What free screeners do well — and where they stop
Free unusual-activity tables answer 'what traded a lot today.' They rarely answer 'which of these is worth my review time.' ConvexRadar's ranking and catalyst context exist for that second question.
Barchart Options Alternative
The step up from free options screeners.
Free screeners like Barchart's are a common starting point. ConvexRadar is built for the next step: a ranked, contract-level scanner that combines unusual-activity pressure with IV cost, catalysts, and saved-contract tracking in one paid but inexpensive workflow.
One workflow instead of many tabs
Screener users typically bounce between a volume table, an IV page, an earnings calendar, and a watchlist. ConvexRadar folds those into one row per contract, then lets you save and track what you found.
Independent comparison, honest limits
ConvexRadar is not affiliated with Barchart. And like every page on this site: options flow is one research input, ConvexRadar's print typing is a chain-derived proxy rather than licensed full-tape data, and nothing here is financial advice.
ConvexRadar vs Barchart
| Feature | ConvexRadar | Barchart |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | Free tier; Founder $29/mo, Pro $49/mo | Premier $29.95/mo after a 30-day trial (Plus $9.99/mo has no options flow) |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Options data source | No licensed tape. Print typing is derived from option-chain behaviour and labelled as a proxy in the UI. | Consolidated all-exchange coverage, delayed roughly 25-30 minutes |
| Congressional disclosures | Yes — Senate EFD disclosures, pinned to price history | Yes — politician trading page, updated twice daily |
| Published record of its own signals | Yes — public page grading the scanner's own past rankings; first graded results from August 2026 | Backtested Win% on equity signals; none published for options flow |
| Product focus | Contract-level ranking with catalyst context | Broad market-data site with options screeners in Premier |
Barchart Premier is the like-for-like tier; the $9.99 Plus tier contains no options-flow tooling. Their options pages state data is delayed approximately 25 to 30 minutes. Published Win% covers backtested equity signals, not options flow. Figures are taken from the vendor’s own public pages and can change without notice — check the current source before deciding. We are not affiliated with Barchart; product names are their owners’ trademarks.
Frequently asked questions
Is ConvexRadar affiliated with Barchart?
No. ConvexRadar is independent, and this page is a comparison for traders considering a paid step up from free screeners.
Why pay for ConvexRadar when free screeners exist?
Free tables show raw volume. ConvexRadar ranks exact contracts, adds IV cost and catalyst context, and tracks saved contracts — the parts of the workflow that take the most manual time.
What does ConvexRadar cost?
Founder Beta is $29/month and Pro is $49/month, each with a 5-day free trial, so the workflow can be tested before paying.
Review the live ConvexRadar workflow.
Open the scanner, compare plans, or create an account to inspect the product before upgrading.
Trading options involves risk. ConvexRadar is research software and does not provide financial advice or guarantee trade outcomes.