Scanz Complete Guide: Setup, Features & Tips (2026)

What is Scanz?

Scanz is a professional-grade real-time stock scanner designed for active traders who need lightning-fast market surveillance and decision-making tools. Built by Scanz Technologies Inc. since 1998 and headquartered in Montreal, this platform combines 100+ customizable filters, institutional-quality news aggregation, and Level II data into a single $169/month subscription—no tiered upgrades, no add-on fees. With a 4.1/5 rating among day traders, Scanz is particularly trusted by momentum traders, pre-market scanners, and OTC/penny stock specialists who can't afford millisecond delays or information gaps. The platform specializes in stocks and ETFs across US markets, delivering the fastest real-time scanning in the industry along with pre-market and after-hours coverage.

How to Create Your Scanz Account

Getting started with Scanz is straightforward, though the application process is more thorough than casual retail brokers due to the professional nature of the platform.

• Visit the Scanz website and click the signup or "Start Free Trial" button (if currently available). You'll be directed to an application form requesting your basic information: full name, email address, phone number, and location.
• Complete identity verification. Scanz will ask for proof of identity (driver's license or passport) and potentially proof of address (utility bill or bank statement from the last 90 days). This typically takes 5-10 minutes to upload.
• Select your account type. Scanz offers the Pro plan at $169/month as their single tier. There's no free tier, so you'll need to commit to at least one month of subscription. However, some promotional periods offer a free trial period (usually 7-14 days).
• Set up payment method. Provide a valid credit card for recurring monthly billing. Note that Scanz has a strict no-refund policy, so confirm you want to proceed before your first billing cycle.
• Confirm your agreement to the terms of service and acknowledge Scanz's data usage policies. Unlike some brokers, Scanz doesn't require a minimum account balance—it's purely a software subscription.
• Account activation. Once approved (typically within 24 hours), you'll receive an email with login credentials and links to download the desktop application or access the web platform. Total setup time: 15-30 minutes.

Setting Up Scanz for the First Time

Dashboard orientation is critical for new users. When you log in, you'll see the main scanner window dominating the left side of your screen, displaying real-time stock tickers filtered by your scan criteria. The right panel shows your watch lists, alerts, and portfolio overview. The top navigation bar contains your core tools: Scanner, Alerts, News, Level II (market depth), and Settings.

Configure your data feed connection. Scanz doesn't require broker integration to function—the platform pulls real-time data independently from exchange feeds. However, if you use a supported broker like Interactive Brokers, TD Ameritrade, or others, you can enable one-click trade execution directly from the scanner without switching windows. Go to Settings → Broker Integration and authenticate your broker account if desired.

Customize your scanner layout. By default, Scanz shows a pre-built watch list, but you'll want to create custom column views immediately. Right-click on the column headers and add fields relevant to your strategy: percent gain, dollar volume, news count, price alerts triggered, relative strength index (RSI), or moving average distance. Save these layouts so you can switch between them instantly—one for pre-market scanning, one for midday momentum plays, one for after-hours reversals.

Set timezone and language preferences in Settings. Scanz operates with US market times (9:30 AM–4:00 PM ET for regular session), but you can adjust display times to your local timezone. The platform defaults to English, but offers multi-language support.

Enable alerts immediately. Even before building your first scan, go to Alerts and test the notification system. Scanz supports desktop pop-ups, email, and SMS alerts (SMS requires additional validation). Confirm that your phone number is correct and test a sample alert so you don't miss critical setups when your first real scan triggers.

Essential Features You Should Know

1. Real-Time Stock Scanner with 100+ Filters

This is Scanz's core engine. Build scans by combining filters: price range, volume spike percentage, RSI thresholds, moving average distance, sector, market cap, price change, and dozens more. The scanner runs continuously during market hours, updating every second or faster depending on your filter complexity. You can save unlimited scans and activate/deactivate them with a single click. Unlike slower competitors like Finviz, Scanz executes these scans in real-time rather than polling static data, which is essential for catching breakouts before the crowd.

2. Dollar Volume Data and Filtering

One of Scanz's unique strengths is its dollar volume metric—not just share volume, but the total dollar value of shares traded. This is invaluable for day traders because it identifies liquid, tradeable moves versus low-liquidity noise. You can set scans to trigger only on stocks with $50M+ daily dollar volume, ensuring you can enter and exit positions without slippage. Competitors like Finviz focus on share count, missing this critical liquidity signal.

