What's the difference between paid and free alerts?

Generally speaking, the paid alerts have more signal related to them. The higher the signal, the more unusual (and interesting) the play. Paid tiers also get access to far more, non-delayed alerts.

Can I get push notifications for alerts?

The paid tier enables access to highly configurable push notifications for all alerts.

What's the best way to try out the service?

The free tier exists to try out. If you're interested in seeing if it would be a good fit, follow the Twitter account or join the Discord. The Discord will always be free, and gives you access to a wide community of like minded traders.

Plans & Pricing | Options Flow, Discord Bot, Portfolios, API

The tools and data behind the internet's largest options trading community

What are you looking for?

Best valueBest Value - save 30%

API plans

Annual saves up to $720 a year

API Trial - Basic

Try the API for a week

Free

One week at a time, no long commitment

Billed weekly, cancel anytime

Real-Time Options Flow (100% Market Coverage)
Enriched with bid, ask, greeks, oi, and volume.
Real-Time Nasdaq Equities Data
Congressional and Insider Trades
Darkpool
Net Premium, Market Tide, Spot GEX, Earnings etc.
Daily Open Interest including FLEX OI transfer
90 Day Historical Lookback
30,000 requests per day
MCP Support
Custom Skills for your agents
1-minute SPX Market Maker Exposure
Websocket streaming of option trades, SPX Periscope and more.
Premium endpoints: forex, commodities, economic indicators, digital currencies, top movers, IPO calendar, statistics, extended fundamentals

Weekly plan only

What's inside

api.unusualwhales.com · docs

# flow alerts, one call
GET /option-trades/flow-alerts

{
  "ticker": "NVDA",
  "premium": 2400000,
  "side": "call",
  "expiry": "2026-08-21",
  "unusual": true
}

One REST call to the flow

·The same data behind the dashboard, as clean JSON

·Flow alerts, chains, Greeks, dark pool, congress trades

WebSocket stream

# live socket, zero polling
wss://api.unusualwhales.com/socket

> subscribed: option_trades
{"tk":"NVDA","prem":2400000,"side":"call"}
{"tk":"SPY","prem":1100000,"side":"put"}
{"tk":"AMD","prem":1700000,"side":"call"}
> 3 events · 41ms

Stream it live over WebSockets

·No polling: live option trades pushed to your code

·WebSockets included on API Advanced

MCP · vibecoding session

# your agent, our data
> "build me a scanner for unusual
   NVDA call sweeps over $1M"

mcp: uw.search_option_contracts(...)
mcp: uw.get_flow_alerts(...)
✓ scanner running, 3 hits today

Vibecode with MCP

·Point your AI agent at our MCP server and build scanners, bots, and backtests in plain English

What traders say

@Lukazee7

"Only way to have consistent gains during earning season is with Unusual Whales. Without live flow and the app as a whole, I'd have quit trading options by now."

@TradingWarz

"Thank you Unusual Whales for the flow. 4 for 4 on the day! Bars + Flow = Gainz"

@orionstafa

"Closing the $TSLA puts here 32%. I saw something like 14 million in puts premium, the technicals matched and took the trade again."

Results may vary; trading involves risk.

Questions, answered

What's the difference between Dashboard & Tools and the API?

Different tools for different jobs. Dashboard & Tools is the website and mobile app: live flow, screeners, alerts, and charts, ready to use. The API is raw programmatic data (REST, WebSocket, MCP) for building your own tools.

Does an API plan include the website?

No. API plans are data-only: they don't include the website or mobile app. If you want the dashboard, that's a Dashboard & Tools plan.

I want the website AND the API. What should I buy?

The Whale Bundle. It includes Dashboard & Tools at the Retail Max tier, full API access, Unusual Predictions, and Data Shop credits (for annual), about 30% less than buying the pieces separately.

I bought the wrong plan. Am I stuck?

No. Switch plans in one click from your account and billing prorates automatically. If you meant to get the API and bought Dashboard & Tools (or the other way around), contact support and they'll move you over.

Is the data real-time?

All API plans include real-time data. All paid dashboard + tools plans include real-time data. Free accounts have 15-min delayed data.

What's the best way to try Unusual Whales?

Create a free account: the free tier lets you explore the platform with limited data, and the Discord community is always free. The API has a free one-week trial. Upgrade in one click when you're ready.

Can I cancel anytime?

Yes. Cancel in two clicks from your account page, no email required, and you keep access through the end of your paid period.

How does annual billing work?

You pay once for 12 months at the discounted rate. Upgrades prorate instantly; downgrades take effect at your next renewal. Subscriptions auto-renew, and you can turn that off anytime.

Can I use my subscription for my business or my customers?

Retail and API plans are for individual use. If you're building a product on our data or need commercial licensing, see the business plans (Startup, Kafka, Enterprise).

Do you offer refunds?

Subscriptions renew automatically and you can cancel future renewals anytime. Picked the wrong product? Contact support within 7 days and we'll switch your plan or make it right.

Subscriptions auto-renew; opt out anytime. Not financial advice.