FAQ

Answers to the most common questions about StratIQ AI.

How does backtesting work in StratIQ AI?

You describe a strategy (for example: buy when RSI drops below 30 and the 50-day SMA is above the 200-day SMA; sell when RSI exceeds 70 or after 20 trading days). StratIQ AI parses the logic, fetches historical OHLCV data for the ticker you choose, applies your rules bar by bar, and produces a simulated equity curve along with key metrics: total return, win rate, max drawdown, and Sharpe ratio.

What data source does StratIQ AI use for backtesting?

Historical price data is sourced via Yahoo Finance (through the yfinance library). For SPY, a bundled CSV dataset is available as a fallback. Backtests require a minimum number of rows after indicator warm-up; strategies requiring long lookback periods (e.g. SMA-200) need at least a year of data to produce a valid result.

Is StratIQ AI free to use?

Yes, a Free tier is available with no credit card required. It includes 3 backtests per day, the full strategy builder, and live execution via your own Alpaca account (capped at 3 approvals per month). Premium ($80/year or $8/month) adds unlimited backtests, unlimited signal alerts, exact entry/stop/target levels on paid picks, the weekly premium watchlist, and unlimited live-trade approvals. Founding members — the first 200 — lock $5/month for life. The app is currently in a free open beta, so everything is unlocked and no billing has started.

Do I need my own OpenAI API key?

Yes. Translating your plain-English strategy descriptions into strategy logic runs on your own OpenAI API key, which you add in Settings after signing up. Your key is stored only in your browser's localStorage — it is never saved on our servers — and parsing charges go to your own OpenAI account.

Does StratIQ AI support paper trading?

Yes. Paper trading runs automatically in the background — a simulated account tracks positions and P&L as if real orders had been placed, with no real capital at risk. This is active for all users, including the Free tier.

How does Alpaca integration work?

On any plan, you can connect your own Alpaca Markets brokerage account by adding your API key and secret in Settings. When a signal triggers and live execution is enabled, StratIQ AI places the order in your Alpaca account. Free plan accounts are capped at 3 live approvals per month; Premium is unlimited. Credentials are encrypted at rest and never returned to the browser in plaintext.