Real-Time Stock Scanner
& Trading Alerts
Track RVOL spikes, trading halts, top movers, and EMA crossovers in real time, built for day traders who need to see what's moving before everyone else.
5 free premium days · No card required to start
What You Get
Four real-time scanners running simultaneously. Live data updates via WebSocket.
RVOL Scanner
Identifies stocks with volume 10x+ above their 20-day average. Catches momentum before it's obvious to everyone else.
Trading Halt Tracker
Live feed from Nasdaq's official halt data. Get notified the moment a stock halts or resumes, with reason codes and direction analysis.
Top Movers Detector
Tracks 15-minute rolling percentage changes across all symbols. See the biggest gainers and losers as they develop.
EMA Scanner
Monitors proximity to 200-day exponential moving average. Alerts when stocks cross or approach key technical levels.
More Than a Scanner
The alerts tell you what is moving. This is everything that tells you why, what is next, and who is buying.
Why Is It Moving?
Stop guessing why a stock is ripping. Every big mover, paired with the actual news or SEC filing behind the move.
Stocks to Watch
A ranked top-10 watchlist for the next session, scored across every scanner, with the reason each name made the list.
Follow the Smart Money
See what the big players are actually buying: hedge-fund 13F positions, activist stakes, and insider open-market buys.
40 Stock Themes
Browse the market by theme: AI, crypto, energy, banks and 36 more, each with live prices and a plain-English read on why the group is moving.
What Retail Is Hunting
See what the crowd is chasing in real time: the tickers trending on Reddit and spiking in Google search right now.
We Caught It Early
Not a claim, a receipt. Timestamped proof of the stocks our scanner flagged on unusual volume before they ran.
Free Trading Calculators
Size trades, score setups and track returns with a suite of free calculators. No sign-up, instant results.
Pricing
Simple, transparent pricing based on trading days - your access doesn't burn on weekends or market holidays.
DesperateTrader Pro
Full access to live alerts, scanners, rankings, charts, and community. Subscribe by the day, week, or month, or donate for premium time. Your access only burns on market trading days.
How It Works
Technical infrastructure built for speed and accuracy
11,000+ Symbols
WebSocket connection to Polygon.io. Tick-by-tick updates for every NYSE, NASDAQ, and OTC stock.
Real-Time Analysis
Server-side calculations run continuously. Alerts generated within milliseconds of triggers.
Smart Filtering
Statistical analysis filters noise. Only significant events trigger alerts.
Get Started in 3 Steps
Start scanning stocks in under a minute
Create Account
Sign up free. No credit card required. Takes 30 seconds.
Watch Alerts
RVOL spikes, halts, and movers appear automatically. No setup needed.
Trade Faster
See opportunities before they hit mainstream scanners.
Stock Scanner Comparison
How we compare to other popular scanners
| Feature | DT | TradingView | Finviz | Trade Ideas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real-Time Data | [+] WebSocket | ~ Delayed | [-] 15min delay | ~ Premium only |
| RVOL Tracking | [+] Built-in | ~ Manual setup | [+] | [+] |
| Trading Halt Alerts | [+] Instant | [-] | [-] | ~ Limited |
| Pre-Market Scanning | [+] 4AM-8PM ET | [+] | ~ Limited | [+] |
| Price | $24.99/mo | $15-60/mo | $40-200/mo | $118-228/mo |
| Setup Required | [-] None | ~ Complex | [-] Minimal | ~ Advanced |
Competitor pricing accurate as of October 2025. Trial and plan details: see pricing section above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about stock scanning and trading alerts
What is RVOL in stocks?
RVOL (Relative Volume) is a ratio comparing a stock's current trading volume to its historical average volume. An RVOL of 10 means the stock is trading at 10 times its normal volume. High RVOL indicates increased interest and potential price movement, making it valuable for day traders looking for momentum opportunities.
How do I find high volume stocks?
Use a real-time stock scanner that monitors volume across all symbols and compares it to historical averages. Look for RVOL ratios above 3-5x for significant activity. The best scanners track pre-market, regular hours, and after-hours sessions, alerting you the moment volume spikes occur across NYSE, NASDAQ, and OTC exchanges.
What are trading halts and why do they happen?
Trading halts temporarily pause trading on a stock due to significant price volatility (LULD halts), pending news announcements, or corporate actions. Halts typically last 5-10 minutes and are issued by exchanges to allow information to disseminate and prevent panic trading. Traders monitor halts because stocks often move significantly when trading resumes.
What is the best free stock scanner?
The best free stock scanner should offer real-time data updates (not 15-minute delayed), RVOL tracking to identify volume spikes, pre-market and after-hours coverage, and customizable alerts. Look for WebSocket-powered scanners with sub-second latency that track all major exchanges including NYSE, NASDAQ, and OTC markets without requiring a credit card.
