Mojack

commision wise, both, IB and Tradestation are good, and close thogether. That should not be a factor. The biggest factor for sure is the Platform. TradeStation is sadi to be the best, and IBs charting is the worst. I am using an IB account but with Sierra Charts, feeded by my IB account. The only reason I am with IB is, becaseu its the only broker I found, which alows me to trade Futures, shares and FOREX from the same account. With TradeStation, I would need to open 3 different accounts, and fund all of them separatelly. I heard, that many people have a 5000$ TradeStation account, just to use their Platform for free (you have to make some minimum round turns to have it for free), but they have their trading account elsewhere. So if you are trading shares only, I would go with TradeStation. They have a nice "Radarscreen" a market scanner higly cusomizable, and all the other features you want. IBs charting is ridiculous bad, mostly useless, but has the advantage, that you can use it with many 3rd party Platforms. But also IBs order entry system is not as nice as many others. IB has a DOM, they call it Book Trader, but it is strange to use, I do not like it. (I use IBs TWS with button trader as order entry, and Sierra Charts for charting) So with IB I use 3 different Software, which in TradeStation you have all in one.

Sierra Charts @AbeSmith some correction: 1) You can view multiple charts on your monitor or on two monitors. Each chart will be in its own window, so you need to make it smaller same like any window in MS Windows. If you use 2 monitors, you expand the programm over those two monitors, and the cahrt windowns you then drag around as you wish between those monitors, same again, like in windows. 2) you can adjust your stop directly on chart. For thi, you need to activate "chart trade mode" (its under Trading, it says "chart trade mode on/off) I use Sierra Charts with IB. If you have chart trading mode on, and you issue an order to open a position, you will alos see that line on the chart. you can also issue an order directly from the chart, besides the order entry. Unfortunatelly Sierra Chart does not have a DOM entry system like Ninja Trader. 3) I fully agree, that the symbol entry is the worst part in Sierra Chart. You have to enter it manually, it will get safed like a file, very confusing, and with Futures you then need to delete and enter a new symbol each time on roll over. But once it is all set up, you safe it under chartbook, and thats it. You just have to then adjust the expired futures. Shares and FOREX is for ever. 4) you can have vertical lines, and customize them its under charts settings (F5). Resume: I also talked to a Broker on Infinity, and he comfirmed me, that Sierra Charts is the best bang for your buck. I pay 25$ per months, for a package with has many features, only thing I miss is TPO (MArket Profile), which costs more if you want that feature. Sierra Charts is also highly customizable, but it needs time to get used to it. When I first saw it, I did not use it, untill that broker told me to give it a second try. I am glad for that hint. Once you get used to it, and have everything set up once, it is very fast. Ninja Trader is way slower loading charts. Of course, IB charting is the worst ever, and does not compare Hint: there is a programm called button Trader, which is an exclusive entry system only for TWS. Its a very nice DOM, with tons of features, and incredible fastt. Its not for free, but you can test it forover, works with TWS paper trading account. Also when I enter a trade with button trader, and have chart trading on, I will see the line on the chart in Sierra Charts. Of course you see the entry in TWS as well. Button Trader is great for scalping, because its so fast and tick accurate. (only works with IBs TWS)