---
title: "TradeStation"
description: "Our TradeStation integration lets you deploy live trading algorithms on our co-located servers that trade the capital you have in your TradeStation account."
canonical: https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/live-trading/brokerages/tradestation
markdown: https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/live-trading/brokerages/tradestation.md
language: python
source: https://github.com/QuantConnect/Documentation/tree/master/01%20Cloud%20Platform/10%20Live%20Trading/02%20Brokerages/03%20TradeStation
modified: 2026-11-04
index: https://www.quantconnect.com/llms.txt
---

# TradeStation

[Documentation](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2.md) > [Cloud Platform](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform.md) > [Live Trading](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/live-trading.md) > [Brokerages](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/live-trading/brokerages.md) > TradeStation

> Code examples are shown in Python. Append `?lang=csharp` to this URL for the C# version of this page.

## Introduction

QuantConnect enables you to run your algorithms in live mode with real-time market data.

[TradeStation](https://qnt.co/tradestation-signup) was founded by brothers William (Bill) and Rafael (Ralph) Cruz in 1982 as Omega Research, Inc. In 2001, the company converted itself from a trading software company to an online securities brokerage and renamed itself "TradeStation" with the mission to "create the ultimate trading experience". TradeStation provides access to trading Equities, Equity Options, and Futures for clients in over 150 markets, 34 countries, and 27 currencies. TradeStation also delivers custody, clearing, execution, and billing on behalf of registered advisors.

To view the implementation of the [TradeStation](https://qnt.co/tradestation-signup) brokerage integration, see the [Lean.Brokerages.TradeStation repository](https://github.com/QuantConnect/Lean.Brokerages.TradeStation).

## Account Types

[TradeStation](https://qnt.co/tradestation-signup) supports cash and margin accounts. To set the account type in an algorithm, see the [TradeStation brokerage model documentation](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/reality-modeling/brokerages/supported-models/tradestation.md).

### Create an Account

To create a TradeStation account, follow the [account creation wizard](https://qnt.co/tradestation-signup) on the TradeStation website.

### Paper Trading

TradeStation supports paper trading through their trading simulator after you fund your brokerage account. Alternatively you can use the QuantConnect paper trading environment.

## Asset Classes

Our [TradeStation](https://qnt.co/tradestation-signup) integration supports trading the following asset classes:

- [US Equities](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/securities/asset-classes/us-equity.md)
- [Equity Options](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/securities/asset-classes/equity-options.md)
- [Futures](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/securities/asset-classes/futures.md)
- [Index](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/securities/asset-classes/index.md)
- [Index Options](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/securities/asset-classes/index-options.md)

You may not be able to trade all assets with [TradeStation](https://qnt.co/tradestation-signup). For example, if you live in the EU, you can't trade US ETFs. Check with your local regulators to know which assets you are allowed to trade. You may need to adjust settings in your brokerage account to live trade some assets.

## Data Providers

We recommend the [QuantConnect data provider](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/datasets/quantconnect.md), which is free and supplies [US Equities](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/datasets/quantconnect/us-equities.md), [US Equity Options](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/datasets/quantconnect/us-equity-options.md), [US Index Options](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/datasets/quantconnect/us-index-options.md), and [Futures](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/datasets/quantconnect/futures.md) data during live trading. It also supplies [SPX and VIX Index data](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/datasets/quantconnect/us-indices.md), which SPX and VIX Index Options need for the underlying index. If you'd rather trade on TradeStation prices, you might need to purchase a [market data subscription from TradeStation](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/datasets/tradestation.md). For more information about live data providers, see [Datasets](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/datasets.md).

## Orders

We model the [TradeStation](https://qnt.co/tradestation-signup) API by supporting several order types, order properties, and order updates. When you deploy live algorithms, you can [place manual orders](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/live-trading/algorithm-control.md#03-Place-Manual-Trades) through the IDE.

### Order Types

The following table describes the available order types for each asset class that our [TradeStation](https://qnt.co/tradestation-signup) integration supports:

| Order Type | Equity | Equity Options | Index Options | Futures |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Market](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/trading-and-orders/order-types/market-orders.md) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) |
| [Limit](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/trading-and-orders/order-types/limit-orders.md) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) |
| [Stop market](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/trading-and-orders/order-types/stop-market-orders.md) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) |
| [Stop limit](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/trading-and-orders/order-types/stop-limit-orders.md) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) |
| [Trailing stop](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/trading-and-orders/order-types/trailing-stop-orders.md) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) |
| [Market on Open](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/trading-and-orders/order-types/market-on-open-orders.md) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) |  |  |  |
| [Market on Close](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/trading-and-orders/order-types/market-on-close-orders.md) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) |  |  |  |
| [Combo market](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/trading-and-orders/order-types/combo-market-orders.md) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) |
| [Combo limit](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/trading-and-orders/order-types/combo-limit-orders.md) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) |
| [Bracket](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/trading-and-orders/order-types/contingent-orders/bracket-orders.md) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) |
| [One cancels other](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/trading-and-orders/order-types/contingent-orders/one-cancels-other-orders.md) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) |
| [One triggers other](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/trading-and-orders/order-types/contingent-orders/one-triggers-other-orders.md) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) |
| [One updates other](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/trading-and-orders/order-types/contingent-orders/one-updates-other-orders.md) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) | ![green check](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/check.png) |

