MetaStock gives me compelling reasons to tolerate an interface that takes time to learn: detailed technical charts, serious system testing, historical forecasting, and XENITH’s financial news and research. If those are central to your trading process, it deserves a place on your shortlist.
My overall MetaStock rating is 4.42. Its strongest qualities suit traders who want to investigate a strategy, understand its historical behavior, and research markets in depth. The extra cost and setup are harder to justify if you only need a few charts and a watchlist.
This review focuses on the MetaStock R/T and XENITH setup I have evaluated. I also explain when the less expensive Daily Charts package makes more sense, because the version I find most capable is not the version every reader should buy.
My MetaStock Verdict
My lab test score for MetaStock is AA 4.42. I recommend it for technical analysts who want to develop and evaluate trading systems, and for traders who value XENITH’s international financial real-time news and research. My favorite feature is Forecaster: exploring what happened after comparable historical setups makes the software more useful than a conventional charting package.
The trade-offs are that MetaStock takes time to learn, its software and data packages need careful selection, and live trade execution is a separate consideration. For a beginner seeking a straightforward charting workspace, I would start with a simpler platform. For an experienced analyst willing to learn its tools, MetaStock offers considerable depth.
MetaStock Review Results & Ratings
My MetaStock testing highlights it as a robust trading platform. It offers over 300 charts and indicators for global markets, including stocks, ETFs, bonds, and Forex. MetaStock R/T excels in its advanced backtesting and forecasting features, real-time news updates, and efficient screening tools.
| Test | Tier | Score | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lab Test Composite Score | AA | 4.42 | 4.21 |
| Pricing Index: $/day | A | $8.71 | $2.74 |
| Value Score (VP) | B | 3.26 | 2.82 |
| Speed & Ease of Use | B | 3.33 | 4.50 |
| Chart Analysis Depth Index | AAA | 4.83 | 3.17 |
| Chart Pattern Depth & Accuracy | B | 3.70 | 2.73 |
| Scanning Performance | B | 3.71 | 3.38 |
| Backtesting Performance | AAA | 4.81 | 3.38 |
| Trading Bot & Auto-Trading Reliability | C | 2.50 | 2.50 |
| AI & Algo Index | C | 2.50 | 2.00 |
| Alert Speed | B | 3.67 | 3.67 |
| Trade Signal Quality | C | 2.50 | 0.00 |
| Broker Connectivity & Ecosystem Depth | C | 1.67 | 2.00 |
| Portfolio Tool Performance | C | 2.60 | 2.80 |
| Financial News Speed & Depth | AAA | 5.00 | 2.30 |
| Community Utility Index (CUI) | B | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Support Infrastructure & SLA Audit | A | 4.00 | 3.75 |
Tested using benchmarking system v3.
See the 2026 v3 58-point MetaStock test and benchmarks.
Pros
✔ Great Selection of Automated Expert Advisors
✔ Excellent Deep Backtesting
✔ Unique Stock Price Forecasting
✔ AAA Real-time News
✔ AAA Charts & Indicators
✔ AAA Institutional Real-Time News
✔ Xenith Add-On Rivals Bloomberg Terminals
✔ Works Online & Offline
Cons
✘ Takes Time To Learn
✘ Old School Windows App Design
✘ No Broker Integration
MetaStock is best for traders who need excellent real-time news, exceptional technical analysis, a vast stock systems marketplace with global data coverage, and excellent customer service.
MetaStock at a Glance
| Question | My assessment |
|---|---|
| What is it? | Windows charting, market analysis, scanning and strategy-testing software |
| Which setup does this review evaluate? | MetaStock D/C & R/T with XENITH data, news and research |
| Standout capabilities | Technical analysis, System Tester, Forecaster and Real-time XENITH news |
| Best suited to | System developers, experienced technical analysts and international market researchers. |
| Less suited to | Beginners wanting minimal setup or traders seeking an integrated bot-execution platform |
| Lower-cost option | MetaStock D/C with Daily Charts data for 15-minute delayed-data research |
| Main buying complication | Software, data subscriptions, and applicable exchange fees are separate cost considerations |
Compare MetaStock packages, pricing and available offers.
