Cheddar Flow is a web-based options order flow platform that tracks intermarket sweep orders, dark pool prints, and unusual options activity in real time. It is built for retail traders who want to see what institutional players are doing in the market without building their own data infrastructure to get there. The entry plan starts at $85/month; dark pool access and AI-powered alerts require the Professional tier at $99/month. A 7-day free trial is available on the Standard plan, which is a meaningful differentiator in a category where several competitors offer nothing before the first billing cycle.
Credibility Check
Legal name: Cheddar Flow Inc. Incorporated: April 10, 2019 (California Stock Corporation) Registered address: 3612 San Benito St, San Mateo, CA 94403 (per California state records) Founder: Blaze Kuklinski, San Francisco, CA Contact (billing): billing@cheddarflow.com (disclosed on the pricing page) Trustpilot: 4.0/5 based on 14 reviews (verified April 2026) FINRA/SEC note: The pricing page states that licensed professionals registered with FINRA or the SEC should contact the company directly regarding product use.
The registered street address is sourced from California corporate records, not the Cheddar Flow website itself. The platform does not publicly list a physical address on its own site. Cheddar Flow is a private company and has not raised external funding. The founding team has a background in product and web design (Square, Weebly) rather than finance or market structure, which is relevant context: the platform’s clean interface is a product of design-first thinking, and it shows.
What the Platform Does
Cheddar Flow scans options markets in real time, following intermarket sweep orders across multiple exchanges and compiling the data into a single feed. Sweep orders are large orders split across exchanges to fill as quickly as possible, the kind of execution that signals urgency from the buyer. The platform surfaces these alongside block trades, dark pool prints, and an aggregate options flow view, all inside a single browser-based dashboard.
According to the company’s own feature descriptions, the platform tracks over 30 different filter parameters, includes historical data for back-testing, and has added a Gamma Exposure tool as a more recent feature. There is no desktop software to install. No mobile app is listed in the platform’s current feature set.
Options Flow Scanner
The flow scanner is the core of the product. It shows the live feed of options orders as they hit the tape, with each entry surfacing the contract details, bid/ask prices, sector classification, and the key Greeks: Delta, Theta, and Vega. That last point is not standard across every competitor. Having Delta, Theta, and Vega visible directly on each order in the feed lets traders assess the risk profile of what they’re watching without a separate lookup.
The scanner header shows 4 summary stats: Flow Sentiment, Put-to-Call ratio, Call Flow, and Put Flow. That top-level view is useful for traders who want to assess overall market direction before drilling into individual trades. Color-coding distinguishes bullish from bearish flow at a glance.
Filtering is where Cheddar Flow separates itself from more basic tools. Over 30 filter parameters are available: premium size, contract count, expiration date ranges, market sector, moneyness, and more. The slider-based controls for premium and expiration are designed for speed, not configuration menus. Traders targeting specific setups, say sweeps with $100k+ premium in the 14-30 DTE window, can narrow the feed without writing queries or building complex watchlists. That level of filter precision is practical for active traders who know what they want to see.
The platform also draws a clear distinction between trades that print at the ask (bullish), at the bid (bearish), and at the mid (neutral). That classification is not decorative. For flow traders, order side is one of the most important variables in interpreting intent.
Sweep Order Tracking
Cheddar Flow specifically calls out intermarket sweep detection as a core capability. The platform follows the path of a sweep across multiple exchanges and compiles the full picture, rather than showing each individual leg as a separate order. That aggregation matters. Seeing fragmented legs in isolation without the context of the full sweep is one of the more common ways flow data becomes misleading for retail traders.
For a broader comparison of how different scanners handle sweep detection versus block trade detection, the best options flow scanners and best unusual options activity scanners roundups cover the field in detail.
Historical Flow and Flow Overview
Historical options flow is included at both pricing tiers. The platform allows traders to search past flow data by symbol to back-test trade ideas or study prior patterns. The Flow Overview tab aggregates all flow data and ranks stocks by total bullish or bearish order activity over a chosen time period, whether that is the past day, week, or longer. Traders can use it to identify which names are accumulating the largest institutional positioning before zooming into individual contracts.
Both of these tools are included in the Standard plan. Historical data depth is not specified in the platform’s public-facing materials.
Dark Pool Data
Dark pool access is locked behind the Professional tier ($99/month or $75/month annually). The platform tracks off-exchange institutional block trades in real time, showing the ticker, price, and volume of each dark pool print. Cheddar Flow goes further than a raw print feed: the platform includes Dark Pool Levels, a chart-based view that plots historical dark pool activity at specific price points. The idea is to surface support and resistance zones based on where institutional volume has actually transacted, rather than estimated levels.
Dark pool history is also exportable. Cheddar Flow states that traders can export data covering intraday ranges, historical date ranges, and full-market data per symbol. That export capability is useful for traders who want to build models or test hypotheses outside the platform. For a dedicated comparison of dark pool scanner tools, the best options flow scanner page covers how Cheddar Flow compares against alternatives.
