Task comparison
Trading Chart Software the Top YouTube Traders Use, With Prices
What Does Charting Require?
inputs
filters
output
frequency
Which Educators Use Which Tools for Charting?
| Tool | Their pick for | From | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| thinkorswim | The Rumers, Ricky Gutierrez, Adam Khoo, ZipTrader | Free | Check price |
| TradingView Basic | The Rumers, AI Pathways, Rayner Teo | Free | Check price |
| TradingView Essential | The Rumers, AI Pathways, Rayner Teo | $14.95/mo | Check price |
| TradeStation (brokerage account) | Live Traders | Free | Check price |
| TC2000 (entry plan) | Adam Khoo | $24.99/mo | Check price |
| MarketSurge | Investor's Business Daily (CAN SLIM) | $149.95/mo | Check price |
| IBD Digital | Investor's Business Daily (CAN SLIM) | $44.95/mo | Check price |
| Stock Market Today (public video) | Investor's Business Daily (CAN SLIM) | Free | Check price |
| chart-img Pro | AI Pathways | $7/mo | Check price |
| Twelve Data Basic | AI Pathways | Free | Check price |
| CME Group data via TradingView | Same job, different tool | $7/mo | Check price |
Lowest listed plan shown. Prices checked 2026. Links marked Check price are affiliate links where a program exists. Prices are subject to change fast, like AI technology.
Can AI Help With Charting?
What AI can do
What AI cannot do
How Do You Pick a Charting Tool?
01
Your timeframes and indicators
Most traders use a handful of indicators on two or three timeframes. Make sure the platform does those well before you pay for features you'll never open.
02
Saved layouts across devices
Your chart setup is part of your process. Layouts that sync between desktop and phone mean the same levels everywhere you look.
03
Alerts at your levels
Charts work best when they call you back. Price and indicator alerts let you mark a level once and stop staring at the screen.
04
Data costs on top
The platform price is not the whole bill. Real-time exchange data is often a separate charge, so add it before you compare tools.
Mistakes That Cost Traders Money
Indicator overload
A chart with nine indicators gives nine opinions. Keep the few you can explain and act on, and drop the rest.
Switching platforms every month
Every switch resets your layouts, alerts and muscle memory. Pick one platform, learn it properly, and change only when it truly blocks you.
Want three tools matched to how you trade? Try a tool finder or build a full stack.
Charting Questions
What trading chart software do YouTube traders use?
thinkorswim and TradingView come up most across the 13 educators here. Adam Khoo's course used TC2000 (from $24.99/mo), Live Traders' Jared Wesley teaches on TradeStation, and Ross Cameron charts inside Day Trade Dash.
Is TradingView free?
TradingView Basic is free with ads and limited alerts. Essential costs $14.95/mo or $155.40/yr, and real-time U.S. stock exchange data is a separate purchase.