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VolaIntel vs Unusual Whales
Unusual Whales and VolaIntel both show the trades members of Congress disclose. What differs is the centre of the product: Unusual Whales is built around real-time options flow for active traders, with politician trades as one feature of its paid plans; VolaIntel is built around who is trading, Congress, insiders and funds, for one yearly price.
Below, the two side by side, with Unusual Whales' facts taken from its own pages and linked. Unusual Whales is the better fit for some people, and we say which. VolaIntel is a politician and insider stock-trade tracker.
The short version
| Unusual Whales | VolaIntel | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free (data delayed 2 trading days) plus Retail plans from $50 a month, less on an annual plan | One plan, VolaIntel Pro, $29.99 a year in the iPhone app; the filing pages on volaintel.com are free to read |
| Data | Options flow, dark pool, GEX, plus politician trades and insider data on paid plans | Congress trades (House and Senate), SEC Form 4 insider trades, 13F fund holdings, 13D/13G 5% stakes, White House executive orders |
| Refunds | All sales are final | Refunds through Apple |
| Places trades | Not stated on the pricing page | No. VolaIntel does not place trades or hold money |
| Best for | Active options traders who want flow, alerts and the community | People who want Congress, insider and fund filings in one feed on their phone, each linked to the original filing |
How Unusual Whales works
Unusual Whales describes itself as “The tools and data behind the internet's largest options trading community”. Its centre is “Real-Time Options Flow Feed: "Full Tape, 100% market coverage, with unusual activity indicators and custom alerts".”
Plans, from its pricing page: Free, $0: "See the whole platform delayed 2 trading days. Upgrade for live data." Retail Basic: $50 a month; the annual plan says "Save $96 a year", and with the sale the page showed ("Additional 20% Off for 1 year") the first year on the annual plan was $404 ($34 a month). Retail Pro: $75 a month; the annual plan says "Save $144 a year", and with the sale the first annual year was $605 ($51 a month). Retail Max: $120 a month; the annual plan says "Save $216 a year", and with the sale the first annual year was $980 ($82 a month). (source). "Politician Trade Information" and "Institutional holders and insider trade data" are listed in each paid Retail plan. (source). The page showed a limited-time sale ("Additional 20% Off for 1 year") when it was read.
On refunds: “All sales are final. Subscriptions renew automatically and you can cancel future renewals anytime.”
How VolaIntel works
VolaIntel is a politician and insider stock-trade tracker: a web and iPhone app from Opie Platforms Inc. that shows the stock trades members of the US Congress disclose under the STOCK Act, corporate insiders on SEC Form 4, large funds on Form 13F and 5% holders on Schedule 13D/13G, plus White House executive orders, with an AI assistant that answers questions from those filings.
Every row links the original filing. Congressional trades show the value range the member reported, and the date it was filed. The filing pages on this site are free to read; the app is VolaIntel Pro at $29.99 a year, and VolaIntel never places trades. See the Congress trading statistics and the trade return calculator.
Where they differ
A worked example on price: the cheapest Unusual Whales plan that lists politician trade information, Retail Basic, is $50 a month, or $404 for a first year on the annual plan with the sale its pricing page showed in October 2026; VolaIntel Pro is $29.99 a year. You get much more for that money if you trade options; if you came for who in Congress is buying what, most of it is not what you came for.
When Unusual Whales is the better choice
- You trade options and want real-time flow, GEX and alerts.
- You want a large trading community and Discord.
- You want politician trades as one input among many market tools.
When VolaIntel is the better choice
- You mainly want to follow what Congress, insiders and funds disclose.
- You want one low yearly price instead of a monthly trading plan.
- You want each filing explained in plain English, linked to the original.
Other comparisons: VolaIntel vs Quiver Quantitative, VolaIntel vs Capitol Trades, VolaIntel vs Autopilot, and the overview of the best politician trade trackers.
Unusual Whales details on this page are as of October 2026 and come from the pages linked above. Unusual Whales is a trademark of its owner, and VolaIntel is not affiliated with it. If anything here is out of date or wrong, email support@volaintel.com and we will correct it.
Questions
Is Unusual Whales legit?
Yes. It is an options-flow and market-data service with a public pricing page, a free tier with delayed data and paid Retail plans. Its pricing page says all sales are final.
How much does Unusual Whales cost?
As of October 2026: Free with data delayed 2 trading days; Retail Basic $50 a month, Retail Pro $75 and Retail Max $120, with annual plans that save $96, $144 and $216 a year. A sale on the page took a further 20% off the first annual year ($404, $605 and $980).
Does Unusual Whales track Congress trades?
Yes. Its pricing page lists “Politician Trade Information” in each paid Retail plan.
Is VolaIntel an Unusual Whales alternative?
For following Congress and insider trades, yes, at $29.99 a year. It is not an options-flow tool.
Can I get a refund from Unusual Whales?
Its pricing page says all sales are final; you can cancel future renewals anytime and ask support within 7 days to swap products.
VolaIntel reports public filings. It is not investment advice. Amounts for congressional trades are the value ranges members report.