Barchart is one of the oldest and most established market data providers on the internet, founded in 1995 as Logical Systems Inc. and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The platform has grown from an early internet financial data pioneer into a comprehensive analytics suite covering stocks, options, futures, forex, crypto, and physical commodities — with particular depth in agricultural and energy markets that few retail-facing platforms can match.
The platform's options tools are a standout feature, including unusual activity scanners, options screeners, and historical options data going back to January 2017. Barchart Opinions, its proprietary technical signal system, aggregates multiple indicators into actionable directional signals across different timeframes. Charts are powered by 55+ built-in technical studies, and a robust alert system delivers price and news notifications via push and email.
Pricing is structured across three tiers: a genuinely useful free plan with basic charting and delayed data; Barchart Plus at approximately $9.99/month adding real-time BATS quotes, advanced scanners, and premium indicators; and Barchart Premier at approximately $24.99/month unlocking institutional-level data feeds, extended hours data, historical options data downloads, and priority support. An API product (Barchart OnDemand) provides programmatic access to the full data universe for developers and quants.
Barchart's strongest differentiator is its commodities and futures coverage — grain, energy, metals, softs, power, and carbon markets — which makes it an essential tool for commodity traders and agriculture-sector professionals. The platform has won Best Risk Management Service at the FinTech Breakthrough Awards (2025) and AgTech Solution of the Year for four consecutive years, reflecting its depth in non-equity markets. Mobile apps for iOS and Android provide portfolio sync, real-time quotes, and full charting on the go.