Investfly is a cutting-edge platform designed to democratize algorithmic trading for retail investors. Founded in 2014, Investfly aims to level the playing field by providing advanced trading tools that were once exclusive to institutional traders. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned professional, Investfly offers an intuitive interface to create sophisticated automated trading strategies without the need for coding skills.
Key Features
No-Code Automated Trading Strategies
Investfly allows users to develop complex trading strategies without writing a single line of code. The platform’s intuitive strategy builder lets you set entry and exit criteria using technical indicators and mathematical operators. For instance, you can easily set up a rule like “Buy GOOG stock every time the S&P 500 drops by 1%.”
Algorithmic Python Trading
For those with programming expertise, Investfly supports the implementation of advanced algorithmic trading strategies using Python. Users can leverage powerful data science and machine learning libraries like Pandas to optimize their trading algorithms.
Effortless Backtesting
Before deploying a strategy, it’s crucial to test its effectiveness. Investfly offers a one-click backtesting feature that allows users to compare their strategy’s performance against chosen benchmarks. This helps in refining the strategy to ensure optimal trading decisions.
Advanced Stock Alerts and Screener
Never miss a trading opportunity with Investfly’s powerful stock alerts and screener. Users can set up custom alerts for price movements, technical indicators, and more. The advanced screener helps identify potential trades that match specific criteria, enhancing your automated trading strategy.
Virtual Trading to Live Execution
Investfly provides a risk-free virtual stock exchange where users can perfect their trading strategies. Once confident, users can seamlessly transition to live trading by connecting their brokerage accounts. Investfly supports integration with major brokers like Tradier Brokerage and TD Ameritrade, allowing real-time trade automation.
Broker Account Integration
By connecting your broker account, Investfly can access account details like cash balance and buying power to execute trades based on your algorithmic rules. The secure connection uses standard OAuth technology, and currently supports:
- Tradier Brokerage: Known for commission-free trading.
- TD Ameritrade: A major brokerage firm offering a wide range of investment services.
Ideal Users
Investfly is ideal for:
- Day Traders and Swing Traders: Those who operate within minute, hour, and day timeframes, leveraging both fundamental and technical indicators.
- Traders Seeking Automation: If you spend hours monitoring multiple price charts and indicators, Investfly can automate these tasks, reducing stress and improving health.
- Educational Institutions: Investfly offers academic solutions for universities, providing students with hands-on trading experience using virtual portfolios that support stocks, options, and futures.
Not Suitable For
- High-Frequency Quant Traders: Investfly is not optimized for high-frequency trading strategies involving complex quant models or AI/ML algorithms.
Pricing Plans
Investfly offers three pricing tiers to cater to different user needs:
Standard – Free
- 1 Virtual Portfolio
- 1 Stock Screener
- 1 Stock Alert
- 1 Triggered Trade Order
- Supported Securities: Stocks and ETFs
Premium – $29.99/month
- 5 Virtual Portfolios
- 5 Stock Screeners
- 5 Stock Alerts
- Unlimited Triggered Trade Orders
- Supported Securities: Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures
- Run Automated Trading Strategies
- Backtest Trading Strategies
- Create and Host Games
Elite – $59.99/month
- 10 Virtual Portfolios
- 10 Stock Screeners
- 10 Stock Alerts
- Unlimited Triggered Trade Orders
- Supported Securities: Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures
- Run Automated Trading Strategies
- Backtest Trading Strategies
- Create and Host Games
- Connect Live Broker Account
User Experience
Strategy Creation
Investfly’s platform makes it easy to create trading strategies. Users can start from scratch or use predefined templates. The strategy builder guides you through defining entry and exit conditions, and you can even create strategies based on complex criteria like chart patterns or numerical data.
Backtesting
Once a strategy is created, Investfly allows you to backtest it against historical data. The backtest results include equity curves and performance metrics, helping you refine your strategy for optimal performance.
Deployment
After backtesting, you can deploy your strategy in a virtual portfolio for forward testing using live market data. Once satisfied, you can deploy the strategy to your real brokerage account.
Automated Trading Orders
For traders who prefer partial automation, Investfly offers automated trade orders based on specific conditions. For example, you can set up an order to “Buy Coca-Cola stock every time Pepsi stock price drops by 5%.”
Educational Tools and Academic Solutions
Investfly provides educational trading tools to supplement classroom lectures, making it an excellent resource for universities. Instructors can manage and monitor classrooms, run trading contests, and track student progress. Students gain real-life trading experience through virtual portfolios, managing equities and derivatives to learn about financial markets.
- For Professors: Free access to set up and manage simulations and classes.
- For Students: 50% discount on memberships, starting at $9.99/month.
Conclusion
Investfly stands out as a comprehensive platform that brings the power of algorithmic trading to retail investors. Its user-friendly interface, combined with advanced features like Python scripting and broker integration, makes it a valuable tool for traders looking to automate their strategies. Whether you’re a novice trader seeking to automate simple strategies without coding or an experienced trader looking to implement complex algorithms, Investfly offers the tools and community support to enhance your trading experience.
Pros:
- No coding required for strategy creation.
- Supports Python for advanced strategies.
- Offers both virtual and live trading options.
- Comprehensive educational tools.
- Integration with major brokers.
Cons:
- Not suitable for high-frequency trading.
- Limited to the brokers supported for integration.
Final Verdict:
Investfly effectively democratizes automated trading, making sophisticated trading tools accessible to retail investors. Its blend of ease-of-use and advanced features makes it a platform worth considering for anyone interested in algorithmic trading.
