To paper trade on TradingView, open a chart, click "Trading Panel" at the bottom, choose "Paper Trading" and connect. You get a virtual balance (you can change and reset it in the account settings), then place market, limit, stop and bracket orders from the order panel or directly on the chart. Set the balance to your real account size, add stops and targets to every trade, and log each trade in a journal.
TradingView's paper trading is one of the easiest ways to practise, because you trade straight from the charts you already use. Here's how to set it up and use it properly.
Setting it up
- Open a chart on TradingView (web or desktop).
- Click Trading Panel at the bottom of the screen.
- Select Paper Trading from the list of brokers and click Connect.
- Your virtual account opens with a default balance.
- Change the balance: open the account settings in the Trading Panel and reset it to the size you'll really trade. Practising a $5,000 plan with $100,000 teaches the wrong habits.
Placing orders
- Buy/Sell buttons at the top-left of the chart open the order panel.
- Market orders fill at the current price.
- Limit and stop orders: set the price in the panel, or right-click on the chart at your level.
- Bracket orders: tick Take Profit and Stop Loss in the order panel. Both appear on the chart as draggable lines.
- Adjusting: drag stop and target lines on the chart to modify them.
Use brackets on every trade, so practising with a stop becomes automatic.
Score the Setup Before You Take It
TRADZY's Void Engine rates any setup 0–100 across 12+ variables: structure, trend alignment, volume, momentum and key levels.
Score a Setup Free →Useful features
| Feature | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Account history | Review filled orders and P&L |
| Reset account | Start fresh (log the reason. A reset shouldn't erase a lesson) |
| Bar Replay | Practise on historical sessions bar by bar |
| Alerts | Get notified when price reaches your levels |
| Multiple charts | Watch several instruments in paper mode |
Bar Replay is also a manual backtesting tool. See backtesting in TradingView for free.
Making practice realistic
- Real-time data: some markets show delayed data on free plans. Practise on markets where you get real-time prices, or you'll learn bad timing.
- Assume slippage: TradingView's paper fills can be generous. Subtract a tick or two per side in your journal.
- Include commissions in your records.
- Trade your real plan: same setups, same times, same risk per trade.
- No "it's only paper" trades.
A 30-day TradingView paper routine
| Week | Goal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Learn order entry: brackets, modifying stops, closing positions |
| 2 | Trade one setup only, max 3 trades a day, and log everything |
| 3 | Review: win rate, average R, rule breaks. Fix one thing |
| 4 | Repeat with the fix, then decide: more practice, or live at minimum size |
The full go-live checklist is in paper trading: how to practise the right way. Compare other simulators in best paper trading apps.
Keep indicators simple
Paper trading is a good time to settle on a clean chart. See best free TradingView indicators.
TRADZY keeps your TradingView paper trades in a separate journal from live trades, and the Void Engine scores each setup before entry. The comparison shows whether your practice results are real.
FAQ
Is TradingView paper trading free?
Yes. Paper trading is available on free TradingView accounts. Some markets may show delayed data without a data subscription.
How do I reset my TradingView paper trading account?
Open the Trading Panel, go to the paper trading account settings, and use the reset option. You can set a new starting balance at the same time.
Can I paper trade futures on TradingView?
Yes, paper trading supports futures and other markets, though real-time futures data may require a subscription.
Is TradingView paper trading realistic?
The prices are real, but fills can be more generous than live trading. Add slippage and commissions to your records for a realistic picture.
Can I use Bar Replay with paper trading?
Yes. Bar Replay lets you practise on historical data, and you can place simulated trades as the bars replay.
Put This Into Practice
- Score your next setup 0–100 with the Void Engine before entering
- Log the trade and tag the setup in the TradLog
- Review weekly: keep what pays, cut what doesn't
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Educational content, not financial advice. Trading involves substantial risk of loss.