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SC offers a lot out of the box - a lot. I did found it's UI more complex than NT but with time I learned it. I am able to develop in SC using their remote compiler, but I do not need to do as much developing as I did in NT because what I wanted is already available in SC.
SC has been rock solid even with 7-8 charts open during busy times. My laptop with 3 attached screens has no issues. I do have 16GB of RAM which is pretty much required for Windows 10 anyways.
I do not pay anything for the version I have. I believe there are 3 configurations; 1, 3 and 5. I have configuration 3 so not all SC studies/indicators are available (IE can not use their numbers study) . I could get to configuration 5 for $20/month and have access to all.
What I have is enough for my needs.
I liked NT and I like SC. I switched because SC remained free to me to use.
2. Very happy. It's solid and it's fast, and it can do just about everything I want it to. It has never been slowed down by how much I want it to do, which is not always true with NT8.
3. Some brokers offer it for free, although I think there may be a limit on which level you can use in the free broker version. The paid functionality has two levels, $26/month and $36/month, depending on what you need. I am fine with the $26/month. "Costs," of course, will include trading costs and fees, which are broker-dependent. The $26 and $36 (or free version) are just for the platform.
With all that said, the move can be very difficult because the learning curve for Sierra is very steep, and the documentation, while extremely complete, is also hard to master and to find things.
Best advice would be to go to their web site, take a free trial -- I believe they do a 2 week trial and will extend it another two weeks on request -- and try it out. I think they will include live data with the trial, if I am not mistaken. If all you need is to try it out, they also do free 10-minute delayed data with no time limit.
It is a great trading platform, but be aware of the learning curve.
Bob.
When one door closes, another opens.
-- Cervantes, Don Quixote
Yes, I moved from NT. Why? Subjectively to me SC performs a lot better, charts draw incredibly fast, unadorned UI environment consists of just good old plain windows objects, a lot of chart studies included, ACSIL which is pure C++, DTS protocol ( ok both not relevant to non programmers), last but not least spreadsheets functionality.
Moved to SC about 10 days ago and l love it.
The main reason i moved to SC is because of Profile charts. Every thing is there and all you have to is configure it to your liking.
Much easier in SC when compared to NT as you don't need to do any programming.
So far it is stable and loads tons of data much faster than NT.
The only thing i miss is the customer support, which is excellent in NT. Where as in SC, you have to read and read and read their help files, steep learning curve as most mentioned.
I think i explored only a small percentage of what it can with, but for now i was able to setup all my charts the way i need.
I am using Ninjatrader Brokerage with PhillipCapital, so CQG datafeed. Will I be able to use my introducing broker (=NTB) with that FCM (=PCAP) without any issues? SierraChart help says there are issues for CQG customers and if understood correctly (I'm german) they suggest to use SC data service instead. Anyone can share some experience?
Sad to hear this is not possible. NinjaTrader Brokerage does not support the TT Order Routing Collaboration. Phillip Capital Clearing does support the service but it would need to move to one of their Introducing Brokers AGN Futures or Edge Clear.
The NinjaTrader platform was developed years before there was a NinjaTrader Brokerage, and at that time it could be used with a large number of brokers and gained wide acceptance.
Several years later, NT bought up a failing broker and renamed it NinjaTrader Brokerage, at which time it also restricted use of its trading platform to its own brokerage and a small number of others. The intention was to pursue the business opportunity of running a broker with its own trading platform that would be directed at the existing base of platform users. It was meant to be an exclusive or near-exclusive deal. There would never have been a NinjaTrader Brokerage if there had not been a successful and popular NinjaTrader platform first.
I am not criticizing the business decision, but NT Brokerage was never meant to accommodate its competitors in the trading platform field. The possibility of going around NT by connecting directly to its FCMs was always just a hack that went against the NT business model, which involves NT Brokerage accounts using only the NT platform.
Sierra Chart has recently been working to develop its own data feed and trading network, bypassing many existing services, such as CQG and Rithmic, which SC will still function with but which SC is not happy with and is trying to move their users away from. They show no signs of an interest in going into the brokerage business themselves, since their market is in their wide acceptance by the customers of many brokers. Most brokers do not offer their own unique platform, due to the obvious technical difficulties, and that offers an opportunity for independent platform providers. But some do.
I think you have reached the end of your rope in seeking an alternative to the NT platform while using the NT brokerage. They were not meant to be separable in the first place.
You mentioned in another post that you were attracted to NTB for its low margin requirements, among other things. While low margins have their risks, especially for a trader new to futures, there are many brokers with low margins, who also do not force you into one platform.
the decision of the broker and the platform are independent questions, usually at least, which makes the decision more complicated.
Bob.
When one door closes, another opens.
-- Cervantes, Don Quixote
I believe you can open an account directly with Phillip Capital without going through an Introducing Broker. I just took a quick look at their web page and found this statement: "Whether you come to us as a direct customer or through our IB network, PhillipCapital is here to serve your needs. "
I have no idea whether you should or not, but many FCM's are happy to have your account with them directly and cut out the IB, which is simply a sales/customer-service operation. An IB may provide value to the customer, but their value to an FCM is simply as a source of new accounts, and they will usually willingly open accounts on their own.
Bob.
When one door closes, another opens.
-- Cervantes, Don Quixote
I tend to use SierraChart as my trading and charting platform. However, there is a catch: with my current introducing broker "Ninjatrader Brokerage" it is unfortunately not possible to use SierraChart, I have already confirmed this.
My question to you professionals: do you know an alternative broker that has such low margin requirements as NTB? That was the only reason why I originally chose NTB+PhillipCapital. I would like to switch to InteractiveBroker or similar, but I can't implement my strategy with the required high margin. I am well aware of margin requirements and risks, but I want to have a low margin requirement for ES and MES. I am only interested in intraday trading, I never hold a position overnight.
Who knows a recommended broker that offers both low intraday margins and is compatible with SierraChart?