Free-forever depth
TheProfitPath keeps the full journal and AI on free models free. Premium upgrades the AI model and allowances.
Capped but established
Tradervue’s free tier is a real on-ramp, with a monthly import cap.
Full control
A spreadsheet still wins if you refuse SaaS and will build every report yourself.
Quick picks
Match the journal to your workflow
Prices and caps for third-party tools change. Verify on each vendor’s site before you decide.
| Need | Pick |
|---|---|
| Free forever + full journal (analytics, playbooks, emotions) | TheProfitPathNo trial clock; Premium is AI only — Manual / CSV / Notion import — not 500+ broker auto-sync |
| Established free tier + deep desk-style reports when you pay | TradervueLong track record; strong reporting — Free tier capped at 30 imported trades per calendar month (Tradervue quota help) |
| Stock journaling within an execution allowance | TradesVizBasic includes stock journaling and basic analytics — 3,000 executions/month and one account; other asset types and advanced tools require a paid plan |
| Manual entry across markets without a trade cap | StonkJournalFree plan lists unlimited trades and accounts — CSV import and AI are Pro features; broker sync is on the roadmap |
| Custom fields and self-maintained calculations | DIY Excel / Google SheetsChoose your own fields and calculations — You build every report yourself |
Method
How to compare “best free”
- 01
Can you keep using it after day 30? (forever free vs trial)
TheProfitPath includes the core journal without a trial clock. AI coaching on free models is included too; Premium adds the premium AI model and does not unlock the basic record-keeping.
- 02
Are analytics on the free plan real? (equity, playbooks — or locked)
Match the tool to the job. Automation, reporting depth, and $0 forever are different products.
- 03
Is psychology first-class? (emotion/confidence fields vs notes-only)
Match the tool to the job. Automation, reporting depth, and $0 forever are different products.
- 04
Import friction (manual is fine if honest; do not pretend auto-sync if you do not have it)
Match the tool to the job. Automation, reporting depth, and $0 forever are different products.
- 05
Upgrade path clarity (what money buys — coaching vs unlocking the journal itself)
Match the tool to the job. Automation, reporting depth, and $0 forever are different products.
Our product
TheProfitPath — free journaling with AI included
Best for discretionary traders who want process, playbooks, and psychology next to P&L. Price: free forever for the journal · Premium AI $12/mo or $110/yr. You want the habit free. You will log context on purpose. AI on free models is included; Premium upgrades the model and allowances.
What the free plan includes
Honest limits
Where TheProfitPath is not the answer
What this roundup will not pretend
- 01
The separate historical-market Backtesting workspace is in limited preview and is not generally available. Check your account for eligibility; upgrading to Premium does not unlock the preview.
A free journal you use beats a paid journal you ignore — but only if the job matches the tool.
- 02
Market Monitor is available to every signed-in account.
A free journal you use beats a paid journal you ignore — but only if the job matches the tool.
Other options
Honest alternatives
- 01
Tradervue — best “serious free tier” if you accept a trade cap
Best for traders who want an industry-familiar journal and will pay for depth later. Free is capped at 30 imported trades per calendar month; Silver is $29.95/mo and Gold $49.95/mo on Tradervue’s pricing page. Strength is reporting culture and broker-import reputation. Trade-off: the free tier is an on-ramp, not an unlimited home.
- 02
TradesViz — free stock journal with an execution allowance
TradesViz's pricing table lists stocks, one trading account and 3,000 executions per month for free Basic. An execution allowance is not the same as a grouped-trade quota; check how your broker file is counted. Other asset types and AI tools are on paid plans. Basic can fit a stock-journaling workflow, but check the plan table before relying on a particular chart or integration.
- 03
StonkJournal — manual entry without a trade cap
StonkJournal publishes a free manual-entry plan with unlimited trades and accounts across stocks, options, futures, forex and crypto. Its $10/month Pro plan adds CSV import, AI coaching and combined account reporting. The official FAQ lists broker sync as a roadmap item, so do not choose it on the assumption that your broker is already connected.
- 04
DIY spreadsheet — best if you refuse SaaS
A spreadsheet lets you define your own fields and reports. Free spreadsheet software is available, though Excel may require a license. You maintain formulas, backups and sharing permissions.
Free vs paid
When to stop optimizing for $0
Stay on a free-forever journal when review quality is the bottleneck. Pay — or pick a different free tool — when import automation or research depth is the actual job.
| Choice | When |
|---|---|
| Stay free-forever | The bottleneck is review quality, not import automation. |
| Stay free-forever | You want psychology and rules beside P&L. |
| Stay free-forever | You refuse to lose analytics the moment a free cap hits. |
| Pay or pick another tool | You take so many fills that manual or CSV logging breaks the habit. |
| Pay or pick another tool | You need broker auto-sync as the product. |
| Pay or pick another tool | You need institutional-grade exit efficiency / MFE-MAE libraries as the core job. |
| Pay or pick another tool | You want backtesting plus tick replay in the same subscription. |
Pricing snapshot
TheProfitPath plans
No credit card to start. Cancel Premium anytime; Free remains. Premium Yearly is $110 (about $9.17/mo), with the same premium-model AI credits and voice allowances as Premium Monthly.
| Plan | Includes |
|---|---|
| Free · $0 forever | The full journal, permanently free |
| Premium Monthly · $12/month | The premium AI model, month to month |
| Premium Yearly · $110/year | The premium AI model, best value |
TheProfitPath
How TheProfitPath supports the workflow
Start with one complete trade: entry, exit, chart, reason and emotion. Try the same review in the tools you are considering, then compare the effort required to maintain the habit. Test imports with a small sample before moving your complete history.
- Screenshots, session notes
- Equity curve, profit factor, drawdown
- Playbooks and rule-adherence scoring
- Emotion / confidence tracking
Sources
Published plans and limits
Tradervue sources checked October 21, 2026. TradesViz, StonkJournal and TheProfitPath plan details checked October 22, 2026. Prices, promotions and allowances can change.
Common questions
Trading journal FAQ
The right choice depends on your workflow. TheProfitPath includes a free journal with AI on free models; Tradervue has a 30-trade monthly free import quota; TradesViz offers free Basic analytics. This guide is published by TheProfitPath, not an independent ranking. Compare import requirements and paid-plan limits before choosing.