EP15 Free trading lesson · Tools

How to Use TradingView for Free, Step by Step

From signing up to searching for and opening the XAUUSD gold chart, learn the 3 toolbars you use every day and the free plan’s limits to know before you upgrade.

By 1TRADER7 min readUpdated 16 Oct 2026

$0, no credit card needed

Top · left · right

2 indicators · 3 alerts

Note: Free plan features and limits are based on TradingView’s pricing page as of Oct 2026 and may change. This content is for education only and is not investment advice.

Quick summary before you read

TradingView is a charting website you use straight in your browser; the Basic plan is free with no credit card needed
Sign up in 3 steps: go to the site → sign up with Google or email → confirm your email
The tools sit in 3 toolbars: top for chart settings · left for drawing tools · right for the watchlist and alerts
Free plan: 2 indicators per chart · 1 chart per tab · 3 price alerts · ads

Previous lessons: EP1 Trends · EP2 Sideways markets · EP3 Trend reversals · EP4 Speed line · EP5 Demand & supply zones · EP6 FVG · EP7 Divergence · EP8 FIBO · EP9 Money management · EP10 Free backtesting · EP11 Stochastic · EP12 Bollinger Bands · EP13 Starting capital · EP14 Sniper (All-in)

01TradingView

What is TradingView, and why use it?

TradingView is the most popular charting tool among traders, covering Forex, stocks, crypto and gold. It opens straight in your web browser, with nothing to install.

It is easy to use, full-featured and has a free Basic plan that is enough for beginners. Every chart and tool in this free trading course, from trendlines and FIBO to Bollinger Bands, can be followed in TradingView.

Works on the web and mobile appMany markets in one placeFull drawing toolsBasic plan $0

02Sign up

How to sign up for TradingView (free)

Go to the website – tradingview.com; you can change the language from the globe icon at the top right

Create an account – click “Get started for free” and sign up with Google, Facebook, X, Yahoo, Apple, LinkedIn or email

Confirm your email – if you signed up with email, open it and click the confirmation link. That’s it, you are ready to go

TradingView home page with the Get started for free button: $0 forever, no credit card needed — TradingView home page: “Get started for free”, $0 forever · tap to enlarge

Only sign up directly at tradingview.com. The Basic plan does not ask for a credit card; if a page asks for card details to “use it free”, check the URL carefully first.

03Open chart

How to search for and open a chart in TradingView

Search for the chart – type the asset name in the search box at the top, such as XAUUSD (gold), EURUSD or BTCUSD

Pick a price source – the results show several sources such as OANDA, FOREX.com and Pepperstone; prices are close but not identical

Open the chart – click “Open chart” to go to the full chart page

TradingView home page after signing in: the chart search box at the top and the right bar with watchlist, alerts and chat — Search box at the top, and the right bar: watchlist, alerts, chat · tap to enlarge

Searching for XAUUSD in TradingView, choosing a gold price source and clicking Open chart to go to the chart — Search for XAUUSD, then click “Open chart” · tap to enlarge

Choose the price source closest to the broker you actually trade with and stick with it, because wicks and highs/lows differ slightly between sources. If you keep switching, the support and resistance you drew may not match your broker’s chart.

04Toolbars

The 3 toolbars in TradingView

The TradingView chart page splits its tools into 3 main areas: the top toolbar for chart settings, the left toolbar for drawing tools, and the right toolbar for following symbols and alerts.

1. Top toolbar

1 Symbol: Type an asset name, such as XAUUSD or EURUSD
2 Timeframe: M5, H1, H4, D1 to match your plan
3 Chart type: Candles, line or bars
4 Indicators: Add RSI, Stochastic, Bollinger Bands and more
5 Templates: Load a saved set of indicators
6 Alerts: Get alerted when price reaches a level
7 Bar Replay: Replay past price action to practise backtesting
8 Undo: Undo the last drawing or change

The 8 buttons of the TradingView top toolbar on the XAUUSD gold chart: symbol, timeframe, chart type, indicators, templates, alerts, Bar Replay and undo — The 8 top-toolbar buttons on the XAUUSD gold chart · tap to enlarge

At the top right there are also buttons for settings (colours, background, grid lines), fullscreen mode, snapshot for sharing a chart, and publish idea to share with the TradingView community.

