I’ve been using TradingView for over five years now, and in that time it’s gone from being “just another charting site” to becoming the centerpiece of my trading and investing workflow.
Whether I’m looking at crypto, stocks, or global indices, TradingView is open on my screen almost all day, everyday.
Right now, I’m on the Premium plan. For me, the big selling points are the number of charts I can have open, the customisable price alerts, and the ability to track everything — from Bitcoin to small-cap ASX stocks — in one place.
In this review, I’m going to break down exactly why I think TradingView offers the best online charts for trading stocks and crypto, and I’ll share some tips I’ve learned along the way.
Why Charting Tools Matter for Traders#
If you’ve ever tried trading without good charts, you’ll know it feels like flying blind.
Charts aren’t just about looking at the past — they’re about making sense of the present and preparing for the future.
Here’s why I believe charting is non-negotiable:
- Precision matters — The difference between a winning and losing trade can come down to a fraction of a cent or a few seconds of hesitation.
- Markets move fast — Especially in crypto, where a breakout or breakdown can happen in minutes.
- Patterns repeat — Whether it’s technical formations or volume spikes, you need tools that help you spot them early.
TradingView has consistently given me the speed, accuracy, and flexibility I need — whether I’m analysing long-term stock trends or intraday crypto setups.
What is TradingView?#
TradingView is a browser-based charting and trading platform that covers a huge range of markets:
stocks, cryptocurrencies, forex, commodities, indices, and even some on-chain data for crypto.
A few quick facts:
- Launched: 2011
- User base: Millions of traders worldwide
- Markets covered: Stocks, crypto, forex, commodities, bonds, ETFs, indices
- Access: Browser, desktop app, and mobile app (iOS & Android)
One of the biggest appeals for me is that it’s cloud-based — meaning I can start analysing on my laptop, switch to my phone, and pick up right where I left off without losing my chart layouts.
Why I Think TradingView is the Best Online Charting Platform#
There are a lot of charting tools out there — MetaTrader, ThinkorSwim, Coinigy — but none of them hit the sweet spot the way TradingView does for both stocks and crypto.
Market Coverage#
I can chart ASX stocks in the morning, check US tech stocks in the evening, and track Bitcoin and Ethereum in between. It’s all in one place, and switching between markets is instant.
Browser-Based Convenience#
No downloads, no updates breaking your setup — TradingView runs in your browser (or via the desktop app if you want a bit more speed). I love being able to log in from any computer and see my exact setup.
Speed and Reliability#
I’ve used TradingView during fast-moving crypto markets, and the charts have kept up without lagging. For day traders and scalpers, that speed matters.
TradingView’s Charting Features in Detail#
This is where TradingView really shines.
Chart Types & Timeframes#
- Chart types: Candlestick, bar, line, Heikin-Ashi, Renko, Kagi, Point & Figure, and more.
- Timeframes: From 1-second charts for scalping crypto to monthly charts for long-term investing.
When I’m swing trading stocks, I might have a daily chart open alongside a 4-hour chart.
For crypto, I sometimes stack a 15-minute chart for entries with a 4-hour chart for overall trend.
Drawing Tools & Indicators#
TradingView comes with 100+ built-in indicators and thousands more from the community.
Popular tools I use daily:
- Trendlines
- Fibonacci retracements
- Moving averages
- RSI and MACD
- Volume profile
Plus, you can save your own templates so your favourite indicators are ready in one click.
Customisation & Layouts#
On Premium, I can have up to 8 charts per layout. I often use this when tracking correlations — for example, BTC, ETH, NASDAQ futures, and the US Dollar Index side-by-side.
Pine Script – Custom Indicator Coding#
TradingView’s scripting language, Pine Script, lets you create custom indicators or modify existing ones.
With the help of ChatGPT, I’ve tweaked some community scripts to fit my style, like combining moving average crossovers with volume filters.
Alerts & Notifications#
Alerts are one of my favourite features — and they’re way more powerful than basic price pings.
You can set alerts on:
- Price levels
- Indicator values
- Drawing tools (e.g., trendline break)
- Entire strategies
I have alerts sent via push notification, email, and even SMS for key setups. On Premium, I can set up to 400 price alerts, which is perfect for all of my watchlists.
Paper Trading & Simulated Accounts#
If you’re testing a new strategy, TradingView has a built-in paper trading mode so you can practice without risking real money.
TradingView for Stock Trading#
For stocks, TradingView offers:
- Real-time data for many markets (some require a small extra fee for official exchange feeds).
- Integration with brokers like Interactive Brokers for direct on-chart trading.
- Deep historical data for backtesting.
