StockCharts review: browser charting with real-time TSX data
Official site: stockcharts.com
StockCharts.com has been around since 1999 and still runs entirely in a web browser, with apps for iOS and Android. For Canadian traders it has one feature none of the other five platforms in our test offer: an official real-time TSX and TSX-V data add-on for $9.95/mo. Add a usable free level and a first month free, and it became our pick for beginners.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Official real-time TSX and TSX-V data for $9.95/mo
- Free level with ads, plus a first month free at the Extra level
- Up to 500 saved scans and 500 price alerts on Extra and PRO
- Historical data back to 1900 on PRO
- Nothing to install: web, iOS and Android
Cons
- Real-time TSX/TSX-V data costs an extra $9.95/mo on top of membership
- Data add-ons are billed monthly and are non-refundable
- Web and mobile apps only, with no desktop download listed
- The free level allows 3 indicators, 3 overlays, 1 ChartList and 1 scan
Key facts
| Company | StockCharts.com |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Redmond, Washington, USA |
| Plans | Basic $19.95/mo; Extra $29.95/mo; PRO $49.95/mo |
| Billing discounts | Annual billing gives the 13th month free |
| Add-ons | Real-time data plans $9.95/mo each (US NYSE/NASDAQ, Canada TSX/TSX-V, UK LSE), billed monthly, non-refundable |
| Free plan | Free level with ads; BATS real-time US data, delayed elsewhere |
| Free trial | First month free (starts at the Extra level); cancel during the trial without being billed |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, indexes |
| Canadian data | Yes: Canada Real-Time add-on with official TSX and TSX-V data |
| Support | Support centre, Ask a Question chat page, contact form |
| Level | Beginner |
Pricing
Basic costs $19.95/mo, Extra $29.95/mo and PRO $49.95/mo, and annual billing gives you the 13th month free. Real-time data is sold separately at $9.95/mo per exchange plan: US (NYSE/NASDAQ), Canada (TSX/TSX-V) and UK (LSE). Those plans are billed monthly and can't be refunded, so add one only once you know you'll use it. A Canadian on Extra with live TSX data pays $39.90/mo. StockCharts shows a dollar sign without a currency code; confirm it at checkout.
Charts, scans and alerts
Extra and PRO let you save up to 500 scans and 500 price alerts, plus 250 advanced alerts. ChartLists hold up to 500 charts, scans can run on a schedule, and Extra stores 50 saved multi-chart layouts. PRO adds historical data back to 1900, handy for long-term studies of how an index behaves. In daily use the charts loaded quickly in a browser tab. Building our first scan from the menus took minutes.
Canadian data, explained
The free level shows BATS real-time data for US stocks and delayed data for everything else, TSX included. The Canada Real-Time add-on switches TSX and TSX-V symbols to official real-time data for $9.95/mo. Across our six platforms, it was the only confirmed way to get live Canadian quotes inside the charting tool itself. Compare that with 
Finviz, which covers US-listed stocks only, or 
TC2000, whose pricing page lists US exchange data only.
Who it suits
Newer traders and longer-term investors who want clean charts, scans and alerts without installing software. It also suits anyone who mainly trades the TSX. Active futures or forex traders will want a desktop platform with order entry, such as 
MotiveWave.
How we scored StockCharts
Each criterion is scored from 1 to 10 after 30 days of use. The average of 9.4 gives the 4.7 out of 5 rating.
| Criterion | Score (1-10) |
|---|---|
| Charting tools | 10 |
| Scanning and screening | 10 |
| Alerts | 10 |
| Ease of use | 10 |
| Device coverage | 8 |
| Market coverage | 8 |
| Canadian access | 10 |
| Value for money | 10 |
| Free plan or trial | 10 |
| Data and add-ons | 10 |
| Automation and testing | 7 |
| Support and learning | 10 |
| Average | 9.4 / 10 |
Try the first month free at the Extra level, then decide whether live TSX data is worth $9.95/mo to you.
Join StockChartsAlternatives to StockCharts
TC2000
4.8US stock and options charting with real-time EasyScan scans, up to 1,000 alerts and a free practice account.
Join TC2000Finviz
4.6A quick web screener with heat maps and one paid tier, limited to US-listed markets.
Join Finviz
Tickeron
4.2Pattern-recognition signals and trading robot plans for stocks and ETFs, billed yearly.
Join TickeronRisk warning. Trading stocks, options, futures, forex or crypto carries a high risk of losing money, and leveraged products can cost you more than you deposit. TickerBench reviews software only. Nothing on this site is investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell anything, so consider speaking with a registered adviser before you trade.