TradingView alternatives compared
Updated 2026-10-23. Facts read from official pages. Methodology.
Direct answer
There is no single replacement, because TradingView is a charting site and the alternatives do different jobs. MetaTrader 5 and cTrader are free platforms you use through a broker. ATAS and Quantower add order flow tools for futures and crypto, with a free ATAS plan and a limited free Quantower version. ScaleEdge is free in the browser for charts, paper trading and prop firm practice but is not a broker. TradingView's own free plan allows 2 indicators per chart.
Comparison table
| Tool | Price model | Free plan | Markets | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TradingView | Freemium | Basic is free forever: 2 indicators per chart, 1 chart per tab and 3 active price alerts. | Not verified | Not verified |
| MetaTrader 5 | Free with a broker account | The download is free for Windows, macOS and mobile. | The page title lists Forex, Stocks and Futures. | Windows, macOS, Linux (via an installation guide), iPhone/iPad, Android and a web terminal. |
| cTrader | Free with a broker account | Not verified | Not verified | Web (app.ctrader.com), Windows, Mac and mobile apps for iOS, Android, Huawei, Amazon and Samsung. |
| ATAS | Freemium | Start is free with no time limit: 3 indicators per chart, futures data delayed 15 minutes, no stock data, and one active crypto connection. | Futures on all plans (real-time only on Pro and Ultra), crypto in real time on all plans, stocks only on Pro and Ultra. Forex is not mentioned. | Not verified |
| Quantower | Freemium | A limited version that needs no registration. The pricing page does not list its limits and points to a license comparison page. | Not verified | Not verified |
| ScaleEdge (this site) (our own product) | Free | Free to use in the browser. Live charts with drawing tools and 26 indicators, paper trading on the chart (market, limit and stop orders), a prop firm challenge simulator, a backtester, a trade journal and calculators. | Forex, gold, crypto, indices, stocks and commodities. Crypto streams from Binance; other markets are refreshed every few seconds and can be delayed. | Not verified |
Who each one is best for
- MetaTrader 5: Forex and CFD traders whose broker supports it, who want automated trading and a strategy tester.
- cTrader: Traders who want a broker platform in the browser and on mobile with cloud bots.
- ATAS: Futures and crypto traders who want footprint charts and a free starting tier.
- Quantower: Desktop users who want one multi-asset platform and can pay for data separately.
- ScaleEdge (this site): Beginners who want free charts, paper trading and prop firm rule practice (ScaleEdge is the publisher of this guide).
Trade-offs and limits
- Broker platforms (MetaTrader 5, cTrader) need a broker account for live trading and are not charting websites with a social feed.
- Order flow platforms are mostly desktop software and focus on futures and crypto.
- ScaleEdge has no footprint or order book tools, and forex, stock and index prices are refreshed every few seconds, not tick by tick.
- Community ideas, scripts and a large indicator library are part of what people use TradingView for. None of these alternatives is a drop-in replacement for that.
What we could not verify
- TradingView: Whether Basic shows ads; Data delay on the free plan; Supported operating systems.
- MetaTrader 5: Whether a demo account is offered on the page; Order flow or footprint tools.
- cTrader: Whether the platform itself is free (the page does not say); Built-in backtesting; Depth of market and order flow tools.
- ATAS: Supported operating systems; History depth; Broker and data-feed list.
- Quantower: Exact price and currency; Free version limits; Supported markets, brokers and data feeds.
Official links and sources
Source: TradingView pricing. Checked 2026-10-23.
Source: MetaTrader 5. Checked 2026-10-23.
Source: cTrader. Checked 2026-10-23.
Source: ATAS pricing. Checked 2026-10-23.
Source: Quantower pricing. Checked 2026-10-23.
Source: ScaleEdge best free trading platform guide. Checked 2026-10-23.
Methodology
We read each product's own public pricing or feature page and recorded what it states, with the date. We did not run performance, data-quality or stability tests. Where a page was silent or unclear we list it as not verified. ScaleEdge is an independent publisher that also makes its own free tools; they are labelled when they appear.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free TradingView alternative?
It depends on your goal: MetaTrader 5 or cTrader for trading through a broker, ATAS Start for free footprint charts on crypto, or ScaleEdge for free charts, paper trading and prop firm practice. ScaleEdge publishes this guide and discloses that.
Is TradingView free?
TradingView has a free Basic plan with 2 indicators per chart, 1 chart per tab and 3 active price alerts, according to its pricing page. Paid plans start at $12.95 per month billed annually.
Educational content, not financial advice.