Best Stock Trading Software For Mac of 2024 (Free & Paid)

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 Mac of 2024 to set you on your way.

We’ve had years of experience trading on macOS and think Macs are great computers for trading.

In fact for managing your money, some of the best personal finance software we’ve used are Mac apps.

However, when it comes to stock trading, there’s definitely less Mac based software available.

We tried and tested a wide range of stock trading software and screeners including those with Mac desktop apps aimed at everything from beginners to seasoned professional traders.

We also found a few gems, not least our top pick TradingView that can be used for FREE.

Stock Trading Software vs Trading Platforms

The line between stock trading software and stock trading platforms is becoming increasingly blurred as many technical analysis apps now allow you to trade as well by connecting them to brokers.

At the same time, many trading platforms now feature their own advanced technical analysis tools so that you don’t need additional trading apps.

However, as a general rule, Stock trading software is mainly used for analysis of markets and are sometimes referred to as stock charting software, stock screeners, stock scanners or day trading apps.

These are tools which are principally used to perform technical analysis of stocks and market trends using trendlines, shapes, moving averages, momentum oscillators etc.

Stock trading platforms on the other hand are provided by licensed brokers.

They allow you to buy and sell stocks and other assets from your Mac but their technical analysis features are often not as good as dedicated stock charting software.

Trading platforms do however usually include their own charting tools for identifying things like technical indicators and fundamental analysis numbers.

They also usually include integration with news feeds, offer automated or copy trading etc.

In these reviews we’ve looked at a combination of both types of trading tool although almost all of them allow you to trade directly from them or by linking to a broker account.

With this in mind, here is our selection of the best stock trading apps for Mac of 2024 in order of ranking.

What To Look For When in Trading Platforms

Whether you’re using a Mac or PC, there are a few essential features worth looking fo. We gave preference to tools that offered some of the following features:

1. Chart Trading: The ability to place trades directly from charts is vital for day traders both for speed and trade execution
2. Data Replay: This allows you to replay historical market data for backtesting strategies. Without it, evaluating or refining your trading approach becomes difficult..
3. 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.
4. 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 offer snappy, reliable.

With this in mind, here’s our selection of the best ones to use on a Mac.

1. TradingView (Free)

TradingView is an amazingly powerful yet easy to use community driven stock charting software that combines user knowledge with sophisticated analysis to make you a better trader.

The app is ideal for beginners with a thriving, helpful trading community that makes it more accessible than most other tools.

It has an excellent native Mac desktop app for both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs so it works flawlessly on any type of Mac.

The great thing about TradingView is that you can use all the main features for free.

You only have to upgrade to the paid plans if you want to remove some time frame limitations, use multiple indicators and get faster, real-time information.

These are highly recommended if you’re going to trade seriously but you can use the free version for as long as you want.

TradingView also now allows you to trade on the stock market in real time by connecting it to selected stock trading platforms.

These include Oanda, TradeStation, Gemini, FXCM, Cannon Trading, GAIN, GFX Brokers, Interactive Brokers, Meintrade and even Indian trading platforms such as Dhan.

You can also check out our full TradingView review for more.

Pricing: Free, plans start at $14.95/month

2. MotiveWave

MotiveWave is a professional multi-asset desktop trading software for Macs.

It not only allows users to do powerful technical analysis but is integrated with multiple brokers and financial data delivery services.

Brokers that you can connect to MotiveWave include Oanda, TD Ameritrade, Forex.com, Cannon Trading, GAIN, GFX Brokers, Interactive Brokers and Meintrade.

If your broker isn’t supported, it may also be possible to connect it via a Gateway Connector such as Rithmic or CQG.

MotiveWave automatically looks for complex patterns such as Elliott Wave Patterns and Gartley Harmonic Shapes in order to identify trading opportunities.

You can also connect it to Rithmic Level 2 data which gives you incredible insight into a stock’s price action.

Other advanced features include Replay Mode, Advanced Alerts based on multiple market signals, Component Alerts and Multiple Monitor Support.

The Mac app is also optimized for High Resolution 4K displays and so it also looks great if you like to use an external display for trading.

You can also sign-up for a free trial of MotiveWave and when it expires, you can still use the limited Community Edition for free.

You can check out our full MotiveWave review for more.

Pricing: Starts at $24/month

3. MetaTrader 4/5

MetaTrader (both versions 4 and 5) is one of the most widely used platforms for forex and CFD trading, but it’s also suitable for stock traders looking for robust charting and technical analysis tools.

While MetaTrader doesn’t offer a native Mac app, many you can still run it on a Mac using a virtuasl machine.

Some brokers also offer customized Mac versions of MetaTrader.

MetaTrader is ideal for traders who need algorithmic trading capabilities or who prefer to develop their own indicators and trading systems.

MetaTrader is available worldwide and through brokers.

Pricing: Free

4. TC2000

For a long time the popular TC2000 trading software and platform was only available for Windows but you can now use TC2000 on Macs too.

TC2000 allows you to connect to it remotely or you can now use TC2000 in any web browser on a Mac.

