Trading platforms
Charting and trading platforms that let you build, test and run automated strategies inside them.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Cost | Price | Open source | Level | Markets / uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AmiBroker | Paid | One-time: Standard $299, Professional $379, Ultimate Pack Pro $499; free trial | No | Advanced | Stocks, Futures, Forex, Crypto (with your data) |
| cTrader Algo | Via account | Used through a broker; check their terms | No | Intermediate | Whatever your broker offers |
| MetaTrader 5 (MQL5) | Via account | Used through a broker; check their terms | No | Intermediate | Whatever your broker offers (usually FX and CFDs) |
| NinjaTrader | Via account | Free for charting, backtesting and simulation; futures commissions from $0.09 per contract | No | Intermediate | Futures |
| ProRealTime | Free plan | Free web/mobile version; Complete €24/mo and Premium €70/mo (excl. VAT) | No | Beginner | Stocks, Indices, Forex, Futures, CFDs |
| TradingView (Pine Script) | Free plan | Free Basic plan; paid plans from €12.95/mo (Essential) to €199.95/mo (Ultimate), billed annually | No | Beginner | Stocks, Forex, Crypto, Futures, Indices |
Reviews
AmiBroker
Fast Windows charting, backtesting and optimization software with its own AFL language and perpetual licences.
cTrader Algo
The part of cTrader for building robots (cBots) and indicators in C# or Python.
MetaTrader 5 (MQL5)
Trading platform widely offered by FX and CFD brokers, with robots (Expert Advisors) in MQL5 and a strategy tester.
NinjaTrader
Futures trading platform and broker whose desktop software is free for advanced charting, backtesting and simulation, with automated strategies in NinjaScript (C#).
ProRealTime
European charting and trading platform with backtesting and automatic trading (ProOrder) in its ProBuilder language, used through partner brokers.
TradingView (Pine Script)
The most popular charting platform, with its own Pine Script language for indicators and strategies, a strategy tester, and alerts that can trigger external bots via webhooks.
Not sure which one fits?
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What people build with these
Strategy from TradingView alerts
Your Pine Script strategy fires alerts; the bot executes them on your exchange with your risk rules.
Expert Advisor from your rules
🔥 High demandYour manual strategy turned into an MT5 or cTrader robot, with a full strategy-tester report.
Session and news filter
Pauses trading around high-impact news and outside your chosen sessions.