Top-right buttons of the TradingView chart: settings, fullscreen mode, snapshot and publish idea — Settings, fullscreen mode, snapshot and publish idea · tap to enlarge

2. Left toolbar (drawing tools)

1 Cursor: Pointer style, such as cross, dot or arrow
2 Trend lines: Trendline, horizontal line, channel
3 Gann and Fibo: Fibonacci retracement / extension
4 Patterns: Chart patterns and Elliott Wave
5 Forecasting and measuring: Long/Short Position to measure SL, TP and RR
6 Geometric shapes: Rectangles, circles and free lines for zones
7 Annotations: Text, arrows and price labels
8 Icons: Stickers and symbols
9 Measure: Measure price distance, bar count and time
10 Zoom in: Zoom into the part of the chart you drag
11 Magnet: Snap drawing points to open, close, high or low
12 Stay in drawing mode: Keep drawing the same tool without reselecting it
13 Lock drawings: Stop your lines from moving by accident

The 13 buttons of the TradingView left drawing toolbar: trend lines, Gann, Fibo, Elliott Wave, measuring tools, magnet and lock drawings — The 13 left-toolbar drawing tools · tap to enlarge

3. Right toolbar

Use it to follow symbols in your watchlist, create and manage alerts, open the object tree (the list of lines and indicators on your chart), the stock screener, the economic calendar, the community feed and chat.

Open the watchlist – click the top icon on the right toolbar

Add symbols – click + and type a name, such as XAUUSD or EURUSD

Switch charts fast – click a name in the list to change the chart instantly

TradingView right toolbar: add a watchlist, object tree and chat — Right toolbar: watchlist, object tree and chat · tap to enlarge

05Setup

Set up your gold chart in 6 steps

This combines the 3 toolbars with the earlier lessons into a routine for preparing your XAUUSD chart before planning each day’s trades.

Pre-trade checklist

Open XAUUSD from the same price source – use button 1 on the top toolbar and choose candlesticks

Start with a higher timeframe – find the direction on H4 or H1 with trends and trendlines, then drop to M5 for entries

Mark zones and key levels – draw demand/supply zones with rectangles and FIBO from the left toolbar, with the magnet on so points snap to price

Add 2 indicators – such as RSI or Stochastic with Bollinger Bands, to fit the free plan’s limit

Measure SL/TP with Long/Short Position – check the risk/reward, then size your lot as in EP9 or with a lot size calculator

Set an alert at the zone, then lock your drawings – no need to watch the screen; wait for the alert before looking for an entry

Practise these steps on past charts with Bar Replay or the free backtesting sites in EP10, and use TradingView’s Paper Trading to place simulated orders before using real money.

Forex Rebate · 1TRADER

Free charts, and real trades get cash back on every lot

Open your account through 1TRADER and get cash back on every lot, on winning and losing trades. Same spreads as opening directly.

Compare rebates for every broker →

ExnessStandard Plus account

Max rebate95%

Gold XAUUSD$12.83/lot

Open an Exness account ↗ See all Exness rebate rates

Highest gold rebate

XMStandard account

Max rebate90%

Gold GOLD$18.00/lot

Open an XM account ↗ See all XM rebate rates

HFMPremium account

Max rebate95%

Gold XAUUSD$14.25/lot

Open an HFM account ↗ See all HFM rebate rates

1TRADER is an IB partner of the brokers above and earns a commission when you open an account through these links · 95% / 90% is the share of the IB commission paid back, not of your deposit · Gold rates per 1 lot are for the account with the highest rebate as of Oct 2026 and may change with each broker's terms · Already have an account? See how to get a rebate

06Free plan limits

Free plan limits on TradingView

The figures below are based on TradingView’s pricing page as of Oct 2026 for the Basic (free) plan.