The comprehensive dashboard gives you charts, all US stocks & options, indicators, streaming data, option chains, trading windows, notepad and favorites watchlist.

Although you can’t connect TC2000 to external brokers, it offers its own brokerage account which it charges a commission for although the margin rates are reasonable.

If you’re looking for an all-in-one stock trading software and broker platform on your Mac desktop, TC2000 is well established and trusted although it’s one of the more expensive tools we looked at.

Pricing: Starts at $9.99/month

5. Market Gear

Market Gear is a powerful and comprehensive stock trading tool aimed at professional traders.

Market Gear is made by iVest+ which is a big player in the world of trading platforms for educators and retail investors.

The software has an incredibly comprehensive set of technical analysis and tools and clever integration of them all across the board.

In particular, the Options trading features in Market Gear are some of the most advanced we’ve seen on any stock trading app.

For example, if you want to put on a bull call spread, Market Gear can analyze where you will make and lose money and make quick changes, but you can’t break the concept of the bull call spread.

It also allows you to connect to multiple brokers at the same time so if you’re experiencing problems with one account, you can switch to another trading account instantly.

Market Gear might be a bit overwhelming for beginners to stock trading but it’s powerful enough to impress any seasoned stock trader that has multiple brokerage accounts.

You can also read our full Market Gear review for more.

Pricing: $75/month

6. ProTA

ProTA is one of the most established technical analysis software packages for Mac and has been around for over 20 years.

The software is designed specifically for Macs and aimed both at beginners and seasoned traders.

Among the many features are more than 100 indicators, line studies, smartlists, chart templates and trading systems.

ProTA uses Yahoo Finance to extract end of day financial data and continuously updates data automatically to make sure you’re making trading decisions based on the latest figures.

It also allows you to import your own Excel data, drill-down tickers to analyze market data and create your own rules for data tracking.

Pricing: $99/year

7. Latinum

Latinum is a slick, professional trading and technical analysis software for Mac and PC.

If you’re going to be trading Stocks, Cryptocurrencies Forex and CFDs (Contract for Difference) then Latinum is a good choice as it supports streaming quotes for Forex and CFDs.

Latinum is designed for discretionary (non-automated) traders and quickly enables you to determine risk, make orders quickly via a Mini Order Ticket feature and more easily manage order and positions with a Mini Blotter.

You can even trade Forex on Latinum by linking it to FXCM Trading Station and Marketscope broker accounts although it no longer supports OANDA for stock trading.

Latinum also has a trading simulator which you can practice paper trades on.

Pricing: $99.99.

8. MooMoo

If you want a slick Mac desktop app with zero commission trading, then MooMoo stands out as one of the best value trading apps we’ve seen.

MooMoo drills down data thanks to access to Level 2 NYSE market data including real time bid and ask feeds.

Usually only professional traders have access to this level of data so it already gives you a big advantage over most other stock trading tools.

It also analyzes trades before you place them to estimate what the result will be.

We also like the fact that MooMoo offers a free paper trading account so that you can place practice trades before using real money.

We’d say that MooMoo is an excellent trading starting point for beginners but the Level 2 NYSE data will also attract professionals too.

Pricing: 0% commission, variable Margin Rate

9. Charles Schwab (thinkorswim)

Charles Schwab acquired TD Ameritrade in 2019 but it retained the TD Ameritrade thinkorswim (TOS) trading platform that has been popular on Windows and Mac for many years.

Thankfully, it also retained the TOS Mac desktop app too as well as the user friendliness that made thinkorswim popular with beginners with extensive how to guides, live training seminars and specific lessons on areas such as Options trading.

thinkorswim uses data from various sources including Morningstar and the Federal Reserve Economic Database giving you a wide range data to work with.

There’s also a paper trading account with Charles Schwab ThinkorSwim to test the water first.

You can download the Charles Schwab thinkorswim Mac desktop app here but you’ll need to setup an account to access it.

Note that if you’re looking for Schwab’s optionsExpress, Schwab acquired it back in 2011 and has now retired it in favor of focusing on TOS instead.

Pricing: 0% commission, $0.65 per options contract

10. Interactive Brokers (IBKR)

Interactive Brokers (known more commonly as IBKR) is aimed at experienced traders with its Trader Workstation platform.

IBKR Trader Workstation is complex with advanced Options analytics and portfolio management tools that take some time to find your way around at first.

IBKR also offers one of the best mobile apps for Options trading for those that want to trade on the move.

We wouldn’t recommend IBKR for beginners but for those that are already experienced traders, its a powerful platform with some of the most advanced algorithmic trading capabilities around.

Pricing: Variable commission and margins depending on asset class

11. Interactive Investor

If you’re a UK based trader then look no further than Interactive Investor.

Interactive Investor is a UK based an award winning online investment platform and only open to UK residents but it does allow you to buy shares in other foreign exchanges including the US.

If you trade frequently, Interactive Investor works out extremely good value although DEGIRO (see review below) also gives it a run for its money.

