprint · footprint analysis
Live feed needs a quote. CQG connectivity, if used, is an additional charge. Historical-depth and profile packages are separate.
- Upfront software
- No separate purchase
- 12-month software subtotal
- US$900 + data quote
Check your setup
One current route: Windows. The legacy Mac build is incompatible with Catalina and newer; virtualization is not counted as native macOS.
Features & requirements →Quantower#11
A modular analysis workspace
DesktopWindowsUS$70/moMarket data extraUS$70/moData quote needed50 ms DOM settingRecommended setting49–69/100Provisional
Quantower#11
A modular analysis workspace
Speed & lag · published evidence
50 ms DOM setting Recommended setting
Quantower recommends a 50 ms DOM processing interval. Its settings documentation describes value 1 as processing all Level 2 changes immediately. Data-delay warnings help identify lagging server timestamps.
The interval is a control, not a measured end-to-end latency or execution result. Provider timestamps, network quality, panel count and volume-analysis workload can affect delays.
Speed rating: Unrated · No comparable benchmark found.
Research checked 4 Oct 2026. Figures describe different components and are not directly comparable.All-in-One · footprints / DOM Surface
Data and broker connection need a quote. Partner licences can change the software price and available features.
- Upfront software
- No separate purchase
- 12-month software subtotal
- US$840 + data quote
Price components & sources
- All-in-One USD 70 ↗
Check your setup
One route: Windows desktop. No native Mac version or verified browser terminal; a Windows VM is not counted as another native route.
Features & requirements →ATAS#12
Footprint and volume analysis
DesktopWindows Classic€69.95/moData + applicable VAT€69.95 + US$39/moSoftware + data600+ FPS claimedVendor claim40–60/100Provisional
ATAS#12
Footprint and volume analysis
Speed & lag · published evidence
600+ FPS claimed Vendor claim
ATAS advertises 600+ FPS for its GPU-rendered Heatmap on high-end GPUs. Its comparison article attributes the figures to internal testing. Settings include GPU selection and an automatic or manual FPS cap.
This is a Heatmap rendering claim, not an independently reproduced comparison or exchange-to-screen latency result. Hardware, edition and workspace matter; the figure does not describe every ATAS module.
Speed rating: Unrated · No comparable benchmark found.
Research checked 4 Oct 2026. Figures describe different components and are not directly comparable.Pro + dxFeed · footprints / heatmap beta
ATAS-specific nonprofessional feed. dxFeed chart-type/history restrictions apply. Currencies stay separate.
- Upfront software
- No separate purchase
- 12-month basis
- €839.40 + US$468
Check your setup
One established route counted: Windows Classic. ATAS X on macOS and Web are beta or have unverified parity, so they add no stable-route points.
Features & requirements →No matching platforms.
Browser & value: cost 25% · access 25% · speed 20% · features 30%. Published speed figures describe different components and remain unscored. Totals are provisional. Scoring explained →
How is the overall score calculated?
Browser & value profile. Cost 25%, access fit 25%, speed 20%, heatmaps 15%, DOM & tape 5%, profiles 5% and replay 5%. This profile favours lower software prices and browser availability; other priorities can produce different leaders. Multiply each score out of 5 by its weight and add the results.
Provisional means evidence is missing. An untested criterion reserves its full weight as unresolved points. Speed alone leaves a 20-point range; it is not assigned zero or removed from the calculation. A range is not a confidence interval.
Cost: cheaper scores higher. We rate the selected software licence using its first-year monthly equivalent, including an upfront purchase divided by 12. The bands are 5/5 at ≤US$25, 4/5 at ≤US$50, 3/5 at ≤US$75, 2/5 at ≤US$100, and 1/5 above that. Euro amounts use the ECB rate on 2 Oct 2026: €1 = US$1.1225. Separate data, add-ons, tax and trading fees are excluded. Plans differ in features and eligibility. Switching the price view does not change this software-cost basis.
Speed: chart responsiveness and data latency. Online research checked 4 Oct 2026 found published refresh settings, vendor rendering claims and dated lag reports. These are shown beside each platform, with sources. They do not measure the same thing, so speed remains unrated and its 20 points stay unresolved. FPS measures rendering frequency; a DOM interval controls updates; neither measures exchange-to-screen or order-execution latency. Comparable ratings need matched workloads, hardware, feeds and a reproducible test. Download the performance research ↓
Features reflect vendor documentation with suitable plans and data. Access fit favours a documented browser workflow (5/5), then native desktop on three operating systems (4/5), two (3/5) or one (2/5). Browser scope and feature parity vary. Market and access-route counts are shown separately. Rankings sort by documented points, the lower end of the total range; equal totals tie. Missing evidence can change the order when resolved. No platform receives a placement override.
Feature rubrics & sources →What else could I pay for?
Your full budget may include software + market data + exchange fees + add-ons + trading fees + tax. Some data plans already include exchange fees; count each cost once.
Check the plan, broker, instruments and data permissions together. Keep upfront purchases and refundable account funding separate from monthly costs.
Explain the trading terms →Sources & pricing notes
Official vendor documentation and tariffs were reviewed on 3 October 2026. Each platform links to its source list and unresolved costs. Currency, region, account eligibility and checkout taxes can change your final bill.
We have not purchased or performance-tested every setup. Unlisted costs are not assumed to be free.
Download the full audit ↓