TradeStation Review: 3 Key Findings for 2020 ...

I’ve been looking for a broker that has an API for index futures and ideally also futures options. I’m looking to use the API to build a customized view of my risk based on balances, positions, and market conditions.
Searching the algotrading sub I found many API-related posts, but then when I actually read them and their comments, I found they’re often lacking in real substance. It turns out many brokers or data services that have APIs don’t actually support index futures and options via the API, and instead they focus on equities, forex, or cypto. So here’s the list of what I’ve found so far. This isn’t a review of these brokers or APIs and note that I have a specific application in mind (index futures and futures options). Perhaps you’re looking for an API for equities, or you just want data and not a broker, in which case there may be a few options. Also, I’m based in the US so I didn’t really look for brokers or platforms outside the US.
If you have experience with these APIs, please chime in with your thoughts. Also, I may have missed some brokers or platforms. If I did or if you see anything that needs correction please let me know.
​

Platform	Notes
ADM Investor Services	No API
Ally Invest	Does not support futures instruments
Alpaca	Only supports US Equities
Alpha Vantage	Does not support futures instruments
AMP	Broker with a huge number of platforms available including some with APIs
ApexFutures	No API
Arcade Trader	No API
AvaTrade	Does not support futures instruments
Backtrader	Not a data feed; otherwise looks cool but also looks like a one-man shop
Cannon Trading	Broker with a variety of platforms, some have API access such as TT
Centerpoint	No API
Charles Schwab	API does not support futures instruments
Cobra	No API
Daniels Trading	No API
Discount Trading	Broker with a variety of platforms including CQG, Rithmic, TT, some with APIs
Edge Clear	Broker with a variety of platforms including CQG, Rithmic, TT, some with APIs
Eroom	Now part of Dashprime. Offer a variety of APIs including CQG, TT, CBOE's Silexx, and others via FIX.
ETNA Trader	Only supports equities, options (including multi-legs), ETFs, Mutual Funds (Forex with cryptocurrencies coming soon)
ETrade	API seems robust but OAuth authorization needs to be refreshed via login once per 24 hours
Futures Online	No API
Gain Capital Futures	API available, based on .NET; unsure if they are open to retail clients
GFF Brokers	Broker with a large number of platforms including some with API access
High Ridge Futures	Broker with a variety of platforms including CQG, Rithmic, TT, some with APIs
iBroker	API available; contact them for more info
IEX Cloud	Looks great but does not support futures instruments
Infinity Futures	JSON API available; contact them for more info
Interactive Brokers	Client Web API looks promising if clunky
Intrinio	Supports futures instruments but is expensive
Koyfin	No API
Lightspeed	C++ API available
marketstack	API for equities available. Does not support futures instruments.
Medved Trader	Windows app with a streaming API to various data sources and brokers. See comment below about API beta access.
NinjaTrader	Does not support futures options
Norgate Data	Not a broker; supports futures data for $270/year
Oanda	Forex only; API last updated in 2018
Optimus Futures	Broker with a large number of available platforms including some with API access
Phillip Capital	Broker with a large number of available platforms including some with API access
polygon.io	Expensive but looks slick; does not support futures instruments
Quandl	API looks solid; $49/monthly for personal use, does not allow distributing or sharing data; not a broker
Quantconnect	Does not expose raw data
Quantopian	Does not expose raw data
Quantower	Software that connects to multiple brokers and data feeds; API to their software via C# interface
Saxo Markets	Broker with extensively documented API
Stage 5 Trading	API available through Trading Technologies
Straits Financial	Broker with several platforms available including some with APIs such as CQG, R
Sweet Futures	Broker with a large number of available platforms including some with API access
TastyWorks	There's an unofficial Python API
TenQuant.io	Does not support futures instruments
ThinkorSwim	Does not support futures instruments via the API
Tiingo	Free account tier but does not support futures instruments
TradePro	Broker with a number of platforms available; unclear if any are available with API access
Tradier	Free developer API account for delayed data but does not support futures instruments
TradeStation	Nice looking API docs and supports futures instruments; requires opening an account and a minimum balance of $100k and there’s no trial available
TradeFutures4Less	Broker with a variety of platforms including CQG, Rithmic, TT, some with APIs
TradingTechnologies	API looks robust; pricing starts at $700/month
TradingView	Does not expose data API
Tradovate Technologies	API exists, documentation unknown; need to talk to their account team
Wedbush Futures	Broker with several platforms offered, a few of which have API access
WEX	.NET/COM only; pricing not disclosed on website
Xignite	Pricing not disclosed on website but they do support futures instruments
Yahoo Finance API	Available through RapidAPI or via direct access; but it’s discontinued and unreliable
Zaner	Broker with a variety of platforms including CQG, Rithmic, TT, some with APIs

