Let's Talk About Trading Tools

I've probably spent close to $3,000 on different trading software, indicators, and tools over the past two years. Some were worth every penny. Others... well, let's just say I learned expensive lessons about shiny object syndrome.

This is my honest breakdown of what I actually use daily, what's collecting dust, and what I wish I never bought.

The Tools I Use Every Single Day

1. TradingView (Pro+ Plan - $30/month)

Verdict: 100% Worth It

I tried using free charting platforms when I started. Don't do this to yourself. TradingView is worth every penny, and I'm not even sponsored or anything.

What I love:

The only downside is that I sometimes spend too much time making my charts look pretty instead of actually trading. But that's a me problem, not a TradingView problem.

2. BookMap ($99/month)

Verdict: Worth It If You Trade ES/NQ

This one's pricey, and I almost cancelled it three times. But for futures trading, especially on NQ, seeing the order flow and liquidity is incredibly helpful.

It took me like 3 weeks to actually understand what I was looking at, though. The learning curve is steep. If you're brand new, maybe wait on this one.

What makes it valuable:

3. Notion (Free)

Verdict: Essential

Yeah, I use Notion for my trading journal. It's free, it's flexible, and I can add screenshots, notes, and track my progress all in one place.

I've tried expensive trading journal software, but I always come back to Notion. Sometimes simple is better.

Tools I Bought But Don't Use

"AI-Powered" Trading Bot ($497 - Ouch)

Verdict: Expensive Mistake

I'm embarrassed to admit I bought this. The sales page was so convincing with all the backtest results and "94% win rate" claims.

Reality? It worked great in backtests and lost money in live trading. Shocker. The support was non-existent after purchase. Lesson learned: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Premium Discord Trading Group ($99/month)

Verdict: Not For Me

I tried this for 3 months. The problem wasn't the group - the traders there were actually pretty good. The problem was me trying to copy their trades without understanding their thought process.

I ended up taking trades outside my strategy just becasue someone posted "long here." That's not how you learn to trade.

If you join a group, use it for education and ideas, not as a signal service.

Multiple Indicator Suite ($249 one-time)

Verdict: Cluttered My Charts

Came with like 15 different indicators. I thought more indicators = better trades. Wrong.

My charts were so cluttered I couldn't even see price action anymore. Now I use maybe 2-3 simple indicators and focus on price.

Tools I'm Currently Testing

Quantower (Platform)

Been testing this for order flow trading. It's pretty good, still deciding if I like it more than my current setup. The DOM is really responsive.

Edgewonk (Trading Journal - $179/year)

Trying this as an alternative to Notion. The analytics are deeper, but I'm not sure if I need all that data yet. Still on the fence.

My Honest Recommendations

If you're just starting:

If you're trading seriously:

The Real Talk

Here's the thing about trading tools: they won't make you profitable. I spent way too much money thinking the right indicator or software would be my edge.

Your edge comes from understanding the market, having a solid strategy, and managing risk properly. Tools can help you execute better, but they can't replace good trading fundamentals.

Start with the basics, master those, then add tools that actually solve a problem you're having. Don't buy solutions for problems you don't have yet.

And please, for the love of everything, don't buy that AI trading bot. I've already made that mistake for both of us.