Overview
Simpler Trading is one of the longest-running names in this category, founded by John Carter in 1999 and built around the TTM Squeeze indicator he created, still one of the most widely used volatility-compression tools on platforms like ThinkorSwim and TradingView. The flagship product most people land on is the Squeeze Pro System, a digital course-plus-indicator bundle teaching Carter's approach to spotting breakouts before they happen.
Worth knowing upfront: Simpler Trading was acquired by private equity firm ZMC in January 2022. Carter remains the public face and still trades live with members, but the company itself is now PE-owned rather than an independent shop, which is common in this space but worth being aware of when weighing how the business is run day to day.
Squeeze Pro System pricing
The Squeeze Pro System is sold as a one-time purchase with lifetime access, not a subscription, across three tiers:
$247
Strategy class, Squeeze Pro indicator suite, Buy/Sell Signal indicator, onboarding sessions.
$449
Adds the Early In & Out indicator, setup walkthrough, and the Squeeze Pro Stats Tool (ThinkorSwim only).
$649
Adds four recorded live-trading sessions with John Carter.
Beyond Squeeze Pro: the membership
Separate from the one-time Squeeze Pro purchase, Simpler Trading also runs an ongoing membership, $197/month, $497/quarterly, or $1,797/year, which unlocks a live trading chat room, real-time market analysis, and access to a library of over 1,200 videos across stocks, options, and futures. Additional standalone courses ($247–$1,227) and 41 proprietary indicators ($197–$1,091) are sold separately on top of that. This is a fundamentally different structure from a weekly alert service, it's closer to an à la carte education catalog than a single subscription with one clear price.
Pros and cons
What stands out
- 25+ year track record as a company, built by the creator of the widely-used TTM Squeeze indicator
- Squeeze Pro is a one-time purchase with lifetime access, no recurring fee required
- Live trading room and 1,200+ video library for members who want the fuller platform
Where it falls short
- Pricing is genuinely confusing, one-time courses, indicator bundles, and a separate membership all sold independently
- No options-specific weekly alert product comparable to a dedicated alerts service
- No published win-rate or aggregate performance data for the Squeeze Pro System itself
- Now PE-owned (ZMC, 2022), a different structure than an independent, founder-run shop
Verdict
A legitimate, long-running education brand with a genuinely respected founder and a widely-used indicator behind it. But it's built as an education and tools catalog rather than a focused options-alert service, pricing is scattered across one-time purchases, indicator bundles, and a separate membership, there's no consolidated performance record, and there's no single, clear price to point to the way there is with a dedicated alerts service. Best suited to traders who want to learn Carter's methodology directly rather than follow ready-made trade ideas.
Frequently asked questions
Is Simpler Trading worth it?
For traders who want to learn a specific, well-known methodology (the TTM Squeeze) directly from its creator, the one-time Squeeze Pro purchase is reasonably priced. It's not built as a weekly options-alert service, so it's a different kind of purchase than a dedicated alerts product.
How much does Simpler Trading cost?
The Squeeze Pro System runs $247–$649 as a one-time purchase. The separate ongoing membership runs $197/month, $497/quarter, or $1,797/year, and individual courses and indicators are priced separately on top of either.
Who is John Carter?
Founder of Simpler Trading since 1999, creator of the TTM Squeeze indicator, and author of "Mastering the Trade." He still trades live with members, though the company itself was acquired by private equity firm ZMC in 2022.
Ready to try Simpler Trading?
Squeeze Pro starts at $247 as a one-time purchase. See current terms and membership pricing on Simpler Trading's site.
Visit Simpler Trading →