TradingView: Great Charts, Not Enough for Order Flow
TradingView has the most convenient charts in the world: in the browser, on your phone, with thousands of indicators and markets from all over the world. I use it for a quick look at other markets. For reading order flow and the order book on futures, it isn't enough.
What it is
TradingView is a charting service in the browser and app, with the Pine Script language for writing indicators, a large community (ideas, public scripts) and integration with many brokers.
Real-time exchange data, e.g. from the CME, is paid for separately. Without it, some quotes are delayed or come from CFD providers.
What it's great for
- A quick look at any market: indices, bonds, currencies, commodities, stocks.
- Drawing and notes, charts on multiple timeframes.
- Price alerts and easy chart sharing with others.
What it lacks for my work
- There's no order book history or liquidity heatmap.
- Footprint charts and profiles exist on the higher plans, but they're less detailed than in platforms built for order flow.
- The public indicator library is largely the same price-based formulas, often ones that repaint.
Who it's for
For everyone as general-purpose charts. For an order flow trader, as an add-on rather than the main tool.
Other platforms
- Sierra Chart I use it
- ATAS Recommended
- NinjaTrader 8 I use it
- MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 I avoid it
- Bloomberg Terminal I don't need it
- The full list of platforms with my rating
Frequently asked questions
Is TradingView enough for trading?
For charts and technical analysis, yes. For order flow (the order book, a tick-by-tick footprint, liquidity history) it lacks the detail of platforms such as Sierra Chart or ATAS.
Is TradingView data real?
It depends on the market and the plan. Real-time exchange data, e.g. from the CME, is paid for separately. Forex and CFD quotes come from specific providers.
What's the best indicator on TradingView?
There isn't one. Most indicators are calculated from the same price data. I cover this in a separate article.
Educational content and my personal opinion, not an investment recommendation. Features, pricing and availability change: check the current information with the vendor before deciding. Product names belong to their owners.