Compare 10 named workflows across chart strategies, multi-asset engines, Forex replay and options backtesting. Inspect data, execution assumptions, licence terms and export evidence separately.
Checked 17 October 2026. This is an official-documentation comparison, not a speed benchmark or hands-on provider review. Unknown means unestablished, not unsupported. Software, historical data and compute costs are different purchases.
10 selected workflows. All remain readable without JavaScript.
Select tools below to inspect assumptions side by side.
Code · Browser
Pine strategy workflow; plan-dependent
See current edition terms
Useful for chart-based Pine strategy development with a visible order/trade report. A strategy is different from an indicator that only draws historical signals.
Code · Cloud
Cloud backtesting with LEAN
See current edition terms
Code-first multi-asset research in Python or C#, with downloadable orders, trades, result JSON and logs documented separately.
Code · Windows desktop
Professional new-user licence
USD 379 one-time licence
AFL portfolio research and backtesting with explicit price variables, delays and account settings. Professional differs from Standard and the Ultimate bundle.
Code · Desktop
Desktop Strategy Tester
No software licence fee
MQL 5 Expert Advisor testing, visual replay and a chronological forward split are documented in the desktop tester.
Code · Windows desktop
Desktop 8 Strategy Analyzer
See current edition terms
NinjaScript automated strategy backtests, optimization and walk-forward analysis with explicit historical data and commission settings.
Replay · Windows desktop
Desktop, selected package
See current edition terms
Manual Forex replay alongside automated testing in the desktop product. Keep this edition separate from ForexTester Online.
Visual builder · Desktop
Visual Builder / selected edition
See current edition terms
Visual and genetic strategy generation, retesting and export of complete source code to supported target platforms.
Code · Local Python
Python source library
No software licence fee
Event-driven Python framework with explicit order lifecycle, commission schemes and configurable slippage. Its quickstart exposes market-order timing.
Code · Local Python
Source-available Python edition; PRO excluded
No software licence fee
Array-oriented portfolio research using signal/order functions, fees, fixed fees and slippage. Readable records support reproducible inspection.
No-code · Cloud
Essential backtesting
USD 49.99 monthly equivalent, billed annually
No-code historical multi-leg options testing. Essential includes backtesting; the cheaper Lite plan is modeling rather than this workflow.
Our local SMA lab takes a daily OHLC CSV, uses completed-close signals and next supplied bar opens, includes per-order commission and adverse price impact, and exports the full order and equity records. No optimization or market-data account is required.
It models one long-only, cash-funded share-like instrument with whole units. It does not model Forex leverage, futures multipliers or option chains.
Open the SMA backtest labStart with a tiny known dataset, one signal, a gap and a known fee. Compare signal time, order time, fill time, quantity and final cash against a hand ledger. Then test the intended instrument’s contract rules. This directory supplies documented test tasks, not claims that all providers returned identical results.
Definitions and verification limits · Official evidence and dataset · Trading guides