The best free charting software in 2026, seven tools compared
Free charting software compared: seven tools checked on their own pages on 13 October 2026, with what is free, the markets and the limit you hit first.
Saurav Wagh · 4 min read
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The free charting software worth opening today depends on your market: Pravex for crypto and gold, StockCharts or thinkorswim for stocks, GoCharting for India's NSE and MCX, MetaTrader 5 or ProRealTime for forex. Pravex is our charting app, and in our view it is the strongest free choice for crypto and gold. We make it. It charts crypto, gold and silver today, with forex and more metals being added.
We opened each tool's own page on 13 October 2026, writing down only what it says. Not affiliated with TradingView.
| Tool | What is free | Markets it charts | The limit that matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pravex | Everything, no card, no ads | Crypto, gold and silver, with forex and more metals being added | Alerts fire while Pravex is open |
| TradingView | Basic plan | US stocks, indices, futures, forex, crypto | 2 indicators per chart, 1 chart per tab |
| StockCharts | Free level | US, Canadian, UK, Indian stocks, ETFs, indexes | 3 indicators, 3 overlays per chart, no intraday |
| thinkorswim | Desktop platform | Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, forex | Needs a Schwab brokerage account |
| ProRealTime | Web + Mobile plan, no ads | US stocks, European stocks, forex, crypto, indices, metals | 3,000 units of history, replay is paid |
| GoCharting | Free plan | NSE, MCX in real time, US stocks end of day | 2 charts per tab, no alerts |
| MetaTrader 5 | The platform | Forex, stocks, futures | Prices come from a broker |
Pravex, our pick for crypto and gold
Pravex runs in the browser. It has 129 built-in indicators with no cap per chart, 87 drawing tools and 21 chart types, and one layout holds up to 16 charts synced by symbol and timeframe. Bar replay runs on minute candles for crypto charts. Alerts have no cap and fire while Pravex is open. It is free, with no card and no ads.
Open a chart on Pravex to try your own setup. For gold, the gold chart shows one venue's reference price, with history from 22 December 2025.
The other six, one by one
TradingView shows US stocks, indices, futures, forex and crypto on its home page, so it suits a light setup across many markets. On 13 October 2026 its free plan, Basic, allowed 2 indicators per chart and 1 chart per tab. Replay on Basic covers daily candles and higher. Minute-candle replay starts on Essential, $14.95 a month paid monthly in US dollars. If you are moving off it, our list of free TradingView alternatives for crypto goes deeper.
StockCharts is a stock charting site. Its free level allows 3 indicators and 3 overlays per chart and no intraday charts, and its free charts page says data is delayed by 15 minutes unless marked otherwise. So it suits daily charts. Intraday starts on its Basic level at $19.95 a month.
thinkorswim is Schwab's platform. Schwab says its clients get it for no charge, with 400+ technical studies. You need a Schwab brokerage account, though Schwab says no minimum funding is required to open one. Trades still carry Schwab's standard pricing.
ProRealTime lists a free Web + Mobile plan with no ads, 25 indicators per chart, 10 charts at once and 20 real-time alerts. Real-time data comes with every plan, from CBOE for US and European stocks, plus forex, crypto, major indices and metals. The limit is 3,000 units of history. Market replay and backtesting start on Complete, $32 a month before VAT.
GoCharting's page shows real-time NSE and MCX data on its free plan, so start there for free charting software in India. The plan has 2 charts per tab, no cap on built-in indicators per chart and intraday replay over 9k bars, but no alerts. Its US table gives end-of-day data free.
MetaTrader 5 is free to download. Its page promises unlimited charts with 21 timeframes, plus over 80 built-in indicators and analytical tools. The catch is the broker. MetaQuotes says it offers no brokerage services. Even a demo account needs you to pick a trading server.
How to choose free charting software
Pick by market first, then by the limit you will hit first.
For crypto or gold we pick Pravex, which puts no cap on indicators per chart. For stocks, StockCharts is enough for daily charts, and thinkorswim fits if you will open a Schwab account anyway. For forex, MetaTrader 5 fits if you already have a broker, ProRealTime if you want a browser chart.
Example: say you watch one symbol on the 15-minute, 1-hour and daily charts, each with a moving average, RSI and MACD. That is 3 charts × 3 indicators = 9 indicators. TradingView's Basic stops at 1 chart per tab and 2 indicators per chart. The first plan with 3 charts per tab is Plus, $34.95 a month in US dollars, paid monthly: 12 × $34.95 is about $419 a year. StockCharts' free level has no 15-minute chart. ProRealTime's free plan fits all 9, and so does Pravex on a crypto or gold chart.
Free plans change, so read the linked pages before you rely on a limit. If your market is crypto or gold, open Pravex to try your setup. Not financial advice.
Questions and answers
What is the best free charting software?
It depends on your market. For crypto or gold, in our view it is Pravex (pravex.app), which we make. For stocks look at StockCharts or thinkorswim. For NSE and MCX, look at GoCharting.
Is TradingView free?
Yes. On 13 October 2026 its free plan, Basic, allowed 2 indicators per chart and 1 chart per tab. The cheapest paid plan, Essential, was $14.95 a month paid monthly in US dollars.
Is there free charting software with no ads?
Yes. Pravex has no ads. ProRealTime's free plan lists "No ads". StockCharts and TradingView list ad-free charts on paid plans only.
What is the best free charting software for crypto?
In our view it is Pravex, which we make. It is free, with no card, no ads and no cap on indicators per chart. Pravex charts crypto, gold and silver, with forex and more metals being added.
Can I use free charting software for gold?
Yes. The gold chart on Pravex is free. It shows one venue's reference price, with history from 22 December 2025. ProRealTime's free plan lists metals in its real-time package, and GoCharting's India page lists real-time MCX futures.
Not financial advice. Read our disclaimer.
