Keeping a trading journal is one of the few habits that separates consistently profitable traders from everyone else. Research from behavioral finance suggests that structured reflection improves decision-making by 23% on average—and in trading, better decisions mean better returns.
But with dozens of trading journals on the market, choosing the right one isn't straightforward. Should you pay $80/month for AI features? Is a free tool good enough? Does psychology tracking actually help?
We've spent weeks evaluating the top trading journals of 2026. Here's what we found.
How we evaluated these tools
We assessed each trading journal across five criteria:
- Core Features — Trade tracking, analytics, journaling capabilities
- AI & Psychology — Behavioral insights, pattern detection, coaching
- Integrations — Broker connections, import options, mobile apps
- Pricing & Value — Cost per feature, trial availability, refund policy
- User Experience — Interface quality, learning curve, reliability
We prioritized tools that help traders understand why they make decisions—not just what they traded.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Starting Price | AI Features | Free Trial | Psychology Focus | Best For | | ----------------- | -------------- | -------------------- | ---------- | ------------------ | -------------------------- | | TradeZella | $29/mo | Basic chatbot | No | Limited | Day traders wanting replay | | Tradervue | Free (limited) | None | Yes | Limited | Community-focused traders | | Edgewonk | $169/year | Analytics | No | Strong (Tiltmeter) | Forex/MetaTrader users | | TraderSync | $29.95/mo | Yes ($80 tier) | Limited | Limited | Mobile traders | | Stonk Journal | Free | None | Yes | None | Beginners | | Kinfo | Free | None | Yes | None | Social/verified trading | | M1NDTR8DE | Free (limited) | Yes (all paid tiers) | 14 days | Strong (AI Coach) | Psychology-focused traders |
1. TradeZella
Best for: Day traders wanting trade replay and backtesting
TradeZella has built a reputation for clean design and solid replay functionality. Their trade replay feature lets you review past trades with market data, which is valuable for pattern recognition.
Strengths
- Modern, polished UI — One of the cleanest interfaces in the market
- Trade replay — Review trades with actual price action (Pro tier)
- 10-year backtesting — Test strategies against historical data
- 30+ broker integrations — Covers major U.S. brokers
Weaknesses
- No free trial — All sales final, no refunds
- No mobile app — Desktop only
- Replay locked to Pro — Key feature requires $49/month tier
- Limited psychology tools — Basic chatbot, not true AI coaching
Pricing
- Entry: $29/month
- Pro: $49/month
- Annual discounts: 17-32%
Bottom line: Strong choice for day traders who value replay functionality and don't need psychology insights. The no-trial policy is a significant barrier for traders wanting to evaluate before committing.
2. Tradervue
Best for: Traders seeking community and mentorship
Tradervue is the grandfather of trading journals, operating since 2011. Their community of 200,000+ traders and social features set them apart.
Strengths
- Free tier available — 30 trades/month at no cost
- 200K+ user community — Largest in the industry
- Social/mentorship features — Share journals, get feedback
- 80+ broker integrations — Good coverage
- Longest track record — Proven reliability since 2011
Weaknesses
- Outdated UI — Interface hasn't meaningfully evolved
- No mobile app — Desktop browser only
- No AI features — No psychology analysis or coaching
- Slow innovation — Feature development has stalled
Pricing
- Free: 30 trades/month
- Silver: $29.95/month
- Gold: $49.95/month
Bottom line: Best option for traders who prioritize community over cutting-edge features. The free tier makes it easy to start, but the dated interface and lack of AI tools may frustrate traders seeking modern solutions.
3. Edgewonk
Best for: Psychology-focused traders, especially forex users
Edgewonk pioneered psychology tracking in trading journals with their "Tiltmeter" feature. If you trade MetaTrader and want deep analytics, Edgewonk delivers.
Strengths
- Tiltmeter — Unique psychology tracking system
- 50+ metrics — Deep performance analytics
- Strong MetaTrader integration — Direct sync for forex traders
- 200+ broker integrations — Excellent coverage
- Best annual value — $169/year (~$14/month effective)
Weaknesses
- Steep learning curve — Complex interface takes time to master
- Annual commitment only — No monthly option
- Not for long-term investors — Designed for active traders
- No AI coaching — Analytics without personalized guidance
Pricing
- Single tier: $169/year only
- No monthly option
- No free trial
Bottom line: The best choice for data-driven traders willing to invest time learning the platform. The Tiltmeter is genuinely useful for understanding emotional trading patterns, but the annual commitment and complexity aren't for everyone.
