“The Good: This trading platform provides a rich suite of tools at a relatively low cost compared to their competitors. The denali data service I have been using for the last few years has proven to be reliable. While I have only been using Sierra's Teton Order Routing for a few months, I have not had any issues during times of high volatility/decreased liquidity (FOMC, CPI events, etc). The team is constantly updating the trading platform and works dilligently to fix any bugs that may arise with these updates.
The Bad: The platform is not the most user friendly. It will take some time to get used to but there is a variety of resources to help someone get started on youtube/twitter. I suffered one issue after installing an update which had to do with the way the time and sales was being displayed. I quickly rolled back to the previous installation to fix that issue (2643). It appears that this issue has been addressed and I will be updating to the latest release (after this review).
Other platforms provide a more intuitive way of creating work spaces with regards to window sizing. The windows snap into place and are automatically sized evenly when multiple charts are present. It is more pleasing to the eye. This may be possible in Sierra Chart but I just have not figured it out yet. These are the postives, negatives, and things I hope to see in Sierra Chart. Overall, I reccomend Sierra Chart for those who need the necessary platform/services required to trade futures.”
“Comprehensive and Powerful, but Not for the Faint-Hearted.
I’ve been using Sierra Chart for a while now, and I must say, it is one of the most comprehensive and powerful trading platform available. The range of tools and customization options it offers is truly impressive.
However, Sierra Chart is not the easiest platform to use. The interface can be quite overwhelming at first, and there is definitely a steep learning curve. It requires some time and effort to get accustomed to its extensive functionalities and to make the most out of its capabilities.
As someone who had never traded before, I found the initial setup and navigation particularly challenging, but, the support team at Sierra Chart is fantastic. They are always ready to help to resolve any issues you might encounter. Their responsiveness and willingness to assist make the learning process much smoother.”
“I think Sierra Charts is great as it's very easy to use once you have done the set up of the features you need but it is at a good price.
It takes a bit of time to get things set up and I would say that their help features can be a bit confusing and there's not much online support.
Probably better if you know someone who is already familiar with Sierra Charts so you can ask for any help you need.
Once you get the hang of it it's a really good platform.”
“Sierra Chart has a steep but logical learning curve; maybe 15-30 days until you're vaguely comfortable and a year before you feel proficient and confident. The problem/blessing is that SC allows the user to adjust and amend every possible aspect of everything. That can be daunting when you just want to make a minor adjustment and realize the button affecting your desired adjustment is one on a page of 20 other buttons affecting options on the object you thought was a singular and simple black/white issue. In time you realize the single object you are focused on can be affected or can affect other objects in a multitude of ways and you can adjust it all. This is an expansive, humbling, and educational learning curve that is still ongoing, now years in.
Posing a question in Google (not SC search) is a godsend and will always take you to the appropriate SC documentation or support board thread. The SC support board is good, but will not hand-hold, and most often redirect you to the appropriate documentation. As a new user, you will need to be patient, learn new cuss words, actively suppress frustration, and be respectful of what you have, just as you would discovering a new McLaren F1 in your garage. SC isn't engineered for the masses but for a much narrower niche of pros.
Maybe the highest on my list of likes about SC is that it has a very light footprint on my computer - remarkably it doesn't overly tax my processor. I run about 18 charts each with about a dozen indicators, some 5sec. charts, others in every periodicity and style, and it's never a problem on my 10 yr. old computer!
I also love the capability of SC. For example, draw a line on a 5sec. chart and you can have it appear on a 1 hour chart or a point and figure chart. Shade an indicator on a 5-sec. chart with the output from a 1-hour chart, or vice versa. In time I began to see connections between patterns in structure and time and volume that I never saw before because my prior platform was incapable of prompting my curiosity in this way. Still, I only use 5% of what SC can do.”
“An excellent trading platform, especially if you pair it with their Denali data feed and Teton order routing, and there is an active support community on their website. If you can code, you can create your own indicators, and even a complete auto-trading system. Only two minor negatives: 1) Very steep learning curve, and 2) They bill every thirty days, instead of monthly. Highly recommended!”
