What to Look for in a Put Screener
A good screener should filter by:
Top Screener Tools
OptionsPilot Strike Finder
Built specifically for cash secured put and covered call sellers. Displays annualized premium yield, delta, probability of profit, and capital required in a single view. Filters by your account size, target return, and preferred delta range. The interface is clean — no clutter from strategies you don't use.Best for: Put sellers who want a focused, income-oriented tool without the complexity of professional platforms.
Barchart Options Screener
Free screener covering moneyness, expiration, volume, and open interest. Premium version adds IV rank. Requires manual annualized return calculations. Best for: free starting point.Tastytrade Platform
Built-in scanner focused on high-IV opportunities with probability of profit calculations. Deeply integrated with their brokerage for one-click execution. Best for: active Tastytrade users.OptionStrat
Visual profit/loss diagrams alongside the option chain. Great for understanding risk profiles before trading. Best for: visual learners.Market Chameleon
Professional-grade analytics with historical premium data and IV analysis. Shows how current premiums compare to 12-month averages. Best for: data-driven traders wanting historical context.How to Screen for Cash Secured Puts
Step 1: Set filters — Expiration 30-45 DTE, delta -0.15 to -0.25, annualized return >12%, stock price $10-$200, volume >100/day, spread <$0.15.
Step 2: Sort by annualized return — Highest returns are high-IV stocks. Cross-reference fundamentals — high premium means high risk.
Step 3: Qualify candidates — Is IV rank above 30? Would you own this stock if assigned? Any earnings in the window?
Step 4: Select 3-5 across different sectors — Don't load up on all tech just because premiums are highest.
Sample Screener Output
A typical screening session might surface results like:
| Stock | Strike | DTE | Premium | Ann. Return | Delta | IV Rank |
From here, you might select NVDA (high premium), AAPL (safe blue chip), and SPY (diversified base) for a balanced three-position portfolio.
Automating Your Screening
Set alerts for when AAPL IV rank crosses above 40, SPY drops 2%+ in a day, or any watchlist stock crosses your target annualized return. OptionsPilot sends push notifications when your watchlist stocks hit premium targets, so you never miss entry windows.
Red Flags in Screener Results
Ignore options with fewer than 50 contracts of daily volume (terrible fills), bid-ask spreads wider than 5% of the premium (hidden cost), or on stocks you've never researched. A screener surfacing 40% annualized on a biotech penny stock isn't an opportunity — it's a warning.