A screener is just rules sitting between the data and you.
A stock screener is your fantasy football lineup. You set it before the game, and you keep a board of who qualifies.
In Trade Ideas that board is the Top List (Screener). It is a live list of stocks that meet your criteria. Top Lists update every 15 seconds. It is not a spreadsheet you rebuild by hand.
Key point
New to trading? You don't have to build a Top List to start. The Channel Bar's ready-made, themed channels come with TI Pro on every plan. Click one and live Top Lists open. See Trade Ideas for beginners.
The Top List updates every 15 seconds. If you are okay with static non-refreshing data, Trade Ideas is probably not your best choice.
Web Dashboard replay, recorded.
Trade Ideas Stock Screener vs Stock Scanner
The same English ask, the same configuration screen, and the same Formula Editor filters that build an alert can build a top list. A scanner reports the play. A screener shows the lineup.
AI Assistant builds Top Lists from plain English. AI Assistant is included in TI Pro on every Trade Ideas plan. Custom formulas are written in the Formula Editor. If you need help, our AI Assistant can help you script.
Put your Top Lists (Screeners) on your charts automatically
Turn on Idea Surfing in TI Pro and the top three stocks of each open Top List rotate onto your linked charts every 7 seconds. Hover the mouse over a chart to pause it; move away and it resumes.
Trade Ideas Stock Screener questions
What is a stock screener?
A screener is a lineup of stocks that meet your criteria. You set it before the action, or you keep it as a live board. Trade Ideas calls that board the Top List (Screener).
Top Lists in the Web Dashboard, updating through the day.
Does Trade Ideas have a real-time stock screener?
Yes. Trade Ideas Top Lists are the real-time stock screener. They show the stocks that qualify right now and update every 15 seconds.
Can Trade Ideas stream screener results as they happen?
Yes. In TI Pro, an alert window with filters but no alerts uses the Heartbeat alert automatically and streams the stocks that meet your criteria in real time, so it works as a streaming screener. See the streaming stock screener guide.
What is the difference between a stock screener and a stock scanner?
A screener is the lineup: it ranks the stocks that meet your criteria right now. A scanner is the play, reported the moment it happens. Trade Ideas has both. The Top List is the screener. Streaming Alerts (Scanner) come with 308 real-time alerts. See the Trade Ideas stock scanner.
Heat map of the market, sized and colored live.
How often does the Trade Ideas stock screener update?
Every 15 seconds. Top Lists re-rank as the market moves, premarket and after hours included.
What screener settings do day traders use for premarket gappers and high relative volume?
A common start is a gap filter with a minimum percent gap, a relative volume filter well above 1, a minimum price and a minimum average volume, sorted on gap or on relative volume. The Channel Bar also has ready-made premarket and momentum Top Lists you can open and adjust.
Can I get alerts from my stock screener?
Pair it with Streaming Alerts. The Top List shows who qualifies now; the stock scanner tells you the moment a stock does something, so a screener with alerts is two windows side by side.
Is there a free way to try a real-time stock screener?
Yes. Open a free account to try the Web Dashboard, which includes Top Lists.
Can I build a top list in English?
Yes. Ask Holly in plain English and it builds top lists and alerts. Custom formulas are still written in the Formula Editor.
How do I screen for stocks near 52-week highs?
Use the Position in Range (1 year) filter (RY). It shows where the price sits inside the past year's range, so you can set a minimum to keep only stocks trading near their 52-week high.
Can I screen for unusual options activity?
Yes. The Options Volume Today (%), Call Volume Today and Put Volume Today filters screen for heavy options volume. Trade Ideas also monitors unusual options activity across all stocks, with a dedicated channel in both TI Pro and the Web Dashboard.
How do I screen for low float, high short interest stocks?
Is the Trade Ideas stock screener good for beginners?
Yes, for beginners who want the premium experience. There is no need to configure anything. The Channel Bar's ready-made, themed channels come with TI Pro on every plan. Click one and live Top Lists open, updating every 15 seconds. The free Trading Room with Barrie Einarson helps you learn. When you want more, 249 filters, OddsMaker TI Premium and Holly AI Signals are there to grow into. See Trade Ideas for beginners.
Past results, including backtests, don't guarantee future results.
