Order Flow Platforms

The main order flow platforms, side by side.

Last updated April 9, 2026 · 11 platforms

Our Top Pick

DeepCharts via Aqua Futures

DeepCharts is one of the better order flow platforms out there. Footprint charts, heatmap depth, delta profiles, big trades detection, and a DOM, all in one app. The interesting thing is you get it bundled with an Aqua Futures funded account, so you're not paying for the software and the capital as two separate things.

The catch: this pairing really only makes sense if you were going to trade with a prop firm anyway. DeepCharts by itself can place orders fine, but in the bundled version you're locked into the Aqua Futures prop account, you can't route to your own broker from inside the chart. If you want to trade your own retail account through the platform, look at the other options below.

Check out Aqua Futures

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Platform	Origin	Released	Price	OS	Indicators	Custom Scripts	Language	Free Trial
ATAS	Latvia	2011	Free / From ~$22/mo	Windows, macOS (beta)	240+	Yes	C#	14 days + free Start plan
Bookmap	Israel / United Kingdom	2014	Free / From $39/mo	Windows, Mac, Linux	30+	Yes	Java	Free Digital plan
Sierra Chart	United States	1996	From $26/mo	Windows	300+	Yes	C++ (ACSIL)	21 days (limited)
Jigsaw Trading	United Kingdom (Cayman-registered)	2011	From $579 lifetime or $50/mo	Windows	10+	No	-	Demo only
NinjaTrader	United States	2003	Free (Order Flow+ from $59/mo)	Windows	100+	Yes	C# (NinjaScript)	Free base + sim
Quantower	Ukraine	2017	Free / From ~$40/mo	Windows	40+	Yes	C#	Free tier + 7-day Pro
GoCharting	India	2021	Free / From ~$17/mo	Browser (any OS)	20+	No	-	Free tier
SB Professional	Russia	2016	From $30/mo or $125/yr	Windows	40+	No	-	10 days
DeepCharts	United States	2021	From $74/mo (annual) or $99/mo	Windows	15+	No	-	None
MotiveWave	Canada	2011	Subscription or one-time	Windows, Mac, Linux	300+	Yes	Java (SDK)	14 days (Ultimate)
ExoCharts	International	2020	From $28/mo	Browser, Windows, Mac	15+	No	-	Free trial (limited pairs)

Platforms we've tested

Hands-on reviews from actual use.

ATAS

The deepest footprint and cluster analysis you can get

If your trading revolves around reading what happened inside a bar - delta, imbalances, cluster structure - ATAS goes deeper than anything else. It's a volume analysis machine with 240+ indicators, Smart Tape, SmartDOM, DOM Power, Market Profile, and native Mac support via ATAS X.

The good

+ 240+ indicators focused on volume and order flow.
+ Smart Tape filters time & sales by size, side, and exchange.
+ SmartDOM and DOM Power for depth/liquidity analysis.
+ Custom indicators in C#.

The bad

– Dense. Takes real time to learn and configure.
– ATAS X (Mac) is behind the Windows build.
– Overkill if you just need a heatmap or basic DOM.

Try ATAS

Sierra Chart

Ugly as hell, but nothing is more customizable

Sierra Chart looks like it was designed in 2005. But under that shell is the most flexible, stable, and customizable order flow platform you can buy.

The good

+ 300+ built-in studies and fully customizable Numbers Bars.
+ Rock-solid under heavy tick load.
+ Cheapest monthly cost on this list ($26/mo).
+ C++ (ACSIL) for custom studies.

The bad

– UI is genuinely ugly and unintuitive.
– Steep learning curve.
– No Mac or Linux native. 21-day trial is capped on data and symbols.

Try Sierra Chart

NinjaTrader

Best starting point if you don't want to spend money yet

NinjaTrader is how most futures traders first encounter order flow tools. Free base platform, Order Flow+ addon ($59/mo) covers volumetric bars, cumulative delta, depth map, and volume profile.

The good

+ Free base platform with unlimited sim.
+ NinjaScript (C#) for custom indicators.
+ Large third-party ecosystem.
+ Integrated execution.

The bad

– Order flow tools are good, not great.
– OF+ is paid - "free" has limits.
– Windows only.

Try NinjaTrader

Quantower

One workspace for multiple markets and brokers

Quantower is the platform when your trading spans multiple markets, brokers, or asset classes.

