Tool Comparison
FlowAlgo vs Unusual Whales
- Paid from
- $99/mo
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Web
Best if
- You're newer to investing and want something approachable
- Paid from
- $504/yr, billed annually
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile, API
Best if
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
Pick FlowAlgo instead if
FlowAlgo
From $99/mo · Web
- You're newer to investing and want something approachable
Start here
Unusual Whales
Free • From $504/yr, billed annually · Web · Mobile · API
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
FlowAlgo and Unusual Whales cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, options, dark pool & off-exchange, and alerts), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Unusual Whales simply does more: 12 categories to FlowAlgo's 3, including money flow, screeners, and options p&l, plus a mobile app. FlowAlgo counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
FlowAlgo
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Unusual Whales
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Key differences at a glance
- Free plan
- Unusual Whales
- Free trial
- Unusual Whales7 days
- Broader coverage
- Unusual Whales12 vs 3 categories
- Mobile app
- Unusual Whales
- API access
- Unusual Whales
- Asset coverage
- Unusual WhalesAdds cryptos
What FlowAlgo does best
- Monitor real-time options order flow, unusual activity, Intermarket Sweep Orders, and option block trades from a focused web dashboard.
- Review equity block and dark-pool data through the flow tape and Dark Pool Insights module.
- Latency differences: options flow streams near real time, while dark-pool prints and equity block data can be delayed by reporting and exchange rules.
- Alpha AI signals for idea generation during market hours; the vendor labels the feature beta and says it is not investment advice.
- Search across historical flow data back to mid-2017 to review prior days, tickers, date ranges, and recurring activity patterns.
What Unusual Whales does best
- Tracking US options flow with trade details, exchange data, filters, configurable columns, sorting, and saved trades.
- Multi-leg tagging in the flow feed and open trades in an options profit calculator for payoff and P/L context.
- Monitor dark pool and off-exchange activity, with market-tide, lit/off-lit, and related flow feeds available where the plan supports them.
- Tools for building alerts across the website, mobile apps, and Discord; free alerts are delayed and limited, while premium alerts are faster and broader.
- Stock and options screeners for unusual volume, options activity, premium, volume, open interest, implied volatility, greeks, and related filters.
Side by side
Pricing comparison
See for yourself
Side by side
Price, platforms, data, and market coverage.ShowHide
Side by side
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | From $99/mo | Free • From $504/yr, billed annually |
Free tier | No | Yes |
Free trial | — | 7 days |
Plan limits | 4 limits: Two-week intro offer: term: Two weeks, Two-week intro offer: renewal: $149/month. Auto-renews unless canceled. +2 more | 13 limits: Free Limited: options flow delay: 2 trading days, Free Limited: news delay minutes: 15 +11 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | No | Yes |
Broker sync | No | — |
Integrations | — | Discord, X (Twitter) +3 more |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +3 more |
Categories covered | 3 | 12 |
Regions | North America | North America |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 4 signals: Latency: Streaming and Real-time, Granularity: Tick +2 more | 3 signals: Latency: Streaming and Real-time, Granularity: Minute and EOD +1 more |
Capabilities | — | 3 signals: Universe builder, Multi-leg options +1 more |
| Try it | Visit FlowAlgo | Visit Unusual Whales |
Standout features
The best features of FlowAlgo and Unusual Whales.ShowHide
Standout features
What FlowAlgo does best
- Monitor real-time options order flow, unusual activity, Intermarket Sweep Orders, and option block trades from a focused web dashboard.
- Review equity block and dark-pool data through the flow tape and Dark Pool Insights module.
- Latency differences: options flow streams near real time, while dark-pool prints and equity block data can be delayed by reporting and exchange rules.
- Alpha AI signals for idea generation during market hours; the vendor labels the feature beta and says it is not investment advice.
- Search across historical flow data back to mid-2017 to review prior days, tickers, date ranges, and recurring activity patterns.
What Unusual Whales does best
- Tracking US options flow with trade details, exchange data, filters, configurable columns, sorting, and saved trades.
