cTrader vs. TradingView: Why cTrader is the Best Trading Platform

In this review, we compare two popular trading platforms—cTrader and TradingView—focusing on key features like manual trading, charting, algorithmic trading, community support, and more. This review is designed to help you decide which platform is best for both manual and automated trading. While the comparison slightly favors cTrader, we aim to provide an objective analysis based on essential features.

Pricing and Plans

When comparing the free versions of both platforms, cTrader offers far more value with no ads interrupting the user experience and a range of advanced features right out of the box.

TradingView:

• 2/5
• Limited to 3 indicators per chart
• Displays ads
• Includes basic pattern drawing and risk/reward tools
• Only 1 chart per tab
• Only 1 trade alert

cTrader:

• 5/5
• Unlimited indicators
• No ads
• Includes pattern drawing and risk/reward tools
• Multiple charts per tab
• Multiple trade alerts

Symbols and Brokers

When it comes to the number of available trading symbols and reputable brokers, cTrader holds its ground and offers significant advantages, especially for forex and other asset classes.

TradingView:

• 4/5
• A wide selection of reputable brokers
• Large variety of tradable symbols (Forex, Stocks, Cryptocurrencies, Metals)

cTrader:

• 5/5
• Fewer brokers, but high-quality, trusted partners
• Supports key trading symbols (Forex, Stocks, Cryptocurrencies, Metals)

Manual Trading

cTrader outshines TradingView in terms of manual order submission, risk management, and advanced features, making it ideal for active traders.

TradingView:

• 3/5
• Basic order management
• No trailing stop loss
• Lacks advanced risk management features

cTrader:

• 5/5
• Advanced order and risk management
• Server-side trailing stop loss
• Quick trade widgets for fast execution
• Add-on apps for advanced trading and risk management
• Manual strategy testing included

3rd Party Tools

When it comes to third-party tools for advanced trading applications and custom indicators, cTrader offers much more flexibility and powerful integrations.

TradingView:

• 1.5/5
• No add-on trading tools
• No embedded chart trading tools
• Limited third-party indicators

cTrader:

• 5/5
• Unlimited add-on trading tools
• Embedded chart trading tools
• Access to both free and paid third-party indicators

Programming Language

cTrader provides a major advantage with its support for C# programming, which is a globally recognized and powerful language for creating custom indicators and automated trading strategies.

TradingView:

• 3/5
• Pine Script (only for TradingView)
• Basic code editor
• Limited educational resources for advanced tools

cTrader:

• 5/5
• C# programming language (the 5th most popular language worldwide in 2021)
• Visual Studio editor (Basic/Advanced)
• Extensive free educational courses
• Leverages the power of the Microsoft .NET framework
• C# knowledge can be applied broadly beyond trading

Algorithmic Trading

For algorithmic trading, cTrader is the clear winner, offering a robust set of features for automated trading, strategy development, and backtesting.

TradingView:

• 0/5
• No automated trading
• No trading robots
• No backtesting or optimization options

cTrader:

• 5/5
• Automated trading with cTrader Automate
• Ability to create complex trading robots
• Backtesting and strategy optimization via a user-friendly interface

Charting

While TradingView is well-known for its advanced charting tools, cTrader offers powerful charting features with greater customization options, making it ideal for traders who need flexibility.

TradingView:

• 5/5
• Excellent charting tools and indicators
• Powerful trade analysis widgets
• Pattern drawing and risk/reward tools included
• News events integration
• Limited to 1 chart layout and template

cTrader:

• 4/5
• Fewer default charting tools
• News event indicators
• Pattern drawing and risk/reward tools not available by default
• Large selection of chart add-ons
• Unlimited chart layouts and templates

Copy Trading

cTrader excels with its copy trading feature, allowing users to replicate the trades of successful traders, a feature not available on TradingView.

TradingView:

• 0/5
• No copy trading functionality
• No third-party tools for trade copying

cTrader:

• 4/5
• Copy trading available
• Third-party applications like Duplikium support copy trading

Platform Community

cTrader has a strong, active community with multiple language support and focused groups for algorithmic trading and copy trading. It offers superior community engagement compared to TradingView.

TradingView:

• 4/5
• Social networking features for sharing trade ideas
• Facebook group, Discord support, Telegram group (mainly for marketing)
• Forum for trade ideas and help

cTrader:

• 5/5
• Active copy trading community
• Multi-language Telegram support groups
• Strong algorithmic trading support community
• Dedicated forums on cTrader.com and cTrader.info
• Facebook group

Platform Support

cTrader provides superior customer support, including instant responses through Telegram groups and forums, as well as dedicated support for algorithmic trading.

TradingView:

• 3/5
• No customer support for free plan users
• Telegram and Discord support (mainly for marketing)
• Limited programming support

cTrader:

• 5/5
• Excellent customer support
• Instant-response Telegram support groups
• Multi-language Telegram support
• Forums for second-line support
• Dedicated algorithmic trading support

Customer Reviews

When it comes to customer satisfaction, cTrader consistently outperforms TradingView, with higher ratings from users.

TradingView:

• 3/5
• Trustpilot: 2.8/5 (400 reviews)
• Forex Peace Army: 1/5 (1 review)

cTrader:

• 4/5
• Trustpilot: 4.1/5 (14 reviews)
• Forex Peace Army: 4.5/5 (38 reviews)

Conclusion

For traders who value a comprehensive and flexible platform, cTrader is the clear winner. With superior tools for manual and algorithmic trading, advanced order management, powerful charting, and outstanding customer support, cTrader is designed to meet the needs of serious traders. Whether you're interested in automated trading with custom robots, managing your risk with advanced tools, or enjoying a rich, supportive community, cTrader offers everything you need to succeed.

• cTrader Support: Your Go-To Resource for All Your Questions
• cTrader User Guide
• cTrader Copy Trading: Advanced Copy Trading Tools
• cTrader Desktop | How to Use cTrader