Searching for the ultimate guide to options screener? You just landed on the right page. I’ve spent years testing platforms, and when I first discovered Finviz, I knew I’d found a game-changer for uncovering high-probability trades with speed and precision. In this deep dive, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about using an options screener to scan for setups, analyze risk, and seize trading opportunities.

I understand how overwhelming it can be to sort through thousands of tickers and options chains every day. You need a tool that’s fast, reliable, and packed with the advanced features serious traders demand. That’s exactly why I recommend Finviz. With its ad-free layout, real-time data, advanced charts, backtesting engine, and powerful alerts, it’s the only platform I trust when I’m scanning for my next high-reward trade. Ready to see it in action? Get Started with Finviz for Free Today.

What is Finviz Options Screener?

Finviz is an all-in-one market research platform designed to help traders and investors filter thousands of stocks and options contracts in seconds. At its core, Finviz delivers an options screener that lets you pinpoint strike prices, expiration dates, implied volatility levels, and open interest criteria tailored to your trading strategy. Whether you’re hunting for thinly traded weekly calls or heavily skewed put spreads, Finviz puts the data you need right at your fingertips.

Finviz Options Screener Overview

Finviz launched over a decade ago with the mission to demystify the markets for retail traders. What started as a simple stock screener has grown into a comprehensive suite of tools covering equities, options, ETFs, and futures. The platform is used by millions of traders worldwide—and with no ads in the Elite plan, it’s become the go-to hub for professionals who demand speed and clarity.

Today, Finviz continues to innovate. It recently rolled out expanded hours data from 4:00AM, enhanced backtesting across 24 years of history, and a proprietary correlation engine that highlights stocks moving in tandem or opposition. As a former prop-desk analyst, I’ve tested every major screener on the market—and nothing compares to the depth and usability of Finviz’s options horizon.

Pros and Cons of Finviz Options Screener

Pro: Lightning-fast filtering across thousands of options chains—filter by strike, expiration, volume, open interest, and implied volatility in milliseconds.

Pro: Real-time and extended hours quotes, so you’ll never miss a premarket catalyst or after-hours reversal.

Pro: Advanced charts with intraday intervals, overlays, drawing tools, and performance comparisons to SPY and other benchmarks.

Pro: Backtesting engine supporting over 100 technical indicators and two decades of historical data.

Pro: Proprietary correlation algorithms that expose diversification and hedging opportunities across your portfolio.

Pro: Instant e-mail and push notifications for price, news, ratings changes, or new tickers matching your custom screener criteria.

Pro: Data export capabilities and API access—perfect for building automated models or integrating with Excel.

Con: The Elite plan may be pricey for casual users at $39.50/month without annual billing.

Con: Learning curve for new traders unfamiliar with advanced screener parameters and charting tools.

Features of Finviz Options Screener

Finviz’s feature set transforms how you approach an options screener. Here’s a closer look at the key capabilities:

Advanced Stock Screener

The foundation of Finviz is its robust stock screener, letting you filter by fundamental and technical metrics before you dive into options.

• Custom filters: EPS growth, debt/equity, P/E ratio, dividend yield.
• Statistic view: Visualize financial ratios and performance metrics side-by-side.
• Export to CSV or API for deeper analysis in Excel or Python.

Real-time and Extended Hours Data

Stay ahead of the curve with live quotes and premarket/aftermarkets sessions from 4:00AM onward.

• Real-time bid/ask, last trade, and volume.
• Premarket movers and aftermarket heatmaps on the homepage.
• Track overnight news catalysts before the bell rings.

Advanced Charts

Tap into powerful charting tools built for serious technical analysis.

• Intraday intervals down to one minute.
• Overlays: moving averages, Bollinger Bands, VWAP, and more.
• Drawing tools: channels, Fibonacci retracements, support/resistance lines.
• Performance comparisons: directly overlay SPY, QQQ, or custom tickers.

Backtests

Validate your options strategies on historical data before risking real capital.

• 100+ technical indicators supported.
• 24 years of price history across US equities.
• Compare strategy returns against the SPY benchmark.

Correlations

Identify stocks and options that move together or inversely to build better hedges and diversification.

• Proprietary correlation algorithm optimized for financial time series.
• Visual heatmap showing strength and direction of relationships.
• Alternate position ideas when original targets become overbought/oversold.