### Order Properties

We model the TradeStation API. The following table describes the members of the `TradeStationOrderProperties` object that you can set to customize order execution.

| Property | Data Type | Description | Default Value |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `time_in_force` | `TimeInForce` | A [TimeInForce](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/trading-and-orders/order-properties.md#03-Time-In-Force) instruction to apply to the order. The following instructions are supported: `DAY` `GOOD_TIL_CANCELED` `good_til_date` | `TimeInForce.GOOD_TIL_CANCELED` |
| `outside_regular_trading_hours` | `bool` | A flag to signal that the order may be triggered and filled outside of regular trading hours. | `False` |
| `post_only` | `bool` | This flag will ensure the limit order executes only as a maker (no fee) order. If part of the order results in taking liquidity rather than providing, it will be rejected and no part of the order will execute. Equities only. | `False` |

### Contingent Orders

TradeStation accepts sets of [contingent orders](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/trading-and-orders/order-types/contingent-orders.md) with the following rules:

- Every order in the set is a single-leg order. TradeStation doesn't accept combo orders in a set.
- An order that another order triggers can't trigger other orders in turn.
- The orders in a one updates other set are for the same security, and at least one of them is a stop market, stop limit, or trailing stop order.
- When an order in a one cancels other or one updates other set fills, TradeStation cancels or resizes the rest of the set. If you cancel an order in the set, the other orders keep working.

### Updates

We model the TradeStation API by supporting [order updates](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/trading-and-orders/order-management/order-tickets.md#04-Update-Orders).

### Handling Splits

If you're using raw [data normalization](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/securities/asset-classes/us-equity/requesting-data.md#11-Data-Normalization) and you have active orders with a limit, stop, or trigger price in the market for a US Equity when a [stock split](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/securities/asset-classes/us-equity/corporate-actions.md#02-Splits) occurs, the following properties of your orders automatically adjust to reflect the stock split:

- Quantity
- Limit price
- Stop price
- Trigger price

## Rate Limit

TradeStation enforces rate limits on its REST API. The following table shows the request quota for each resource group over a rolling time window:

| Resource | Quota | Window |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Accounts, order details, balances, and positions | 320 | 5 minutes |
| Quote snapshots | 500 | 5 minutes |
| Each Option endpoint | 90 | 1 minute |

Streaming endpoints have concurrent-connection limits but don't consume the request quota. For more information about the rate limits, see [Rate Limiting](https://api.tradestation.com/docs/fundamentals/rate-limiting/) in the TradeStation documentation.

To respect these limits, our integration manages the request rate for you in two ways:

- **Proactive throttling**: A per-resource-group token bucket paces requests to stay under the quota.
- **Reactive back-off**: If a request receives an `HTTP 429 (Too Many Requests)` response, the integration waits for the period the `X-RateLimit-Reset` (or `Retry-After`) header specifies and then retries the request instead of failing the operation.

The first time the integration throttles a resource group or receives a 429 response, it sends your algorithm a one-time warning so you know throttling may reduce your throughput.

## Fees

To view the special low fees for QuantConnect clients [TradeStation](https://qnt.co/tradestation-signup) trading fees, see the [fees](https://qnt.co/tradestation-signup) page on the TradeStation website. To view how we model their fees, see [Fees](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/reality-modeling/brokerages/supported-models/tradestation.md#06-Fees).

## Margin

We model [buying power](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/reality-modeling/brokerages/supported-models/tradestation.md#07-Buying-Power) and [margin calls](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/reality-modeling/margin-calls.md) to ensure your algorithm stays within the margin requirements.

## Slippage

Orders through [TradeStation](https://qnt.co/tradestation-signup) do not experience slippage in backtests and [QuantConnect Paper Trading](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/live-trading/brokerages/quantconnect-paper-trading.md). In live trading, your orders may experience slippage.

To view how we model TradeStation slippage, see [Slippage](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/reality-modeling/brokerages/supported-models/tradestation.md#05-Slippage).

## Fills

QuantConnect fills market orders immediately and completely in backtests and [QuantConnect Paper Trading](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/live-trading/brokerages/quantconnect-paper-trading.md). In live trading, if the quantity of your market orders exceeds the quantity available at the top of the order book, your orders are filled according to what is available in the order book.

To view how we model TradeStation order fills, see [Fills](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/reality-modeling/brokerages/supported-models/tradestation.md#04-Fills).

## Settlements

If you trade with a margin account, trades settle immediately

To view how we model settlement for [TradeStation](https://qnt.co/tradestation-signup) trades, see [Settlement](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/writing-algorithms/reality-modeling/brokerages/supported-models/tradestation.md#08-Settlement).