One important caveat: the platform’s own materials acknowledge that dark pool data is not instantaneous. Like every platform in this category, off-exchange data carries some inherent processing delay between when a trade occurs and when it appears in the feed. Traders making split-second intraday entries based on dark pool prints should account for that.
AI Power Alerts
AI Power Alerts are exclusive to the Professional plan. The system is described as an intelligent signal generator that monitors volume spikes, aggressive sweeps, and large premium prints, then surfaces signals when the pattern meets specific criteria. The platform presents alerts with a strength indicator rather than a binary on/off, which is a more honest framing than systems that treat every alert as equally actionable.
Cheddar Flow is explicit that Power Alerts are reference information, not guaranteed trade signals. That caveat is stated on their own platform. It does not mean the alerts are not useful; it means they require validation against price action, chart structure, and market context before execution.
One practical limitation: alert customization is not granular. Desktop notifications exist for unusual activity, but traders cannot configure an alert that fires specifically when, for example, AAPL sweeps exceed a defined premium threshold with a specific DTE window. Platforms like FlowAlgo offer more targeted alert construction. Cheddar Flow’s alert system works on their logic, not the trader’s custom rules.
Gamma Exposure
Gamma Exposure (GEX) was added to the platform and is described by Cheddar Flow as showing the market the way market-makers do. The tool aggregates net, call, and put gamma across strikes and expirations to identify price levels that function as magnets, barriers, or likely inflection zones. Auto-detection of high-gamma price levels is included, along with a view of positive versus negative net gamma to gauge mean-reversion probability.
GEX is a materially different tool from options flow. Flow tells you what orders are printing; GEX tells you where market-maker hedging pressure will likely push or pin price. Combining the two gives traders a way to assess whether the flow they are seeing is moving toward or against structural levels. The GEX feature is included in the Pro plan and was noted specifically by reviewers on Trustpilot as a recent addition.
Charting
Charts are embedded directly in the platform using TradingView, giving traders access to standard technical indicators and time frames without switching to a separate charting application. The integration puts flow data and chart context side by side, which is the practical need.
The platform does not offer a native news feed. That is a concrete gap relative to platforms like BlackBoxStocks, which aggregates real-time news from multiple sources inside the dashboard. Traders who use news as a factor in their flow analysis will need a separate source.
Pricing
Cheddar Flow has 3 pricing tiers. The 7-day free trial applies only to the Standard plan. The Pro and Annual plans do not include a trial period.
| Plan | Price | Key Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $85/month | Real-time options flow, advanced filters (30+), unusual volume data, flow overview, historical data, Cheddar AI, embedded charting |
| Pro Monthly | $99/month | Everything in Standard + Gamma Exposure, custom watchlist builder, dark pool orders, dark pool levels, AI Power Alerts |
| Pro Annual | $75/month (billed as $891/year) | All Pro Monthly features, paid upfront |
All sales are listed as final. Subscriptions auto-renew by default. Cancellation is handled inside the account under Profile > Payment Info. The billing contact listed on the pricing page is billing@cheddarflow.com.
The annual plan at $75/month is cheaper than the Standard monthly plan at $85/month. A trader who knows they want dark pool access and AI alerts is paying less per month on the annual plan than a Standard subscriber is paying for fewer features. That pricing structure rewards commitment and is worth noting for anyone evaluating the platform long-term.
Upgrades and downgrades between Standard and Pro are available at any time, with proration applied automatically.
Trustpilot and Review Landscape
Cheddar Flow has 4.0/5 on Trustpilot based on 14 reviews as of April 2026. The distribution is polarized: 72% are 5-star, 21% are 2-star, and 7% are 1-star. No reviews in the 3- or 4-star range at all.
The company responds to negative reviews on Trustpilot, which is worth noting. Cheddar Flow has replied to 100% of negative reviews, typically within 24 hours. That behavior is the opposite of what was observed with BlackBoxStocks on the same platform. Whether the responses resolve the underlying issues is a separate question, but the engagement itself is a positive signal.
The most substantive negative review (January 2026) described a data export email delivery issue that the reviewer could not get meaningfully resolved, with Cheddar Flow attributing the problem to the reviewer’s email provider. A 2-star review from December 2025 described finding the flow data not useful in practice after subscribing for a full year. Both reviews received responses. Neither complaint points to data accuracy or latency problems with the core scanner, which is the more important system failure to watch for in this category.
The 14-review volume is low for a platform that has been operating since 2018. That is not a disqualifier, but it is a signal that the company has not actively cultivated public reviews.