Alerts & Notifications

Never miss a critical move with customizable email and push alerts.

• Price triggers for stocks and options Greeks.
• News, ratings changes, insider filings.
• New tickers matching your screener criteria.

Custom Filters & Data Export

Save and share your unique screener setups or automate downstream analysis.

• Create up to 200 custom presets in Elite.
• Export filtered results to Excel or call the API.
• Generate PDF reports for your trading journal.

Finviz Options Screener Pricing

Finviz offers two plans to suit different needs:

Free Plan

Price: $0 forever
Ideal for: Beginner traders exploring basic filters and delayed data.
Highlights:

• Delayed quotes, charts, and screener results.
• Up to 50 preset filters.
• Ad-supported layout.
• 3 years of fundamental statements.

Elite Plan

Price: $39.50/month or $24.96/month billed annually (7-day free trial)
Ideal for: Active traders requiring real-time data and advanced tools.
Highlights:

• Real-time quotes and extended hours sessions.
• Intraday charts, drawing tools, multi-layout views.
• Backtests, correlations, and advanced screener filters.
• Email/push notifications for price, news, ratings, SEC filings.
• Export to Excel and API access for screener, portfolio, and news.
• No ads, maximum presets, and early access to new features.

Finviz Options Screener Is Best For

Whether you’re trading weekly calls or developing a multi-leg spread, Finviz caters to a wide range of traders:

Day Traders

Real-time data and quick filter resets help you react to intraday volatility and capitalize on momentum moves.

Swing Traders

Use correlation insights and charting overlays to identify trend continuation or reversal setups over several days.

Long-term Investors

Fundamental screeners, performance comparison, and backtests provide confidence when selecting core positions.

Options Traders

Filter implied volatility rank, open interest, and expiration dates to find the most liquid and mispriced contracts.

Benefits of Using Finviz

• Speed and Efficiency: Filter thousands of symbols in seconds to focus on high-probability trades.
• Data Accuracy: Real-time quotes and extended hours ensure you’re never trading blind.
• Comprehensive Tools: Advanced charts, backtests, and correlations cover every angle of market analysis.
• Custom Alerts: Automated notifications keep you informed of critical events and price swings.
• Seamless Workflow: Data export and API integration streamline your research and journaling.
• Ad-Free Layout: Stay focused on charts and data without distractions.

Customer Support

Finviz offers responsive customer service via email and in-app support tickets. Most queries receive a detailed response within 24 hours, and technical issues are escalated immediately to ensure minimal downtime. For urgent questions about data feeds or API calls, the support team has dedicated specialists on hand.

Additionally, Elite subscribers enjoy priority assistance and early access to beta features. Whenever I’ve encountered a bug or requested a new screener parameter, the Finviz team has been quick to implement fixes and even roll out feature enhancements based on user feedback.

External Reviews and Ratings

On trading forums and social communities, Finviz consistently ranks among the top options screener platforms. Users praise its intuitive interface, lightning-fast filters, and depth of historical data for backtesting. Many pros highlight the value of extended hours quotes when planning morning strategies.

Some critics note that the Elite price point can be steep for part-time traders, and new users may feel overwhelmed by the array of technical indicators. However, Finviz addresses these concerns with a 7-day free trial and extensive tutorials, making it easy to test drive before committing.

Educational Resources and Community

Finviz maintains a robust blog featuring market commentary, screener tips, and tutorials on technical analysis. The YouTube channel offers walkthroughs on building custom filters, backtesting strategies, and interpreting correlation maps. Active online communities on Reddit and Discord share screener presets and trade ideas using Finviz charts and filters.

Moreover, Finviz hosts periodic webinars led by professional traders covering advanced topics such as volatility skew, spread construction, and risk management. These educational events are free for Elite subscribers and recorded for later viewing in the resource library.

Conclusion

In the crowded landscape of trading platforms, Finviz stands out as the ultimate options screener solution for traders of all levels. Its combination of real-time data, advanced charts, backtesting, correlations, and customizable alerts empowers you to identify, validate, and execute high-probability trades. Whether you’re scanning for breakout setups or refining multi-leg strategies, Finviz delivers the speed and depth you need.

Ready to unlock profitable trades with the most powerful options screener on the market? Get Started with Finviz for Free Today and transform your research workflow into a streamlined, results-driven process.