While we can’t promise to turn you into the Wolf Of Wall Street overnight, we can show you the best stock trading software for Macs of 2025 to help you get the most out of your trades.
We’ve had years of experience trading on macOS and while we might be biased, we think Macs are great for stock trading.
However, there’s no denying there’s definitely less Mac based trading software than there is for Windows PCs.
We therefore tried and tested a huge range of trading software, screeners and platforms covering everything from crypto to forex.
In our extensive testing and research, we found that TradingView was the best stock trading app for Mac in 2025.
Table of Contents
- What I Looked For In These Trading Apps
- 1. TradingView (Best Overall)
- 2. MotiveWave (Best Advanced Analysis)
- 3. Interactive Brokers (Best For Pros)
- 4. eToro (Best For Beginners)
- 5. TC2000 (Best For Trading & Brokerage)
- 6. TrendSpider (Best For AI Trading)
- 7. thinkorswim (Best Desktop Experience)
- 8. IG (Best For UK Traders)
- 9. RobinHood (Best Commission Free Platform)
- 10. Fidelity (Best for Long-Term Investors)
- Trading Software vs Trading Platforms on macOS
- The Broker Small Print
- Can You Use iPad Only Trading Apps on Macs?
What I Looked For In These Trading Apps
In shortlisting these apps and platforms, we gave preference to tools that offered the following features:
- Mac Desktop App: Naturally, we gave preference to those platforms that offered a native Mac desktop for stock trading and analysis. Bonus points went to those that offered a native app for both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
- Chart Trading: The ability to place trades directly from charts is vital for day traders both for speed and trade execution
- Data Replay: This allows you to replay historical market data for backtesting strategies. Without it, evaluating or refining your trading approach becomes difficult..
- Stop-Loss Entries: Automatically attaching stop-losses and take-profit targets to your orders is very important, especially for beginners, to minimize risk and lock-in profits.
- Execution Speed: Fast trade execution is critical in day trading. Slow or laggy software can result in missed opportunities, so we looked for platforms that are snappy and reliable.
- Paper Trading: The best stock trading apps allow you to simulate trades first to get to grips with the software before you start trading with real cash.
- Availability in the USA: All of the following apps and platforms are available to users in the USA apart from IG.
- Investment Tracking Software: I gave preference to those platforms and app that enabled you to link them in some way with either personal finance software or investment tracking software to track your portfolio’s net worth.
With this in mind, here are our picks for the best trading software for Mac in 2025 starting with a side-by-side comparison before diving in to more details.
| Software / Platform | macOS Compatible? | Price (basic / free tier) | Notes |
|---|
| TradingView | ✅ Web & Desktop | Free / Starts at $13.99 per month | Accounts sync across devices, native Mac app |
| MotiveWave | ✅ Native Mac | Free Community; paid editions via buy or lease starting at $24 per month | 14‑day trial, multiple editions available, Mac native app |
| Interactive Brokers (IBKR) | ✅ Native Mac app & web | Commission‑based; IBKR Lite $0 stock/ETF US, IBKR Pro tiered fees | Charges per trade basis; platform free |
| eToro | ✅ Web-based | Free open, spreads vary by instrument | Thriving trading community, easy to use |
| TC2000 | ⚠️ Mac via virtualization | Starts at $20.82/month paid annually | Windows-native; Mac users need a virtual machine |
| TrendSpider | ✅ Web-based | Starts at $39/month | AI powered technical scanner |
| thinkorswim (Charles Schwab) | ✅ Native Mac | Commission-free trading; thinkorswim app free | No platform fee, charges for options/OTC as per Schwab policy |
| IG (UK) | ✅ Mac via Webtrader or IG app | No commission on UK/US shares; spreads apply. November limited offer: Open an account with £50 in and get bonus shares worth £40–£200. | IG offers Mac-compatible web and desktop trading |
| RobinHood | ✅ Web-based | Free trades on US stocks/ETF; Gold $5/mo | Fees on options/contracts/transfer |
| Fidelity | ✅ Web-based | Commission free trades | Provides wealth management services too |
1. TradingView (Best Overall)
Why we like it: TradingView is a powerful, community-driven charting platform that’s great for both beginners and pros.
Key Features:
- Community-driven: Learn and share strategies with millions of traders
- Beginner-friendly: Easy to get started
- Professional tools: Advanced charting and indicators
- Mac-native: Works on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs
- Free plan: Most features available at no cost
- Pro upgrades: More charts, indicators, real-time data, ad-free
- Broker integration: Trade via Oanda, TradeStation, Interactive Brokers, and others
- TradingView Mac keyboard shortcuts: Speeds up trading
Pricing: Free for one chart and indicator, Paid plans start at $13.99/month with up to 17% off if paid annually
More Info: See our full TradingView for Mac review
2. MotiveWave (Best Advanced Analysis)
Why we like it: MotiveWave is a powerful desktop trading platform for Mac, ideal for technical analysis and multi-asset trading.
