TradingView alternatives for crypto and forex traders

TradingView is where most traders start, and for good reason. But it isn't the right tool for everything. Maybe the free plan's limits are getting in the way, you want to trade straight from the chart with your broker, you need order-flow data, or you want to automate a strategy. Here are the main alternatives for crypto and forex, grouped by what you actually need.

If you're still choosing your first platform, start with our comparison of the best crypto charting software, which covers TradingView itself.

Why traders look for an alternative

• Free-plan limits: a cap on indicators per chart, alerts and saved layouts.
• Execution: you want the chart and the order ticket in one place, on your broker's prices.
• Order flow: you want to see the order book and the volume traded at each price, not just candles.
• Automation: you want a strategy to place trades for you, not just send alerts.
• Crypto across exchanges: you trade on several exchanges and want one screen for all of them.

Broker platforms: MetaTrader 5 and cTrader

For forex and gold, the most common alternative is the platform your broker already gives you for free.

MetaTrader 5 charts show your broker's own prices, which are the prices your orders fill at, so there's no mismatch between where you drew a level and where you trade it. It has 21 timeframes, one-click trading, and a strategy tester for Expert Advisors (trading robots). Crypto is only available as CFDs, where your broker offers them.

cTrader is offered by fewer brokers, but its interface is cleaner, it shows market depth, and automated strategies (cBots) are written in C#.

Best for: forex and gold traders who want analysis and execution in one place, and anyone who builds or runs automated strategies. Before trusting any robot, read how to judge an Expert Advisor.

Crypto terminals for several exchanges

Coinigy connects to many crypto exchanges, so you can chart and place orders across your accounts from one screen. It's a paid service with a free trial.

Your exchange's own charts (Binance, Coinbase, Kraken and others) are free and often use TradingView's charting library, so they feel familiar. They show one exchange's data, which is fine if that's where you trade.

Best for: crypto traders with accounts on more than one exchange.

Order-flow and depth tools

GoCharting is a browser-based charting platform with order-flow charts (footprint and volume profile) and a free basic plan. Bookmap shows the order book as a heatmap over time, and ATAS focuses on footprint charts and volume analysis. Both support several crypto exchanges and futures markets, and both are paid.

Best for: experienced short-term traders in liquid markets such as Bitcoin futures. They have a steep learning curve and won't fix a strategy that doesn't work on ordinary charts.

Futures and stock platforms

NinjaTrader is built for futures trading, with free charting and simulated trading. thinkorswim, from Charles Schwab, is free with a Schwab account and covers US stocks, options and futures.

Best for: traders whose main market is futures or US stocks, rather than spot crypto or forex.

On-chain analysis: a different kind of tool

Sites like Glassnode and CryptoQuant don't replace a charting platform. They analyse blockchain data instead of price: how many coins are moving onto exchanges, what long-term holders are doing, and similar measures. Some longer-term crypto investors use them alongside a chart. They're not built for timing short-term trades.

Free TradingView alternatives

• MetaTrader 5 or cTrader from a broker: free, with live trading and automation.
• Exchange charts: free, for the exchange you trade on.
• GoCharting's free plan: for a taste of order-flow charts.
• NinjaTrader: free for charting and simulated futures trading.

And TradingView's own free plan is still enough for many traders: if the only thing you miss is a third indicator, you may not need to switch at all.

How to choose

1. Start with your market. Forex and gold: your broker's MetaTrader 5 or cTrader. Crypto on one exchange: TradingView or the exchange's charts. Crypto on several exchanges: a multi-exchange terminal. Futures: a futures platform.
2. Decide whether you need execution or just analysis. Many traders analyse on one platform and trade on another. If you do, check your levels on the broker's chart before placing the order, because prices can differ between data feeds.
3. Only pay for a limit you hit every day. Most features look useful; few change your results.
4. Test before you trust. Whatever platform you use, check any strategy on past data first. Our guide on how to backtest a trading idea covers the mistakes that make bad strategies look good.

What we use

At ForexBob we analyse on TradingView and trade and test on MetaTrader 5. TradingView is where we draw levels and set alerts. MetaTrader 5 is where orders go, and where we test every Expert Advisor on real tick data before trusting it.

Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, and crypto CFDs carry the same leverage risks as forex.

Keep reading: best crypto charting software, how to backtest a trading idea and how to judge an Expert Advisor.

Risk note: trading forex carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for everyone. This article is for education only and is not financial advice.