In this CenterPoint Securities review, we look at its direct-access trading platforms, pricing, shorting capabilities, and customer service to see why they are one of the best shorting brokers.
Their business started in 2000 and is now a brokerage firm for professional traders. Or, as CenterPoint puts it, it is for active, sophisticated investors and those striving to be full-time traders. This broker is best for traders with larger money and time resources. They are also great for shorting stocks.
Centerpoint Securities Review Rating: 4.5/5
Top online broker for finding stocks to short with high speed order executions
What Is CenterPoint Securities? (2026 Review)
CenterPoint Securities is one of the best shorting brokers. Their easy-to-borrow shortlist is very popular with active traders and institutional investors. “Serious” traders looking for direct access platforms should consider Centerpoint Securities at least for their locations, rates, routes, and customer service.
CenterPoint Securities used to be part of Precision Securities and is a FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) member and SIPC (Securities Investor Protection Corporation). In 2021, Clear Street, LLC acquired CenterPoint. They now go by CenterPoint by Clear Street.
Pros & Cons
- Pros
- Top-notch trading platform
- High-speed order executions
- Best broker for shorting stocks
- Excellent customer service
- Discounts available for high-volume traders
- Cons
- They require a high minimum deposit of $30,000
- Fees are expensive
- Geared towards high-volume traders
CenterPoint Securities Pricing (2026 Fees & Costs)
Equities
| Monthly Volume (shares per month) | Commission Rate |
|---|---|
| <500k | $0.003 |
| 500k-1M | $0.0025 |
| 1M-5M | $0.002 |
| 5M-10M | $0.0015 |
| 10M-20M | $0.001 |
| >20M | Call for pricing |
Options
| Volume (Contracts per Month) | Price per Contract (+ Regulatory/Index Fees) |
|---|---|
| Under 10,000 | $0.50 |
| Over 10,000 | $0.40 |
| Over 50,000 | $0.30 |
| Over 100,000 | $0.20 |
You can visit CenterPoint Securities website for updated pricing here. (Updated 3/26).
Pay Per Ticket
The pay-per-ticket plan starts at $5.95 and goes as low as $3.95 per trade with volume. If you are trading a lot of shares at a low price, the per-ticket plan would be more beneficial to you. You might not know about the fees if you’re a big-time trader. Because of the executions and technology, you may not be worried about the fees.
However, your trading cost doesn’t stop there. Add to this the routing fees, regulatory fees, platform fees, the monthly charges for market data packages, the usual miscellaneous fees for wire transfers, broker-assisted trades, and, last but not least, the HTB (hard to borrow) fees.
Yes, the cost of trading with CenterPoint Securities is higher than that of most online brokerage discount firms. However, for higher net-worth traders who are active daily, such fees are normal and are the cost of doing business.
CenterPoint Securities Features and Trading Platform
CenterPoint Securities has multiple platforms to choose from with different price levels.
$100 per month – The “CenterPoint Trader” is the least expensive platform. It’s not the most original name, but don’t let that fool you. It is based on the powerful Sterling Trader platform.
It has the sophisticated trading tools most day traders need to get the job done. Sterling is also available for other brokers. It is very popular here in the US and abroad among serious traders.
Real-time data, charting, streaming news and analytics, advanced charting, programmable keys, and smart destination preferences for order entry… You got it. And it does have both desktop and mobile capabilities.
$120 per month – The DAS Trader Pro trading platform from DAS Inc. provides professional-level access and data for many exchanges like Nasdaq, NYSE/ARCA, Direct Edge, OTC markets, and BATS.
Add-ons like DAS WEB and DAS APP allow you to trade from a web browser or mobile. DAS is a household name in the day trading community. And for good reason.
Sterling Trader Pro
Clients will gain access to every NYSE floor broker and routing tactics for exchanges, ALGO, dark pools, liquidity providers, and too many features to list here.
$250 per month – The Sterling Trader Pro platform gives traders complete control. Sterling Trading is one of the most widely used trading platforms for professionals in the industry. It allows trading of equities, options, and futures.
