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Cot Review 2026: CFTC positioning data and tools

Cot presents CFTC Commitments of Traders data in reports, charts, and analysis tools for futures traders. Its free formats are useful for weekly positioning research, but the figures lag the market and some tools require payment.

By the DappsAtlas editorial team · Updated Nov 6, 2026

DappsAtlas score

7.5/10

Good

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Our verdict on Cot

7.5/10

Cot is suited to futures traders and researchers who want to inspect weekly CFTC positioning data without building their own reports. Its main strength is the range of free formats, with charts and summaries that help readers compare trader groups and markets. The key limitation is that COT reports are delayed weekly snapshots, not live signals, and Premium pricing is not published on the homepage. Paid API, archive, and spreadsheet options are listed separately. Treat the analysis as context for research, not a substitute for independent risk assessment.

Score breakdown

How Cot scores

Security: n/a
Ease of use: 8.0/10
Fees: 7.0/10
Features: 8.0/10

Scores run from 0 to 10 and are based only on facts we could verify. Where information was missing we mark the score n/a rather than guess.

What is Cot?

Cot is a web-based platform for viewing Commitments of Traders (COT) data published by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It offers free Simplified and Detailed reports, weekly summaries, charts, and comparisons for futures markets.

The site also sells a data API, historical archives, and an Excel spreadsheet, while Premium access unlocks additional report families and analysis tools. COT data is a weekly snapshot of reported positions, not a real-time feed or an explanation of traders' motives.

How Cot works

The Commitments of Traders report is published by the U.S. CFTC and breaks down open interest in covered futures and options markets by trader category. The underlying positions are reported to the CFTC by reporting firms. COT figures generally represent positions as of Tuesday and are released on Friday, which means they are a weekly snapshot rather than live market data.

Cot presents that information through different report layouts and tools. Its Simplified and Detailed reports organize trader positions, while summaries, charts, comparisons, and analysis tools help users examine net positions and changes over time. Some report types and advanced tools require Premium access; the site also sells historical datasets, an API, and spreadsheets.

5 features

Key features

Free COT reports

Free report formats cover CFTC markets and show trader positions, with access to some history available without an account and more history available through a free account.

Charts and summaries

The site provides weekly summaries, charts, and comparisons to make changes in positions and open interest easier to review.

Premium analysis

Premium access includes report families such as Disaggregated and Traders in Financial Futures, plus selected analysis tools and longer historical data.

Data products

Paid data products include a REST API, historical CSV and NDJSON archives, and an auto-refreshing Excel spreadsheet.

Trading utilities

The site offers a position size calculator, an economic calendar, and a CFTC release schedule alongside its reports.

Pros and cons

What we like

Free report formats cover CFTC futures markets.
Several layouts make the same weekly positioning data easier to scan and compare.
The site combines reports with charts, a glossary, and educational material.
Historical archives, an API, and a spreadsheet are available for users who need data outside the website.

Watch out for

COT reports describe positions from Tuesday and are generally released Friday, so they are not real-time market data.
Premium subscription pricing is not published on the homepage.
Some report types, longer history, and analysis tools require a paid subscription.
COT categories describe trader classifications, not the reasons behind individual positions.
Security practices and an independent audit are not stated.

Cot fees

The core report formats are described as free, with some access requiring a free account. Cot lists its REST API at $9.99 per month, historical data archives from $49, and an Excel spreadsheet for a one-time $39 payment. The price of the Premium subscription is not published on the homepage; users would need to check the site's pricing area before upgrading.

Is Cot safe?

Cot presents public market-position data and does not custody crypto or execute trades. The site says its reports use CFTC data; the CFTC notes that trader classifications are based on reported business purpose and do not reveal the specific reasons for positions. The data is educational and should not be treated as a trading recommendation.

The site's security practices and an independent audit are not stated. No regulatory license for Cot itself is stated; the underlying reports are published by the U.S. CFTC.

5 steps

How to get started with Cot

1
Open Cot Reports and choose a report format, such as Simplified, Detailed, Weekly Summary, or Charts.
2
Select a futures market to view its reported positions and recent changes.
3
Create a free account if you want the additional historical access offered to registered users.
4
Use the site's educational guides and glossary to understand the trader categories and figures.
5
Check the pricing area if you need Premium tools, an API subscription, historical archives, or a spreadsheet.

Open Cot

Who Cot is for

Cot is for futures traders, market researchers, and educators who want to review reported positioning across CFTC markets. The free formats suit readers who need weekly snapshots and basic comparisons; users who need API access, extensive history, or advanced tools should check the paid options.

Cot FAQs

What is Cot Reports?

Cot organizes public Commitments of Traders data from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission into reports, charts, and analysis tools. The site also sells data products such as a REST API, historical archives, and spreadsheets.

When does Cot publish new COT data?

The site says its free reports update each Friday at 3:30 PM Eastern Time, following the CFTC release. COT data reflects positions from Tuesday, so it does not show real-time trading activity.

Can I use Cot Reports for free?

The homepage lists Simplified, Detailed, Weekly Summary, Charts, and Comparison formats among its free COT reports. Some features, including certain report families, advanced charts, and longer historical coverage, are marked as Premium.

How much does Cot Reports cost?

Cot lists a REST API at $9.99 per month, a historical data dump from $49, and an Excel spreadsheet for a one-time $39 payment. The Premium subscription price is not published on the homepage.

Is Cot Reports useful for trading?

COT data can help traders examine how reported trader groups are positioned in futures markets, but it is delayed and does not explain why traders hold those positions. It is research material, not a standalone trading signal or investment advice.

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