​
Wow, this list grew longer than I originally thought it would be. If you spot a mistake, please let me know and I’ll correct it.
Edit:
- added Lightspeed API - updated Dashprime to indicate some of the APIs available - added Medved Trader to table - added marketstack to table

I live in Turkey and picked up an interest in investing to be able to feel financially safe and hopefully free in the future, two years ago.
I picked a couple of divident paying stocks and bought small amounts. I also picked a couple of funds and invested even smaller amounts to see how they perform.
One thing I noticed is that, the market is not likely to beat the inflation (if it can, it will be barely - and statistics are not very reliable at the moment), and nobody in the country remembers a period where USD lost power to Turkish lira in a persistent way, but we are seeing the reverse right now. This is so obvious and certain for most of our people that just buying USD alone is an investment form which will not fail you.
Obviously unless I happened to pick up the stocks that will constantly outperform the whole market, it's unlikely that I gain a financial freedom in this way. And I can't do day trading or short term investment because I can't sit in front of a screen and monitor the market. Also, dividends are not reliable as a company might decide to skip a year or stop paying it altogether. And the divident performance of the whole market is around 1%.
So, I don't feel like this environment is the right one for long term investment. That's why I am planning to invest in the US and maybe the UK stock markets.
There are a couple of banks that let me invest in those markets, but their commission rates are insane. The minimum they will get for one transaction is $25. I was planning to start with something like $250-300 and if I invest with them, there goes one-tenth of my money. However, transferring money to a foreign account costs 40-50 Turkish liras, which roughly translates to $7-8. Considering that I'm planning to put small amount of money and buy stocks with it, transferring money to a broker makes sense.
However this arises safety issues as I'm going to invest with an American or British broker. Moreover it will have to be an online broker because others don't accept foreigner investors. Risk increases.
While I was doing research, I learnt that Saxobank, Tradestation Global and Interactive Brokers accept Turkish citizens. I can't pick Saxobank as they have a minimum of $10,000 which I won't have for a while.
I checked them out to see if they are safe, but apart from obvious advertisement websites, it is very confusing.
For instance, https://www.forexpeacearmy.com/forex-reviews/165/tradestation-stock-broker and https://www.forexpeacearmy.com/forex-reviews/165/tradestation-stock-broker They both are slammed here. But check this out: https://www.tradingview.com/brokeTradeStation/reviews/
Here, where the company can answer, there is a different story: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/interactivebrokers.com This one is another: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/tradestation.com?languages=en
So, what are your thoughts about these two brokers? Are there any alternatives I am missing? Or should I just not invest in these markets?
EDIT: I'm also worried about inactivity fees as I plan to buy and forget whether stocks or funds.

