Blueshift
blueshift.quantinsti.com
QuantInsti's cloud platform for writing, backtesting and paper-trading Python strategies on free minute data for US and Indian equities and forex.
What it is
Blueshift is a browser-based research and algorithmic trading platform from QuantInsti, the company behind the Quantra and EPAT trading courses. You write strategies in Python in the online editor, or use the no-code interface and its templates such as Bollinger Bands and RSI, then backtest them on QuantInsti's own data without installing anything.
The data is the main draw: minute-level history for US equities, Indian equities and global forex is included free. The backtester is event-driven and also handles options, with volatility modelling. QuantInsti says research and backtesting are free, and live deployment is free for a limited period, not counting broker commissions and exchange fees.
For US traders the path from backtest to live runs through Alpaca, the only US broker named; in India it connects to ICICI Direct for NSE cash and futures and options. Paper trading is available for testing a strategy on live prices first. The documentation is plain that Blueshift is not built for high-frequency trading, and only a whitelisted set of Python modules, including machine-learning libraries, can be imported.
Key features
- Cloud Python IDE
- Write and run Python strategies in the browser, with an API reference and demo strategies on QuantInsti's GitHub.
- No-code builder
- Build strategies from templates such as Bollinger Bands, RSI and buy-and-hold without writing code.
- Free minute data
- Minute-level data for US equities, Indian equities and global forex, included at no cost.
- Event-driven backtester
- Simulates strategies bar by bar, including options strategies with volatility modelling.
- Paper and live trading
- Run strategies on paper, then live through supported brokers: Alpaca for US equities and ICICI Direct for Indian markets.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Research and backtesting | $0 | Python and no-code strategies, free minute data |
QuantInsti states that live deployment is free for a limited period; it does not publish what it costs afterwards. Broker commissions and exchange fees are extra.
Free option: Research and backtesting in Python or the no-code interface, with free minute-level data for US equities, Indian equities and forex, plus paper trading. Live deployment is free for a limited period.
Checked September 25, 2026 on blueshift.quantinsti.com. Prices change; confirm on the provider's site before you subscribe.
Strengths
- No-cost backtesting with minute-level data already loaded
- Nothing to install: everything runs in the browser
- Both a Python editor and a no-code builder
- Links to QuantInsti's courses for traders learning algorithmic trading
Limitations
- Data covers US equities, Indian equities and forex; there is no crypto data, and futures are limited to Indian NSE contracts
- Alpaca is the only US broker named for live trading
- Only whitelisted Python modules can be imported
- Not designed for high-frequency trading, as the documentation states
- Live trading is free only for a limited period, with no published price after that
Good fit for
- Traders learning algorithmic trading who want a free Python backtester
- Quantra or EPAT students who want to run what they learned
- Alpaca users who want a hosted place to run strategies
Look elsewhere if
- Futures or crypto traders in the US
- Developers who need arbitrary Python libraries or high-frequency execution
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Blueshift questions
Is Blueshift free?
Research and backtesting are free, including minute-level data. Live deployment is free for a limited period, and broker commissions and exchange fees are extra.
Which brokers work with Blueshift?
QuantInsti names Alpaca Securities for US equities and ICICI Direct for Indian cash and futures and options.
What data does Blueshift include?
Minute-level data for US equities, Indian equities and global forex, free of charge.
Can I use any Python library on Blueshift?
No. Only modules on Blueshift's whitelist can be imported, including a limited set of machine-learning libraries.
Written from Blueshift's own website and documentation. All Trading Tools lists and compares tools; it does not recommend trades or give financial advice. Sources: blueshift.quantinsti.com, quantinsti.com/blueshift, blueshift.quantinsti.com/docs, blueshift.quantinsti.com/docs/live.