3. News Streaming and Aggregation

Scanz aggregates breaking news from 100+ sources including Reuters, Bloomberg, SEC filings, earnings announcements, insider transactions, and regulatory filings. The News tab shows real-time headlines alongside stock price reactions. This is critical for overnight gap trades and understanding why a stock spiked during a scan alert. You can filter news by source type (SEC, earnings, insider trades) and set alerts to trigger when specific news categories hit certain stocks.

4. Level II Market Data

Unlike many competitors that charge extra for Level II, Scanz includes full order book depth (showing every buy and sell order at each price level) in your base subscription. This lets you see where institutional buyers are stacking orders before price moves, and you can spot support/resistance patterns that won't show up on 5-minute charts. Click any stock in your scanner to open its Level II window—essential for identifying optimal entry/exit points during high-volatility periods.

5. Custom Alerts and Notifications

Build alerts that trigger on complex conditions: "Alert me when XYZ rises 5% on 3x average volume AND breaks above its 20-day moving average." Scanz supports nested logic, multiple condition combinations, and time-based constraints (only alert during pre-market, for example). Choose your notification method (desktop pop-up appears instantly, email takes 1-2 minutes, SMS adds a few seconds for carrier routing) depending on how urgent the setup is.

6. Pre-Market and After-Hours Scanning

Scanz runs scanners 24/5, detecting setups during extended hours when volume is lower but moves are often more explosive. Set a pre-market scan at 3:00 AM (before the 4:00 AM extended session start) to identify your day's watchlist before the market opens. After-hours scanning catches gap-ups and reversals that hint at the next day's direction.

7. Broker Integration and Trade Execution

If your broker is supported (check the integration list in Settings), you can execute trades directly from the Level II window or chart without leaving Scanz. This eliminates the mechanical friction of copying a ticker symbol into your broker's order entry and reduces the chance of mistyping under time pressure. You remain responsible for all order logic—Scanz is a tool, not an automated trading system.

Scanz Pricing: Which Plan Should You Choose?

Scanz operates on a single-tier pricing model: Pro at $169 per month. There is no beginner tier, advanced tier, or enterprise option—all subscribers get the same feature set. This is a strength (no confusion about what you're paying for) and a limitation (you can't start cheap and upgrade).

For day traders and active momentum traders: The $169/month cost pencils out immediately if you're trading with a $10K+ account and capturing just one profitable setup per week that returns 2-3%. Scanz's speed advantage over free alternatives (ThinkorSwim's basic scanner, Finviz free tier) often pays for itself in single trade.

For swing traders and position traders: You may find Scanz overpriced relative to your needs. If you hold positions for days or weeks and don't need pre-market scanning, a free scanner or cheaper alternative like Finviz Elite ($40/month) may suffice. Scanz's real-time advantage matters less if you check setups once per day.

For OTC and penny stock specialists: The dollar volume filtering and real-time data are essential for this niche. OTC stocks move fast, and delays measured in seconds cost money. The $169/month is a non-negotiable tool cost.

Payment terms: Scanz bills monthly with no long-term discount. The strict no-refund policy means if you cancel mid-month, you forfeit the remainder. Budget this as a recurring fixed cost, not a trial subscription.

Pro Tips for Getting the Most Out of Scanz

1. Use multiple saved scans for different market conditions. Build separate scans for trending days (high RSI breakouts), reversal days (oversold bounces), and earnings days (high IV setups). Save each scan with a clear name like "Pre-market Breakouts Above 20MA" or "After-hours OTC Reversals." During your trading session, toggle between them based on market conditions. This beats trying to tweak filters in real-time when opportunities are flying.

2. Layer dollar volume filters with percentage gainers. A stock up 15% on 100K shares might be illiquid trash; the same move on $50M dollar volume is tradeable. Always require both: "Gain > 10% AND Dollar Volume > $30M." This single filter adjustment eliminates 80% of false alerts from low-liquidity noise.

3. Combine news alerts with your scanner. Set up a news filter to watch for SEC insider transactions or earnings surprises on your watchlisted stocks, then correlate these events with price spikes. When news AND a volume spike happen simultaneously, conviction is higher. Scanz's bundled news stream makes this one-window operation—don't switch to a separate news service.