The Super Profit Scalper is being advertised as “the perfect solution for people who only have just a few minutes a day for trading and want that big and fast profit.” The software is built to pick up on fast profitable price movements and provide traders with buy and sell signals throughout the day. The software is using a very reliable signal filtering system but the details of this aren’t explained fully.
The indicator does not repaint and the software comes with a guide that informs traders on “8 special pairs” that the software has been showing fantastic results with.
Super Profit Scalper System is a fantastic indicator specifically created for M1 & M5. Super Profit Scalper Trading Program the perfect solution for people who only have just a few minutes a day for Trading and want that big and fast profit.
Super Profit Scalper Indicator catches very fast and profitable price movements that you can’t usually catch on your own and gives you simple buy and sell signals.
On top of that, you can be 100% confident with your trading, as Super Profit Scalper is using a very reliable signal filtering system. And furthermore, Super Profit Scalper Indicator will also alert you of every signal with a pop up sound alert, email or a mobile push notification!
How Does Super Profit Scalper system Works?
Forex statistics show that foreign exchange 90% of traders only trade the major currency pairs, as it is not humanly possible to analyze the 34 currency pairs simultaneously. As Super Profit Scalper keeps updated on the current trends in the changing market in all time frames, it is promoted as the easiest way to make the most of the change operations without having to spend hours doing all the work hard. You can easily know the trend is crucial. Super Profit Scalper Cost
Sure, you’ve experienced times when you entered the trade and waited for the breathy area while another couple was making a solid move. Trading the market turns up and down and returns all benefits during a series of losses it feels like a slow torture. Super Profit Scalper is a software solution to avoid trading during periods of market uncertainty. Instead, choose the best pair trend at present. Not use indicators, but the trend is determined by pure price action.
The software runs on our powerful computers so you instantly get the result online. Therefore, you can use your favorite trading platforms such as MetaTrader, NinjaTrader, TradeStation and there is nothing you have to download or install. It is very easy to use. This system designed to help Forex traders make informed decisions about when and what to buy and sell. To make money in Forex trading, you need to understand the trends. Or you can learn them by trial and error!
DOWNLOAD NOW
Super Profit Scalper: it’s not what it seems to be
This particular review is concerned with a specific fraud that is doing rounds on the internet. It is called Super Profit Scalper, and it’s promising to change the life of any trader who will purchase it for $87.
The owner claims that he has put a lot of work into it, and that all you have to do is purchase it here and smile all the way to the bank since it does all the heavy lifting on your behalf.
Well, that’s very simple indeed. But how come that we still have a whooping 95% of traders donating their capital plus profits back into the Forex market? If such a magical trading tool truly existed, it would create a buzz. It would gain enough publicity on TV and reputable blogs on the web, and this would automatically reduce the 95% of losing traders to 20% or below. It does not make sense for these traders to keep losing when a real solution is available for $87 only. The things that we hope you will get concerned with
Nothing makes this product unique. It looks exactly like other Forex scams on the internet. For example, the owner doesn’t give us proof that his system works as claimed by him.
You see, Mt4 screenshots are not supposed to be treated as proof or verified results of past performance. This is because it is virtually impossible to know if indeed those results were generated by the so-called Super Profit Scalper system. Those screenshots could have been captured elsewhere on the internet for purposes of misleading traders.
It is not rocket science to take screenshots of past market activity and use them for purposes of cheating. It is therefore very clear that these are not true results generated by Super Profit scalper.
VISIT SUPER PROFIT SCALPER WEBSITE
How Does Super Profit Scalper Works?
Super Profit Scalper will help you to follow the signals and also enjoy profit coming into your account. You never have to worry about repaints anymore, because this indicator has been designed to give only authentic signals to buy or sell. This software will make you super profit without having to require as much time as other indicators do. It is made for people like you whose focus is to make a big profit but with little time for trading. Everything you have to do is follow easy buy or sell signals that Super Profit Scalper generates right on your chart. Purple Line – Buy, Yellow Line – Sell. That’s it… All the years of learning, all the experience and knowledge of our trader’s team is the code of this incredible scalper. This software gives you total peace of mind, rest, and more time to pursue your wildest dreams. This software will help you become free. You will be away from the computer, but keep your mobile device close by to watch for any notifications on new trades. And you don’t need to go through all those years of trial and error yourself. You can simply follow individual signals and make the profit.
All you have to know the instructions to follow with this Super Profit Scalper.
*Step 1: pop upOpen the trading chart of your choice.
*Step 2: Choose your timeframe: M1 or M5.
*Step 3: Purple Line – Buy or Yellow Line – Sell.
*Step 4: Exit when the line changes color.
*Step 5: Profit.