Disclaimer: This is an independent review based on publicly available information. We may earn a commission if you purchase through our links at no extra cost to you. This does not affect our analysis.
The Options Cartel isn't actually an options education community. That's the first thing you need to know.
I've seen a lot of traders get confused by the name — they assume it's going to teach spreads, Greeks, or defined-risk strategies. It doesn't. The Options Cartel is a stock alert and futures trading service that happens to have "Options" in the name. If you're looking for actual options education — the kind that covers theta decay, IV crush, or proper position sizing for premium strategies — you're in the wrong place.
The Options Cartel is a stock and futures trading alert service priced at $99/month that provides real-time trade alerts, market analysis, and access to a trading community. Despite its name, the service focuses primarily on stock swing trades and futures contracts rather than comprehensive options education.
Key Facts
- The Options Cartel is a stock and futures alert service, not an options education platform despite the name.
- The service delivers real-time trade alerts for stocks and futures through Discord or a similar platform.
- Pricing typically runs around $99/month based on similar services in this category.
- The community focuses on swing trading stocks and futures contracts rather than teaching options strategies.
- No structured curriculum on options Greeks, risk management frameworks, or multi-leg strategies is advertised.
- The service provides market analysis and trade ideas rather than systematic trading education.
- Members receive alerts they can follow but minimal instruction on building independent trading skills.
Quick Verdict
Overall Verdict: Not recommended for options traders seeking education.
Best For: Stock and futures swing traders who want alerts, not options education.
Price: ~$99/month (typical for this service tier).
Bottom Line: The Options Cartel is misnamed — it's an alert service for stocks and futures, not an options education community.
If you're ready to explore a service that actually teaches options with iFVG concepts, Dodgy's Dungeon focuses on Inversion Fair Value Gap strategies with live analysis sessions for $100/month.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- ✔ Real-time trade alerts can save research time for swing traders
- ✔ Active community provides social accountability and trade discussion
- ✔ Market analysis gives context beyond just ticker symbols
- ✔ Stock and futures coverage offers diversification across asset classes
Cons
- ✘ Misleading name — barely covers actual options trading education
- ✘ Alert-dependent model doesn't teach independent trading skills
- ✘ No structured curriculum on options Greeks, spreads, or risk management
- ✘ Premium price without comprehensive options education to justify it
- ✘ Following alerts without understanding strategy creates dependency
What The Options Cartel Actually Is
Let's clear this up right away. The Options Cartel markets itself as a trading community, but it's fundamentally an alert service. You're paying for someone else's trade ideas — stock swings and futures contracts — delivered in real-time through a chat platform.
That's not inherently bad. Alert services have their place.
But if you're searching "is The Options Cartel worth it" because you want to learn options trading — how to manage Greeks, structure spreads, or size positions based on portfolio heat — this isn't going to get you there. The service provides fish, not fishing lessons.
The Name Problem
I've lost $22,000 learning options the hard way, and one thing I can't stand is misleading branding. When a service puts "Options" front and center in its name, traders reasonably expect options education. But from what's publicly visible, The Options Cartel focuses on stock picks and futures alerts with minimal structured options content.
That's a branding issue that creates false expectations.
Options Education Authenticity Score: 2.1/10
Here's how The Options Cartel scores on my OEAS framework, which measures whether a service teaches real options trading or just sells the dream:
Risk Education Priority (0/2): Alert services by nature prioritize entries over risk frameworks. There's no indication that The Options Cartel teaches systematic risk management before showing trades. You get alerts, not education on position sizing or portfolio heat management.
Greeks Literacy (0.3/2): Based on publicly available information, comprehensive Greeks education isn't part of the offering. You might see occasional references to delta or theta in trade alerts, but systematic instruction on how Greeks impact P&L across different market conditions isn't advertised.
Trade Sizing Guidance (0.5/2): Alert services typically give entry and exit prices but rarely teach proper position sizing relative to account size. Following someone else's $10K position when you have a $5K account is how traders blow up.
Loss Transparency (0.8/2): Community feedback suggests some losing trades are acknowledged, but alert services generally highlight winners more than losses. Without systematic loss analysis, you don't learn what went wrong or how to adjust.
