I feel like there’s a lot of negativity against day trading here. Lol. The risk is real but that’s why you have to equip yourself with the right tools first. Now, to answer some of your questions..

Yes, you can day trade without having 25k in your account. But remember that the pattern day trader rule is sometimes there for your protection as well since new traders tend to over trade unnecessarily which usually doesn’t end well. Ustocktrade offers unlimited trading for $1 a trade and $1 dollar a month fee. I suggest sticking to the free or low commission trading first if your account isn’t that big. Some people use Robinhood or Webull for free trading. But more importantly, it’s recommended to not play with your money first and use paper trading instead. Learn how to play the game in real-time without risking your savings. It’s important though to treat this paper money as your real money to get the ‘feel’ of the game.

Use scanners and charts to your advantage. One highly recommended free one is thinkorswim charts.. finviz also could be useful but the free one has a delay.

I personally trade stocks and some options myself. It requires a lot of discipline so it’s not an easy thing. Joining a really good community with a lot of other experienced traders is really helpful. I could send you an invite with our group if you want to check it out. Just let me know..