Interactive Investor also has some excellent charting tools and there are plenty of useful education resources for becoming a better trader.

You can start trading immediately with Interactive Investor as long as you have a UK address, debit card and National Insurance number.

Pricing: £12.99 per month for SIPPs. ISA, Ethical and General Investment Accounts (GIAs) available.

12. Tastytrade

Tastytrade (formerly Tastyworks) is a Chicago based online brokerage firm from the makers of the Tastylive stock market news network.

Tastytrade covers stocks, options, ETFs, and futures.

What we like about Tastytrade is that not only is it fresh and original, but it’s also got a Mac desktop client.

Tastytrade is also known for its extremely competitive pricing compared to most platforms and its own lively rolling news network.

Tastytrade is a very accessible trading platform that’s ideal for those new to trading because of its lack of jargon.

Pricing: Variable commission and margins depending on asset class

13. Power ETrade

ETrade is one of the biggest names in online trading and is a powerful online stocks, options and futures trading platform.

The main selling point of the Power ETrade platform is that it covers a huge range of stock trading areas, it’s well presented and designed and is easy to use for beginners.

The range of trading possible with Power ETrade is impressive covering Stocks, Options, Mutual Funds, ETFs and Bonds.

It also includes Futures trading with the ability to see Futures contract prices in real-time, depth of market and working orders.

Power ETrade can also evaluate risk vs reward, show you different outcomes based on different market scenarios and alert you to potential profitable trades.

Pricing: Variable commission and margins depending on asset class

14. Robinhood

Robinhood is a commission-free stock trading platform that has become popular with beginners to stock trading.

The platform has a simple and clean interface, making it easy for new traders to buy and sell stocks, options, and cryptocurrencies.

While Robinhood doesn’t have a dedicated Mac app, its web platform and iOS apps are optimized for Apple devices.

It lacks advanced charting tools though, so it’s more suited for long-term investors and casual traders than for those relying on technical analysis.

Pricing: Commission free but other fees apply depending on trade

15. Apple Stocks

Finally, no roundup of Mac compatible stock screeners would be complete without a mention of Apple Stocks in macOS.

The Stocks app is free in macOS and although you can’t trade from it, it’s very slick and aggregates multiple stock news sources in one place.

To access Stocks on your Mac, simply go to Finder > Applications and select Stocks or search for “Stocks” in Spotlight on your Mac.

Pricing: Free in macOS

Trading Platforms: The Small Print

There’s a few useful things to be aware of before you sign-up with any trading platform.

• Almost all of the online stock trading plarforms we looked at are free to sign-up for but require a minimum deposit before you can trade. This is usually anything from around $50 upwards. Some may periodically offer incentives of free trades if you open an account with large deposits although since 2018, platforms based in the EU are now prohibited from offering bonus incentives to open accounts. This is because of MiFID legislation (known as Directive 2014) which is aimed at creating more transparency and protection for traders.
• Online trading platforms make money either by setting commissions for trades or more commonly via what’s known as the spread. If a broker claims to offer “commission free trades”, they’re usually making money by widening the spread on trades. Some online brokers also allow you to open a margin account which allows you to borrow from the broker. The lower the margin rate, the better and you’ll find that this rate will decrease the more you borrow.
• Most broker platforms offer demo accounts where you can trade virtual currency in a stock trading simulator on your Mac before trading with real cash. We recommend using these paper trading accounts to get to grips with a platform before trading for real.
• Some trading platforms based outside of the US are not available to users in the USA due to strict laws on CFDs (Contract For Difference) and the Dodd-Frank Act. Likewise, trading platforms based in the USA are also not available to users outside of the US.

FAQ

Can you run iPad trading apps on Macs?

There are some trading apps for iPad that may run on Mac via the Mac App Store but 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.

Can you run Windows stock trading software on a Mac?

If none of the apps reviewed here meet your trading needs and you want to run a popular PC or Windows-based software such as NinjaTrader or X-TRADER on your Mac, you can do so using a virtual machine.

This isn’t an ideal solution because it’s very demanding on your Mac’s RAM and it involves the extra cost of buying virtualization software. But if you can’t live without your Windows trading software, it’s the best solution.

For an example of what’s possible, you can read more about how to use a virtual machine to run NinjaTrader on a Mac here.

Can you run stock trading software on an Apple Silicon Mac?

Yes, most of the stock trading software we looked at can run on Apple Silicon Macs either natively or through Rosetta 2, which translates Intel apps to work on M-series chips.

Is there any free stock trading software available for Mac?

Yes, platforms such as TradingView and the Community Edition of MotiveWave are free to use although offer more features with paid plans.

Are these tools suitable for Options trading on a Mac?

Most of the apps we reviewed support Options trading although the strongest in this area was Market Gear which offers advanced controls when it comes to Options.

Can you trade on global markets using these platforms?

Yes, apart from the Apple Stocks app, all of these tools allow you to trade globally including stocks, options, futures, and forex across multiple countries either directly or by connecting to a broker account.