What Is Options Flow?
Options flow refers to the real-time stream of options transactions happening across all U.S. exchanges. Every time a trader buys or sells an options contract, that transaction gets recorded. By analyzing these transactions, traders can identify unusual options activity that often signals informed or institutional trading.
Unlike stock trades where every buyer needs a seller at the same price, options flow reveals directional conviction. When a trader pays $2 million for call options expiring in two weeks, that is a clear bet on upward movement. Our scanner captures these moments in real time.
How Our Options Flow Scanner Works
TradeAlerts AI processes every options transaction across all U.S. exchanges and applies multiple layers of intelligence to surface the trades that matter most:
DTE Weighting
Short-dated options carry more conviction. Our algorithm weights trades by days to expiration, amplifying the signal from aggressive near-term bets while reducing noise from long-dated hedges.
Aggression Scoring
We classify each trade by how aggressively it was executed. Trades hitting the ask price signal urgency, while those at the bid suggest a more passive approach. This distinction separates conviction from hedging.
Multileg Filtering
Spreads, straddles, and other multileg strategies can pollute flow data. Our engine identifies and separates complex strategies from pure directional bets, so you see clean signals.
570+ Tickers
From mega-caps like NVDA and TSLA to mid-cap movers, we cover over 570 optionable tickers. The free tier includes all Mag 7 stocks with unlimited access.
Sample Options Flow Data
Here is what a typical flow alert looks like in our scanner. Each row provides the essential information you need to evaluate the trade:
| Time | Ticker | Exp | Strike | C/P | Premium | Type | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:32 | NVDA | Apr 11 | $950 | C | $2.1M | SWEEP | Bullish |
| 10:28 | TSLA | Apr 18 | $180 | P | $890K | Block | Bearish |
| 10:15 | AAPL | Apr 11 | $230 | C | $1.4M | SWEEP | Bullish |
| 10:02 | META | May 16 | $620 | C | $3.2M | Block | Bullish |
| 09:45 | SPY | Apr 09 | $530 | P | $5.7M | SWEEP | Bearish |
Understanding Bullish vs Bearish Signals
Our scanner classifies every trade as bullish, bearish, or neutral based on multiple factors:
- Bullish signals: Call buying at the ask, put selling at the bid. These indicate a trader expects the underlying stock to rise.
- Bearish signals: Put buying at the ask, call selling at the bid. These suggest an expectation of downward movement.
- Sweep orders: When a large order is split across multiple exchanges simultaneously to get filled quickly, it signals extreme urgency. Sweep orders are among the strongest directional indicators in options flow analysis.
What Makes Sweep Orders Special
A sweep order occurs when a trader needs to fill a large position immediately. Instead of placing one order on a single exchange and waiting, the order is routed to every exchange simultaneously, sweeping all available liquidity at each strike. This urgency often comes from traders with time-sensitive information who cannot afford to wait for a fill.
When you see a $2 million sweep on NVDA calls expiring this Friday, that is very different from a $2 million block trade on calls expiring in six months. Our scanner highlights these differences so you can gauge conviction at a glance.
Real-time flow feed showing ticker, expiration, strike, premium, trade type (sweep/block), and bullish/bearish classification with color coding
Free vs Premium Options Flow
Our free tier gives you full access to options flow for all Magnificent 7 stocks (AAPL, MSFT, GOOG, AMZN, META, NVDA, TSLA) with no limitations. You get the same data quality, the same real-time speed, and the same intelligent filtering as premium users.
Premium unlocks flow data across 570+ tickers, including mid-caps, ETFs like SPY and QQQ, and high-volatility names that often produce the most actionable flow signals.
Ready to See What Smart Money Is Doing?
Join thousands of traders using AI-powered intelligence to find better setups. Free tier includes unlimited access to Mag 7 stocks.
Free: $0/mo (Mag 7) · Premium: $39.99/mo (570+ tickers) · Cancel anytime
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Frequently Asked Questions
Options flow is the real-time stream of options transactions across all U.S. exchanges. By analyzing these trades, investors can identify unusual activity that may indicate informed or institutional trading. Large premium transactions, sweep orders, and aggressive positioning can signal conviction about a stock's future direction.
We apply multiple filters including DTE weighting (prioritizing short-dated trades), aggression scoring (trades at the ask vs bid), premium thresholds, multileg filtering, and volume-to-open-interest ratios. Trades that pass all filters are classified as unusual and surfaced in the scanner.
Yes. TradeAlerts AI offers free unlimited access to options flow for all Magnificent 7 stocks (AAPL, MSFT, GOOG, AMZN, META, NVDA, TSLA). Premium ($39.99/mo) unlocks 570+ additional tickers.
Each flow entry shows the ticker, expiration date, strike price, call/put type, premium size, trade type (sweep or block), and directional signal. Green call sweeps at the ask are bullish. Red put sweeps at the ask are bearish. Larger premiums indicate higher conviction.
A sweep order is a large options trade that is split across multiple exchanges simultaneously to achieve immediate execution. Unlike block trades that fill on a single exchange, sweeps indicate extreme urgency and are considered one of the strongest directional signals in options flow analysis.