Free Options Trading Tools
A suite of free tools built for options traders — iron condor screeners, implied volatility scanners, dividend calendars, and backtesting. Most tools require no subscription. Built on live Polygon.io data.
Run the full Volatility Anomaly algorithm in your browser. Analyzes any ticker for IV spikes around ex-dividend dates, backtests iron condor entry timing, and scores setups by anomaly frequency and average premium spike.
- IV spike detection around ex-dividend dates
- Iron condor backtest win rate
- Anomaly frequency scoring
- Custom ticker input — scan any stock
Automated scanner that sweeps the full S&P 500 (503 stocks) for high-premium iron condor setups using live Polygon.io options data. Filters by IV rank, delta, days-to-expiry, and premium-to-width ratio. Results update in real time with a live progress counter.
- Full S&P 500 / S&P 400 / Russell 2000 / NASDAQ-100 universe
- Live Polygon.io options data with Greeks
- Filters: IVR, delta, DTE, premium/width ratio
- Scan progress indicator — live stock-by-stock counter
Backtest the Volatility Anomaly strategy across any index universe. Scans for historical IV spikes around ex-dividend dates and calculates theoretical iron condor P&L, win rate, and average credit collected.
- Historical IV spike analysis
- Iron condor P&L simulation
- Win rate and average credit statistics
- Supports S&P 500, S&P 400, Russell 2000, NASDAQ-100
Forward-looking dividend calendar showing upcoming ex-dividend dates across dividend-paying stocks. Cross-referenced with options open interest and IV rank to highlight high-premium iron condor opportunities.
- Upcoming ex-dividend dates
- IV rank cross-reference
- Options open interest data
- Filterable by sector and yield
Comprehensive free guide to implied volatility, IV rank, IV percentile, volatility risk premium (VRP), and how to use them to find high-probability options trades. Includes interactive examples and a newsletter signup.
- IV Rank vs IV Percentile explained
- Volatility Risk Premium (VRP) concept
- Iron condor strategy mechanics
- Interactive examples and calculators
About the Volatility Anomaly System
The Volatility Anomaly is a systematic options trading approach that exploits a recurring pattern: implied volatility (IV) tends to spike predictably in the days before a stock's ex-dividend date, then mean-revert after the dividend is paid. This creates a reliable window to sell elevated premium via iron condors and collect the volatility risk premium (VRP) as it deflates.
Why IV Spikes Before Ex-Dividend Dates
Dividend-paying stocks attract options activity ahead of ex-dividend dates — put buyers hedge against the dividend drop, call sellers adjust positions, and market makers widen spreads to account for the uncertainty. This mechanical demand for options protection inflates IV, creating a premium-selling opportunity for traders who understand the pattern.
How the Free Screener Works
The free Anomaly Screener analyzes historical IV data around ex-dividend dates for any ticker you input. It calculates the frequency and magnitude of IV spikes, backtests iron condor entry timing, and scores the setup. The paid Options Screener extends this to the full S&P 500 universe using live options data with Greeks.
Tool Comparison
| TOOL | DATA SOURCE | ACCESS | BEST FOR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anomaly Screener | Historical IV | Free, no login | Quick ticker analysis |
| Iron Condor Scanner | Live Polygon.io | Free account | Daily setup discovery |
| Anomaly Backtester | Historical IV | Free account | Strategy validation |
| Dividend Calendar | Live market data | Free, no login | Ex-date planning |
| Options Chain | Live Polygon.io | Free account | Strike selection |
| Volatility 101 | Educational | Free, no login | Learning IV concepts |