Backtesting Software Comparison

In the overview below, you will find a comparison of the most popular trading platforms and online tools for manual and automated backtesting.

The options compared were selected based on the following assumptions:

  1. The subscription plan or variant of backtesting software was selected to ensure access to all its features.
  2. Where possible, the historical data source has been chosen to allow backtesting of the following markets:
    • US equities
    • US futures
    • Forex
    • Cryptocurrencies

If a live trading account needs to be opened to access the trading platform, an inactivity fee (if charged by the broker) is included in the given option, ensuring the final price reflects all costs.

Compared Options

Sierra Chart TradeStation MultiCharts NinjaTrader TradingView MetaTrader 5 Quantower AmiBroker QuantConnect ProRealTime FX Replay Forex Tester Online Tradezella
Variant or subscription plan
Service Package 5
Equity Account
Advanced
Free
Premium
Free
All-In-One licence
Researcher
Premium
Pro
Pro
Premium
Historical data source
Sierra Chart Historical Data Services
TradesStation Data Network
dxFeed

NinjaTrader, Barchart
Various data providers
MetaQuotes Data Feed
dxFeed
QuantConnect Datasets
ProRealTime

Dukascopy, Oanda
N/A (1)
dxFeed

N/A – Information not available.

1. The Forex Tester Online team refused to provide this information.

Backtesting Software - Overview of Basic Features

Sierra Chart TradeStation MultiCharts NinjaTrader TradingView MetaTrader 5 Quantower AmiBroker QuantConnect ProRealTime FX Replay Forex Tester Online Tradezella
Windows desktop application
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Mac desktop application
No (2)
No (2)
No (2)
No (2)
Yes
Yes
No (2)
No (2)
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Linux desktop application
No (2)
No (2)
No (2)
No (2)
Yes
Yes
No (2)
No (2)
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Web-based application
Yes (3)
Yes (3)
No
Yes (3)
Yes
Yes (3)
No
No
Yes
Yes (3)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Number of supported languages
1
1
1
9
20
53
17
1
1
1
1
14
1
Number of built-in indicators
470+
180+
200+
100+
400+
38
50+
17
100+
100+
130+
60+
100+
Custom indicators
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Custom timeframes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Custom multi-window layouts
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
Offline backtesting
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No

2. Windows applications can run on Mac and Linux with the help of emulators such as VMware Fusion Pro, VMware Workstation Pro, or Parallels Desktop.

3. Backtesting features are not supported.

Historical Data

Sierra Chart TradeStation MultiCharts NinjaTrader TradingView MetaTrader 5 Quantower AmiBroker QuantConnect ProRealTime FX Replay Forex Tester Tradezella
Number of backtestable instruments
1000+
1000+
1000+
1000+
1000+
1000+
1000+
1000+
1000+
80+
720+
250+
Custom historical data import
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Historical data export
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Historical global economic data
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Historical funadamental stock data
No
Yes
No
No (4)
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
Choice of historical data provider
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No

4. Fundamental economic data for stocks can be obtained with the EODHD NinjaTrader Adapter.

Historical Stock Data

Sierra Chart TradeStation MultiCharts NinjaTrader TradingView MetaTrader 5 Quantower AmiBroker QuantConnect ProRealTime FX Replay Forex Tester Tradezella
Historical daily stock data
Since 1980
Since 1968
Up to 40 years back
Since 1980
Since 1968
Since 2003
Since 1985
Since 1998
Since 1971
N/A
N/A
Since 2014
Historical 1-minute stock data
Since 2008
Since 1991
Up to 9 years back
Since 2008
Since 2000
Since 2003
Up to 10 years back
Since 1998
Up to 10 years back
N/A
N/A
Since 2014
Historical 1-second stock data
N/A (5)
N/A (5)
N/A (5)
N/A (5)
Since 2022
N/A
N/A (5)
Since 1998
N/A (5)
N/A
N/A
Since 2014
Historical tick-by-tick stock data
At least 1 year back
6 months back
Up to 2 years back
Since 2008
N/A
N/A (6)
Up to 2 years back
Since 1998
Up to 2 months back
N/A
N/A
N/A

N/A – Not available.