The good

+ Multi-broker, multi-asset workspace.
+ Modern panel-based UI.
+ Free tier is genuinely usable.
+ Custom indicators in C#.

The bad

– Order flow tools are solid, not best-in-class.
– Feature availability depends on your broker/feed.
– Windows only.

Try Quantower

DeepCharts

Footprint, heatmap, and delta in one package

DeepCharts packs footprint, orderflow profile, delta profile, big trades indicator, DOM, heatmap depth, volume profile, and a trade copier into one platform.

The good

+ Broad feature set bundled - no add-on maze.
+ Big Trades indicator built in.
+ Trade copier included.

The bad

– No custom indicators or scripting.
– Annual commitment (cheapest tier $74/mo billed yearly, $99/mo otherwise).
– No free trial.

Try DeepCharts

Other platforms

Based on documentation, demos, and community feedback - not hands-on testing.

Bookmap

Makes the order book visible - literally

Bookmap turns the order book into a heatmap you can read at speed.

The good

+ Industry-leading liquidity heatmap visualization.
+ Runs natively on Mac, Windows, and Linux.
+ Custom indicators via Bookmap API (Java).

The bad

– Footprint tools are basic compared to ATAS or Sierra.
– Heatmap quality depends heavily on the data feed.
– Add-on costs stack up fast beyond the base subscription.

Try Bookmap

Jigsaw Trading

Purpose-built for DOM and tape reading

Jigsaw does one thing and does it better than anyone: DOM trading and tape reading. Depth & Sales combines DOM, time & sales, and depth changes into one view.

The good

+ Depth & Sales window - gold standard for DOM + tape.
+ Summary Tape groups prints by aggression.
+ Lifetime pricing option.
+ Works on top of NinjaTrader, Sierra, and others.

The bad

– Not a charting platform - you need charts elsewhere.
– Windows only. No custom indicators.
– Demo only, no free trial.

Try Jigsaw Trading

GoCharting

Real order flow tools in a browser tab

GoCharting is the only browser-based platform that takes order flow seriously. Footprint, imbalance, profile, DOM - all in a browser tab.

The good

+ Only serious browser-based order flow platform.
+ Works on any OS.
+ Cheapest paid tier of any platform here.
+ Free tier is genuinely usable.

The bad

– Browser performance has real ceilings under heavy data.
– Less depth than desktop platforms.
– No custom indicators.

Try GoCharting

SB Professional

Russian-built order flow suite with serious depth tools

SB Professional (SBPro) is a serious order flow platform out of Russia with strong cluster charts, volume analysis, and Smart DOM - at one of the best price points on this list.

The good

+ Deep cluster and volume analysis.
+ Modern, clean UI that's easy to read and performant.
+ Excellent price - $30/mo or $125/yr for full functionality.
+ 10-day free trial.

The bad

– English documentation and community are limited.
– Windows only.
– No custom indicators.

Try SB Professional

MotiveWave

Cross-platform order flow with Elliott Wave built in

MotiveWave runs natively on Mac, Windows, and Linux with real order flow tools - and has the most advanced Elliott Wave toolkit of any trading platform (Auto Elliott Wave Study, Elliott Wave Scanner, Automatic Wave Counts).

The good

+ True native cross-platform (Mac, Windows, Linux).
+ Most advanced Elliott Wave tooling of any platform.
+ Java SDK for custom studies.
+ 14-day full trial, no card required.

The bad

– Order flow tools are solid but shallower than ATAS or Sierra.
– Higher price point for full features.
– Smaller community than NinjaTrader or Sierra.

Try MotiveWave

ExoCharts

Affordable order flow for crypto and futures

ExoCharts is an affordable desktop platform with cluster charts and order flow visuals, with a strong emphasis on crypto and futures.

The good

+ Cheapest desktop order flow platform here ($28/mo).
+ Native Mac support.
+ Strong crypto coverage.

The bad

– No custom indicators.
– Less depth than ATAS, Sierra, or Bookmap.
– Smaller feature set overall.

Try ExoCharts

Still deciding?

Aqua Futures is probably the easiest starting point. You get DeepCharts, the data feed, and a funded account in the same package, so there's no separate setup to wire together.

Check out Aqua Futures

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