How to use RVOL for day trading?
Day traders use RVOL to identify stocks with unusual volume activity. Look for RVOL above 3-5x during pre-market, then confirm with price action. High RVOL stocks often continue momentum during regular hours. Combine RVOL signals with technical patterns and news catalysts for best results. Set alerts for RVOL spikes above 10x to catch explosive moves early.
How do stock scanners work?
Stock scanners continuously monitor price, volume, and technical indicators across thousands of symbols in real-time. They use algorithms to filter stocks matching specific criteria (like RVOL thresholds or price changes), then send alerts when conditions are met. Advanced scanners use WebSocket connections for live data feeds, enabling sub-second alert delivery compared to traditional polling methods.
Can I scan stocks before market open?
Yes, pre-market scanning (4:00 AM - 9:30 AM ET) is crucial for day traders. Look for scanners that track pre-market volume and price movements separately from regular hours. Stocks with high RVOL in pre-market often continue momentum after the opening bell. The best pre-market scanners update every minute and include news catalysts.
Do I need to pay for stock alerts?
Most premium scanners charge $50-200/month for real-time alerts. TheDesperateTrader gives you 5 free premium days (no card required), then is $24.99/month for full access to RVOL alerts, halt tracking, top movers, and EMA scanning.
What Traders Are Looking For
Pricing is simple and transparent - see the pricing section above.
Ready to see what's moving?
Create a free account. Takes 30 seconds. No payment required.
Start Free, No Card RequiredJoin traders already using the platform. Start with 5 free premium days, upgrade when you’re ready.
Explore our scanners
Caught early by our scanner
Stocks our free scanner flagged before the move: the first alert price and time versus the session high. Every one links to its live page.
These are real scanner alerts. Get the next one the moment it fires, free.
No card · 5 premium daysThe high is the session peak after our first alert, not a realized trade. Not investment advice.
Stocks to Watch
Pre-marketThe top plays for Thursday, Aug 6, scored across every one of our scanners
- 1$BJDX$1.10Pre-mkt -11.3%closed $1.24Earnings today: reports this session4 signals
- 2$SOUN$8.10Pre-mkt +26.0%closed $6.43Catalyst: SoundHound AI Reports Record Q2 and All Time High Revenue of $61.9 million, Up 45%, Raises Full Year Outlook5 signals
- 3$GCT$48.50Pre-mkt +4.9%closed $46.24Catalyst: GigaCloud Technology Inc filed a Quarterly report (10-Q)3 signals
- 4$NTLA$10.62Pre-mkt -3.2%closed $10.97Closed on its lows: finished in the bottom 21% of the day's range4 signals
- 5$AEVA$25.13Pre-mkt +28.1%closed $19.61Catalyst: Aeva Technologies, Inc.: Aeva Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results4 signals
More than a scanner. The whole trading platform
TheDesperateTrader started as a real-time RVOL scanner and trading halt tracker, and grew into a full day-trading platform. Explore the custom stock screener, live alerts, 200 EMA signals, and trading guides, plus AI traders, a paper-trading game, community feeds, watchlists, and pro charts.
No sign-up needed: see today’s biggest gainers, biggest losers, most active stocks, premarket movers, 52-week highs, stock halts today, the earnings calendar, and the dividend calendar.
New: find out why stocks are moving today, see the stocks to watch, browse 40 stock themes, follow the smart money, check earnings next week, and see what is trending on Reddit.
Live Scanners & Alerts
Real-time RVOL spikes, trading halts, top movers, and 200 EMA signals across 11,000+ symbols.
See live alertsCustom Stock Screener
Scan the whole market by price, day % change, relative volume and market cap: one-click presets or your own criteria, split-adjusted.
Open the screenerAI Traders
Ra, Thoth, Watcher and Osiris trade the alerts in real time; follow every entry and exit on the leaderboard.
View rankingsPaper-Trading Game
Start with $1,000 and climb the seasonal rankings against the community and the AIs, no real money.
Play the gameCommunity & Feeds
Per-ticker feeds, live cashtag chat, follows, and trader profiles: the tape and the talk in one place.
Explore feedsWatchlists & Price Alerts
Build a watchlist with live quotes and mini-charts, and set custom price alerts that ping you the moment a level hits.
Build a watchlistPro Charts & Guides
Masterclass charts with live candles and condition replay, plus trading guides on scanner workflows and risk.
Read the guidesGet the best catches in your inbox
Free daily email of the top plays and unusual-volume alerts our scanner flags. No account needed.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Not investment advice.
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