Show HN: Backtest vs AskFutures: Which AI Tool for Futures Trading?

Overview

Show HN: Backtest a futures strategy described in plain English is an AI-powered tool that lets traders describe a trading strategy in natural language and instantly backtest it against historical futures data. AskFutures, on the other hand, is an AI chatbot designed to answer questions about futures markets, contracts, and trading concepts. Both fall under the AI chatbot umbrella but serve distinct purposes in the futures trading workflow.

Key Features Comparison

• Show HN: Backtest: Natural language strategy parsing, historical backtesting, performance metrics (Sharpe, drawdown, win rate), strategy optimization, and exportable results.
• AskFutures: Real-time market Q&A, futures contract specs, margin requirements, expiration dates, and educational explanations of trading concepts.

Pros & Cons

Show HN: Backtest

Pros: Empowers traders to test ideas instantly without coding; provides quantitative insights; useful for strategy validation.

Cons: Still evolving; may misinterpret complex strategies; limited to backtesting rather than live execution.

AskFutures

Pros: Quick access to factual futures information; helpful for beginners; conversational interface.

Cons: Lacks analytical depth; cannot validate strategies; relies on available data and may become outdated.

Pricing Comparison

Show HN: Backtest is likely offered as a free or freemium tool during its HN launch, with potential paid tiers for advanced features. AskFutures may have a subscription model or free access with premium support. Exact pricing varies, so check each platform for current details.

Best Use Cases

• Show HN: Backtest: Best for quantitative traders and quants who want to quickly validate plain-English strategy ideas before coding or deploying.
• AskFutures: Best for beginners and casual traders seeking fast answers to futures-related questions without reading lengthy documentation.

Verdict

These tools are complementary rather than direct competitors. If your goal is to backtest a strategy expressed in natural language, Show HN: Backtest is the clear winner. If you need simple, conversational answers about futures markets, AskFutures is more suitable. For a complete trading workflow, using both together can be powerful: ask AskFutures for market info and use Show HN: Backtest to test your strategies.

Visual Comparison