I'd suggest contacting Open ECry as well. Very good rates, great customer service and their platform is free. I realize free could imply junk, but it's top notch. I guess it depends on what you need, so test it out on trial first.
Open e cry is fine, an excellent DOM, but you need a serious charting software First of all it lags and many drawing tools are absent Many bugs still there ...But I heard that their data feed will be available on Sierra Chart..in few weeks I think
Consider Alaron as well. I think in the next week they will be offering the retail version of TT with live quotes & charts for like $35/month and $1.99 per contract plus fees
On the X_trader side, I also believe they will be offering it (w/ the charting) for $250 or $300/month with 79 cent commissions, then laddered down after 2000 sides.
what are the rates like? anything above $1 RT excluding all else is expensive! Also, can IQF & TT be used with it?
That's like, (0.79*2) + 0.30 +.03 = 1.91 ex fees of 2.32 total = 4.23 It's high!The comms at 1 would have been OK maybe.
Let's put these into perspective. Please inform about any wrong or missing data used below. So far the lowest seems to be TransAct(assuming the comm is 1.1) but it excludes the XTrader but has Sierra chart included that needs to be established if Sierra Charts could substitude XTrader??? With the Xtrader included, then Global has the best Fees. Broker "RT Commish" Exchange Transaction Fees Exchange Dta Fees X-Trader / Trade Sierra Chart IQFEED Secondary Data Exchange Total TransAct directly 1.1 2.32 0.03 NA 0 0.05 0.03 $3.53 Global Futures 1 2.32 0 0.7 ? 0.05 0.03 $4.10 Direct Fill 1 2.32 0.03 0.7 ? 0.05 0.03 $4.13 Velocity 1.43 2.32 0.03 0.5 ? 0.05 0.03 $4.36 IB 1.7 2.32 0.03 0.7 ? 0.05 0.03 $4.83 TradeStation 2.21 2.32 0.03 0.7 ? 0.05 0.03 $5.34
I don't know what your personal rate quote would be, go over to their site and take a look. I don't work for them, just suggesting. I doubt TT will work with it since they have their own software.
If you make 1000 RTs per month you should consider to obtain ECM-H or ECM-W on CME. This would great decrease your Globex and clearing commission. Then ask Velocity if X-Trader is avaliable for free for customers with such membership. Velocity say on their site about it.