Key Features:
- Broker integration: Connects to Oanda, TD Ameritrade, Forex.com, Cannon Trading, GAIN, GFX Brokers, Interactive Brokers, Meintrade, and more via Gateway Connectors (Rithmic, CQG)
- Advanced pattern recognition: Automatically detects Elliott Wave Patterns and Gartley Harmonic Shapes
- Rithmic Level 2 data: Gain deep insights into stock price action
- Advanced tools: Replay Mode, Advanced Alerts, Component Alerts, Multiple Monitor Support
- Free trial & Community Edition: Try all features for free; Community Edition remains free with limited functionality
Pricing: Limited free Community Edition; Paid plans start at $24/month
More Info: See our full MotiveWave review
3. Interactive Brokers (Best For Pros)
Why we like it: Low-cost trading platform with professional-grade tools for active investors on Mac.
Key Features:
- IBKR Desktop: A downloadable native macOS app that offers highly customizable layouts. It has advanced charting, technical and fundamental analysis tools, and sophisticated order types.
- IBKR Trader Workstation (TWS): IBKR also offers a sophisticated TWS for Mac, which has extensive capabilities for experienced traders. It provides access to a huge range of asset classes, including stocks, options, futures, and forex.
- Performance: The platform runs natively on Apple Silicon (M-series) and Intel-based Macs, for stable performance without relying on virtual machines.
Pricing: Variable commission and margins depending on asset class
4. eToro (Best For Beginners)
Why we like it: eToro combines social trading with a Mac-friendly interface, making it ideal for beginners and casual investors.
Key Features:
- Commission-free trading: Stocks and ETFs
- Copy trading: Mirror top investors
- Real-time charts & news feeds
- Web & mobile apps: Fully compatible with macOS
Pricing: Free to open; spreads vary per instrument
Best for: Beginners who want a simple platform with social trading features
5. TC2000 (Best For Trading & Brokerage)
Why we like it: TC2000 is a trusted, comprehensive trading platform now fully accessible on Mac via web or remote access, offering advanced charts and tools for US stocks and options.
Key Features:
- Mac access: Use via web browser or remote connection
- Comprehensive dashboard: Charts, indicators, streaming data, option chains, trading windows, notepad, and favorites watchlist
- Brokerage account: Built-in brokerage service with reasonable margin rates (external broker integration not supported)
- All-in-one platform: Combines trading tools and brokerage in one package
Pricing: Starts at $20.82/month (paid annually)
6. TrendSpider (Best For AI Trading)
Why we like it: TrendSpider is a web-based platform offering automated, AI-driven charting and technical analysis, accessible on any Mac browser.
Key Features:
- Web-based: No installation needed; works in any browser on Mac
- AI-powered tools: Pattern recognition, multi-timeframe analysis, backtesting
- Comprehensive dashboard: Charts, indicators, market scanners, watchlists, alerts, strategy testers
- Broker integration: Trade directly via supported brokers (no built-in brokerage)
- Innovative platform: Cutting-edge tools for technical traders
Pricing: Starts at $39/month (paid annually)
More Info: Read our full TrendSpider review
7. thinkorswim (Best Desktop Experience)
Why we like it: Charles Schwab now owns TD Ameritrade but retains the popular thinkorswim (TOS) platform, including the Mac desktop app. It’s beginner-friendly yet powerful enough for advanced traders.
Key Features:
- Mac desktop app: Fully supported with intuitive interface
- Educational resources: How-to guides, live training, and lessons (e.g., Options trading)
- Extensive data sources: Morningstar, Federal Reserve Economic Database, and more
- Paper trading: Practice with a virtual account before trading real money
- Focused platform: Schwab retired OptionsExpress to concentrate on TOS
Pricing: 0% commission on stocks & ETFs; $0.65 per options contract
8. IG (Best For UK Traders)
IG Disclaimer: Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Why we like it: IG is a well-established trading platform offering access to over 17,000 markets, ideal for British Mac users looking for a reliable and feature-rich platform.
Key Features:
- Wide market access: Forex, stocks, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies
- Trading options: CFDs, spread betting (UK only), share dealing
- Educational resources: Extensive guides and tutorials for traders
- Risk management: Guaranteed stop-loss orders (GSLOs)
- Mac access: Use via MT4 for Mac (no native desktop app)
- Regulated platform: FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), NFA (U.S.)
