Benzinga Pro is a financial news and research platform designed for active traders looking to capitalize on real-time market updates and actionable trading ideas. This comprehensive Benzinga Pro review covers everything you need to know about the platform's features, pricing, pros and cons to determine if it's worth the investment for your trading needs.
What is Benzinga Pro?
Benzinga Pro is an online trading platform that provides traders with real-time news, market data, charts, trading analysis tools, and education. Its key features include:
The platform is designed to provide active traders with the timely information and tools they need to identify trading opportunities and execute strategies effectively.
Benzinga Pro Features
Here's an in-depth look at some of the key features included with Benzinga Pro:
News Feed
The real-time news feed is Benzinga Pro's standout feature. You'll get breaking news alerts on major market-moving events, M&A announcements, analyst ratings changes, SEC filings and more.
News stories link directly to stock charts and quotes so you can instantly analyze the impacts. You can also filter news by asset class, topic, region and keyword.
Real-Time Data and Charts
Benzinga Pro includes Level 2, futures, forex and options data in real time. Charts include over 100 technical indicators like moving averages, Bollinger bands and Fibonacci retracements.
You can plot multiple indicators and add comparisons to indexes or other stocks. There are also drawing tools for trendlines, channels and shapes.
Watchlists, Alerts and Calendars
Create customizable watchlists to track stocks, ETFs, futures contracts and other assets. Set price and news alerts so you're notified when a stock hits your target or has significant news.
Earnings calendars help you plan around upcoming earnings reports and other key events like IPOs, stock splits and dividend payouts.
Analyst Ratings and Targets
Stay up to date on the latest analyst ratings and price targets for all stocks. Get alerts when analysts issue ratings changes or modify their price targets.
Pre-Market and After Hours Trading
Access pre-market and after hours quotes and charts to get prepared for the next trading session. You can see extended hours price movements and volume.
Stock Screener
Find new trading opportunities with Benzinga Pro's stock screener. Filter by criteria like technical indicators, fundamentals, insider activity and short interest. Save custom screens for quick access.
Options Analysis Tools
Analyze unusual options activity to see where "smart money" is position and profit from it. Use tools like options volume leaders, biggest percent gainers, sweeps and more.
Trading Ideas and Education
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Benzinga Pro includes written trading ideas describing market opportunities in detail. You'll learn trading strategies from experienced investors.
There is also a library of educational resources like how-to guides, videos and webinars to build your trading knowledge.
Benzinga Pro Integrations
A major advantage of Benzinga Pro is that it integrates directly with many major brokerages and trading platforms:
This allows you to stream news, quotes, charts and analyst ratings directly into your trading platform. You can also execute trades faster right from your chart or news feed without having to re-enter it.
Benzinga Pro Pricing
Benzinga Pro has a few main pricing options:
Basic
Essential
Pro
Pro Plus
They offer discounts for paying annually rather than monthly. There are also special rates for students and educators.
Benzinga offers a 14-day free trial so you can test Pro extensively before subscribing.
Benzinga Pro Pros
Here are some of the key advantages of using Benzinga Pro:
Benzinga Pro Cons
Here are a few potential downsides to consider:
Is Benzinga Pro Worth It?
Benzinga Pro is best suited for active, high-volume traders who need real-time news and data to capitalize on intraday opportunities. The platform makes it fast and efficient to react to breaking developments.
Casual investors or longer-term traders may not benefit enough from the dynamic updates to justify the higher subscription costs. They may be better off with free platforms, unless they highly value the expert trading ideas.
For options traders, Benzinga Pro can provide valuable flow information and analytics to spot unusual activity. The news and fundamentals coverage is also more limited for other asset classes outside stocks.
If you require real-time data and tools for active trading, Benzinga Pro is an excellent choice, especially with the brokerage integrations. But more passive investors may prefer a more basic free platform to avoid the monthly costs.
Benzinga Pro Review FAQs
Does Benzinga Pro offer a free trial?
