So you want to be a trader?
Whether it’s on the stock exchange floor, or from the comfort of your own bedroom, the options for stock and futures trading mean there’s more participation and more competition for the financial gains to be had with trading.
Read on to learn all about the best online trading schools, along with the best futures trading courses!
The 18 Best Stock and Futures Trading Schools Online:
- Best Overall: Investors Underground
- Best for Live Training: Bulls on Wall Street
- Best for Beginners: Udemy
- Best for Emerging Markets: Financial Edge
- Best for Day Traders: Bear Bull Traders
- Best Value: LinkedIn
The Average Salary of a Stock Trader
The average salary for a stock trader is much different depending on who you ask. A recent study done by Glassdoor showed the average salary for a stock trader was around $89,000 a year, but some traders are pulling in a high as $500,000, and some are hobbyists, meaning their annual earnings are most likely much less than that of serious traders.
Stock traders are people who understand risk and live by it. This risk can lead to massive losses, or incredible gains, and just about everything else in between. So, to have any preconception of what it’s like to be a stock trader would be unwarranted – it all depends on the amount of work you want to do, and how much time you want to spend on trading.
The Best Online Stock Trading Courses
Nowadays, we have dozens of options for learning stock trading from the comfort of our own homes. Especially if you live outside the financial mecca that is New York City, with a bit of hard work, starting capital, and guts, you can take an online trading course and get started on your journey. Fortunately, most of the best trading schools offer these online courses.
So, without further ado, here are the 18 best online stock trading courses – ranked in no particular order. And, when you’re ready to launch your career in day trading, contact us to set up your office with the best-priced office furniture you can find!
1.Investopedia Academy
Investopedia is the Wikipedia of finance – almost everything you could ever want to know about money, the economy, and more, can be found on Investopedia.
The company offers the “Become a Day Trader” online course, taught by master day trader David Green, a 30-year veteran in the industry. Once you’ve completed the course, you will receive a certificate of completion. The five hours of on-demand videos are, as the program describes, for “complete beginners to semi-experienced day traders.”
Other courses include:
- Technical Analysis
- Options for Beginners
- Trading Courses Bundle
Courses are $199 each or $447 for a bundle.
Pros:
- More than 50 lessons
- Step-by-step guide to six types of trades
- Inexpensive
Cons:
- The teacher has a somewhat difficult to understand Boston accent
- Only suitable for beginners
2. Day Trading Academy
Day Trading Academy is one of the most popular online trading programs, and one that is in high demand.
Founder Marcello Arrambide is a blogger, professional day trader, and self-branded “Wandering Traveler” who has been featured on CNN and other major news outlets for his work training day traders.
Courses from the Day Trading Academy are sometimes live lectures, a feature that is different from other online trading schools. You can check out when the next one is here.
Courses include:
- Your Introduction to Day Trading
- Learning & Understanding the Indicators
- Transitioning into the Live Market
Pros:
- Live lectures
- Built around price movement, not indicators
- Featured on CNN, CNBC, BBC, Yahoo Finance, The Huffington Post, and Business Insider
Cons:
- Initial cost is $2,500
- Based out of Columbia
3. Trading Academy
The Online Trading Academy offers several different educational packages for their online stock trading course load.
What sets the Online Trading Academy apart from other online trading schools is its requirement to take a free half-day course before ever taking on the core curriculum of their programs. This introductory course is meant to bring you up to speed for their high-intensity educational platform, one which has rave reviews.
The company also offers several options for in-person training, provided at various locations around the country through educational franchising.
Courses include:
- Strategic Investor
- Cryptocurrency
- Core Strategy
Prices range from free all the way up to $7,995.
Pros:
- Trading Academy has been in business since 1997
- Offers a free introductory class
- Online or in-person classes
Cons:
- Expensive
- The FTC sued them in 2020 for “false or unfounded claims”
4. The Stock Whisperer
Stephanie Kammerman began teaching about her time-tested approach to stock trading in 2010, and since then has exploded as a stock- and futures-trading educator since then.
Kammerman’s course covers her time-tested approach to generating wealth with stocks, including tape-reading, exploring dark pools, and seeking out big buyers and sellers. Her programs are catered around deciding how much you want to make, how much you have to invest, and determining the best possible strategy from there.
Courses include:
- Boot Camp
- The Training Pit
- The Java Pit
Prices range from $100 to $3,499.
