Quantly vs Composer

Two visual platforms for building and automating quantitative strategies - compared on pricing, execution, and workflow.

Last updated: August 2026.

Composer and Quantly both target investors who want systematic, rules-based trading without writing code. Composer offers an integrated brokerage with symphonies and a popular free backtesting tier. Quantly focuses on a visual strategy tree, deep backtesting with history to ~1962 for select tickers, and connecting your own brokerage account for paper or live execution.

If you are evaluating a switch - or choosing your first no-code quant platform - this page compares the two on features that matter for day-to-day strategy work: builder workflow, backtesting depth, pricing for automation, and how each platform handles execution.

How the platforms differ at a glance

Composer is strongest when you want everything in one place: strategy building, backtesting, and automated execution through Composer's own brokerage. Its Trading Pass unlocks live automation, IRA accounts, and options strategies. The free tier is genuinely useful for learning and refining ideas before committing capital. Historical backtests typically reach ~1993 at the earliest, depending on the ticker.

Quantly is strongest when you want transparent monthly pricing for both paper and live trading, a tree-based strategy editor, and the flexibility of your own connected brokerage. Quantly Paper ($15/mo) includes automated paper execution. Quantly Pro ($25/mo) adds live trading. Quantly also supports importing Composer symphony JSON exports, reference blocks for reusing repeated logic in one place, and offers deeper history on select tickers - back to ~1962 where data is available.

Pricing and automation

Composer separates building from execution: you can build and backtest for free, but automated trading requires a Trading Pass ($32/mo on annual billing, or $40/mo monthly). That single pass covers unlimited automated strategies on Composer's platform.

Quantly charges for platform access from the start but includes automation in both tiers. Paper automation is available on the $15/mo Paper plan. Live automation is available on the $25/mo Pro plan. There is no separate "trading pass" add-on.

Referral programs

Composer and Quantly are the only platforms in this comparison with referral programs. Composer gives the referrer and referee 25% off per successful referral, stacking toward a free-for-life subscription after 4 referrals. Quantly gives both sides 20% off per referral, with a free lifetime subscription after 5 referrals.

QuantMage does not offer referral discounts. If you plan to share the platform with friends or a trading community, compare how quickly each program reaches a free subscription.

Brokerage and custody

Composer custodies assets through its integrated brokerage. This simplifies onboarding for investors who want a single app for strategy design and account management, including retirement accounts.

Quantly connects to your brokerage account. You maintain the brokerage relationship directly with your broker while Quantly handles strategy logic, backtesting, and automated order generation. This model suits users who prefer separating platform fees from custody, or live outside the US in regions where supported brokers operate.

Trade timing flexibility

Quantly lets you set a different trade time for each strategy, anywhere from 9:30 AM to 3:59 PM Eastern - including the last minute of the regular session. That matters when you run multiple strategies and want to stagger execution, align with specific data releases, or avoid a single end-of-day batch.

Composer typically executes automated trades in a narrow window around 3:50-3:55 PM ET. QuantMage also tends to trade near 3:50 PM. If per-strategy scheduling through the trading day is important to your workflow, Quantly is the only platform in this comparison that offers it.

AI strategy generation

Both Quantly and Composer support AI-assisted strategy generation from natural language in the app. Describe what you want - a momentum basket, an RSI rule, a thematic tilt - and the platform builds the strategy for you.

Quantly goes further with MCP (Model Context Protocol). Connect tools like Cursor to the Quantly MCP server to create strategies, run backtests, and manage your portfolio through an AI assistant. Composer offers in-app AI generation but no MCP server.

Reference blocks for large strategies

Quantly is the only platform in this comparison with reference blocks. Define a reusable sub-tree once, reference it wherever it appears in your strategy, and edit it in a single spot when logic changes. That matters for larger strategies where the same filter, weighting, or branch logic repeats across multiple sections.

Composer and QuantMage do not offer an equivalent. If you build complex multi-part strategies, reference blocks can reduce duplication and make maintenance much easier over time.

Migrating from Composer to Quantly

Quantly can import Composer symphony JSON exports and convert them into native strategy trees. After import, run a backtest and review the tree - complex symphonies may need small edits. See the import guide in Quantly documentation for step-by-step instructions.

Summary: who each platform fits

Choose Quantly if you...

Want paper and live automation with predictable monthly pricing ($15/$25)
Need the only dedicated paper trading tier in this comparison
Prefer connecting your own brokerage account
Live outside the US and need a platform that works where supported brokers operate
Need Composer symphony import and long-history backtesting (to ~1962 for select tickers)
Want per-strategy trade times from 9:30 AM to 3:59 PM ET
Build large strategies with reference blocks for repeated logic
Want a referral program (20% off per referral, free for life at 5)
Value community strategies on Explore and branch history in the editor
Want AI strategy generation in the app or through MCP for tools like Cursor
Need REST API access or an MCP server for AI-assisted trading workflows

Choose Composer if you...

Want a free tier for extended backtesting before paying
Prefer an integrated brokerage with IRA support in-platform
Trade options strategies (covered calls, cash-secured puts)
Want in-app AI strategy generation within Composer's integrated brokerage workflow

Frequently asked questions

Can I generate strategies with AI on Quantly or Composer?

Yes. Both platforms support in-app AI strategy generation - describe what you want in natural language and the platform builds the strategy for you. Quantly also offers an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server, so AI assistants like Cursor can create strategies, run backtests, and manage your portfolio outside the Quantly web app. Composer has in-app AI generation but no MCP server.

Does Quantly have API or MCP access?

Yes. Quantly offers a REST API with scoped API keys for strategies, backtests, portfolio data, and trading actions. Quantly is also the only platform in this comparison with an MCP server, so AI assistants like Cursor can backtest, create strategies, and manage your portfolio through natural language. Composer has API access but no MCP server.

Is Quantly cheaper than Composer for automated trading?

It depends on your usage. Quantly Paper ($15/mo) is the only option here for automated paper trading. Quantly Pro ($25/mo) includes live trading. Composer requires a Trading Pass ($32-40/mo) for live automated execution with no paper tier. Compare based on whether you need paper automation, live trading, or IRA accounts.

Can I import my Composer symphonies into Quantly?

Yes. Quantly supports importing Composer symphony JSON exports. After import, review the converted strategy tree and run a backtest. Complex symphonies may need minor edits.

Do Composer or Quantly have referral programs?

Yes - they are the only platforms in this comparison with referral programs. Composer offers 25% off for both the referrer and referee per successful referral, with a free-for-life subscription after 4 referrals. Quantly offers 20% off for both sides per referral, with a free lifetime subscription after 5 referrals. QuantMage does not offer referral discounts.