4. Set up pre-market scans 30-60 minutes before market open. Activate your pre-market scan at 8:00 AM ET (90 minutes before open) and let it populate your watch list. By 9:30 AM, you'll have 5-10 candidates pre-identified rather than hunting for setups after the bell. This gives you first-mover advantage on the day's biggest movers.

5. Use Level II to confirm scanner alerts, not replace them. When a stock alerts on your scanner, immediately pull up its Level II. Look for stacked buy orders at support levels (bullish) or a thin ask side (easy to push higher). If Level II shows thin liquidity or opposition, the scanner spike may be worthless. This two-step confirmation prevents chasing phantom moves.

6. Adjust your alert notification method by urgency tier. Use SMS for explosive breakouts (you need instant notification), email for moderate setups (1-2 minute response window is fine), and desktop pop-ups for confirmatory alerts (you're probably already at your computer during market hours). This prevents alert fatigue from constant notifications.

7. Review your scan accuracy weekly. Track which scans triggered the most winning setups versus false alarms. Every two weeks, refine your filters by removing or tightening conditions that led to losses. Scanz's unlimited scan-building lets you iterate freely—treat scanning like a process you're constantly debugging, not a static tool.

Common Scanz Issues and How to Fix Them

Issue: Scanner alerts aren't triggering even though stocks meet your criteria.
Solution: Check two things: (1) Is your scanner actively running? Look for a green checkmark next to your scan name in the Alerts panel. If it's gray, click to activate it. (2) Is your filter logic too strict? A scan requiring price > $10 AND price < $20 AND volume > 5M AND RSI < 30 may match zero stocks on any given day. Test your scan against historical periods first (many scanners offer backtesting, though Scanz notably does not). Simplify your conditions until they trigger on at least 1-2 stocks daily.

Issue: News is delayed or not appearing for certain stocks.
Solution: Scanz aggregates news from 100+ sources, but smaller stocks or OTC names have sparse coverage. If a stock has zero news despite being on your scan, it likely has no news available from Scanz's sources rather than a platform bug. Cross-check with SEC Edgar or your broker's news feed. For major stocks, news typically appears within seconds; for penny stocks, expect 30-60 second delays and gaps.

Issue: Level II data looks frozen or isn't updating.
Solution: Level II updates every 500 milliseconds or faster during regular hours (9:30 AM–4:00 PM ET). If the order book isn't changing, check your internet connection—a dropped packet can pause the feed. Close and reopen the Level II window. If it's still frozen, restart the Scanz application. Pre-market and after-hours sessions sometimes show stale Level II data due to lower exchange activity; this is normal, not a bug.

Issue: You're getting too many false alerts and missing real setups in the noise.
Solution: Reduce your scan scope. Instead of "any stock that rises 5% on volume," try "stocks over $5, under $500, with $50M+ daily dollar volume, rising 10% on 5x average volume." The longer your filter chain, the fewer alerts you'll get, but the ones you do get will be higher conviction. Alternatively, build separate scans for different stock price ranges—sub-$5 OTC plays behave differently than $20-100 momentum stocks and need different threshold tuning.

Is Scanz Worth It? Our Verdict

Scanz justifies its $169/month price tag for serious day traders and momentum specialists, particularly those trading $10K+ accounts and executing multiple setups weekly. The combination of real-time scanning speed, bundled Level II data (worth $30-50/month alone at other platforms), and institutional news aggregation creates an environment where you'll catch setups that slower competitors miss. The platform's 25-year track record and 4.1/5 rating among its target audience—not casual investors, but professional traders—reflects this reliability.

However, Scanz is not worth it if you're a swing trader checking setups once daily, a beginner with a small account trying to minimize costs, or a trader needing backtesting capability (a significant limitation). The lack of mobile app and API access also excludes anyone wanting to automate or trade on-the-go. Consider TD Ameritrade's thinkorSwim if you want integrated charting and backtesting, or Finviz if budget is your primary constraint.

For the active trader this platform was built for—someone who lives in the scanner during pre-market, needs real-time alerts, and values speed over cost—Scanz is the fastest, most focused tool available. The no-refund policy and subscription commitment are real risks, so start with a trial period if available. If you trade professionally and $169/month represents less than 5% of your monthly trading profits, Scanz is a bargain.