4. TraderSync
Best for: Mobile traders and those needing extensive broker coverage
TraderSync boasts 900+ broker integrations—more than any competitor—and offers full mobile apps. Their "Cypher" AI assistant provides coaching, but at a steep price.
Strengths
- 900+ broker integrations — Industry-leading coverage
- Cypher AI assistant — Genuine AI coaching capabilities
- Full mobile apps — iOS and Android support
- 250ms trade replay — Fastest in the market
- Multi-platform sync — Seamless device switching
Weaknesses
- AI locked at $79.95/month — Premium feature, premium price
- Cluttered interface — Feature-rich but overwhelming
- Reported billing issues — Some users report charge problems
- Complex tier structure — Confusing pricing tiers
Pricing
- Pro: $29.95/month
- Premium: $49.95/month
- Elite (with AI): $79.95/month
- Annual discount: 13%
Bottom line: The most feature-complete option, but complexity is a double-edged sword. If you need 900+ broker integrations or prioritize mobile, TraderSync delivers. But AI at $80/month puts psychology insights out of reach for most traders.
5. Stonk Journal
Best for: Beginners and budget-conscious traders
Stonk Journal takes a different approach: completely free, forever. No premium tiers, no ads. Simple trade tracking for traders just getting started.
Strengths
- 100% free — No cost, ever
- No ads — Clean experience despite free model
- Simple UI — Easy to learn and use
- Low barrier to entry — No signup friction
Weaknesses
- No broker auto-sync — Manual entry only
- No bulk import — One trade at a time
- Reported data loss — Some users report reliability issues
- Limited features — Basic analytics only
- Sustainability unclear — No revenue model visible
Pricing
- Free (only tier)
Bottom line: Good starting point for traders who want to build the journaling habit before investing in a premium tool. But reliability concerns and manual entry make it unsuitable for active traders.
6. Kinfo
Best for: Social traders wanting verified performance
Kinfo sits at the intersection of trading journal and social network. Their focus on 100% verified performance creates a unique leaderboard experience.
Strengths
- 100% verified performance — No fake stats
- Social leaderboard — Compete with real traders
- Mobile apps — iOS and Android support
- Free tier — Low barrier to entry
- Community focus — Built for sharing
Weaknesses
- Only 8 broker integrations — Very limited coverage
- Less comprehensive analytics — Social first, analytics second
- Undisclosed Pro pricing — Unclear upgrade path
- Limited feature depth — More social than analytical
Pricing
- Free tier available
- Pro tier pricing undisclosed
Bottom line: Perfect for traders who want social validation and leaderboard competition. But limited broker support and shallow analytics make it a complement to a full journal, not a replacement.
7. M1NDTR8DE
Best for: Traders focused on psychology and wanting AI coaching
M1NDTR8DE takes a different approach: instead of positioning as a trading journal with AI features, it's built from the ground up as an AI trading coach that happens to include journaling tools.
Strengths
- AI Coach in all paid tiers — Psychology-focused AI coaching at €19/month, not $80
- Psychology-first approach — Emotion tracking, pattern detection, behavioral insights
- Pre-market planning — Daily trading plans and setup checklists
- 14-day free trial — Full Pro features, no credit card required
- Modern UI — Clean, psychology-focused interface
Weaknesses
- Fewer broker integrations — Growing but not 900+ like TraderSync
- Newer platform — Less established than Tradervue or Edgewonk
- AI model limits — 30 coach messages/month on Pro/Elite tiers
Pricing
- Basic: Free (100 trades/30 days)
- Pro: €19/month (AI Coach + full journal)
- Elite: €39/month (AI Coach with Opus + unlimited)
- 14-day free trial on Pro
Bottom line: The best option for traders who believe psychology is their main barrier to consistency. AI coaching at €19/month (vs $80/month elsewhere) makes psychology insights accessible. The 14-day trial lets you experience the AI Coach before committing.
Best trading journal by use case
Best for psychology-focused traders: M1NDTR8DE
If you believe (correctly, according to research) that psychology is why most traders fail, M1NDTR8DE's AI Coach provides the most accessible psychology coaching at €19/month. The combination of emotion tracking, behavioral pattern detection, and personalized AI insights is unmatched at this price point.
