TradingView vs ThinkorSwim: Which Platform Should You Choose in 2025?

Choosing the right trading platform is one of the most important decisions a trader can make. Whether you’re a beginner dipping your toes into the markets or a seasoned pro looking for advanced tools, the platform you use will shape your experience, efficiency, and ultimately, your results.

Two of the most popular platforms in 2025 are TradingView and ThinkorSwim. Both have passionate followings and offer powerful features, but they cater to different needs and trading styles. In this in-depth comparison, we’ll break down every major aspect—from charting and analysis to order execution, customization, and community. We’ll also include practical examples and real-world use cases to help you decide which platform is best for you.

Table of Contents

Overview: TradingView vs ThinkorSwim

TradingView

TradingView is a cloud-based platform known for its modern, intuitive interface and powerful charting tools. It’s used by over 90 million traders worldwide and is popular for its accessibility, social features, and flexibility. TradingView supports multiple brokers, making it a multi-broker solution for traders who want to connect to different accounts.

Key Features:

  • Advanced charting with 14+ chart types
  • Pine Script for custom indicators and strategies
  • Social community for sharing ideas and scripts
  • Paper trading (simulated trading)
  • Multi-device access (web, desktop, mobile)

Best For: Traders who value charting, customization, and community. Great for beginners and intermediate traders, as well as those who trade across multiple brokers.

Learn More: TradingView Official Site

ThinkorSwim

ThinkorSwim is a desktop-first platform developed by TD Ameritrade (now part of Charles Schwab). It’s known for its robust analytical tools, advanced order types, and deep integration with the Schwab brokerage. ThinkorSwim is especially popular among active traders, options traders, and those who want a full-featured brokerage experience.

Key Features:

  • Advanced charting and technical analysis
  • thinkScript for custom studies
  • Real-time Level II data and heat maps
  • Advanced options and futures trading tools
  • Integrated brokerage (Schwab/TD Ameritrade)

Best For: Active traders, options traders, and those who want a comprehensive brokerage platform. Ideal for US-based traders who want everything in one place.

Learn More: ThinkorSwim Official Site

Charting & Technical Analysis

TradingView: Charting Done Right

TradingView is widely regarded as the leader in charting. It offers:

  • 14+ chart types (candlestick, Heikin-Ashi, Renko, Kagi, etc.)
  • Over 400 built-in indicators (RSI, MACD, Bollinger Bands, etc.)
  • Customizable layouts (multiple charts per screen, split views)
  • Advanced drawing tools (Fibonacci, trendlines, channels)

Example:
Let’s say you’re analyzing a stock like AAPL. In TradingView, you can overlay multiple indicators (e.g., RSI, MACD, and a custom Pine Script indicator), switch between chart types, and use drawing tools to mark support/resistance levels. The interface is clean and responsive, making it easy to spot patterns and trends.

TradingView Chart Example
Source: TradingView

ThinkorSwim: Deep Analysis for Active Traders

ThinkorSwim offers equally powerful charting, but with a focus on depth and speed:

  • Real-time chart updates (near-instantaneous)
  • Advanced order visualization (see order flow, heat maps)
  • Level II data integration (market depth, order book)
  • Multiple chart layouts (but less flexible than TradingView)

Example:
If you’re day trading options on SPY, ThinkorSwim’s Level II data and heat map tools let you see where the big orders are, helping you make better entry/exit decisions. The platform also supports advanced chart studies and custom thinkScript indicators.

ThinkorSwim Chart Example
Source: ThinkorSwim

Customization & Scripting

TradingView: Pine Script

TradingView’s Pine Script is a scripting language that lets you create custom indicators, strategies, and alerts. It’s beginner-friendly and has a large community of users sharing scripts.

Example:
You can write a simple Pine Script to plot a moving average crossover strategy:

//@version=5
indicator("MA Crossover", overlay=true)
shortMA = ta.sma(close, 10)
longMA = ta.sma(close, 20)
plot(shortMA, color=color.blue)
plot(longMA, color=color.red)

This script plots two moving averages and can be used to generate buy/sell signals.

Learn More: Pine Script Documentation

ThinkorSwim: thinkScript

ThinkorSwim’s thinkScript is similar to Pine Script but is more focused on advanced technical analysis and order execution. It’s powerful but has a steeper learning curve.