Pros:
- Has a 4.4-star average on Trustpilot out of 579 reviews
- More than 20 years of experience
- Offers a live training room
Cons:
- Website is too focused on “The Stock Whisperer” persona
- Live meeting at 9 a.m. EST, which makes it difficult for PST attendees
5. Asia Forex Mentor
Ezekiel Chew trains the future traders of asset management firms, banks, and top trading firms. He is widely considered one of the finance industry’s leading experts, along with one of the top global forex traders.
Asia Forex Minor was formed in 2008. It offers a seven-day free trial, which every potential trader should take before they invest in One Core Program. Pricing is $997 for the program, plus an additional $1,200 annually for access to the Golden Eye Group.
Pros:
- Studio-quality videos
- Extensive content
- Free seven-day trial
- Run by a world-renowned trader
Cons:
- No monthly payment plans
- Difficult to navigate website
6. Trade Pro Academy
Trade Pro is a company that offers education and industry analysis worth the money you pay for it. With 19 courses and over 2,000 successful traders created through their programs so far, it seems Trade Pro Academy is definitely a good investment for anyone wanting to learn about day trading.
Trade Pro has three separate programs – one for regular day traders, one for “pro traders”, and one for “elite traders,” the latter of which offers five-day access to a real trading floor, and materials on psychology in trading.
As one of the best stock trading schools, Trade Pro Academy has a wide range of courses, including:
- Foundations Course of Technical Analysis
- Swing Trading Stock Principles
- Stock Trading Strategies
Pricing for a full course can range from $699 to $1,999. Sticking with the stock school option is the cheapest.
Pros:
- 5-star average on Google out of 79 reviews
- 50,000 worldwide students
- Daily meetings on Zoom and Discord
Cons:
- Costs up to $1,999 plus a monthly fee of $139-$219
7. Investors Underground– All-in-One Day Trading Course
Renowned trader Nathan Michaud has developed an eight-hour online video stock trading course called “Textbook Trading”. This resource is meant as a complete crash course in stock trading, with the goal of getting any type of beginner up and running on their platform.
Courses include:
- Textbook Trading
- Tandem Trader
- Swing Trading
Courses cost $997 to $1,497.
Pros:
- Large chat room
- Well-established
- Solid reputation
- Access to mentors
Cons:
- Cost is on the higher end
- Trading courses cost an extra $1,000
8. Trade Ideas
Trade Ideas is a company that utilizes artificial intelligence to help its members gain maximum profits. Their trading courses teach new and experienced traders about how to make AI a tool for earning money on the stock market through both high-level analysis and some fundamental training. Many reviews mention that these courses are not for someone who is just beginning – a lot of the education here is for people with a basic understanding of stock trading.
Courses include:
- Getting Started Series
- Back to Basics
Pricing ranges from free to $167 per month.
Pros:
- Robust list of courses
- Live training
- Won awards from Investopedia and WealthUp
Cons:
- Brings politics into their business (“MAGA managed”)
- Free membership doesn’t offer much
9. Tim Sykes Trading Program
Sykes is one of several online traders who swears by the “penny stocks” practice of buying extremely low, and selling at marginal increases for great gains. One of his purported benefits is being able to convince potential students that crazy returns are possible, and he’s found out how.
The course is on Penny Stocks. A subscription will cost you between $79 for one month up to $497 per quarter.
Pros:
- Offers a chatroom
- Taught by top penny stocks trader
- A wealth of educational materials
Cons:
- Pricing isn’t transparent
- Sykes’ uses a flashy style of teaching
10. TD Ameritrade’s Investool
With decades in the industry, Ameritrade’s “Investool” is considered one of the most popular online trading education platforms in the industry. What makes this tool stand out is its approach of offering content and insights strictly based on the individual trader’s needs. That makes this online trading course one catered just to you, and what you want to learn.
Please note: Courses are currently limited to webinars only. They include:
- Trader Talk in Today’s Market
- Trading a Smaller Account
- Advanced Charting Techniques
All webinars are free.
Pros:
- Backed by Charles Schwab
- Immersive curriculum
- In-person events
Cons:
- Based more around personal investments
11. Superman Trades
A former student of Tim Sykes, Paul Scolardi – the self-professed “Superman Trader” because of his striking resemblance to the superhero of the same name – Superman Trades is perhaps a great success story we can all take a lesson from. The tickers found all over the website show that Scolardi is making big gains with his personal approach, making this online trading course an attractive option.
Course work includes:
- The Super Trades Daily Watchlist
Pricing is not listed for this course.
