TC2000 vs Trade Ideas 2026: $25 Scanner vs $254 AI
Compare TC2000 Scanner and Trade Ideas — features, pricing, pros and cons.
Quick Verdict
Higher Rated
TC2000 Scanner (4.3)
More Affordable
TC2000 Scanner ($24.99/mo)
TC2000 Scanner
TC2000 by Worden Brothers is a fast, US-focused stock scanner and charting platform voted best trading software by Stocks & Commodities for 25 consecutive years.
Trade Ideas
AI-powered stock scanner with Holly AI for automated trade signals, real-time alerts, and backtesting for active day traders.
Our Analysis
TC2000 is a traditional screener prioritizing speed and technical depth, while Trade Ideas pivots to AI-generated signals that automate analysis entirely. TC2000 excels at scanning 1,000 stocks in ~2 seconds and delivers 240+ technical indicators plus 129+ fundamental variables on a single chart—ideal for discretionary traders who build custom analysis. Trade Ideas shifts the model to Holly AI, offering institutional-grade signals as real-time alerts that identify opportunities without manual screening. The audience split is clear: data-heavy technicians versus convenience-seeking active traders.
TC2000's proprietary indicators (MoneyStream, Balance of Power, Time Segmented Volume) exist nowhere else, but real-time data requires adding $14.99–$34.97 monthly to the $24.99 base—hidden costs accumulate fast. Trade Ideas uses transparent pricing with a free tier and $254/month premium; its real differentiator is Holly AI compressing hours of analysis into actionable signals, letting traders skip the chart work entirely and focus on execution.
Pick TC2000 if you're a technical analyst building custom indicators, enjoy chart research, and trade US stocks exclusively—the scanning speed and indicator library justify costs despite data add-ons. Choose Trade Ideas if you're a busy day trader willing to pay for hands-off signals, prefer AI-vetted setups over raw data, or want backtesting without chart obsession. The $254/month premium stings, but Holly AI's time savings justify it for high-frequency traders. Test the free tier first.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | TC2000 Scanner | Trade Ideas |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.3 | ★ 4.3 |
| Starting Price | $24.99/mo | Free |
| Free Tier | No | Yes |
| Markets | stocks, options, etfs | stocks |
| AI Analysis | ✗ | ✓ |
| Backtesting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paper Trading | ✗ | ✓ |
| Price Alerts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile App | ✓ | ✗ |
| API Access | ✗ | ✗ |
| Social Features | ✗ | ✗ |
| Broker Integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom Indicators | ✓ | ✗ |
| Automated Trading | ✗ | ✓ |
| Trade Journaling | ✗ | ✗ |
| Performance Analytics | ✗ | ✗ |
| Risk Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| News Feed | ✗ | ✗ |
| Education Content | ✗ | ✓ |
TC2000 Scanner: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Scans thousands of stocks in seconds — among the fastest retail screeners available
- + Condition Wizard builds complex multi-condition scans without formula writing
- + 240+ technical indicators plus 129+ fundamental variables on the same chart
- + Proprietary indicators (MoneyStream, Balance of Power, TSV) unavailable elsewhere
- + Spacebar chart-flipping enables reviewing 1,000 charts in 20-30 minutes
- + Nearly four decades of stability from a profitable family-run company
Cons
- - US stocks, ETFs, and options only — no futures, forex, crypto, or international markets
- - Real-time data requires add-ons costing $14.99-$34.97/month on top of subscription
- - No public API for programmatic access or automated workflows
- - Integrated brokerage charges commissions in an era of zero-commission trading
- - Interface looks dated compared to modern web-based platforms like TradingView
Trade Ideas: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Holly AI runs millions of backtests nightly and delivers high-probability setups before market open
- + Best-in-class real-time scanning engine with 500+ data points and instant streaming alerts
- + Money Machine enables fully automated trading with built-in risk management controls
- + Stock Racing provides an intuitive visual way to spot momentum shifts instantly
- + 30+ pre-built Channel Bar templates eliminate hours of workspace configuration
- + OddsMaker backtesting lets you validate any scan strategy against historical data before risking capital
Cons
- - Premium plan at $254/month is 5x the cost of comparable TradingView or Finviz setups
- - Steep learning curve — the desktop interface feels dated and requires significant time investment to master
- - No mobile app — you are locked to desktop, which limits flexibility for traders on the go
- - Holly AI signals are shared across all Premium subscribers, creating potential crowded-trade slippage
- - Broker integration limited to Interactive Brokers (Pro only) and E*TRADE — most other brokers unsupported