You're absolutely right to double-check—TradingView's Pro+ plan does not include Volume Candles, despite some confusion online. Here's the real breakdown to save you from wasting money:

🔍 The Truth About Volume Candles & TradingView Plans
Basic/Pro/Pro+ Plans:

❌ No Volume Candles (despite being a "basic" feature, it's locked behind Premium).

You only get traditional volume bars below the chart.

Premium Plan ($59.95/mo):

✅ Volume Candles + Volume Profile Tools (POC, VWAP, etc.).

Only this tier unlocks advanced volume visualization.

💸 Is Premium Worth It Just for Volume Candles?
For most traders, no—unless you:

Scalp liquid markets (ES, NQ, EUR/USD) and

Already use order flow tools (footprint, delta) and

Need 25 indicators/chart (Premium unlocks this).

Free/Cheaper Alternatives:

"Better Volume" Indicator (Free script) → Highlights unusual volume spikes.

Volume-by-Price (Free in Pro+) → Shows horizontal volume zones.

Tape Reading (Time & Sales) → Free real-time bid/ask flow.

⚡ Pro Scalper Move
If you're serious about scalping:

Start with Pro+ ($29.95/mo) + free volume scripts.

Upgrade to Premium only if you hit limits.

Test Premium for 1 month → Cancel if it doesn’t improve your edge.

📉 The Bottom Line
TradingView deliberately gates Volume Candles behind Premium to upsell. Don’t pay $60/mo just for this feature unless you’re already profitable and need every tool.

Want a free scalping setup that mimics volume candles? Try this:

Chart: 1m ES/NQ

Indicators:

VWAP

"Volume Profile Visible Range" (Free in Pro+)

9/20 EMA (Trend filter)

Trade: High-volume rejections at VWAP + EMA confluence.

Would you like a screenshot example of this setup?

I want the most effective tools to give me the most chance for success.  I'll be trading Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures
Ultimate NASDAQ 100 E-Mini (NQ) Scalping Setup for Maximum Edge
Since you're trading NQ futures (high liquidity, tight spreads), you need speed, precision, and order flow clarity. Here’s the most effective paid/free tool combo for consistent scalping:

🚀 Must-Have Tools for NQ Scalping
1. TradingView Premium ($59.95/mo) – Worth It For:
✅ Volume Profile + Volume Candles (Spot high-volume nodes)
✅ 25 Indicators/Chart (Critical for multi-confirmation setups)
✅ Server-Side Alerts (No delay on fast moves)
✅ Real-Time Data (No lags on 1m/2m charts)

2. Order Flow Tools (Free/Paid)
Footprint Chart (LuxAlgo or Bookmap) – See bid/ask imbalances (key for NQ liquidity grabs).

Time & Sales (Free in TradingView) – Watch aggressive market orders.

3. Core Indicators
VWAP (Trend filter + mean reversion)

9/20 EMA (Momentum crossover)

Volume Profile Visible Range (Find POC for reversals)

Delta Divergence (Free script – confirms buying/selling pressure)

📉 NQ Scalping Strategy (Example Trade)
Entry Setup:

Price pulls back to VWAP + Volume Profile POC.

Volume Candle shows thick buying volume at support.

Delta turns positive (more buyers stepping in).

Exit:

First sign of thin-volume push (weak follow-through).

Opposite delta spike (sellers absorbing).

Stop Loss:

Just beyond recent low-volume node (liquidity pool).

💡 Pro Tips for NQ Scalping
Trade NASDAQ Open (9:30-10:30 AM EST) – Highest volume/volatility.

Avoid Lunch Hours (12-2 PM EST) – Choppy, low volume.

Watch for Stop Hunts – NQ loves to sweep liquidity before reversing.

🛠️ Tool Cost Breakdown
Tool	Cost	Necessity for NQ
TradingView Premium	$60/mo	Worth it (volume candles + real-time data)
LuxAlgo Footprint	$20/mo	Optional (free alternatives exist)
Bookmap	$50/mo	Best for DOM/heatmap (advanced users)
Free Alternative Setup:

Use TradingView Pro+ ($30/mo) + "Better Volume" script + Time & Sales.

🔥 Final Verdict
For NQ scalping, the $60/mo TradingView Premium is justified if you’re serious. Pair it with:

Footprint/L2 Data (for order flow).

VWAP + Volume Profile (for key levels).

1m/2m Charts (for precision).

Next Step:

Start with Premium free trial → Test volume candles + VWAP on NQ.

Focus on liquidity zones (thick volume candles = reversal points).

Want a live walkthrough of this setup in action? Let me know!