Scanz vs Trade Ideas (2026) — Which Is Better?
Compare Scanz and Trade Ideas — features, pricing, pros and cons.
Quick Verdict
Higher Rated
Trade Ideas (4.3)
More Affordable
Scanz ($169/mo)
Scanz
Professional real-time stock scanner with 100+ filters, best-in-class news streaming, and Level II data — all bundled into one all-inclusive plan for active day traders.
Trade Ideas
AI-powered stock scanner with Holly AI for automated trade signals, real-time alerts, and backtesting for active day traders.
Our Analysis
Scanz and Trade Ideas serve different trader priorities within the active day trading niche. Scanz emphasizes comprehensive market data infrastructure—its $169/month model bundles Level II data and aggregates 100+ news sources without add-on fees. Trade Ideas takes an AI-first approach, offering free access with Holly AI as the cornerstone feature, though its Premium tier runs $254/month. Both platforms deliver real-time scanning and mobile support, but architectural choices diverge sharply.
Scanz's defining strength is its data consolidation. Level II market depth and institutional-grade news aggregation eliminate the need for separate subscriptions, providing cost clarity despite higher sticker price. This appeals to traders valuing transparency and speed. Trade Ideas differentiates through Holly AI's institutional-grade signals—automated trade recommendations reduce decision paralysis and suit traders seeking AI-assisted execution.
Scanz fits active traders who demand maximum market visibility and can justify $169/month for bundled depth. Its lack of backtesting constrains strategy development. Trade Ideas suits traders preferring AI guidance and willing to explore the free tier; Premium subscribers gain backtesting for strategy validation. If price sensitivity matters, Trade Ideas' free tier wins; if bundled data and speed matter most, Scanz justifies its premium.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Scanz | Trade Ideas |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.1 | ★ 4.3 |
| Starting Price | $169/mo | Free |
| Free Tier | No | Yes |
| Markets | stocks, etfs | stocks |
| AI Analysis | ✗ | ✓ |
| Backtesting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Paper Trading | ✗ | ✓ |
| Price Alerts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile App | ✗ | ✗ |
| API Access | ✗ | ✗ |
| Social Features | ✗ | ✗ |
| Broker Integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom Indicators | ✓ | ✗ |
| Automated Trading | ✗ | ✓ |
| Trade Journaling | ✗ | ✗ |
| Performance Analytics | ✗ | ✗ |
| Risk Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| News Feed | ✓ | ✗ |
| Education Content | ✗ | ✓ |
Scanz: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Extremely fast real-time scanning with pre-market and after-hours coverage
- + Best-in-class news scanner aggregating 100+ sources including SEC filings
- + Level I and Level II data bundled — no add-on fees
- + All-inclusive single plan eliminates confusing tier upgrades
- + Unique dollar volume data not offered by most competitors
Cons
- - Expensive at $169/month with a strict no-refund policy
- - No backtesting capability — significant gap for strategy development
- - No mobile app and no API access
- - US equities only — no options, futures, forex, or crypto
Trade Ideas: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Holly AI runs millions of backtests nightly and delivers high-probability setups before market open
- + Best-in-class real-time scanning engine with 500+ data points and instant streaming alerts
- + Money Machine enables fully automated trading with built-in risk management controls
- + Stock Racing provides an intuitive visual way to spot momentum shifts instantly
- + 30+ pre-built Channel Bar templates eliminate hours of workspace configuration
- + OddsMaker backtesting lets you validate any scan strategy against historical data before risking capital
Cons
- - Premium plan at $254/month is 5x the cost of comparable TradingView or Finviz setups
- - Steep learning curve — the desktop interface feels dated and requires significant time investment to master
- - No mobile app — you are locked to desktop, which limits flexibility for traders on the go
- - Holly AI signals are shared across all Premium subscribers, creating potential crowded-trade slippage
- - Broker integration limited to Interactive Brokers (Pro only) and E*TRADE — most other brokers unsupported