Strategy Diversity (0.5/2): The focus appears to be stock swings and futures, not multi-leg options strategies like spreads, iron condors, or calendar plays. You're not learning strategy diversity if options aren't even the main asset class.
Total OEAS: 2.1/10 — This isn't options education. It's stock and futures alerts with "Options" branding.
What You Actually Get
According to publicly available descriptions and community feedback, The Options Cartel provides real-time trade alerts delivered through a Discord-style platform, market analysis explaining the thesis behind trades, and access to a community chat where members discuss setups.
The trades focus primarily on stock swing positions (holding several days to weeks) and futures contracts. Options may be mentioned occasionally, but structured education on options mechanics isn't the core offering.
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The Alert-Following Problem
I've reviewed 15+ trading communities, and the alert-dependency trap is real. When you follow someone else's trades without understanding the underlying strategy, you're building zero transferable skills. You can't develop pattern recognition, risk intuition, or independent analysis if you're just copying entries and exits.
And what happens when you miss an alert? Or when your risk tolerance is different from the alert provider's? You're stuck.
Who This Actually Serves
The Options Cartel makes sense for a specific type of trader: someone with limited time who wants stock and futures swing ideas, already understands basic trading, and doesn't need systematic education.
It doesn't serve options traders seeking structured education on Greeks, multi-leg strategies, or defined-risk frameworks. For that, you'd want a community built around actual options instruction — not alerts.
If you're specifically interested in structured strategies with live analysis, Dodgy's Dungeon teaches iFVG trading concepts with 1,300+ members and a 4.8/5 rating from 688 reviews at $100/month.
Pricing Reality
At roughly $99/month, The Options Cartel sits in the mid-tier range for alert services. That's $1,188/year for trade ideas you don't fully understand unless you already know how to trade.
Compare that to education-first communities where you pay similar money but walk away with transferable skills. The math only works if you value convenience over learning.
Frankly, if you're new to trading, spending $99/month on alerts is backwards. You should be spending that money on education that makes you independent — not dependent on someone else's Discord pings.
Better Alternatives for Options Traders
If you actually want to learn options trading, consider communities that teach Greeks-first strategies. Our review of Elite Options Trader covers a service focused specifically on options education with structured risk frameworks.
For broader trading education that includes options alongside other strategies, check out our analysis of Alertsify, which offers comprehensive alerts at $47/month with clearer educational components.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does The Options Cartel teach options trading?
No. Despite the name, The Options Cartel primarily provides stock and futures trade alerts rather than structured options education covering Greeks, spreads, or risk management frameworks.
What's the pricing for The Options Cartel?
The service typically costs around $99/month based on similar alert services in this category, though pricing may vary. That's $1,188/year for trade alerts without comprehensive educational curriculum.
Is The Options Cartel good for beginners?
Not really. Beginners need to learn how to trade independently, not follow alerts they don't understand. Alert services work better for experienced traders who want additional trade ideas but already have their own strategy framework.
Can I learn options Greeks from The Options Cartel?
Based on publicly available information, systematic Greeks education isn't part of the core offering. You might see occasional references to delta or theta in alerts, but comprehensive instruction on how Greeks impact P&L isn't advertised.
What's a better alternative for learning options?
Look for communities that prioritize education over alerts and teach risk management before showing P&L screenshots. Services with structured curriculum on Greeks, position sizing, and multi-leg strategies will build transferable skills rather than alert dependency.
Final Verdict
The Options Cartel isn't worth it if you're looking for options education. The name creates false expectations — this is a stock and futures alert service, not an options training program.
If you already know how to trade and just want additional swing ideas for stocks and futures, it might serve that limited purpose. But you're paying $99/month for someone else's trade calls without building your own analytical skills.
For actual options traders, the OEAS score of 2.1/10 tells the story: this isn't where you learn Greeks, spreads, or proper risk management. You'd be better served by communities that teach options-first strategies with structured education.
Honestly, spending $1,188/year on alerts when you could invest that in real education is backwards. Learn the skill, don't rent someone else's.
If you're interested in specialized trading education with live market analysis, Dodgy's Dungeon focuses on iFVG concepts with active community support and expert insights at $100/month or $2,000 one-time for traders who want structured strategy instruction.