Best Order Flow Trading Platforms: ATAS vs Sierra Chart vs Bookmap

Standard charting software is not enough for order flow. You need specialized platforms with real-time exchange data, Footprint display and order book visualization. In this comparison, I'll show you which order flow software I use daily and what role each platform plays in Order Flow Trading.

Risk Warning: Trading futures and other financial instruments carries significant risk of loss. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Only trade with capital you can afford to lose.

Why Normal Charting Software Isn't Enough

TradingView, MetaTrader or similar platforms show you candles and indicators. But they don't show you real order flow. You don't see which orders are actually being executed at the market, where large participants are active, or how the order book changes in real time.

Order flow data is primarily available for futures. For real order flow analysis, you need four things: tick-by-tick data, a Footprint display, Level 2 order book data, and a professional data feed. Expect 50 to 200 USD monthly for software license, data feed and exchange fees combined. That sounds like a lot, but the investment is worth it. You see the same data stream as institutional traders and can make decisions based on real market activity instead of lagging indicators.

The Platforms at a Glance

My clear recommendation: start with ATAS. If you go to shorter timeframes, add Bookmap as a supplement. All other platforms are compromises that work in certain niches but don't replace either of the two core tools.

ATAS: The Command Center for Volume Traders

Anyone serious about volume trading will realize you can't get around ATAS. ATAS displays the information you need as a data trader in the best way. It is my primary tool and the foundation of my entire analysis.

ATAS's strengths lie in depth. Footprint Charts, Volume Profile, Delta Profile and Big Trades with precise filtering can be configured exactly how you need it. The software is highly configurable, especially regarding Footprints. You decide what you see and how you see it. Custom indicators and templates are possible, and the speed is solid.

One feature that sets ATAS apart from other platforms: data refresh. You can reload back-adjusted data from the ATAS server at any time. This means missing or incorrect data gets corrected. This possibility is missing in Bookmap or NinjaTrader. Especially in Big Trade analysis where every contract counts, this is an advantage.

If you can only choose one software, take ATAS. It covers everything: Footprints, Volume Profile, Delta, Big Trades. Bookmap complements ATAS excellently, but ATAS alone works. This is also why all our programmed indicators and templates run in ATAS. The platform is the foundation.

Bookmap: Level-2 Data Like No Other Tool

Bookmap is not a replacement for ATAS, but a supplement. Bookmap's advantage is the visualization of Bid and Ask. Your brain processes the heatmap display intuitively. You see at a glance where liquidity is before it is hit.

Volume Dots make trades visible as bubbles. Larger bubbles mean more volume. You immediately see who is pushing and how large the orders are. This also works in ATAS, but Bookmap does it a tick better and more intuitively.

The real advantage shows in short timeframes. On 10 or 30-second charts, you see the progression within a candle. On a 15-minute candle, you see every attempt at a rally, every absorption, every sweep. ATAS shows you the result. Bookmap shows you the process.

The rule is simple: the more short-term you trade, the more important Bookmap becomes. For scalping and tick charts, it is the first choice. For swing trading or longer timeframes, you don't need it. I use Bookmap primarily on 10 to 30-second charts where I read the market's microstructure and see in real time where large orders are sitting.

Bookmap is not the holy grail. It won't make you a better trader just because you have it. It is a great visualization. At the start, it is not necessary. Start with ATAS, and if you go to shorter timeframes, add Bookmap.

Good to know: Bookmap now also offers Footprint Charts as an add-on, with various bar types (time-based, reversal, range and volume). However, the core strength remains the heatmap visualization.

Alternatives: Sierra Chart, Quantower and NinjaTrader

Beyond ATAS and Bookmap, there are other platforms that offer order flow functions. Here is an honest assessment from my experience.

Sierra Chart is powerful and affordable (starting at $26/month). The software can do a lot, but the user interface looks dated. Those who don't shy away from configuration effort and have a tight budget will find a solid option here.

Quantower pursues a more modern approach with Footprint support and a clean interface. Through some brokers (like AMP Futures), Quantower is even free to use, otherwise the price is $70/month. In the professional environment, Quantower is less common, and the community is smaller. As a beginner platform with order flow ambitions, it is quite interesting, but less proven than ATAS.

NinjaTrader is popular for classic charting and as a brokerage platform. However, there is a serious problem for precise order flow: data quality. In my tests, NinjaTrader sometimes misses 50 to 70 contracts per minute compared to ATAS after a data reload. In order flow analysis where every trade counts, that is not acceptable. For charting and order execution, NinjaTrader may work, but for volume analysis, it is not recommended.

TradingView is not an order flow tool. It is suitable for technical analysis and charting, but offers neither real Footprints nor Level 2 data nor Big Trade filters. We use TradingView at United Daytraders for analysis, dashboards and preparation. Anyone who wants to trade order flow needs an additional specialized platform.

Data Feed: The Invisible Component

The best software is useless without a reliable data feed. You need real-time exchange data for futures, and there are two standards: Rithmic and CQG.

Which feed runs more stably depends on where you live. Rithmic has servers in several regions; CQG has a direct connection to Chicago. In some regions, Rithmic is faster; in others, CQG. I live near Frankfurt and for me, CQG is actually more stable, even though Rithmic has its own server there. The recommendation: subscribe to both, test both, and take whichever is faster and more stable for you.

An important difference: Rithmic offers MBO data (Market By Order), so the full order book depth with visibility into individual orders. CQG only offers MBP data (Market By Price), so aggregated price levels. Anyone who wants full order book depth currently needs Rithmic.

In addition to the software subscription and data feed, there are exchange fees. The CME charges a monthly fee for real-time data, regardless of which software or feed you use. Budget for these costs. Without a data feed, every order flow software is just an empty shell.

FAQ: Order Flow Software

What does order flow software cost in total?

Expect $50 to $200 per month. This includes the software license (ATAS Plus from about $25, Pro about $70; Bookmap Global from $49), the data feed (Rithmic or CQG) and the CME exchange fees. Exchange fees always apply, regardless of which software you use. At the start, one data feed and ATAS alone is enough.

Is one software enough or do I need both?

At the start, ATAS is enough. It covers Footprints, Volume Profiles, Delta and Big Trades. Bookmap becomes relevant when you go to shorter timeframes, i.e., scalping on 10 to 30-second charts. Many professional traders use both in parallel: ATAS for Footprint analysis and Bookmap for the Level 2 heatmap. But that is not necessary at the beginning.

Can I start with free tools?

Some platforms offer trials or limited free access. ATAS has a free Start plan, Bookmap offers a free Digital plan, and Quantower is free through some brokers. However, for serious order flow trading, you will not get around a paid subscription because you need real-time exchange data, and that always costs money.

What role does risk management play in tool selection?

Software alone does not make you profitable. Solid risk management is the foundation. The best order flow platform is worthless if you don't have a clear strategy and rules. Invest as much time in your risk management as you do learning the software.

In our mentoring program, you'll learn these concepts in over 1,500 video lessons with real chart examples. The software modules in the Bootcamp and NQ Masterclass show you step by step how to set up, configure and use ATAS and Bookmap in practice. Our own templates and indicators are directly integrated into ATAS.