## Security and Stability

When you deploy live algorithms with [TradeStation](https://qnt.co/tradestation-signup), we don't save your credentials.

## Deposits and Withdrawals

You can deposit and withdraw cash from your brokerage account while you run an algorithm that's connected to the account. We sync the algorithm's cash holdings with the cash holdings in your brokerage account every day at 7:45 AM Eastern Time (ET).

## Demo Algorithm

The following algorithm demonstrates the functionality of the [TradeStation](https://qnt.co/tradestation-signup) brokerage:

```python
# Demonstrate TradeStation brokerage functionality with an EMA crossover strategy on SPY.
class TradeStationDemoAlgorithm(QCAlgorithm):
    def initialize(self) -> None:
        self.set_start_date(2024, 9, 1)
        self.set_end_date(2024, 12, 31)
        self.set_cash(100000)
        self.set_brokerage_model(BrokerageName.TRADE_STATION, AccountType.MARGIN)
        symbol = self.add_equity("SPY", Resolution.DAILY).symbol
        self._fast = self.ema(symbol, 10, Resolution.DAILY)
        self._slow = self.ema(symbol, 50, Resolution.DAILY)

    def on_data(self, slice: Slice) -> None:
        if not self._slow.is_ready:
            return
        if self._fast.current.value > self._slow.current.value and not self.portfolio.invested:
            self.set_holdings("SPY", 1)
        elif self._fast.current.value < self._slow.current.value and self.portfolio.invested:
            self.liquidate()
```

## Deploy Live Algorithms

You must have an available [live trading node](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/organizations/resources.md#04-Live-Trading-Nodes) for each live trading algorithm you deploy.

Follow these steps to deploy a live algorithm:

1. [Open the project](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/projects/getting-started.md#02-View-All-Projects) you want to deploy.
2. Click the ![Lightning icon](https://cdn.quantconnect.com/i/tu/deploy-live-icon.png) **Deploy Live** icon.
3. On the Deploy Live page, click the **Brokerage** field and then click **[TradeStation](https://qnt.co/tradestation-signup)** from the drop-down menu.
4. Click on the **Environment** field and then click one of the environments.
   The following table shows the supported environments:
   | Environment | Description |
   | --- | --- |
   | Simulator | Trade with paper money |
   | Live | Trade with real money |
5. Click on **Authenticate** button.
6. On the TradeStation website, login to your account to grant QuantConnect access to your account information and authorization.
7. Click on the **Select Account Id** field and then click on one of your accounts.
8. In the **Region** section, click the [region](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/live-trading/getting-started.md#07-Redundancy) where you want to run the algorithm.
9. Click the **Node** field and then click the live trading node that you want to use from the drop-down menu.
10. (Optional) In the **Data Provider** section, click **Show** and change the data provider or add additional providers.
   In most cases, we suggest using the [QuantConnect data provider](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/datasets.md), the [TradeStation data provider](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/datasets/tradestation.md), or both. The order you set them in the deployment wizard defines their order of precedence in Lean.
11. (Optional) [Set up notifications](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/live-trading/notifications.md).
12. Configure the **Automatically restart algorithm** setting.
   By enabling [automatic restarts](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/live-trading/deployment.md#07-Automatic-Restarts), the algorithm will use best efforts to restart the algorithm if it fails due to a runtime error. This can help improve the algorithm's resilience to temporary outages such as a brokerage API disconnection.
13. Click **Deploy**.

The deployment process can take up to 5 minutes. When the algorithm deploys, the [live results page](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/live-trading/results.md) displays. If you know your brokerage positions before you deployed, you can verify they have been loaded properly by checking your equity value in the runtime statistics, your cashbook holdings, and your position holdings.

Restarts, including automatic restarts and redeployments, don't save the state of your algorithm. To learn what a restart recovers and how to persist the rest, see [State Persistence](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/live-trading/deployment.md#10-State-Persistence).

## Deployment Details

When you deploy a live algorithm with TradeStation, the brokerage shares some details of the deployment, like the account it trades. Use them to tell concurrent deployments apart or to check that the algorithm connected to the account you expect. The details never include credentials.

The following table describes the deployment details that TradeStation shares:

| Key | Description |
| --- | --- |
| `trade-station-account-id` | The TradeStation account that receives the orders. |
| `trade-station-account-type` | The type of the account, which is `Cash`, `Margin`, `Futures`, or `DVP`. |

The `deployment_details` property of your algorithm is a read-only dictionary of the details. LEAN populates it before it calls the `initialize` method, so you can read it anywhere in your algorithm.

```python
deployment_details = [f'{kvp.key}:{kvp.value}' for kvp in self.deployment_details]
self.log(f'deployment_details: {deployment_details}')
```

The [/live/read](https://www.quantconnect.com/docs/v2/cloud-platform/api-reference/live-management/read-live-algorithm/live-algorithm-statistics.md) API endpoint also returns the details in its `deploymentDetails` field, so you can read them outside of the algorithm.