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!