Best Free Trading Journals in 2026: Choose by Workflow, Not Hype

The Options Worth Considering

Tradelytic

Suitable for traders seeking a free trading journal for MT4/MT5, after-fee analytics and AI market-context insights. Confirm account compatibility.

Google Sheets or Excel

Suitable for full customisation and manual tracking. Formulas, charts and trade entry are your responsibility.

TradesViz and other freemium journals

May offer free plans with feature or volume limits. Check current plan details on the official pricing page.

Tradervue

Has advertised a free tier alongside paid tiers. Check current trade allowances and feature restrictions on its official pricing page. For a closer look, see Tradelytic vs Tradervue.

Free Options at a Glance

Option	Cost to start	Trade import	Watch out for
Tradelytic	Free for early users	Read-only MT4/MT5 connection	Compatible MetaTrader accounts only
Spreadsheet	Free	Manual entry	Formulas, charts and upkeep are on you
Freemium journals	Free plan	Varies by plan	Feature or volume limits
Tradervue	Free tier	Varies by plan	Trade allowances and feature limits

Comparison Checklist

Compare:

• the real cost, including what happens after a trial or free tier;
• supported markets and brokers;
• import method;
• monthly trade limits;
• reporting;
• notes and tags;
• privacy;
• export options;
• any paywall around AI or replay.

Avoid a ranking based only on feature counts.

Free vs Paid: When Is an Upgrade Worth It?

A paid journal may be worthwhile if it saves meaningful time, supports your broker or adds a workflow you use every week. If you only need a reliable trade log and performance review, a free solution may be enough. Our guide to the best trading journals covers the paid options too.

Our Recommendation by Use Case

• Compatible MT4/MT5 accounts: try Tradelytic. See the MT5 trading journal for how the connection works.
• A custom manual process: use a spreadsheet.
• Other broker integrations or asset classes: compare current free tiers and test with your own trade history.
• Leaving a paid journal: read our TradeZella alternative checklist before you switch.

How This Guide Was Compiled

This guide prioritises public feature documentation, pricing transparency and practical suitability. It is not a hands-on laboratory ranking. Plans change, so check the official pricing pages before you rely on a free tier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are free trading journals good enough?

Yes, if they reliably capture the trades and metrics you need. A paid subscription is not a prerequisite for a useful review process.

Can I use a free journal with MT5?

Tradelytic supports compatible MT5 connections.

What is the biggest drawback of spreadsheets?

Manual entry and maintenance can make records incomplete or inconsistent.

Sources

• TradesViz – official website
• Tradervue pricing
• Tradelytic FAQ