I’ve used lots of charting platforms over the years. TradingView keeps pulling me back. It’s fast, flexible, and—most importantly—designed around how traders actually think about markets. Short story: if you want unified crypto and stock charts with powerful drawing tools and easy sharing, TradingView is hard to beat.

Downloading the desktop client is straightforward. If you prefer a local app instead of the browser, grab the installer here: tradingview download. The download page has Windows and macOS builds so you can get up and running quickly.

Why it’s a solid choice for crypto and equities

TradingView treats crypto and stock data the same way, which is a big deal. You get unified charting tools, multi-timeframe layout, and the same indicator library across asset classes. That consistency reduces friction—less mental context switching—when you move from BTC to AAPL during your review sessions.

It also has excellent exchange coverage for crypto (Binance, Coinbase, Kraken and many CEX/DEX feeds) and for stocks (NYSE, NASDAQ, OTC in many regions). For most retail traders, that means real-time-ish data for crypto and fast-delayed or real-time feeds for stocks depending on your plan. If you need exchange-level tick accuracy for high-frequency work, you’ll want to check the exchange feed and subscription tiers.

Install tips and first-run checklist

After you run the installer, do this before clicking around like a madman:

• Log in with a TradingView account (create one if you haven’t).
• Set your preferred chart timeframe and default layout—5m, 1h, daily, whatever you trade.
• Load a template with your go-to indicators (I usually start with EMA(8/21), RSI, and VWAP).
• Enable hardware acceleration if your machine supports it; it smooths redraws on big multi-chart setups.

Pro tip: save your workspace layouts. You can run multiple chart panes side-by-side (for example BTC/USD on the left, TSLA on the right) and recall them instantly. That’s a huge time-saver when scanning markets after news events.

Charting workflow: crypto vs stocks

Crypto moves 24/7 and has lots of liquidity fragmentation. On the other hand, stocks have clear session boundaries and exchange-specific quirks. Set your charting environment accordingly.

For crypto:

• Use exchange-specific tickers when you need order-book-aware prices (e.g., BINANCE:BTCUSDT).
• Leverage multi-timeframe templates—scan on 4H, trade on 15m.
• Use the replay feature for strategy refinement; it helps simulate how a move developed in real time.

For stocks:

• Be mindful of pre-market and after-hours sessions—turn them on if you trade news or gap plays.
• Check whether the data feed is real-time or delayed (some exchanges require paid subscriptions for real-time).
• Use level II or external data if you depend on order flow—TradingView’s built-in depth varies by listing and plan.

Indicators, scripts, and automation

TradingView’s Pine Script ecosystem is one of its biggest advantages. You can build indicators, backtest strategies, and share scripts with the community. Some traders publish refined, battle-tested strategies; others post one-off indicators that are fun to dissect.

If you’re learning Pine Script, start with small projects. Convert a manual setup (say, EMA crossover + RSI filter) into code, then test it on crypto and stocks. The differences will teach you about volatility and session dynamics.

Alerts, execution, and real-world use

Alerts are reliable and versatile—you can trigger alerts on indicator crossovers, drawings, or price levels. They’ll notify via app, SMS, or webhook. Webhooks open a lot of automation doors; you can connect TradingView alerts to a trade execution bot or a notifications pipeline.

One caveat: TradingView doesn’t execute trades for every broker. It supports several integrations (some broker APIs are direct), but for fully automated, low-latency execution you may still need a dedicated broker API and a small server to bridge alerts to orders.

Performance and subscription considerations

There’s a free tier that’s genuinely usable. But if you run multiple charts, need more indicators per chart, or want real-time exchange data for stocks, a paid plan is worth it. The Pro/Pro+ tiers increase chart layouts, indicators, and server-side backtests. The Premium tier is for advanced multi-monitor setups and lightning-fast alerting.

Also remember: some stock exchanges require separate market-data subscriptions for real-time quotes. If your workflow depends on tick-perfect timing, factor that cost in.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Don’t assume every ticker is identical across exchanges. BTC on one exchange can show small spreads and different liquidity than BTC on another. Watch for symbol suffixes and exchange tags.

Also, avoid overloading a single chart with thirty indicators. It looks impressive but clouds decision-making. Focus on what moves price; keep overlays minimal and use secondary panes for confirmatory indicators.