TradingView for Prop Firm Traders
Most traders already chart on TradingView. The good news: many futures prop firms let you trade straight from it. The catch: it depends on which connection you pick when you buy the account, and you usually can't change it later.
Disclosure: this page contains affiliate links, including to TradingView. If you subscribe through them I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Short answer: for futures, choose a firm that offers a Tradovate account. Tradovate connects to TradingView, while Rithmic generally doesn't without a bridge. For real-time charts while you trade, you'll need a paid TradingView plan.
Futures firms that connect to TradingView
These firms offer Tradovate accounts, which is the usual route to trading from TradingView:
| Firm | TradingView route | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Apex Trader Funding | Tradovate | Enable the TradingView add-on in Tradovate's settings. Accounts can't be switched between Rithmic, Tradovate and WealthCharts after you buy. |
| My Funded Futures | Tradovate | |
| Tradeify | Tradovate | |
| Lucid Trading | Tradovate | |
| Take Profit Trader | Tradovate | |
| TradeDay | Tradovate | |
| Earn2Trade | Tradovate | |
| Alpha Futures | Reported to support TradingView | Check which account type when buying |
| FundedNext Futures | Reported to support TradingView | Check which account type when buying |
| FTMO Futures | Supported at launch | Also supports NinjaTrader and Tradovate |
| Topstep | Limited | One source says TopstepX can't connect to TradingView. Check before buying if this matters to you. |
How the connection works
- Buy a Tradovate accountPick Tradovate (not Rithmic) at checkout. You usually can't convert it later.
- Get your loginThe firm sends Tradovate credentials for your evaluation account.
- Enable TradingViewSome firms need you to switch on the TradingView add-on inside Tradovate first (Apex does).
- Connect in TradingViewOpen the Trading Panel under your chart, choose Tradovate, and log in with the firm's credentials.
Your firm's own setup page is the source of truth for the exact steps. Follow it if it differs from the above.
Mistakes that cost traders time
- Buying a Rithmic account and expecting TradingView to work. Rithmic usually needs a bridge such as a third-party connector.
- Market data in the wrong place. For Tradovate, real-time exchange data has to be active on the broker side. Buying data only on TradingView doesn't make the symbol tradable.
- Using a free TradingView plan. Real-time streaming through the connection needs a paid TradingView subscription.
Why TradingView is worth it for prop traders
You can keep the same charts, indicators and layouts across every firm you trade. That matters when you're running evaluations at several firms at once. It also handles alerts, and you can write custom indicators in Pine Script.
Related: Best prop firms for scalping · Prop firms that allow trading bots