Options Flow vs BigShort:
Side-by-Side Comparison
BigShort occupies the premium end of the options flow market at $149/mo. Options Flow is priced at $74.99/mo with a no-cost free trial. Here's what you actually get for the difference.
Options Flow
Single-plan pricing: $74.99/mo or $49.99/mo annual. Every feature included from day one — flow scanner with Aggressive, Unusual, and Golden Flow categories, GEX tools, heatmap, backtesting, and real-time P&L tracking. 7-day free trial. Web-based platform accessible from any browser, with a mobile-optimized interface.
BigShort
Premium-priced platform at $149/mo, founded by Tae Jo and targeting experienced day traders. Known for its consolidated chart approach — equity order flow, options flow, dark pool data, and its proprietary SmartFlow indicator in one view. Trial costs $37 for two weeks. Zero refund policy. No mobile app. GEX tools are exclusive to the $20,000/mo institutional tier.
Side-by-side comparison
Monthly pricing
Options Flow
$74.99/mo
BigShort
$149/mo
Annual pricing
Options Flow
$49.99/mo
BigShort
$99/mo (~$1,188/yr)
Free trial
Options Flow
7-day free trial
BigShort
$37 paid 2-week trial
Refund policy
Options Flow
Cancel anytime
BigShort
Zero refunds — digital goods policy
Options flow scanner
Options Flow
Yes — Aggressive, Unusual, Golden
BigShort
Yes — OptionFlow overlay on chart
GEX & Heatmap Tools
Options Flow
Yes — included in all plans
BigShort
GEX institutional only ($20K/mo), Heatmap not listed
Trade analysis
Options Flow
Yes
BigShort
Not listed
Dark pool data
Options Flow
Flow scanner covers large prints
BigShort
Yes — Dark Pool Prints overlay
Mobile access
Options Flow
Yes — mobile-optimized web app
BigShort
Web only — no mobile-optimized interface
Trustpilot rating
Options Flow
Newer platform, building track record
BigShort
2.7/5 from 9 reviews
Community
Options Flow
Discord — growing
BigShort
Discord — subscriber only, size undisclosed
Pricing as of February 2026. Verify current pricing on each platform's site.
The price gap
BigShort charges $149/mo for retail access — twice Options Flow's monthly rate. On the annual plan, it's $99/mo vs $49.99/mo. Over a year, that's roughly $600 in additional cost for BigShort before evaluating whether the features justify it.
BigShort's trial also costs $37 upfront for two weeks. Options Flow's 7-day trial is free to start. If you're comparison shopping, you can evaluate Options Flow for 7 days before committing to a subscription.
BigShort's zero-refund policy means once you're charged for a month, the money is gone regardless of your experience. Options Flow lets you cancel anytime.
Where BigShort takes a different approach
BigShort's core design philosophy is consolidation: equity order flow, options flow, dark pool prints, and its proprietary SmartFlow indicator are overlaid into a single chart rather than presented as separate tools. For traders who want everything in one view, this is the platform's primary argument.
The platform also has a verified founder story — Tae Jo has published brokerage statements and tax returns documenting a personal trading track record. This kind of verifiable credibility is uncommon in the space.
Options Flow takes a different approach: focused tools surfaced clearly, without requiring a consolidated chart view to extract signal. The tradeoff is a matter of preference — whether you want one unified view or purpose-built tools for flow, GEX, and heatmap data.
Who should choose which
Choose Options Flow if...
You want to evaluate the platform before paying — 7-day free trial
GEX tools are part of your strategy and you don't want to pay $20K/mo for them
You need a mobile-optimized interface alongside your desktop browser workflow
You prefer focused, purpose-built tools over a single consolidated chart view
Flexible cancellation matters — no zero-refund policy exposure
You want a lower monthly cost for comparable flow scanning capability
Choose BigShort if...
You want all data types — equity flow, options flow, dark pool — in a single consolidated chart
The founder's documented trading track record is a meaningful trust signal for you
You're an experienced day trader comfortable with higher-priced, premium tooling
You're willing to pay $37 upfront to trial the platform before committing to $149/mo
A web-only platform fits your workflow (no mobile requirement)
Try Options Flow free for 7 days
GEX tools, flow scanner, and heatmap included from day one.
Cancel anytime. $74.99/mo or $49.99/mo annual.