Two ways to practice, both free
The Free plan includes the built-in DEMO broker and IBKR Paper accounts, with the same planning and execution workflow as live trading. Only a live brokerage account requires Premium.
Start with DEMO
DEMO needs no brokerage account. It starts with $100,000 of simulated funds so you can learn drawing a plan on the stock chart, arming it, entering explicitly and watching stock-price exits manage the position.
DEMO is a simulator. Its fills do not represent live execution quality, spreads or liquidity.
Move to an IBKR Paper account
Log in to TWS or IB Gateway with your IBKR Paper account and connect it in OptionTrigger Desktop. Desktop discovers the account and asks you to confirm its type. Paper and live are properties of the selected account, not separate modes, so the workflow stays identical when you switch.
Paper accounts still depend on your option market-data entitlements. Missing or delayed option quotes block entries just as they would live.
What to rehearse
Practice a full entry and exit, a partial fill, cancelling an unfilled limit entry, disarming with a position open, a manual exit and a broker reconnect. Read the health states and the replay for each plan so the live session holds no surprises.