Does TradingView Still Have Paper Trading? Full 2025 Guide

Does tradingview still have paper trading is a common question among traders shifting from demo accounts to live markets. This comprehensive guide answers that question, explains how TradingView’s paper trading works, walks through setup and known limitations, compares alternatives, and gives actionable strategies to get the most value from simulated trading before risking real capital.

Quick answer

As of the last widely documented updates, TradingView continues to offer a built-in paper trading feature that lets users simulate orders and practice strategies on real-time (or delayed) market data. However, exchanges, account linkages, and feature details may change over time — always verify current status on TradingView’s official support/documentation pages and via your TradingView account settings.

What is paper trading and why it matters

Paper trading (also called demo trading or simulated trading) allows traders to place simulated buy and sell orders without risking real money. It’s useful for:

• Learning — practice order types (market, limit, stop) and order management.
• Strategy development — test rules, position sizing, and risk management.
• Platform familiarization — learn charting tools, alerts, and broker integrations.
• Confidence-building — validate a plan before committing real capital.

Authoritative resources like Investopedia provide background on simulated trading and its pros/cons (see Investopedia’s paper trading overview).

Does TradingView still have paper trading?

Short answer: yes — TradingView has historically provided a paper trading mode built into its platform. That mode enables users to:

• Place simulated orders directly from the chart.
• Track a simulated account balance and positions.
• Switch between paper trading and connected broker accounts.

Note: feature availability can differ by account type (free vs. paid tiers), geographic region, and integration with third‑party brokers. For the most current, official guidance, check TradingView’s help pages and the “Paper Trading” documentation on their site or support center.

How to confirm in your account

1. Log in to TradingView: https://www.tradingview.com/
2. Open a chart and look for the “Trading Panel” at the bottom.
3. Select the “Paper Trading” connector inside the Trading Panel and choose “Connect”.
4. If Paper Trading is not visible, verify your plan (some features are gated by subscription) and check TradingView’s support pages.

Step-by-step: setting up TradingView paper trading

Follow these practical steps to enable and use paper trading on TradingView.

1. Create or sign into your TradingView account

If you don’t already have an account, register at TradingView. Use a free account to start — paid plans unlock higher charting limits and additional features but aren’t required for basic paper trading.

2. Open the Trading Panel

On any chart, open the bottom Trading Panel. The paper trading connector typically appears alongside brokers like OANDA or Alpaca.

3. Connect to Paper Trading

Click the Paper Trading connector and select “Connect”. You’ll be asked to confirm a simulated starting balance and currency. The default balance can be adjusted to match your intended trading size (e.g., $10,000 or $100,000).

4. Place simulated orders

Place market and limit orders from the chart or the order ticket. You can test stop-loss, take-profit, trailing stops, and bracket orders depending on the TradingView interface at that time.

5. Review trade history and analytics

Use the Account/Orders tab to view fills, P&L, and order history. Combine this with the Strategy Tester for automated backtesting of Pine Script strategies.

Practical tips for using paper trading effectively

Paper trading is valuable but often misused. To maximize learning:

• Simulate real conditions: Use realistic slippage and commission assumptions. If your broker charges commissions or has wide spreads, incorporate that into your simulated results.
• Track a trading journal: Record trade rationale, emotion, and mistakes. Paper trading rewards mechanical execution rather than emotional discipline.
• Test position sizing: Use the same risk-per-trade rules you would with real capital (e.g., 1% risk per trade).
• Avoid over-optimistic scaling: Paper trading is frictionless — you can open too many trades or change rules mid-trade. Enforce the constraints you’ll have in live trading.
• Use the Strategy Tester: Combine manual paper trading with Pine Script backtests to verify edge consistency across market regimes.

Limitations and pitfalls of TradingView paper trading

No simulation is perfect. Be aware of these common limitations:

• Execution differences: Paper fills may be instantaneous and lack real market slippage, partial fills, or latency issues seen in live trading.
• Data restrictions: Some free users receive delayed data, which affects the realism of simulated trades. Consider subscribing to real-time data if necessary.
• Order types: Certain advanced order types or broker-specific features may not be available in paper mode.
• Emotional mismatch: Trading real capital involves emotions that paper trading cannot fully reproduce.

Connecting TradingView to real brokers and testnets

TradingView supports integrations with several brokers to place live orders from its interface. If you want a safer bridge from paper trading to live markets, consider:

• Opening accounts with regulated exchanges or brokers that integrate with TradingView.
• Using exchange testnets for spot and futures to move from simulation to a low-risk live environment.

Popular exchange options (with referral links) if you decide to open an account:

• Register on Binance — supports a wide range of spot and derivatives markets.
• Create a MEXC account for altcoin liquidity and test features.
• Bitget registration — derivatives-friendly exchange with copy trading features.
• Sign up for Bybit to access futures and testnet options.

Paper trading vs. exchange testnets

While TradingView’s paper trading simulates order placement and P&L, testnets offered by exchanges (for example, Binance Testnet or Bybit Testnet) let you place orders on a realistic orderbook environment using simulated funds provided by the exchange. Benefits of using exchange testnets include:

• Real order book dynamics and matching mechanics.
• Accurate slippage, partial fills, and latency characteristics.
• Better testing ground for execution-sensitive strategies like scalping or high-frequency approaches.

Use both methods: TradingView for strategy development and chart-based execution practice; exchange testnets to validate order routing and execution under live-like market conditions.