Yes, Benzinga Pro offers a 14-day free trial so you can evaluate the platform. You'll get full access to all Pro features.
What trading tools does Benzinga Pro have?
Key trading tools include real-time news and quotes, customizable charts, options analysis, stock screeners, earnings calendars, analyst ratings and an education center.
Can you trade stocks on Benzinga Pro?
No, Benzinga Pro does not support direct trading execution. It's designed to help you research and identify trades, not actually place them. You need to use a separate brokerage account.
Does Benzinga Pro have level 2 data?
Benzinga Pro includes level 2 data for stocks and ETFs. This shows current bid/ask prices and order depths for different price levels.
Is there a Benzinga Pro mobile app?
Yes, Benzinga Pro offers iOS and Android mobile apps with the same functionality as the desktop platform. You can access news, charts, data and other tools on the go.
Can you get Benzinga Pro for free?
No, Benzinga Pro requires a paid monthly subscription. There is no long-term free version. However, you can sign up for a 14-day free trial to test it out initially.
What are Benzinga Pro's news sources?
Benzinga Pro aggregates news from PR newswires, business journals, regulatory filings, press releases and social media feeds. Sources include Dow Jones, GlobeNewswire, Business Wire and more.
Is Benzinga Pro worth the money for casual investors?
For casual investors making just a few trades per month, the costs of Benzinga Pro likely outweigh the benefits. Most casual traders don't need instant news alerts or advanced charting. They may be better off saving money with free platforms like Yahoo Finance or Webull that still provide basic quotes, news and analysis.
However, active traders who make daily trades can extract much more value from Benzinga Pro. The real-time data and tools allow you to analyze and react to the market much faster. Active options traders also benefit from seeing unusual flow and activity in real-time. So frequent traders are more likely to justify the monthly subscription costs.
Is Benzinga Pro better than Bloomberg or Reuters terminals?
For most individual investors, Benzinga Pro provides the key functionalities of Bloomberg and Reuters terminals at a much lower price point. But large institutions may still prefer Bloomberg and Reuters for deeper research capabilities, global coverage, excel integration and customer service.
Can you use Benzinga Pro internationally?
Benzinga Pro focuses heavily on US stock markets, but does provide some international coverage including global market indexes, ADRs and news. Data quality and depth decreases outside American markets. So it may not suffice for active traders of European, Asian or emerging markets.
What are some Benzinga Pro alternatives?
Some top alternatives to compare include Trade Ideas, Market Chameleon, Stock Rover, Finviz Elite, TradeTheNews.com, Street Insider and Briefing. Each has pros and cons depending on your specific needs. Many integrate with Benzinga Pro as well.
Can you use Benzinga Pro on multiple computers?
With a single user license, you can only log into one computer at a time. But the unlimited user Pro plans allow you to use Benzinga Pro on an unlimited number of computers simultaneously.
Is Benzinga Pro easy to use?
Benzinga Pro provides a modern, intuitive user experience. Key features and alerts are easily accessible. Custom layouts and workspaces also allow tailoring the platform to your preferences. So most traders can get up and running quickly with minimal learning curve.
The Bottom Line
Benzinga Pro stands out as a comprehensive platform specifically tailored to active traders who rely on real-time news and data. The wealth of tools, customizable workspaces, streaming feeds and expert ideas makes it efficient to capitalize on trading opportunities as they emerge.
However, the costs make it more difficult to justify for casual investors who don't need split-second alerts. And traders focused heavily on technical analysis may desire a greater breadth of indicators and chart customization offered on platforms like Thinkorswim.
But for active stock and options traders, Benzinga Pro checks all the boxes for an informational edge over the market. The platform brings significant value in helping traders act faster and more strategically using valuable trading intelligence.
Overall, Benzinga Pro merits strong consideration for frequent equity traders seeking an all-in-one solution for news, analysis and research. The free trial makes it easy to experience firsthand before committing.