5. Historical 1-second market data is not needed, as second time frames are created using tick data.

6. Up to 20 years of historical tick data can be obtained with a subscription to the Nasdaq data feed.

Historical Futures Data

Sierra Chart TradeStation MultiCharts NinjaTrader TradingView MetaTrader 5 Quantower AmiBroker QuantConnect ProRealTime FX Replay Forex Tester Tradezella
Historical daily futures data
Since 1970
Since 1982
Up to 40 years back
Since 1978
Since 1997
N/A
Since 1970
Since 2009
Since 1999
Since 2012
N/A
Since 2014
Historical 1-minute futures data
Since 2008
Since 1982
Up to 9 years back
Up to 25 years back
Since 2000
N/A
Up to 5 years back
Since 2009
Up to 2 years back
Since 2012
N/A
Since 2014
Historical 1-second futures data
N/A (5)
N/A (5)
N/A (5)
N/A (5)
Since 2022
N/A
N/A (5)
Since 2009
N/A (5)
Since 2012
N/A
Since 2014
Historical tick-by-tick futures data
Since 2011
6 months back
Up to 2 years back
Since 2008
Up to 1 year back
Up to 2 years back
N/A
Since 2009
Up to 2 months back
N/A
N/A
N/A

N/A – Not available.

5. Historical 1-second market data is not needed, as second time frames are created using tick data.

Historical Forex Data

Sierra Chart TradeStation MultiCharts NinjaTrader TradingView MetaTrader 5 Quantower AmiBroker QuantConnect ProRealTime FX Replay Forex Tester Tradezella
Historical daily forex data
Since 1971
Up to 40 years back
Since 1972
Since 1971
Since 1971
Since 1971
Since 2007
Since 1979
Since 2003
Since 2003
Since 2014
Historical 1-minute forex data
Since 2007
Since 2002
Up to 9 years back
Since 2008
Since 2001
Since 1971
Up to 2 years back
Since 2007
Up to 3 years back
Since 2003
Since 2003
Since 2014
Historical 1-second forex data
N/A (5)
N/A (5)
N/A (5)
N/A (5)
Since 2022
N/A
N/A (5)
Since 2007
N/A (5)
Since 2003
N/A
Since 2014
Historical tick-by-tick forex data
At least 2 years back
6 months back
Up to 2 years back
Since 2008
N/A
Since 2011
Up to 2 months back
Since 2007
Up to 2 months back
N/A
Since 2003
N/A

N/A – Not available.

5. Historical 1-second market data is not needed, as second time frames are created using tick data.

Historical Cryptocurrency Data

Sierra Chart TradeStation MultiCharts NinjaTrader TradingView MetaTrader 5 Quantower AmiBroker QuantConnect ProRealTime FX Replay Forex Tester Tradezella
Historical daily cryptocurrency data
Since 2017
Since 2016
Since 2010
Since 2011
N/A
N/A
Since 2013
Since 2010
N/A
N/A
Since 2018
Historical 1-minute forex data
Since 2017
Up to 9 years back
Since 2017
Since 2011
N/A
N/A
Since 2013
Up to 3 years back
N/A
N/A
Since 2018
Historical 1-second forex data
N/A (5)
N/A (5)
N/A (5)
N/A (5)
Since 2022
N/A
N/A (5)
Since 2013
N/A (5)
N/A
N/A
Since 2018
Historical tick-by-tick cryptocurrency data
Up to 2 years back
Since 2017
N/A
N/A
N/A
Since 2013
Up to 2 months back
N/A
N/A
N/A

N/A – Not available.

5. Historical 1-second market data is not needed, as second time frames are created using tick data.

Historical Index Data

Sierra Chart TradeStation MultiCharts NinjaTrader TradingView MetaTrader 5 Quantower AmiBroker QuantConnect ProRealTime FX Replay Forex Tester Tradezella
Historical daily index data
Since 1920
Up to 40 years back
Since 1914
Since 1871
Since 2012
N/A
Since 1998
Since 1950
N/A
N/A
Since 2014
Historical 1-minute index data
Since 1983
Up to 9 years back
Up to 25 years back
1997
Since 2012
N/A
Since 1998
Up to 3 years back
N/A
N/A
Since 2014
Historical 1-second index data
N/A (5)
N/A (5)
N/A (5)
N/A (5)
Since 2022
N/A
N/A (5)
N/A
N/A (5)
N/A
N/A
Since 2014
Historical tick-by-tick index data
6 months back
Up to 2 years back
Since 2008
N/A
6 months back
N/A
N/A
Up to 2 months back
N/A
N/A
N/A

N/A – Not available.