Example:
A thinkScript for a simple moving average crossover:

input shortLength = 10;
input longLength = 20;
def shortMA = Average(close, shortLength);
def longMA = Average(close, longLength);
plot ShortMA = shortMA;
plot LongMA = longMA;

Learn More: thinkScript Documentation

Order Execution & Broker Integration

TradingView: Multi-Broker Integration

TradingView supports integration with multiple brokers (e.g., Interactive Brokers, OANDA, Binance). You can place trades directly from the platform, but the experience varies by broker.

Example:
If you’re trading forex with OANDA, you can set up an alert in TradingView that triggers a trade on your OANDA account. This is great for automated strategies.

Learn More: TradingView Broker Integration

ThinkorSwim: Integrated Brokerage

ThinkorSwim is tightly integrated with Schwab/TD Ameritrade, offering seamless order execution and advanced order types (e.g., bracket orders, conditional orders).

Example:
If you’re trading options, ThinkorSwim’s advanced order ticket lets you set up complex strategies (e.g., iron condors, straddles) with a few clicks.

Learn More: ThinkorSwim Order Types

Paper Trading & Simulators

TradingView: Paper Trading

TradingView offers a paper trading feature that lets you test strategies risk-free. It’s easy to set up and use, making it ideal for beginners.

Example:
You can simulate a day trading strategy on AAPL using paper money, then review your performance and refine your approach.

Learn More: TradingView Paper Trading

ThinkorSwim: PaperMoney

ThinkorSwim’s PaperMoney feature is a full-featured simulator that mimics real trading conditions. It’s especially useful for options and futures traders.

Example:
You can practice trading SPY options with PaperMoney, testing different strategies and seeing how they perform in real-time.

Learn More: ThinkorSwim PaperMoney

Community & Social Features

TradingView: Social Community

TradingView has a thriving community where users can share charts, ideas, and scripts. This is great for learning and collaboration.

Example:
You can browse public charts, see what other traders are doing, and even copy their strategies.

Learn More: TradingView Community

ThinkorSwim: Dedicated Community

ThinkorSwim has a dedicated community within the Schwab/TD Ameritrade ecosystem, but it’s less social than TradingView. The platform offers educational resources and webinars.

Learn More: ThinkorSwim Community

Mobile Experience

TradingView: Mobile-Friendly

TradingView’s mobile app is highly rated and offers most of the features of the desktop version. It’s great for on-the-go trading and analysis.

Learn More: TradingView Mobile

ThinkorSwim: Mobile App

ThinkorSwim’s mobile app is solid but not as polished as TradingView’s. It’s best for checking positions and placing simple trades.

Learn More: ThinkorSwim Mobile

Pricing & Free Features

TradingView

  • Free plan with limited features
  • Paid plans start at $14.95/month (Pro) and $29.95/month (Pro+)
  • Free paper trading and basic charting

Learn More: TradingView Pricing

ThinkorSwim

  • Free to use with a Schwab/TD Ameritrade account
  • No additional fees for most features
  • Advanced data and tools may require a funded account

Learn More: ThinkorSwim Pricing

Practical Examples: Day Trading, Swing Trading, Options

Day Trading

  • TradingView: Great for charting and quick analysis. Use Pine Script for automated strategies.
  • ThinkorSwim: Better for real-time order execution and advanced order types.

Swing Trading

  • TradingView: Ideal for long-term chart analysis and community ideas.
  • ThinkorSwim: Good for detailed technical analysis and options strategies.

Options Trading

  • TradingView: Limited options tools, but you can use custom scripts.
  • ThinkorSwim: Best-in-class for options trading, with advanced order types and risk analysis.

Which Platform Should You Choose?

Choose TradingView If:

  • You want a modern, intuitive interface
  • You value charting and customization
  • You trade across multiple brokers
  • You want a strong community and social features

Choose ThinkorSwim If:

  • You’re an active trader or options trader
  • You want a full-featured brokerage platform
  • You need advanced order types and real-time data
  • You’re based in the US and use Schwab/TD Ameritrade

Conclusion & Further Resources

Both TradingView and ThinkorSwim are excellent platforms, but they serve different needs. TradingView is best for charting, customization, and community, while ThinkorSwim excels in order execution, advanced analysis, and brokerage integration.

Further Reading:

Video Reviews:

By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each platform, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your trading style and goals. Whether you choose TradingView or ThinkorSwim, both offer powerful tools to help you succeed in the markets.

This article was automatically assembled.