Options Trading Toolbox vs OptionStrat
OptionStrat has long been known as a top tool for visualizing option payoffs. But now there’s a new contender traders are quickly adopting — Options Trading Toolbox (OTT). It includes its own options calculator & payoff analyzer like OptionStrat, plus adds backtesting, GEX, screeners, dark pool flow, unusual options volume, and trade ideas, making it a much more complete research platform.
This comparison breaks down where each tool shines and when you should use one over the other.
Quick Summary
Both OTT and OptionStrat let you view potential profit/loss on options trades.
The key difference is everything else OTT adds on top of that.
OTT includes:
- Options payoff calculator (similar to OptionStrat)
- Backtesting to see if a strategy works historically
- GEX & gamma exposure maps
- Unusual options volume tracking
- Dark pool block trades
- Options screener for fast filtering
- Automatic trade ideas
- Flow research + market sentiment tools
OptionStrat primarily focuses on:
- Clean, fast payoff diagrams
- Easy multi-leg adjustments
- Greeks visualization
What OptionStrat Does Best
OptionStrat is fantastic if you want to:
- Visualize risk/reward instantly
- Adjust strike legs and see how P/L changes
- Teach newer traders how payoff curves work
- Experiment with spreads interactively
It’s a trade simulator, simple and focused.
However, it doesn’t tell you which trade to take or whether a setup has edge, which is where OTT becomes powerful.
What Options Trading Toolbox Does Best
OTT includes a full payoff calculator like OptionStrat, but it goes far beyond just trade visualization.
With OTT, traders can:
- Backtest strategies before risking money
- Spot institutional moves through unusual volume
- Track dark pools for hidden buying/selling
- Scan for setups automatically with screeners
- Use GEX to understand where dealers hedge
- Generate trade ideas instantly
- Analyze P/L outcomes with its calculator
- Do research and make decisions in one place
If you want more edge, data, and research workflow, OTT wins.
Feature Difference Snapshot
Where OTT leads:
- Backtesting historical results
- Gamma exposure tracking
- Dark pool monitoring
- Screener + trade idea generation
- Finding trades, not just visualizing them
- Free to start with generous usage
Where OptionStrat leads:
- UI simplicity for payoff modeling
- Fast multi-leg simulation
- Great for visual learners
Pricing Perspective
- OTT has a powerful free tier — ideal for most traders.
- OptionStrat requires monthly payment for full usage.
OTT can replace multiple paid tools, making it high-value for traders who research regularly.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Options Trading Toolbox if you want:
- A payoff calculator + full research suite
- Tools to find, verify, and analyze trades
- GEX, backtesting, dark pools, and flow data
- Less subscriptions + more power
- A free way to get started
Choose OptionStrat if you want:
- The cleanest payoff visualization UI
- Simple diagram-focused trading
- A dedicated risk graph environment
Final Verdict
If your priority is visual payoff diagrams, OptionStrat is great.
If you want a payoff calculator + research tools to actually choose good trades, Options Trading Toolbox is the better choice.
OTT replaces what OptionStrat does — and adds everything traders normally pay 5–10 tools for.
Start Using OTT Free
Use the payoff calculator, run backtests, scan setups, see flow, and much more.