Which trading platform has the best charting tools?
Verdict
- For charting, TradingView is our pick of platform, and Pepperstone is our pick of broker to trade through it: UK spread-betting and Razor accounts connect to TradingView, and cTrader, MT4, MT5 and Pepperstone's own platform sit on the same account.
- Pepperstone adds Smart Trader Tools to MetaTrader, including Smart Lines, Correlation Matrix and Trade Terminal.
- IG offers ProRealTime and Saxo lists MultiCharts if you want an alternative professional charting package.
- Test each platform's charts before you fund, then pick the broker on regulation and cost.
Good charting is partly taste, so the most useful answer is a broker that lets you use several charting platforms on one account. Pepperstone does that for UK traders, which is why it is our pick. Below: what each charting option offers at Pepperstone, the alternatives elsewhere, and how to choose.
Why Pepperstone suits chart-led traders
Pepperstone Limited (FCA 684312) gives UK clients on its Razor and spread-betting accounts five ways to view and trade the same markets: TradingView, cTrader, MT4, MT5 and its own web platform and app. You can do your analysis in TradingView and place the order there, or switch to cTrader or MetaTrader without moving money. Pricing stays the same across them, apart from the platform commission on Razor.
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Charting options at Pepperstone, compared
| Platform | Strength for charting | UK accounts |
|---|---|---|
| TradingView | Chart-first platform; trade from the chart | Spread betting, Razor |
| cTrader | Built-in charts plus C# automation | All three |
| MT5 / MT4 | Indicator and EA ecosystem; Smart Trader Tools add-ons | MT5 all three; MT4 spread betting and Razor |
| Pepperstone web and app | No install; same login on phone | All three |
Smart Trader Tools: extras for MetaTrader charts
Pepperstone's MetaTrader add-on pack includes Smart Lines, a Correlation Matrix, a Trade Simulator, Mini Terminal and Trade Terminal. Pepperstone's own pages disagree on the size of the pack, citing 28 tools in one place and 60+ in another, so judge it by the tools named rather than the count.
Alternatives at other FCA-regulated brokers
- IG (FCA 195355): ProRealTime and L2 Dealer alongside its own platform, MT4, MT5 and TradingView.
- Saxo (FCA 551422): SaxoTrader and SaxoInvestor, plus third-party tools such as TradingView and MultiCharts.
- CMC Markets (FCA 173730): its Next Generation web platform, the app and MT4.
- Capital.com (FCA 793714): own web platform and app, MT4, MT5 and TradingView, with guaranteed stops that Pepperstone lacks.
How to choose a charting platform
- List the indicators and drawing tools you rely on, and check each platform has them.
- Check whether you can trade from the chart with your broker, not just view it.
- Confirm the account type: at Pepperstone, Standard CFD accounts can't use TradingView or MT4.
- Choose the broker on regulation, protections and cost — the charts can often be replaced, the broker less easily.
Sources
Published by the brokers.
Is TradingView better than MT5 for charting?
TradingView is built around its charts, while MT5 suits traders who rely on expert advisors and MetaTrader indicators. Pepperstone offers both on its UK Razor and spread-betting accounts.
Does Pepperstone offer ProRealTime?
ProRealTime does not appear on Pepperstone's platform list. IG offers ProRealTime in the UK.
Can I use TradingView charts on a Pepperstone Standard account?
No. In the UK, TradingView trading is limited to Pepperstone's spread-betting and Razor accounts.
CFDs and spread bets are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage; Pepperstone says 73.6% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with it. Consider whether you can afford to take that risk. Nothing here is investment advice.