2Indicators per chart

1 chartPer tab, and 1 saved layout

3Active price alerts

5K barsOf historical chart data

7 limits to know

2 indicators per chart – you can’t use RSI, MACD and EMA together, so you have to choose

1 saved layout – new settings overwrite the old ones and you can’t switch back

1 chart per tab – multiple charts on one screen needs an upgrade

Ads – they can be distracting during long chart sessions

Limited alerts – 3 price alerts and no indicator alerts

Limited history – about 5,000 bars, not enough to backtest several years on small timeframes

Limited Pine Script – you can write scripts, but you hit the indicator cap and advanced backtesting limits

Get the most from the free plan

Pick indicators with different jobs – such as 1 momentum indicator + 1 volatility indicator

Lean on drawing tools – trendlines, Fibo and zone boxes don’t count as indicators

Put alerts at the most important levels – choose the 3 levels closest to a real entry

Use the watchlist – keep the assets you check often in one list

Upgrade only when needed – when the limits start to affect your real trading plan; no need to rush to pay

Some sources say the free plan allows only 1 alert, but the current pricing page lists 3 active price alerts. TradingView updates its plans from time to time, so check the Pricing page before deciding to upgrade.

07Summary

TradingView tools every beginner should know

Area	Used for	Key tools	Used in
Top toolbar	Chart settings	Symbol, timeframe, indicators	Every lesson
Left toolbar	Drawing lines and zones	Trendline, Fibo, rectangle	EP1–EP8
Measuring tools	Measuring SL, TP and RR	Long/Short Position	EP9, EP13, EP14
Right toolbar	Tracking and alerts	Watchlist, Alert	Before trading each day
Bar Replay	Practising on past charts	Button 7 on the top toolbar	EP10 Backtest
Free plan	Learning at no cost	2 indicators · 3 alerts	Upgrade when needed

If you are a beginner just starting technical analysis, TradingView’s free plan is enough to read charts, use basic indicators, build a watchlist and start planning trades. Once you have more experience and the limits start to get in the way, consider upgrading to a plan that suits your trading style.

08FAQ

FAQ about free TradingView

Is TradingView really free?

Yes. The Basic plan is free with no credit card required, and you can chart every market, including Forex, gold, stocks and crypto. It has ads and limits, though, such as 2 indicators per chart and 1 chart per tab.

How do I sign up for TradingView?

Go to tradingview.com, click Get started for free, and sign up with Google, Facebook, X, Yahoo, Apple, LinkedIn or email. If you use email, open the confirmation link in your inbox before you start.

How many indicators can I use on the free plan?

2 per chart, so pick ones with different jobs, such as 1 momentum indicator and 1 volatility indicator. Drawing tools like trendlines and Fibo don’t count as indicators.

How many alerts does the free plan allow?

According to TradingView’s pricing page as of Oct 2026, the Basic plan allows 3 active price alerts and no indicator alerts. This may change with TradingView’s policy.

Searching XAUUSD shows several sources. Which should I pick?

Each source is a different price provider, such as OANDA, FOREX.com or Pepperstone. Prices are close but not identical, so choose the one closest to the broker you actually trade with and use it every time so your support and resistance line up.

Can I place real trades on TradingView?

TradingView is a charting tool. Real-money orders go through a broker, for example in MT4 or MT5, or by connecting a supported broker account. Beginners can use TradingView’s Paper Trading to practise simulated orders for free.

When should I upgrade to a paid plan?

When the limits start to affect your real trading, for example when you need more than 2 indicators, several charts at once, many alerts or deep historical data for backtesting. While you are still learning the basics, the free plan is enough.

← Previous lesson · EP14 What Is Sniper (All-in) Trading? Smart Strategy or Just Gambling? Lot size formula · EUR/USD and gold examples · wipe-out risk
Read EP14 again Next lesson · EP16 Free MT4 Indicator for Demand/Supply Zones, Order Blocks and FVG Automatic zones · install in 5 steps · find entries with zones
Read EP16 →

See all lessons in the free Forex and gold trading course

Risk warning: Trading Forex, gold and CFDs carries a high level of risk and you may lose money. 1TRADER provides information and education to support your own decisions only. 1TRADER is not an agent or partner of TradingView; screenshots are used for teaching purposes only. Read the full risk disclosure.