Best for day traders wanting replay: TradeZella
Trade replay is genuinely useful for improving entries and exits. If reviewing past trades with price action is your priority, TradeZella's $49/month Pro tier delivers—just be aware there's no trial.
Best for community and mentorship: Tradervue
Nothing beats Tradervue's 200K+ community for social learning. The free tier makes it easy to start, and sharing journals for feedback accelerates improvement.
Best for forex/MetaTrader users: Edgewonk
Strong MetaTrader integration and the Tiltmeter psychology feature make Edgewonk the clear choice for forex traders willing to commit annually.
Best for mobile-first traders: TraderSync
Full mobile apps and 900+ broker integrations make TraderSync the most flexible option. Just budget $80/month if you want AI features.
Best free option: Tradervue
Tradervue's free tier (30 trades/month) beats Stonk Journal's reliability concerns and offers a path to premium features when ready.
The psychology advantage
Here's what separates successful traders from the rest: self-awareness.
Studies consistently show that 80-90% of trading failures stem from psychology, not strategy. Revenge trading after losses. Overconfidence after wins. Fear-based position sizing. These behaviors cost traders more than bad setups ever could.
The best trading journals don't just track trades—they help you understand the emotions behind your decisions. Features like:
- Emotion correlation — Which feelings lead to your worst trades?
- Behavioral pattern detection — Are you revenge trading?
- AI coaching — Personalized guidance based on your patterns
If your current journal doesn't help you answer "why did I make that trade?"—it's time to upgrade.
Research from behavioral finance shows that traders who reflect systematically on their psychology improve decision-making by 23% on average. Your trading journal should make this reflection easy.
Pricing comparison
| Tool | Monthly | Annual | Free Tier | AI Tier | | ------------- | ------------ | ------------------- | ------------- | --------- | | TradeZella | $29-49 | ~$24-33/mo | No | N/A | | Tradervue | $29.95-49.95 | N/A | Yes (30/mo) | None | | Edgewonk | N/A | $169/year (~$14/mo) | No | N/A | | TraderSync | $29.95-79.95 | ~$26-70/mo | No | $79.95/mo | | Stonk Journal | Free | Free | Yes | None | | Kinfo | Free-? | Unknown | Yes | None | | M1NDTR8DE | €19-39 | €15.75-32.42/mo | Yes (100/30d) | €19/mo |
Key insight: AI coaching is available at €19/month with M1NDTR8DE, versus $79.95/month with TraderSync. That's a 76% cost difference for psychology-focused AI features.
Migration guide: Switching made easy
Already using another trading journal? Here's how to switch:
From any tool to M1NDTR8DE
- Export your trades as CSV from your current journal
- Import to M1NDTR8DE using the CSV upload feature
- Start your 14-day trial to experience AI coaching
- Continue journaling — the AI learns from your patterns over time
Most traders complete migration in under 10 minutes.
Our recommendation
For most traders: Start with M1NDTR8DE's 14-day free trial.
Here's why:
- Psychology matters most — Research shows it's the primary reason traders fail
- AI is accessible — €19/month vs $80/month elsewhere
- No risk to try — 14 days, no credit card, full Pro features
- Modern UX — Built for 2026, not 2011
If psychology isn't your focus, TradeZella (for replay) or Tradervue (for community) are solid alternatives. But if you want to understand why you make the decisions you do, AI-powered psychology coaching is the future of trading journals.
Try AI Trading Coaching Free
Start your 14-day trial today. No credit card required. Experience what psychology-focused trading analysis can do for your consistency.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need a trading journal?
Yes. Research consistently shows that traders who keep journals outperform those who don't. The act of reflection improves decision-making, and journals make reflection systematic.
Is AI coaching worth paying for?
If psychology is your weakness (and it is for 80-90% of traders), AI coaching provides personalized insights that static analytics can't. The question is price: €19/month is accessible, $80/month is harder to justify.
Can I switch journals without losing data?
Most journals support CSV export/import. Migration typically takes 10-30 minutes depending on your trade history.
What's the best free trading journal?
Tradervue's free tier (30 trades/month) is the most reliable free option. Stonk Journal is completely free but has reliability concerns.
Why is psychology tracking important?
Because your strategy probably isn't your problem. Studies show that emotional decisions—revenge trading, FOMO, fear—cause more losses than bad setups. Psychology tracking makes these patterns visible so you can fix them.
Last updated: January 2026. We regularly review and update this comparison as tools evolve.