Using TradingView charts for free (and workarounds)

If access to real-time or faster data is a concern, see practical workarounds and free-use strategies in guides such as “Can I Use TradingView Charts for Free? Complete Guide, Tips and Workarounds.” That article explains how to leverage free accounts, exchange-provided feeds, and workarounds to access necessary market data when testing strategies and paper trading.

For more about using TradingView charts without a paid plan, read this detailed guide: Can I Use TradingView Charts for Free — Guide.

From paper trading to automation: using bots and signals

After validating a strategy via paper trading, many traders consider automating execution or using signals. Automation requires careful testing because real markets introduce latency and failures. If you’re exploring AI crypto trading bots or signal-driven automation, check comprehensive resources like this AI crypto trading bot guide to choose the right system for the UK and beyond.

Useful resource: Choosing the Best AI Crypto Trading Bot — Complete Guide.

Paper trading for futures and derivatives

Futures require additional understanding of funding rates, margin, and liquidation mechanics. TradingView’s paper trading can simulate margin trading in some setups, but it may not precisely replicate exchange-specific liquidation rules.

To learn where futures trade and the nuances of futures markets in the upcoming years, see this explainer: What Exchange Do Futures Trade On in 2025?

Using trading signals and apps with paper trading

Signal services and trading apps can be tested in paper trading before committing funds. One guide on choosing and profiting from buy-sell signal apps is helpful when evaluating vendor claims and integration options.

Read more here: Crypto Buy-Sell Signal App: How to Choose and Profit.

Integrating backtesting and live simulation (Pine Script)

TradingView’s Pine Script and Strategy Tester let you backtest rules over historical data. To get a full picture:

• Backtest: Run your strategy with realistic transaction costs and slippage estimates.
• Paper trade live: Forward-test the same strategy in paper trading to check for curve-fitting and real-time dynamics.
• Iterate: Combine performance metrics from the Strategy Tester and live paper trades to refine entry/exit rules.

Common troubleshooting — Paper trading options missing

If you do not see Paper Trading in your Trading Panel:

1. Refresh the page and clear cache — sometimes UI elements fail to load.
2. Verify your plan level — some regions/features may be gated.
3. Check data subscriptions — free accounts may display delayed data.
4. Consult TradingView support or community forums — user reports often indicate transient outages or integration issues.

For official account and connector problems, always consult TradingView’s support center or help documentation (TradingView support pages are the primary source for changes and outages).

Best practices checklist before going live

Before moving from paper trading to live trading, run through this checklist:

• Consistent, repeated success over multiple market conditions (trending, range-bound).
• Robust risk management: predetermined max drawdown and per-trade risk.
• Execution plan validated on exchange testnet (if you’ll trade crypto derivatives or low-liquidity instruments).
• Monitoring and contingency plans for outages, API failures, or slippage spikes.
• Tax and compliance understanding — know the rules for your jurisdiction (consult official government resources if needed).

Alternatives to TradingView paper trading

If TradingView doesn’t meet your execution-testing needs, consider alternatives:

• Exchange testnets (Binance Testnet, Bybit Testnet) — more realistic orderbook dynamics for crypto derivatives.
• Broker demo platforms — OANDA, Interactive Brokers PaperTrader, and others have established demo systems.
• Dedicated simulation tools — software that models market microstructure for high-frequency or execution-sensitive strategies.

Example: Test process for a breakout strategy

Here’s a concrete example of using TradingView paper trading plus exchange testnets to validate a breakout strategy:

1. Backtest the breakout rules on TradingView with Pine Script using 5+ years of data.
2. Paper trade the strategy for at least 50–100 trades over different volatility regimes on TradingView.
3. Open a testnet account on your target exchange (e.g., Binance or Bybit testnet) and replay the strategy for execution realism.
4. Adjust slippage and commission assumptions and re-run backtests.
5. If results remain consistent, start a small live account with strict risk limits and scale up gradually.

Resources and further reading

• TradingView official site — platform features, documentation, and account settings.
• TradingView on Wikipedia — background and platform summary.
• Investopedia: Paper Trading — conceptual overview and limitations.
• AI crypto bot guide — automation options after paper trading.
• Buy-sell signal app guide — evaluate signal services safely.
• Futures exchange outlook — futures markets overview.
• Free TradingView charts workarounds — data and usage tips.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: Is TradingView’s paper trading free?

A: The paper trading feature itself is available to users, including free-tier accounts, but data access and additional features may require subscriptions. Free accounts might get delayed market data in some markets — upgrade if you need real-time feeds.

Q: Can I link TradingView paper trading to my brokerage?

A: Paper trading is separate from broker connections. TradingView allows live broker integration with supported brokers so you can trade directly from the chart once you connect a real account. Before going live, validate your strategy with paper trading and, if possible, an exchange testnet.

Q: Will paper trading prepare me emotionally for live trading?

A: Paper trading helps mechanics and decision processes but cannot fully replicate emotional stress of real losses. Start live with small sizes and strict risk controls to bridge that gap.

Conclusion — What to do next

If your question was primarily “does tradingview still have paper trading,” the practical takeaway is that TradingView offers simulated trading that remains a powerful and convenient tool for learning and strategy validation. Combine paper trading with robust backtesting, exchange testnets, and a disciplined plan before allocating real capital. Use the linked resources above to deepen your testing (including guides on automation and signal services), and consider opening accounts with reputable exchanges when you’re ready to transition (links to Binance, MEXC, Bitget, and Bybit are provided earlier in this guide).

Final recommendation: confirm the current Paper Trading connector status inside your TradingView account, read TradingView’s official support documentation, and use both TradingView paper trading and exchange testnets to create a reliable stepping-stone from simulation to live trading.