Pros:
- New training videos 3-5 times per week
- More than 23 years of experience
Cons:
- Uses the same flashy style as Tim Sykes
12. Bulls on Wall Street
The brainchild of master trader Kunal Desai, this easy-to-learn online trading course is a series of four videos – at a total of eight hours long – that covers everything from charting to risk management, breakout trading and more. Students also receive a crash course in basic trading and higher-level technical analysis education.
Courses include:
- Live 60-Day Bootcamp
Access to their trading courses will cost you $1,499 per year.
Pros:
- Personalized training
- Reasonably priced
- Mentor feedback
- Established company
Cons:
- No free trails
13. Warrior Trading
Bestowed the Benzinga Fintech Award as Best Educator, the Warrior Trading platform is one of the most popular online trading academies available today. With over 500,000 members and a great suite of free resources, most people than ever are turning to Warrior Trading to take over their financial futures with day trading.
Courses include:
- Day Trading: The Basics
- Day Trading: Strategies and Scaling
- Trading Psychology
Courses cost between $797 and $2,997.
Pros:
- Offers the first three courses for free
- Resource library
- Offers high-caliber learning for all skill levels
- Real-time paper trading simulator
Cons:
- Expensive
14. Coursera
This is a free resource for people who want to learn the basic mechanisms of day trading. We included it on this list because its eight free video courses – and loads of supporting materials – are an incredible value for anyone who wants to simply explore the world of day trading without having to shovel up any money upfront.
Courses include:
- Practical Guide to Trading
- Financial Markets
- Trading Strategies in Emerging Markets
Most courses are included in Coursera Plus, which costs $59 per month.
Pros:
- High-level analysis of valuation, pricing, and markets
- Offers a multi-course specialization track
- Highly rated instructor
Cons:
- No interaction with instructor
- Not much video instruction
15. Udemy – The Complete Foundation Stock Trading Course
Another incredible value for an amazing amount of material. The Udemy “Complete Foundation Stock Trading Course” is priced at $12.34, and we couldn’t be happier – you’ll get everything from a foundational understanding of basic stock concepts, to in-depth analysis techniques and industry knowledge on when to buy, and how to mitigate risk.
Other courses include:
- Investing in Stocks
- Advanced Stock Trading Course + Strategies
- Live Stock Trading Course
Pricing is all over the map, but it’s generally around $64.99 to $149.99.
Pros:
- Extensive selection of courses
- Inexpensive
- Comprehensive courses
Cons:
- No chat room
- No coaching
- Can’t use practical applications during the course
16. LinkedIn – Algorithmic Trading and Finance Models with Python, R, and Stata Essential Trade
This is considered an intermediate course for those who already have a foundational understanding of stock trading. If you want to up your game with algorithmic trading using several powerful programming languages – especially if you already have experience with them – this course will be well worth the $44.95 price tag.
Pros:
- 4.6-star average out of 587 reviews
- Good course for beginners
- Inexpensive
Cons:
- Must take Algorithmic Trading and Stocks Essential Training course first ($24.99)
- Only a two-hour course
17. Bear Bull Traders
Choose Bear Bull Traders if you’re looking for access to trading tools, a comprehensive course offering, a trading community, and a top trading guru. Even better, it’s all available for a reasonable price! In business since 2016, Bear Bull Trades also offers courses for any experience level.
Subscription fees are:
- $39 for an intro
- Basic – $99 monthly
- Elite – $199 monthly
- Elite Annual – $2,388 for a year
Pros:
- Extensive library of high-level trading tutorials and videos
- Affordable pricing
- Real-time paper trading simulator
- Helpful community with chat room monitors
Cons:
- No free trials
- Only elite subscribers can attend webinars
18. Financial Edge
Financial Edge may only offer a short, 2.5-hour course, but you can still learn a lot. In fact, the entire purpose of Financial Edge is to teach you how to trade in emerging markets. It also focuses on hedge funds.
Courses start at $599 per year.
Pros:
- Lifetime access
- Get help directly from your instructor
- CPD-certified course
Cons:
- Short
- No practical exercises
FAQs
Can you go to school for trading stocks?
Yes, and it’s highly advised. Getting in at even an entry-level position usually requires a bachelor’s degree.
How much does the Trading Academy cost?
The Trading Academy offers a free trial to try out their courses. If you want to complete a course, though, you’ll need to pay for it. Courses run anywhere from $49 to $1,995 each.
At what age should I learn trading?
Becoming a trader requires you to be at least 18 years old. As soon as you know that you’re interested in trading, you should begin learning how to do it.
What is a trading floor? Learn Here.