Best trading journals in 2026 (compared)
The best trading journal is the one that imports your trades automatically from your platform and tracks the rules you trade under. For prop-firm traders, TradesViz (Platinum), TradeZella and Elave state prop-rule tracking; Tradervue and TradesViz have free plans, and Elave is free with no subscription. The table compares seven journals on five checkable criteria, each cell linked to the vendor's own page, retrieved 2026-10-09.
Updated · Elave editorial
Comparison table
| Journal | Auto-sync platforms | Prop-rule tracking | Price / free tier | AI review | Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ElaveThis site | MT4/MT5 via a read-only EA; CSV import from MetaTrader, TradingView, MyfxbookElave page | Yes — prop-firm tracker using rules verified against official firm pagesElave page | Free, no subscriptionElave page | Yes — AI coach reviews trades and behaviour patternsElave page | Web app in the phone browser; no native app listedElave page |
| TraderSync | Import or sync from 700+ brokersSource (search snippet) | Daily max-loss / drawdown plan rules; no prop-firm feature namedSource (search snippet) | Pro $29.95/mo; 7-day free trialSource (search snippet) | Yes — “Cypher” AI coachSource (search snippet) | iOS app on the App StoreSource (search snippet) |
| Tradervue | Broker Sync incl. Interactive Brokers, TradeStation, LightspeedSource | Not stated | Free version; Silver $29.95/mo; trial on paid plansSource | Not stated | Not stated |
| Edgewonk | MT4/MT5 auto-sync; 200+ brokersSource (search snippet) | Tracks prop-firm accounts; rule tracking not statedSource | $197/year; no free tier; 14-day money-backSource | “AI-driven analysis” mentioned; no named AI featureSource | No native app stated; browser access on phoneSource |
| TradesViz | 70+ auto-sync connections, 250+ brokers/platformsSource | Yes — Prop Firm Compliance (Platinum plan)Source | Free plan; Pro £11.99/mo billed annually (£15.99 monthly)Source | Yes — AI Coach (query, chat, summaries)Source | iOS and AndroidSource |
| TradeZella | 500+ broker and prop-firm integrationsSource | Yes — PropFirm Sync dashboardSource | From $26/mo billed annually ($35 monthly); no free tier statedSource | Yes — Zella AI (credit-based)Source | Web-only (per its own comparison page)Source |
| Myfxbook | MT4/MT5 “Live Update” account syncSource (search snippet) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
Cells were retrieved from each vendor’s own pages on 2026-10-09. “Not stated” means the vendor’s pages we checked did not state it — not that the feature is missing. “Search snippet” means the page blocked a direct read and the value comes from the vendor page’s indexed text. Prices change; confirm on the linked page.
How to choose a trading journal
- Auto-sync first: a journal you have to fill by hand stops being used within weeks. Check your exact platform (MT4/MT5, Tradovate, NinjaTrader, Rithmic) is supported.
- Prop traders: check that the journal can hold the firm's drawdown type and daily loss limit, not just your P&L.
- Free tier vs trial: a free plan lets you keep history; a trial does not.
- AI review is only useful if it points to behaviour you can change (oversizing, revenge trades), not just a summary.
- Mobile matters if you review on the go; a native app is not the same as a responsive website.
FAQ
- Which trading journal is free?
- As stated on their own sites on 2026-10-09: Tradervue has a free version, TradesViz has a free-forever plan, and Elave is free with no subscription. TraderSync offers a 7-day trial and Edgewonk a 14-day money-back guarantee.
- Which trading journal tracks prop firm rules?
- TradesViz (Prop Firm Compliance, Platinum plan), TradeZella (PropFirm Sync) and Elave (prop-firm tracker with rules verified against official firm pages) state prop-rule tracking on their sites. Edgewonk states it tracks prop-firm accounts.
- Which trading journals sync MT4/MT5 automatically?
- Edgewonk, Myfxbook and Elave state MT4/MT5 syncing; TraderSync, TradesViz and TradeZella list hundreds of broker and platform integrations. Elave's journal syncs MT4/MT5 accounts through a read-only Expert Advisor (it cannot place, modify or close trades) and imports CSV files from MetaTrader, TradingView and Myfxbook.
- How was this comparison made?
- Each cell was taken from the vendor's own pricing, feature or help page (or its app-store listing) on 2026-10-09. Where a page did not state the fact, the cell says “Not stated”. Prices and features change; check the linked page before you buy.
Sources
Related
About Elave
Elave (elavefx.com) is a free trading platform for retail and prop-firm traders: a broker-synced trading journal with an AI coach, a prop-firm rules tracker, risk tools, a Telegram trading desk and application-only coaching. The platform is free with no subscription; Elave is funded by partner-broker (introducing-broker) relationships.
Educational content, not investment advice. Elave makes no performance, win-rate, pass-rate or income claims. Trading leveraged products carries a high risk of loss.