When you are a beginner trader and just getting started in the stock market, one of the most common questions is "what platform and/or app should I use?" As a new trader, if you are feeling overwhelmed by the amount of choices and tools out there, it's okay, you're not alone! I've been helping teach people how to trade since 2013 and I can tell you with full confidence many other new traders are feeling like you. Given there are so many stock trading tools, platforms and apps available, it'd make sense that there are many different pricing options. I thought it would be interesting to take an expensive technical chart provider and compare (in real time) vs. an online platform that is free to use. One of the most important tools you should use as a day trader (or swing trader) is technical charts. These will help you make logical decisions when trading stocks online and trying to make money. With that being the case, let's take a look at how two extremely different price structures match up against each other in performance!