- Multi-leg tagging in the flow feed and open trades in an options profit calculator for payoff and P/L context.
- Monitor dark pool and off-exchange activity, with market-tide, lit/off-lit, and related flow feeds available where the plan supports them.
- Tools for building alerts across the website, mobile apps, and Discord; free alerts are delayed and limited, while premium alerts are faster and broader.
- Stock and options screeners for unusual volume, options activity, premium, volume, open interest, implied volatility, greeks, and related filters.
All details
Every attribute we track for FlowAlgo and Unusual Whales.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsOptions | OptionsStocksETFsCryptos |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | IntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Not specified | Retail TradersPro RetailDay TradersSwing TradersAlgo Traders |
Regions | North America | North America |
Coverage details | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | StreamingReal-time | StreamingReal-time |
Data granularity | Tick | MinuteEOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | Not specified | RESTWebSocket |
API auth & delivery | Not specified | Auth: APIKeyDocs |
Integrations | Not specified | DiscordX (Twitter)MCP ServerOpenAPIAI Skills |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Not specified | Universe builderMulti-leg optionsGreeks |
Vendor & support | FlowAlgo LLCSupport: Chat | Unusual Whales IncSupport: Email |
Curation ratings | Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 | Not specified |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing
Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.ShowHide
Pricing
| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | — | Free“Free Limited”options flow delay: 2 trading days · news delay minutes: 15 · +1 more |
| Entry paid plan | $99/mo“Annual”billed: $1,188 every 12 months | $504/yrBilled annually≈ $42/mo“Retail Basic (Annual)”custom alerts: 25 · watchlists: 5 · +1 more |
| Tier 2 | $129/mo“Quarterly”billed: $387 every 3 months | $50/moBilled monthly“Retail Basic (Monthly)”custom alerts: 25 · watchlists: 5 · +1 more |
| Tier 3 | $149/mo“Monthly” | $756/yrBilled annually≈ $63/mo“Retail Pro Annual” |
| Tier 4 | — | $75/moBilled monthly“Retail Pro Monthly” |
| Tier 5 | — | $1224/yrBilled annually≈ $102/mo“Retail Max Annual” |
| Tier 6 | — | $120/moBilled monthly“Retail Max Monthly” |
| Tier 7 | — | $150/moBilled monthly“API Access”requests per day: 40,000 · historical lookback years: 2 |
| Top plan | — | $375/moBilled monthly“API Advanced (WebSocket streaming)” |
| Free trial | — | 7 days |
Alternatives
Free alternatives
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between FlowAlgo and Unusual Whales?
FlowAlgo leans toward options, dark pool & off-exchange, and alerts, while Unusual Whales puts more weight on options, money flow, and screeners. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
Is FlowAlgo or Unusual Whales free to use?
Unusual Whales has a free tier, so you can get started without paying anything. FlowAlgo is paid-only. If budget matters, start with Unusual Whales and see how far it takes you before opening your wallet.
Which is better for beginners: FlowAlgo or Unusual Whales?
FlowAlgo is the friendlier place to start; its interface takes less getting used to. Both work fine once you're past the basics.
Can I use FlowAlgo or Unusual Whales on my phone?
Unusual Whales lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. FlowAlgo doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web.
Does FlowAlgo or Unusual Whales have an API?
Unusual Whales has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. FlowAlgo doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose FlowAlgo or Unusual Whales?
It depends on what you're after. Pick FlowAlgo if you prefer its overall approach; go with Unusual Whales if you'd rather have money flow and screeners. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do FlowAlgo and Unusual Whales cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, and options. Unusual Whales adds cryptos on top.
Do FlowAlgo and Unusual Whales offer real-time data?
Yes, both serve real-time market data, so either works when timing matters.
Is FlowAlgo or Unusual Whales better for day trading?
Unusual Whales is the one positioned more for active traders. FlowAlgo is the better fit if you care less about fast trading workflows and more about a calmer research process.
Which has a better stock screener: FlowAlgo or Unusual Whales?
Unusual Whales has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; FlowAlgo doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
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