7 Best Max Pain Tools for Options Traders in 2025
If you trade weekly options, you should be watching Max Pain.
It shows the price level where the most options expire worthless, meaning market makers lose the least and profit the most.
Price often gravitates toward Max Pain approaching Friday — especially when volume, GEX, and dark pools align. It’s not a guarantee, but it’s a probability magnet, and smart traders use it as a compass.
Most retail traders ignore Max Pain because they don’t know where to pull the data or how to pair it with confluence signals.
So here are the best Max Pain tools in 2025 — free and paid — when to use them, what they do well, and where they’re limited.
1. Options Trading Toolbox
Best for: Traders who want Max Pain + GEX + volume + dark pools in one place.
The Max Pain dashboard inside OTT shows the price where the most open interest contracts expire worthless. You can view it next to GEX levels, institutional inflow, and volatility — the trifecta for weekly prediction.
Highlights:
• Free to use — no subscription required
• Auto-calculates weekly Max Pain levels
• Pairs data with GEX walls, unusual volume, dark pools
• Helps identify pin zones, mean reversion areas, and magnets
• One-click ability to run backtests on related strategies
Why it stands out:
Most Max Pain tools show a single number. OTT shows what surrounds that number — walls, flows, volatility zones, volume pockets. That’s where the edge is.
✔ Best overall Max Pain tool for traders
✔ Real context — not just the number
✔ Perfect for Friday setups & income selling
2. Tradytics Options Dashboard
Best for: Traders wanting Max Pain alongside vol & flow dashboards.
Pros:
• Max Pain included in their analytics suite
• Good for combining flow + volatility
• Trend and risk dashboards included
Cons:
• Paid platform
• Can feel overwhelming to new traders
3. Market Chameleon
Best for: Earnings + event-based Max Pain context.
Often used by volatility and earnings traders.
Pros:
• Max Pain + IV crush data
• Useful for earnings week planning
• Good historical reference tools
Cons:
• UI feels busy
• Some features require subscription
4. Unusual Whales (for OI & flow context)
Best for: Traders who want to combine Max Pain logic with flow activity.
Not a standalone Max Pain tool, but the OI + flow combination helps validate pin zones.
Pros:
• Open interest tracking
• Flow heatmaps
• Earnings integration
Cons:
• Max Pain not central
• Paid tiers for core data
5. OptionStrat (Manual Visual Max Pain Reference)
Best for: Visual traders using payoff curves & expiration planning.
Doesn’t directly compute Max Pain but useful for pricing visualization around expiration.
Pros:
• Visual payoff at expiration
• Good for CC, CSP, spreads
• Easy for beginners
Cons:
• No Max Pain calculation
• More strategy builder than signal tool
6. SpotGamma (GEX-first with Max Pain pairing)
Best for: Gamma + Max Pain confluence traders.
SpotGamma doesn’t calculate Max Pain directly, but when gamma walls and Max Pain align — things get interesting.
Pros:
• Great for identifying magnet ranges
• Dealer hedging zones
• Best weekly levels in the industry
Cons:
• Must pair with Max Pain tool like OTT
• Paid platform
7. ThinkOrSwim Scripts (DIY Max Pain Indicators)
Best for: Traders who like building their own scan logic.
You can script Max Pain visual overlays or import scripts.
Pros:
• Free with TD Ameritrade
• Customizable to your workflow
• Can add multiple expirations
Cons:
• Manual scripting setup required
• No integrated flow / backtesting
Which Max Pain Tool Should You Use?
If you want:
- Free + Max Pain + GEX + flow + volume → Options Trading Toolbox
- Max Pain plus volatility dashboards → Market Chameleon or Tradytics
- Flow-heavy context → Unusual Whales
- Gamma confluence → SpotGamma (paired with OTT)
- DIY scripting → ThinkOrSwim
- Visual strategy planning → OptionStrat
But for clarity, speed, and actual trade-decision edge, OTT shines.
You check Max Pain → confirm with GEX → verify flow → backtest.
All inside one ecosystem.
That's how pros trade — data first, decision second.
Try Max Pain + GEX + Flow Free
👉 Open Options Trading Toolbox
🎯 View weekly Max Pain levels
📊 Confirm with GEX magnets & dark pools
🧪 Backtest related setups before entering
Stop guessing where price might go.
Start seeing where price wants to go.