Forex Tester is one of the oldest names in forex backtesting, with a long history as desktop software. If you're weighing Trade & Repeat against Forex Tester, this comparison shows you the real differences before you decide.
What Forex Tester is
Forex Tester is software built specifically for forex backtesting. It comes as a desktop app (Windows) and as a web version (Forex Tester Online). It supports both manual and automated backtesting and lets you import your own data, features aimed at more technical traders.
It has been around longer than most of its competitors, and it shows in the depth of its features: fine control over replay speed, several strategies running at once, and tools for traders who already think in algorithmic terms, not just discretionary ones.
What Trade & Repeat is
Trade & Repeat is a web platform for manual backtesting, focused on forex and CFDs. You mark your trades on the chart and see your statistics instantly. It's $20/month on the Monthly plan (with a 7-day free trial) or $240/year on the Annual plan, with the same features on both. You can read about why we built Trade & Repeat.
It's a younger product and deliberately simpler. It doesn't compete on depth of features. It competes on removing every bit of friction between opening the tool and starting to practice.
Want to practice without installing anything? Start here.
See plansSide-by-side comparison
| Feature | Forex Tester | Trade & Repeat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Paid | From $20/month (7-day free trial) |
| Installation | Desktop (Windows) or web | Fully web-based, nothing to install |
| Automated backtesting | Yes | No, manual only (by design) |
| Import your own data | Yes | No |
| Learning curve | High (more features to master) | Low (one focused workflow) |
Where Forex Tester wins
If you need automated backtesting, want to import your own historical data, or work in a more technical, algorithmic way, Forex Tester has features that Trade & Repeat doesn't offer today. For that kind of trader, the depth of its settings is a real advantage.
Where Trade & Repeat wins
Maybe your goal is to train your discretionary execution: reading price, marking your own entries and exits, and building discipline. If you want to do that without installing software or paying for a professional license, Trade & Repeat does exactly that. The same simplicity that means fewer advanced features than Forex Tester is what lets you start practicing today.
Manual backtesting, fully web-based, with a 7-day free trial.
See plansUse cases: when to choose each one
- Choose Forex Tester if you already trade algorithmically, need to import your own historical data, or prefer a desktop application.
- Choose Trade & Repeat if you're building your discipline as a discretionary trader (someone who makes each trading decision by judgment rather than with an automated system) and want to start today, without installing anything and with a free trial first.
Pricing in detail
Forex Tester is paid from day one. Beyond a limited trial, it doesn't offer a usable free tier. That makes sense: it's software with almost two decades of development, real automated backtesting and support for importing your own data. All of that costs money to maintain, and it shows in the price.
Trade & Repeat has a narrower scope (manual backtesting only, no data import), so it's more affordable: $20/month, with a 7-day free trial to test it before you decide, or $240/year.
What if you need automated backtesting later?
Nothing stops you from using both. Build your discretionary execution in Trade & Repeat, then look at Forex Tester once your strategy is objective enough to code and run across thousands of historical trades in one go.
Which one should you choose?
If you already trade algorithmically or need automated backtesting, Forex Tester is still a solid benchmark. If you're building your discipline as a discretionary trader and want an affordable tool that needs no installation, Trade & Repeat is the more direct choice. You can also see how it compares with the rest of the market in our guide to the best free backtesting platforms.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Forex Tester free?
- No. Forex Tester is paid software, available as a desktop app and as a web version (Forex Tester Online). Trade & Repeat has no free-forever plan, but there is a 7-day free trial on the Monthly plan so you can try the full tool before you decide. After that, it's $20/month on the Monthly plan or $240/year on the Annual plan, with the same features on both.
- Can I import my own historical data into Trade & Repeat?
- No. Importing your own data is one of Forex Tester's features, but not one of ours. In Trade & Repeat you practice on the historical data already loaded for the instruments it supports.
- Does Forex Tester support automated backtesting?
- Yes, and it's one of its strengths. Besides manual backtesting, it supports automated strategies and is popular with more technical or algorithmic traders. For now, Trade & Repeat focuses only on manual backtesting.
- Do I need to install anything to use Forex Tester?
- The desktop version has to be installed on Windows. Forex Tester Online runs in your browser, just like Trade & Repeat.
- Does Forex Tester work on Mac or Linux?
- The desktop version is built for Windows. On other operating systems, you'd use Forex Tester Online. Trade & Repeat is fully web-based, so it works the same on any operating system with a browser.
- Is Forex Tester worth paying for if I'm just starting out?
- It depends on how sure you are that you need automated backtesting or to import your own data. If you're still shaping your strategy as a discretionary trader, starting with a more affordable manual backtesting tool (with a free trial) is usually the sensible step before investing in more advanced software.
Keep reading: Trade & Repeat vs FXReplay: which forex backtesting tool fits you? · Trade & Repeat vs TradingView Bar Replay: key differences · The best free backtesting platform: an honest comparison
This comparison is based on public information about Forex Tester available when this article was published (August 2026). Prices and features may change, so always check its official site. Educational content only; it is not financial advice.