Pros
- 7-day free trial on the Standard plan. No credit card friction, genuine test window
- Over 30 filter parameters on the flow scanner, including premium, contract size, expiration, sector, and moneyness
- Sweep order aggregation across multiple exchanges shown as a compiled view, not fragmented legs
- Historical options flow data included at both pricing tiers
- Dark Pool Levels chart view plots institutional volume at specific price points for support/resistance context
- Gamma Exposure tool included in the Pro plan
- Dark pool data exportable for modeling and back-testing
- 100% response rate to negative Trustpilot reviews within 24 hours
- Annual Pro plan ($75/month) is priced below the Standard monthly plan ($85/month)
- TradingView charting embedded directly in the platform
Cons
- Dark pool access, custom watchlists, and AI Power Alerts all require the Pro plan at $99/month. The $85/month Standard plan is missing the features that most serious flow traders consider essential
- No free trial for the Pro or Annual plan. Traders who want to test dark pool and alerts have to commit $99 upfront
- Alert customization is not granular. Power Alerts fire on the platform’s criteria, not trader-defined rules
- No integrated news feed at any pricing tier
- No mobile app listed in current platform materials. Flow tracking requires a browser
- Company address is not disclosed on the website itself
- Historical data depth (how many months or years back) is not publicly specified
Bottom Line
Cheddar Flow is a focused, well-designed options flow platform that does its core job well. The sweep detection, flow filtering, and dark pool visualization are genuinely useful. The Gamma Exposure tool is a recent addition that adds analytical depth not found in every competitor. The pricing structure is sensible, and the free trial on the Standard plan removes the biggest risk barrier for new subscribers.
The meaningful limitation is the alert system. Traders who need to configure targeted, rule-based notifications around their specific criteria will find Cheddar Flow underpowered. The platform rewards traders who watch the scanner actively and use the data to inform their own analysis. It is less suited to traders who want alerts to do the work for them.
For traders who are specifically deciding between Cheddar Flow and other dedicated flow tools, the FlowAlgo review and the Unusual Whales review cover the closest alternatives in detail.
FAQ
Does Cheddar Flow offer a free trial?
Yes. Cheddar Flow offers a 7-day free trial on the Standard plan ($85/month). No commitment or obligations during the trial period. Cancellation is available anytime before the 7 days end. The trial is not available on the Pro Monthly ($99/month) or Pro Annual ($75/month) plans. If a subscriber upgrades to Pro during their trial period, the trial is forfeited and the Pro subscription charge applies immediately.
What is the difference between the Standard and Professional plans?
The Standard plan ($85/month) includes real-time options flow, the full filter set, unusual volume data, the Flow Overview, historical flow, Cheddar AI, and embedded TradingView charting. The Professional plan ($99/month) adds everything in Standard plus Gamma Exposure, a custom watchlist builder, dark pool orders, dark pool levels, and AI Power Alerts. All sales are final. Traders who want dark pool access or AI alerts at any level need the Pro plan.
Is Cheddar Flow data real-time or delayed?
Options order flow is described as real-time throughout the platform’s materials, with sweep orders tracked across multiple exchanges as they occur. Dark pool data carries inherent processing time between the trade execution and when it appears in the feed, as is the case across the category. The platform does not publish a specific latency figure for dark pool prints in its public materials.
What does the AI Power Alerts system do?
AI Power Alerts are an automated signal generator included in the Professional plan. The system monitors unusual volume, aggressive sweep activity, and large premium prints, then generates alerts when the pattern meets its internal criteria. Alerts display a strength indicator rather than a simple on/off signal. Cheddar Flow states explicitly that Power Alerts are reference information and not guaranteed trade signals. Custom alert rules based on trader-defined thresholds are not currently supported.
Does Cheddar Flow have a mobile app?
A mobile app is not listed in Cheddar Flow’s current feature materials. The platform is web-based and accessible from any browser. Traders who need push notifications or mobile flow monitoring while away from a screen should confirm current mobile capabilities directly with Cheddar Flow support before subscribing.
Does Cheddar Flow cover index options like SPX or QQQ?
Cheddar Flow states that it tracks intermarket sweep orders across multiple exchanges and covers the US options market broadly. Specific index coverage (SPX, QQQ, IWM, and similar) is not broken out explicitly in public-facing materials. Traders whose strategy depends on index options flow specifically should verify current instrument coverage with the company before subscribing.
Can I export dark pool data from Cheddar Flow?
Yes. Dark pool data export is available on the Professional plan. Cheddar Flow states that exportable data includes intraday ranges, historical date ranges, and full-market data per symbol. This capability is useful for traders who want to run analysis outside the platform or build custom back-test models against historical institutional activity.
Who is Cheddar Flow built for?
Cheddar Flow is designed for active retail traders who understand options flow concepts and want clean, filtered access to real-time institutional activity. The platform works best for traders who will sit with the scanner actively and use the data to confirm or challenge setups they are already developing. Traders who need a fully guided experience, a built-in community, or rule-based automated alerts will find the platform limiting. The 7-day free trial on the Standard plan is the right way to test whether the tool fits a specific trading approach before committing.