Direct Answer: OptionStrat is an intuitive payoff-diagram calculator once you already know which ticker, direction, and strike you want to model—but its live tools cost $19 to $59/month ($1,140–$3,540 over 5 years) and leave contract discovery and exit discipline up to you. OptionMAV ($159 one-time Windows & Mac USB with $0/mo ongoing fees + Android App) scans US stocks & ETFs automatically, computes all 8 Greeks locally, enforces IV Rank ≥ 50 + 3-day pre-earnings guards, toggles 1-click vertical spreads, and tracks exits.
The Hidden Gap Between Visualizing a Trade and Finding High-Probability Setups
Every week, retail traders open a payoff calculator, drag strike sliders until a green profit zone looks appealing, and still lose money. Why? Because a colorful P&L heatmap cannot warn you before you buy into historically expensive Implied Volatility, sell credit spreads when 52-week IV Rank sits at 18, or hold a winning contract straight through an afternoon reversal.
OptionMAV was built in Atlanta, GA (325% funded on Kickstarter and ranked #1 in Personal Investment Tools on Amazon) to solve what happens before and after the payoff chart:
- Automated Watchlist Discovery: Instead of typing tickers one by one, OptionMAV screens US stocks and ETFs across 4 concrete contract directions (
BUYCALL,BUYPUT,SELLCALL,SELLPUT) snapped to real listed strikes and bid/ask liquidity. - All 8 Black-Scholes-Merton Greeks Computed Locally: Goes beyond Delta and Theta to display Vanna, Charm, and Vomma—showing overnight weekend Delta bleed and volatility-driven squeeze sensitivity.
- 1-Toggle Single-Leg vs. Defined-Risk Vertical Spreads: Flip between naked/single-leg contracts and Call/Put Credit or Debit Spreads with Max Profit, Max Loss, Breakeven, and private Funded ✅ cash checks (try the math right now in our free Options Spread & IV Rank Calculator).
- Background Exit & Roll Protection: Track both generated and manual contracts inside the OptionMAV Android App’s Portfolio Exit Tracker so a +90% morning winner doesn’t round-trip while you’re away from your desk.
Side-by-Side Comparison: OptionMAV vs. OptionStrat
| Feature / Dimension | OptionMAV USB ($159) & Android App | OptionStrat (Free Delayed / $19–$59/mo Live) |
|---|---|---|
| Core Category | On-Device AI Contract & Spread Screener | Visual Payoff & P&L Slider Calculator |
| 5-Year Desktop Cost | $159 one-time USB ($0/mo forever on Windows & Mac) | $1,140 to $3,540 in recurring subscriptions |
| Hard IV Rank ≥ 50 Income Lock | Built-in & unbreakable (blocks cheap premium selling) | Manual user judgment |
| 3-Day Pre-Earnings IV-Crush Guard | Automatic income suppression ≤3 days pre-earnings | Manual earnings check |
| Covered Call & CSP Portfolio Tags | 100% local share & cash capacity checks | Not portfolio-collateral aware |
| Companion 201-Page Field Manual | The Greeks Are Not Your Enemy ($12.99 Kindle) | Web tutorials only |
The 3 Categories of Retail Options Software (How to Choose the Right Tool)
Self-directed US stock & ETF options tools fall into three distinct architectural categories:
Helpful for drawing P&L curves after you already picked a ticker and strike—but offers zero automated market-wide contract discovery, zero hard IV Rank gating, and zero automated exit monitoring.
Streams dark-pool and sweep alerts ($576–$1,788/yr) without revealing whether an institution is hedging 500,000 shares of stock—leaving retail traders chasing noisy premium with no exit plan.
Computes all 8 Black-Scholes-Merton Greeks locally, enforces a hard 52-week IV Rank ≥ 50 income gate + 3-day pre-earnings guard, toggles 1-click vertical credit/debit spreads, and monitors exits with $0/mo ongoing USB fees.
Choose Your OptionMAV Setup — $0/mo Physical USB, Android App & Free Calculator
Screen US stock & ETF options contracts with all 8 Black-Scholes-Merton Greeks, rolling 52-week IV Rank (≥50 income gating), 3-day pre-earnings IV-crush protection, and one-toggle vertical credit/debit spreads—without surrendering your watchlist to a $200/month cloud platform.
Editorial & Trademark Disclosure: OptionStrat, Options Profit Calculator, Unusual Whales, Cheddar Flow, Market Chameleon, Barchart, thinkorswim, and tastytrade are trademarks of their respective owners and are referenced strictly for factual feature and pricing comparison. OptionMAV by TradeMAV LLC is an independent options screener, 8-Greek analyzer, and educational market research tool—never a broker or auto-trader. See full risk disclaimer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can OptionMAV replace both an options screener and a vertical spread calculator?
Yes. OptionMAV discovers qualifying US stock and ETF contracts automatically and calculates exact two-leg vertical spread strikes, Net Credit/Debit, Max Profit, Max Loss, Breakeven, and local buying-power coverage—plus we offer a free web spread calculator at optionmav.com/options-spread-and-iv-rank-calculator/.
Does OptionMAV USB require a monthly fee for live options screening?
No. The OptionMAV USB is a $159 one-time hardware purchase for Windows PC and Mac with $0/month ongoing OptionMAV software fees and free lifetime updates. It works out of the box with free ~15-minute delayed options data or lets you plug in your own optional real-time data key.
Continue Exploring the OptionMAV Options Research Library
- Best AI Options Screener Without a Monthly Subscription: OptionMAV $159 USB & Android App vs. $200/Mo Cloud Tools
- Vertical Credit & Debit Spread Screener: Find Defined-Risk Options Setups Without Level 4 Naked Margin
- IV Rank Options Screener (0–100) & Pre-Earnings IV Crush Guard: Stop Selling Cheap Options Premium
- Covered Call & Cash-Secured Put Screener: Run the Wheel Strategy Without Linking Your Brokerage Account
- Options Greeks Explained in Plain English (Delta, Theta, Vega, Vanna & Charm): The OptionMAV Playbook
- Stop Watching Winning Options Decay to Zero: Automated Options Exit Alerts, Roll Guidance & Android Portfolio Tracking
- Unusual Whales & Cheddar Flow Alternative: Why Retail Traders Ditch Noisy Dark-Pool Sweeps for Defined-Risk AI Setups
- Market Chameleon & Barchart Options Screener Alternative: Own 52-Week IV Rank & Wheel Screening on a $159 USB
- Why Your Call Option Lost Money When the Stock Went Up: Plain-English Guide to Earnings IV Crush & the 3-Day Guard
- Weekly vs. Swing vs. LEAPs Options: Complete Delta (0.20 vs. 0.50) & DTE Selection Matrix for Retail Traders
- Why DIY Options Spreadsheets & Weekend Scripts Break Down—And How a Turnkey $159 USB Solves All 8 Greeks Locally
Interactive Tools & Official Channels: 🧮 Free Spread & IV Rank Calculator · 📘 201-Page Greeks Playbook ($12.99) · ⚡ OptionMAV USB ($159 · $0/mo) · 🛒 Amazon US (#1 Ranked) · 📱 OptionMAV Android App · All 12 Guides