I use TradingView for both ASX and US stock analysis. For US markets, I pay a small fee for real-time NASDAQ and NYSE data — totally worth it.
TradingView for Crypto Trading#
Crypto is where TradingView really dominates, in my opinion.
- Coverage of all major exchanges like Binance, Bybit, Coinbase, Kraken, and more.
- Every coin you can think of, from Bitcoin to obscure altcoins.
- Integration with some exchanges for direct trading from the chart.
Even if I’m trading on a mobile-first exchange app, I’ll always use TradingView for my analysis — the chart quality is just leagues ahead.
Social & Community Features#
TradingView isn’t just a charting tool — it’s a social network for traders.
You can:
- Post trade ideas with full chart annotations.
- Follow top traders and see their setups.
- Comment on other people’s charts.
- Join public chat rooms for stocks, forex, or crypto.
While I don’t post my own ideas often, I do follow a few traders whose styles I respect — it’s a great way to get inspiration.
TradingView Pricing & Plans#
TradingView has six main plans for the private trader: Free, Essential, Plus, Premium, Expert & Ultimate. They also have plans for trading professionals who operate as a business.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Plan | Best For | Indicators per Chart | Alerts | Price (Monthly) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Beginners | 2 | 3 | Free |
| Essential | Day tradersn | 5 | 20 | $16.95 |
| Plus | Multi-market traders | 10 | 100 | $33.95 |
| Premium | Power users (my plan) | 25 | 400 | $67.95 |
| Expert | Professional traders | 30 | 600 | $119.95 |
| Ultimate | Professional traders | 50 | 1000 | $239.95 |
I started on the FREE plan, but upgrading to Premium was a no-brainer once I realised how much I relied on multiple charts per layout and unlimited alerts.
Pros & Cons of TradingView#
Pros#
- Best-in-class charting speed and accuracy.
- Works for both stocks and crypto.
- Huge range of indicators and drawing tools.
- Pine Script for custom strategies.
- Large and active trading community.
Cons#
- Some stock data costs extra.
- Can feel overwhelming for absolute beginners, but ChatGPT makes this easy to get started.
- Mobile app is good, but not as feature-rich as desktop.
- You currently can’t backtest a portfolio of stocks or crypto
TradingView vs Other Charting Platforms#
Here’s how I see it:
| Feature | TradingView | MetaTrader / Others |
|---|---|---|
| Market coverage | Stocks, crypto, forex, more | Usually one asset class |
| Accessibility | Browser + app + desktop | Desktop-first |
| Community | Built-in social features | Minimal or none |
| Custom scripting | Pine Script | MQL (MetaTrader), others |
| Chart quality | Exceptional | Varies |
Tips for Getting the Most Out of TradingView#
Over the years, I’ve picked up a few habits that make TradingView even better:
- Organise watchlists — I keep separate lists for ASX stocks, US stocks, major cryptos, altcoins, and forex pairs.
- Use multi-timeframe layouts — For example, 4 charts: 15-min, 1-hour, 4-hour, daily.
- Experiment with Pine Script — Even basic tweaks can make indicators more useful. Use ChatGPT to assist.
- Leverage alerts — Don’t babysit charts all day; let TradingView tell you when something happens.
- Save multiple layouts — I have a crypto-specific layout, a stock-specific one, and a mixed one for macro analysis.
Final Verdict – Is TradingView Worth It?#
For me, the answer is 100% yes.
I’ve used TradingView almost daily for over five years, and I can’t imagine trading without it.
The Premium plan gives me the charts, alerts, and flexibility I need to manage both my investing and trading strategies.
If you’re a trader who values speed, flexibility, and quality analysis tools, I’d suggest starting with the free version to get a feel for it — but don’t be surprised if you end up upgrading once you see what it can do.
Final Thoughts#
If you’ve been looking for a charting platform that brings together stocks, crypto, and everything in between, I can honestly say TradingView has been the most reliable tool I’ve used in my trading journey.
If you’re curious, give the free plan a try first — and if you find yourself needing more alerts, charts, or custom features (like I did), upgrading is well worth it.
👉 Ready to explore it yourself? Check out TradingView here and see how it can improve your own analysis.
FAQs About TradingView#
Is TradingView free?
Yes, there’s a free plan with limited features.
Can I trade crypto directly on TradingView?
Yes, with supported exchanges.
What brokers work with TradingView?
Interactive Brokers, OANDA, and others.
How accurate is TradingView data?
Very accurate for most markets, but some stock exchanges require a paid data add-on for official real-time quotes.
Is Pine Script hard to learn?
Not at all — it’s beginner-friendly, and there are thousands of examples to learn from. If you get stuck, you can reach out to the active community, or use ChatGPT to assist.