- Market news & analysis: Helps make informed trading decisions
Pricing/Special Offer: Free Demo Account. Spreads starting from 0.6 pips on forex and commission-free trading on U.S. shares. For a limited period, if you invest with just £50 during November 2025 you will receive bonus shares worth £40–£200 from 15 major UK companies, including AstraZeneca, Tesco, Unilever, GSK, and Burberry.
9. RobinHood (Best Commission Free Platform)
Why we like it: Robinhood is a commission-free platform with a clean, simple interface that makes trading accessible for beginners.
Key Features:
- Commission-free: Stocks, options, and cryptocurrencies
- Beginner-friendly: Easy-to-use design, ideal for first-time investors
- Apple-optimized: Web platform and iOS apps work seamlessly on Mac/iPhone
- Limitations: Few advanced charting tools; less suitable for technical traders
Pricing: Commission-free (other fees may apply)
10. Fidelity (Best for Long-Term Investors)
Why we like it: Reliable platform for research, retirement planning, and long-term investing on Mac.
Key Features:
- Easy-to-use Mac web interface
- Research tools and portfolio planning
- Commission-free trading for most stocks & ETFs
- Excellent customer support
Pricing: Commission-free for most trades
Trading Software vs Trading Platforms on macOS
It’s important to understand the (increasingly blurred) difference between trading software and trading platforms. In 2025, many apps combine both charting and execution, but their origins and strengths still differ – especially when it comes to macOS compatibility.
Trading Software (Analysis-Focused)
- These are Mac-compatible tools built for technical and market analysis.
- Ideal for studying price trends, drawing trendlines, running backtests, or using advanced indicators like RSI, MACD, and Ichimoku clouds.
- Often referred to as:
- Stock charting software
- Day trading apps
- Market analysis tools
- Some support broker integration via APIs but trade execution is not always native.
- Popular macOS-compatible options:
- TradingView (our top pick and offers native Mac desktop and web-based trading)
- TrendSpider (browser-based)
- MotiveWave (native Mac app)
Trading Platforms (Execution-Focused)
- Offered by regulated brokers, these platforms are made for executing trades in stocks, crypto, options, and forex.
- Many also include charting and basic technical indicators, but they often lag behind dedicated software in terms of flexibility and precision.
- macOS users may need to use:
- A web-based platform (e.g. Robinhood, Charles Schwab)
- A Mac-native app (e.g. TradingView, thinkorswim, MotiveWave for some broker integrations)
- Or virtualization tools like Parallels to run Windows-only platforms (e.g. NinjaTrader, MetaTrader)
The Broker Small Print
If you’re signing up with one of the brokers featured in this guide, there are a few important things to be aware of:
- Minimum Deposits: Most trading platforms are free to sign up for, but you’ll typically need to make a minimum deposit to start trading. This is often around $50 to $250, depending on the broker although some may offer $0 account openings. Some platforms targeting active traders or margin accounts may require more.
- Bonus Restrictions (EU/UK): Since the implementation of MiFID II (Directive 2014/65/EU), brokers based in the EU and UK are prohibited from offering cash bonuses or incentives to open accounts. This regulation is intended to improve transparency and protect retail investors from high-risk promotions.
- How Brokers Make Money:
- Commission-Based: Some platforms charge a fixed fee or percentage per trade.
- Commission-Free: Others advertise “commission-free” trading but instead earn revenue from widening the spread (the difference between the buy and sell price).
- Payment for Order Flow (PFOF): US-based brokers like Robinhood often make money by routing your orders to market makers in exchange for a small fee – a practice that has drawn regulatory scrutiny and is banned in some jurisdictions outside the US.
- Margin Accounts: Many brokers offer margin trading, which lets you borrow money to trade. Margin interest rates vary and typically get lower the more you borrow.
- Demo Accounts & Simulators: Most trading platforms offer demo or paper trading accounts, which let you trade with virtual money. This is a useful way to test out the platform – especially charting tools and order types – on your Mac before committing real funds.
- Regional Restrictions:
- CFD Trading: US residents cannot legally trade CFDs due to the Dodd-Frank Act, which restricts over-the-counter derivatives.
- Cross-Border Limitations: Similarly, many US-based platforms are not available to international users, and some non-US brokers restrict access to US residents. Always check regional availability before signing up..
Can You Use iPad Only Trading Apps on Macs?
There are some trading apps for iPad that may run on Macs via the Mac App Store but they aren’t necessarily optimized for it.
One example is the eOption iPad app which is available for download in the Mac App Store but is labelled as “not verified for macOS” which means that it may not work well on a Mac as it’s designed for touch screens.
