Head to head · Updated August 2026
TradingView vs thinkorswim
Across the 13 specs we track, TradingView and thinkorswim differ on 10. Neither leads on any measure with a clear better direction — the choice comes down to which feature set fits how you trade.
TradingView
All traders — stocks, crypto, forex & futures
Free / $14.95/mo / $29.95/mo / $59.95/mo · Stocks, Crypto, Forex, Futures
thinkorswim
Options traders, active traders & thinkScript developers
Free (Charles Schwab account required) · Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures
Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Neither placement nor ranking is for sale. Not financial advice; trading involves risk of loss.
Which one fits you
Choose TradingView if…
- you want the widest choice of broker to route through
Choose thinkorswim if…
- you want one platform across several asset classes
Every spec, side by side
13 specs · 10 differ · clear advantages highlighted
| Spec | TradingView | thinkorswim |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / $14.95/mo / $29.95/mo / $59.95/mo | Free (Charles Schwab account required) |
| Free tier | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | ✓ | ✓ |
| Best for | All traders — stocks, crypto, forex & futures | Options traders, active traders & thinkScript developers |
| Asset classes | StocksCryptoForexFuturesIndicesBondsCommodities | StocksETFsOptionsFuturesOptions on FuturesForexBondsCDsMutual FundsCrypto Futures (Micro) |
| Operating systems | WebWindowsMaciOSAndroid | WindowsmacOSiOSAndroidWeb (Browser-Based) |
| Brokers | Interactive BrokersTradeStationTradovateAlpacaTD AmeritradeCoinbaseKrakenOanda | Charles Schwab (built-in brokerage — platform is broker-locked; US residents only) |
| Licence | Multi-Device | Unlimited |
| Subscription | Monthly / Annual | Free |
| Open source | ✕ | ✕ |
| Support | Email, Chat, Help Center | Chat, Phone, Trade Desk (24/7), In-App Screen Sharing |
| Current version | Web-based | — |
| Released | 2011 | 1999 |
Green marks the stronger value only where a spec has an unambiguous better direction — a higher split, a faster payout, a lower price. Breadth fields like markets and platforms are left unmarked on purpose: more coverage is different, not automatically better.
TradingView vs thinkorswim FAQ
Is TradingView or thinkorswim better for beginners?+
TradingView is built for all traders — stocks, crypto, forex & futures; thinkorswim for options traders, active traders & thinkscript developers. Beginners usually do better on whichever one their broker already supports — fighting a data or routing setup is a worse first experience than any feature gap.
Which markets can I trade on TradingView and thinkorswim?+
TradingView covers Stocks, Crypto, Forex, Futures, Indices, Bonds, Commodities. thinkorswim covers Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Options on Futures, Forex, Bonds, CDs, Mutual Funds, Crypto Futures (Micro). Coverage on paper still depends on your broker supporting that market through the platform.
Can I run TradingView and thinkorswim side by side?+
Yes, and plenty of traders do — commonly one for charting and analysis, the other for execution. The practical limits are your machine's resources and paying twice for the same market data.