VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Investors comparing FlowAlgo and IBorrowDesk will find that Both FlowAlgo and IBorrowDesk concentrate on Alerts workflows, making them natural alternatives for similar investment research jobs. FlowAlgo leans into Options & Derivatives, and Dark Pool & Off-Exchange, which can be decisive for teams that need depth over breadth. IBorrowDesk stands out with Short Interest, and Watchlist that the competition lacks. Use the feature-by-feature table to inspect unique capabilities and confirm which roadmap best maps to your process.
Head-to-head
FlowAlgo vs IBorrowDesk
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
- FlowAlgo adds Options & Derivatives, and Dark Pool & Off-Exchange coverage that IBorrowDesk skips.
- IBorrowDesk includes Short Interest, and Watchlist categories that FlowAlgo omits.
- FlowAlgo highlights: Realtime monitoring of options order flow, with unusual activity detection and tracking of Intermarket Sweep Orders and option block trades., Equity block and dark pool order data, paired with a dedicated “Dark Pool Insights” module., and Dark pool data is delayed until officially reported; equity block data may lag ~20 minutes. Options flow itself streams with typical latency of half a second to 15 seconds..
- IBorrowDesk is known for: Borrow fee percentages and shortable share availability, sourced directly from Interactive Brokers public datasets., Intraday refresh cadence: ~15 minutes during North American trading hours; hourly outside of them on weekdays., and Per-ticker pages show recent borrow snapshots with timestamps, plus options to add tickers to a watchlist or set alerts..
- IBorrowDesk keeps a free entry point that FlowAlgo lacks.
FlowAlgo
flowalgo.com
Realtime options order flow with equity block and dark pool data. All plans include the same feature set with monthly, quarterly, or annual billing. Paid trial available for two weeks. Dark pool prints are reported with delays (anywhere from hours to the next day), and equity block data can lag by up to ~20 minutes under exchange rules.
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Realtime monitoring of options order flow, with unusual activity detection and tracking of Intermarket Sweep Orders and option block trades.
- Equity block and dark pool order data, paired with a dedicated “Dark Pool Insights” module.
- Dark pool data is delayed until officially reported; equity block data may lag ~20 minutes. Options flow itself streams with typical latency of half a second to 15 seconds.
- Alpha AI signals during market hours, flagging predictive momentum shifts and Long/Short/Hedge opportunities.
- Historical database with access back to mid-2017, including prior days’ flow activity.
IBorrowDesk
iborrowdesk.com
Tracks stock-loan availability and borrow fee data as reported by Interactive Brokers (IBKR). Updates roughly every 15 minutes during North American trading hours and hourly elsewhere on weekdays. The data reflects IBKR only and not the wider market. The site is unaffiliated with IBKR; displayed quotes are provided by IEX. A paid Patron tier adds longer history, CSV exports, and more tracking capacity.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Borrow fee percentages and shortable share availability, sourced directly from Interactive Brokers public datasets.
- Intraday refresh cadence: ~15 minutes during North American trading hours; hourly outside of them on weekdays.
- Per-ticker pages show recent borrow snapshots with timestamps, plus options to add tickers to a watchlist or set alerts.
- Patron plan ($10/month) unlocks 5+ years of history versus 1 year on free, enables CSV historical export, and expands watchlist capacity to ~50 securities.
- Scope limited to Interactive Brokers—availability and fees may differ across other brokers.
Shared focus areas
Both platforms align on these research themes, so you can stay within one workflow when your use case involves them.
Where they differ
FlowAlgo
Distinct strengths include:
- Realtime monitoring of options order flow, with unusual activity detection and tracking of Intermarket Sweep Orders and option block trades.
- Equity block and dark pool order data, paired with a dedicated “Dark Pool Insights” module.
- Dark pool data is delayed until officially reported; equity block data may lag ~20 minutes. Options flow itself streams with typical latency of half a second to 15 seconds.
- Alpha AI signals during market hours, flagging predictive momentum shifts and Long/Short/Hedge opportunities.
IBorrowDesk
Distinct strengths include:
- Borrow fee percentages and shortable share availability, sourced directly from Interactive Brokers public datasets.
- Intraday refresh cadence: ~15 minutes during North American trading hours; hourly outside of them on weekdays.
- Per-ticker pages show recent borrow snapshots with timestamps, plus options to add tickers to a watchlist or set alerts.
- Patron plan ($10/month) unlocks 5+ years of history versus 1 year on free, enables CSV historical export, and expands watchlist capacity to ~50 securities.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | FlowAlgo | IBorrowDesk |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Alerts Unique: Options & Derivatives, Dark Pool & Off-Exchange | Shared: Alerts Unique: Short Interest, Watchlist |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Stocks, ETFs, Options | Stocks, ETFs |
Experience levels Who each product is built for | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Platforms Where you can access the product | Web | Web |
Pricing High-level pricing models | Subscription | Free, Subscription |
Key features Core capabilities called out by each vendor | Unique
| Unique
|
Tested Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat | Not yet | Not yet |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Standard listing | Standard listing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do FlowAlgo and IBorrowDesk both support?
Both platforms cover Alerts workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Which tool offers a free plan?
IBorrowDesk offers a free entry point, while FlowAlgo requires a paid subscription. Review the pricing table to see how the paid tiers compare.
How can you access FlowAlgo and IBorrowDesk?
Both FlowAlgo and IBorrowDesk prioritize web or desktop access. Investors wanting a mobile-first workflow may need to rely on responsive web views.
What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?
FlowAlgo differentiates itself with Realtime monitoring of options order flow, with unusual activity detection and tracking of Intermarket Sweep Orders and option block trades., Equity block and dark pool order data, paired with a dedicated “Dark Pool Insights” module., and Dark pool data is delayed until officially reported; equity block data may lag ~20 minutes. Options flow itself streams with typical latency of half a second to 15 seconds., whereas IBorrowDesk stands out for Borrow fee percentages and shortable share availability, sourced directly from Interactive Brokers public datasets., Intraday refresh cadence: ~15 minutes during North American trading hours; hourly outside of them on weekdays., and Per-ticker pages show recent borrow snapshots with timestamps, plus options to add tickers to a watchlist or set alerts..
Curation & Accuracy
This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.