It is considered by many to be the best online trading platform on the market, especially for institutions. Equity trading is available to major US exchanges and worldwide markets such as Canada, Brazil, Europe, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.
Order Execution & Routing
Talking about executions, CenterPoint Securities offers several clearing choices, including Wedbush Securities, ETC Clearing, Vision Financial Markets, and Hilltop Securities. CenterPoint clients have access to over 30 venues for direct routing. That is a pretty strong network.
Some available market makers and ECNs include CPSMRT, TAILOR1, CNSDQ, and ARCASMRT. Keep in mind that adding and removing liquidity come with fees and rebates.
You can check out other Centerpoint Securities review articles on their fees. Most brokers are always changing their fees, and keeping up with them is hard.
One day, they’re the most competitive; another day, they are not. It all depends on the market and what other brokers are offering. Supply and demand in action.
In addition to focusing on professional investors, CenterPoint Securities caters to traders who frequently short stocks. They have a reputation for having one of the best shortlists available.
For most active traders, the availability of hard-to-borrow (HTB) and easy-to-borrow (ETB) stocks is one of the biggest appeals of CenterPoint.
Our CenterPoint Securities review found that it’s built for serious traders who value elite short locates, lightning-fast routing, and professional-grade trading platforms like Sterling and DAS.
Customer Service
Naturally, professional traders expect professional customer service. By all accounts, this is what they get with CenterPoint Securities. Calling your broker and talking to an earthling (or humankind) is not as easy as before automation. When having your money on the line, calling a broker that puts you on hold and makes you wait can be a real stress test.
You know the feeling? Those automated answering system sounds like this when you’re in a rush to talk to somebody:
“Thank you for waiting for us at your expense. Your call is surely important… to you. I’m sorry (well, not really, I’m only a voice in a machine), but all of our operators are busy NOT answering you at the moment. Please stay on the line while we play boring music. Your call will hopefully be answered before you lose your money!
Rather than an automated system, CenterPoint will likely have a live “human” agent answer you within a few rings. It is a rare event nowadays. Make sure to read the other CenterPoint Securities review articles on Google. You can never do too much research before you jump into any new service. The best way is always to try it yourself.
PDT Rule at CenterPoint (What It Means)
Since CenterPoint is for professional, institutional, sophisticated investors and more experienced traders, meeting the pattern day trader requirements is not a concern for their clients. The minimum required to open an account is $30,000. You’ll need deep pockets to get in the door, but it’s worth the admission price if you appreciate the value.
As I said, CenterPoint’s reputation for locating stocks to short, including hard-to-borrow stocks, is what attracts many active day traders to their service. It may not be the brokerage house to go to for your trading education, but it is certainly one of the best for executions (of your trades).
This is one of the main attractions of Centerpoint and why you see hardcore traders flocking to the service once they decide to get serious about day trading and short selling in particular.
CenterPoint Securities Alternatives
- Lightspeed Trading:
- Cobra Trading
- Sterling Trader
- TradeZero
Bottom Line: Is CenterPoint Securities Worth It?
Centerpoint Securities provides a free demo trial. If you have the funds to open a margin account with them, try out one platform.
CenterPoint Securities will serve experienced traders who want a broker who specializes in their needs. You’re getting good technology, excellent short borrows, and access to a large network—all good stuff.
Because the best broker and trading platforms do not make you a professional trader. If you want to become a pro, it is just like any other career. It would be best if you first got a proper trading education.
Our CenterPoint Securities review concludes that if you’re an advanced trader who wants powerful tools, top-tier short lists, and responsive human support, CenterPoint is worth the higher cost of admission.
Frequently Asked Questions
CenterPoint Securities is a member of both FINRA and SIPC. They are a legitimate broker that has been in business since 2000. This broker is popular amongst day traders who are looking to short stocks.
CenterPoint Securities requires a minimum deposit of $30,000 because they are a top-tier high-volume trading broker.
CenterPoint Securities' overnight fee is on top of their location fee. It is three times the locational fee. For example, if the locate fee is $25, holding the stock overnight would cost $100 ($25 Locate Fee + $75 Overnight Fee).
