ChartsWatcher vs Scanz
By Jay Rocco, Chief Editor, FullStack Alpha. Updated . Prices checked on each vendor's own site.
Quick answer
Pick ChartsWatcher for backtesting plus broker connection. Pick Scanz for AI trade signals.
Key differences
- Cheaper paid plan: ChartsWatcher ($24.99/mo vs $89/mo)
- Free plan: ChartsWatcher (ChartsWatcher has one, Scanz does not)
- Broader feature set: ChartsWatcher (6 vs 5 core capabilities)
- Broker connection: ChartsWatcher (Only ChartsWatcher has it)
- Backtesting: ChartsWatcher (Only ChartsWatcher has it)
Pick ChartsWatcher if
- You test strategies before risking money
- You want it linked to your broker
- Day traders scanning momentum stocks
- Real-time pattern and volume alerts
Pick Scanz if
- You want AI-generated trade signals
- Day trading scanners
- Real-time news and filings
- Level 2 and signals
Side by side
| Feature | ChartsWatcher | Scanz |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free, paid from $24.99/mo | From $89/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Stock screener | Yes | Yes |
| Charting | Yes | Yes |
| AI trade signals | No | Yes |
| Backtesting | Yes | No |
| Broker connection | Yes | No |
| Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| News and sentiment | Yes | Yes |
Plans
ChartsWatcher
- Free: $0
- Starter: $24.99/mo
- Advanced: $49.99/mo
- Pro: $74.99/mo
Scanz
- Starter: $89/mo
- Pro: $199/mo
- Ultra: $999/mo
Questions people ask
What is the main difference between ChartsWatcher and Scanz?
Pick ChartsWatcher for backtesting plus broker connection. Pick Scanz for AI trade signals.
Which is cheaper, ChartsWatcher or Scanz?
ChartsWatcher has the cheaper paid plan: $24.99/mo for ChartsWatcher vs $89/mo for Scanz (monthly equivalent, checked Oct 2026).
Do ChartsWatcher or Scanz have a free plan?
Only ChartsWatcher has a free plan.
Which is better for beginners?
Both target intermediate users. Start with whichever has the free plan or trial so you can test before you pay.
Which has better AI features?
They are level on AI depth (2 AI features each). ChartsWatcher: news and sentiment, backtesting. Scanz: AI trade signals, news and sentiment.
Can I connect ChartsWatcher or Scanz to ChatGPT or Claude?
Neither offers an MCP server or a public API right now.
Is ChartsWatcher or Scanz better for active trading?
Scanz has more of the active-trading toolkit: alerts, scanning, signals and charts.
Should I use both ChartsWatcher and Scanz?
It can make sense. They overlap on only 4 core features, so one can fill gaps the other leaves.