5. Historical 1-second market data is not needed, as second time frames are created using tick data.

Historical CFD Data

Sierra Chart TradeStation MultiCharts NinjaTrader TradingView MetaTrader 5 Quantower AmiBroker QuantConnect ProRealTime FX Replay Forex Tester Tradezella
Historical daily CFD data
N/A
N/A
N/A
Since 2003
Since 2004
N/A
Since 2002
N/A
Since 2003
Since 2010
N/A
Historical 1-minute CFD data
Since 2007
N/A
N/A
N/A
Since 2003
Since 2004
N/A
Since 2002
N/A
Since 2003
Since 2010
N/A
Historical 1-second CFD data
N/A (5)
N/A (5)
N/A (5)
N/A (5)
Since 2022
N/A
N/A (5)
Since 2002
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Historical tick-by-tick CFD data
At least two last years
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Since 2019
N/A
Since 2002
N/A
N/A
Since 2010
N/A

N/A – Not available.

5. Historical 1-second market data is not needed, as second time frames are created using tick data.

Manual Backtesting Features

Sierra Chart TradeStation MultiCharts NinjaTrader TradingView MetaTrader 5 Quantower AmiBroker QuantConnect ProRealTime FX Replay Forex Tester Tradezella
Replay tool
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Replaying minute-by-minute
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Replaying second-by-second
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Replaying tick-by-tick
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
No
Raplaying Tick Bars
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
Replaying Range Bars
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Replaying Renko Bars
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
Replaying Volume Bars
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Replaying Heiken-Ashi Bars
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Replaying Numbers Bars (Footprint Charts)
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
Replaying Volume Profile
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Replaying Time Price Opportunities
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Replaying Depth of Market (Level 2)
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
Replaying Time and Sales
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
Maximum number of simultaneously replayed windows
Unlimited
N/A
Unlimited
Unlimited
8
N/A
Unlimited
N/A
Unlimited
8
10
8
Maximum number of simultaneously replayed instruments
Unlimited
N/A
Unlimited
Unlimited
8
N/A
Unlimited
N/A
5
5
8
5

N/A – Not available.

Automated Backtesting Features

Sierra Chart TradeStation MultiCharts NinjaTrader TradingView MetaTrader 5 Quantower AmiBroker QuantConnect ProRealTime FX Replay Forex Tester Tradezella
Backtesting engine for automated strategies
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Portfolio (multi-asset) backtesting
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Mulit-time frame backtesting
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Tick-by-tick backtesting precision
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Backtesting data export
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Strategy optimization
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Code editor
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Strategy builder
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Scripting language
ACSIL
EasyLanguage

PowerLanguage, C#, Visual Basic .NET, Python
NinjaScript
Pine Script
MetaQuotes Language 5
C#

Python or C#
ProBuilder
FXR Script
JavaScript
N/A

N/A – Not available.

Backtesting Software and Tools Prices

Sierra Chart TradeStation MultiCharts NinjaTrader TradingView MetaTrader 5 Quantower AmiBroker QuantConnect ProRealTime FX Replay Forex Tester Tradezella
Free plan
No
No (6)
Yes (7)
No (8)
Yes
Yes
Yes (9)
Yes
Yes (10)
Yes
Yes
No
Monthly plan starting price
$26
$99 (11)
$99
$99
$14.95
N/A
$70
$60
$29
$17.99
N/A
$29
Yearly plan starting price
$202.80
N/A
$948
N/A
$155.40
N/A
$588
$600
N/A
$180
$199
$288
Lifetime plan price
N/A
N/A
$1,999
$1,499
N/A
N/A
$1,590
N/A
N/A
N/A
$399
N/A
Monthly price of the compared option
$36
$10 (12)
$178 (13)
$163 (14)
$67.95
$0
$177 (15)
$60
$84
$35
N/A
$49
Yearly price of the compared option
$280.80
$120
$1,440
$1,956
$677.88
$0
$2,124
$600
$1,008
$350
$299
$399

N/A – Not available.

6. You can get free access to the full-featured Tradestation platform by opening a live trading account with Tradestation Securities.

7. The free version of the platform has a number of limitations. If you want to get access to the full-featured Multicharts platform for free, open a live account with AMP Futures.

8. You can get the NinjaTrader trading platform for free when you open an account with NinjaTrader Brokerage.

9. The free version of the platform has a number of limitations. To access all the features of the Quantower platform for free, open an account with AMP Futures.

10. The free version of the platform has a number of limitations. To access all the features of the ProRealTime platform for free, open an account with one of the selected brokers.

11. Price for the platform, including historical data. No requirement to open a live trading account with TradeStation Securities.

12. The price consists of a monthly inactivity fee ($10). If you meet the minimum requirements, the cost is $0.

13. The price consists of the monthly subscription fee for the Multicharts platform ($99) and the dxFeed data feed ($79).

14. The price consists of an inactivity fee ($35) and a subscription fee for Market Profile ($59) and Barchart data feed ($69).

15. The price includes a subscription for the platform ($70) and the dxFeed data feed ($107).