MetaStock has been selling charting software since 1985, which makes it older than most of the traders using it. This review explains what you get, who it suits, and whether it is worth paying for in 2026, in plain English and without the sales talk.
What MetaStock is
MetaStock is a charting and analysis program for Windows. It comes in two main forms: a daily version for end-of-day traders and investors, and a real-time version for day traders. The real-time version runs on XENITH, a professional news and data feed. Both are paid monthly, and there is a 30-day free trial.
What you get
- Charts: over 300 built-in indicators, every common chart type, drawing tools, and templates so every chart opens the way you like it.
- The Explorer: a scanner that searches thousands of stocks for your rules and lists the ones that match. This is the feature most people buy it for.
- The System Tester: runs a strategy over years of past prices and reports profit, win rate and biggest loss, across one stock or a whole list. See our step-by-step backtesting guide.
- Expert Advisors: ready-made systems from well-known traders that mark buy and sell points on the chart and explain the reasoning.
- The Forecaster: shows the range of likely price paths based on past behaviour. Useful for setting targets and stops, not a crystal ball.
- Add-ons: a marketplace of extra strategies and indicators, some free, most paid.
What it is not
It is not a broker, so you place trades elsewhere. It does not run on a Mac or a phone without workarounds. And it is not cheap next to TradingView’s free plan; you pay for the scanning and testing tools. If you only want to look at charts, read our MetaStock vs TradingView comparison before paying.
Who it suits
- Swing traders and investors who scan the market each evening for set-ups and want to test a system before trading it.
- System builders who want point-and-click rules as well as a formula language.
- Full-time traders who want professional data and news in one program.
It does not suit someone who trades a couple of names by eye, or anyone who needs to trade from a phone.
Is it worth it?
If you will use the Explorer and the System Tester every week, yes: there is no faster way to find and check set-ups across the whole market. If you will not, the money is better spent elsewhere. The trial is the honest way to find out: run three scans and one backtest in the first week, and you will know.
Start the 30-day MetaStock free trial. Not sure what to scan for? Our free learn-to-trade guides show the set-ups with real chart examples.
Affiliate note: ChartsView may earn a commission if you start a MetaStock trial through our link. It does not change the price you pay.