Screenshot Highlights
Key Features
| ⚡ Features | Charts, Watchlists, Scanning, Backtesting |
| 🏆 Unique Features | Algorithmic AI Forecasting, Real-time Global Trading News (Multi-language), Candle Pattern Recognition. |
| 🎯 Best for | Stock, FX & Commodity Traders |
| ♲ Subscription | Monthly, Yearly |
| 💰 Price | $75|$100|$265 |
| 💻 OS | PC |
| 🎮 Trial | 30-Day Free Trial |
| ✂ Discount | 3 Months for the Price of 1 (worth $530) |
| 🌎 Region | Global |
My Video Review
What Is MetaStock? D/C, R/T and XENITH Explained
MetaStock is software for analyzing financial markets. Its tools let you study charts, search for technical conditions, test trading rules, and examine historical patterns. The main choice is between D/C, intended for end-of-day, swing and position trading, and R/T, intended for intraday analysis.
XENITH supplies the data used with R/T and provides its news and research environment. MetaStock R/T requires a XENITH subscription; applicable exchange fees are necessary to remove delays from the relevant feeds. D/C packages use a separate continuous delayed-data service with 15-minute delays.
My advice is to decide whether you need intraday data before choosing the software. Someone developing daily chart strategies may have very different requirements from a trader monitoring breaking news during the session.
What I Like & What To Watch Out For
| What I like | What to consider |
|---|---|
| Charting and custom indicators | A traditional Windows interface with a learning curve |
| Detailed strategy testing and reporting | Custom system development requires learning the formula language |
| Forecaster’s historical setup analysis | Historical probabilities need careful interpretation |
| XENITH financial news and global research | The required data package increases the subscription cost |
| Expert Advisors and specialist add-ons | Signals and analysis do not establish a profitable trading system |
| First-class technical support | Learning several connected tools takes time |
Powerful Charting and Custom Technical Analysis
My chart-analysis rating: 4.83. MetaStock is the industry leader in pure technical chart analysis. It has over 300 price and volume indicators, including Darvas Box, Gann, Fibonacci, and Ichimoku Cloud. Charting includes all core chart types, as well as Point & Figure, Equivolume, and Market Profile.
You can develop indicators based on their coding system or ask MetaStock for help. MetaStock is one of the biggest fish in the sea of stock market analysis software. It is partnered with Thomson Reuters/Refinitiv so that you can expect excellent, fast global data coverage.
MetaStock’s technical depth is one of its strongest attractions. Its indicator library, specialist chart formats and custom formulas give me considerable flexibility when investigating a trading idea. I particularly appreciate being able to build charts around a defined analytical method, whether that involves Ichimoku, volume relationships or a custom study.
That flexibility becomes valuable when standard indicators cannot answer my research question. However, I would choose MetaStock because I need its analytical tools and intend to learn them. Someone who mainly follows price, volume and moving averages may find a simpler platform sufficient.
Backtesting That Lets Me Investigate a Strategy
Published backtesting rating: 4.81. Backtesting is a major reason I consider MetaStock worth learning. In my published demonstration, I selected a MACD system through the Power Console and tested it across the Nasdaq 100. Being able to examine individual trades and drawdown helps me understand where a strategy worked and where it struggled.
I also like having a route from supplied systems to custom strategies. Existing tests provide a starting point, while the formula language gives more experienced users control over their rules. My priority is a test I can explain and repeat, with realistic costs and a separate evaluation period. A strong historical return becomes more useful when I can understand the assumptions behind it.
MetaStock harnesses “Expert Advisors,” built-in systems to help you understand and profit from technical analysis patterns and well-researched systems. Expert Advisors are stock market trading strategies that generate trading signals.
When you launch MetaStock, you will see the Power Console. Select System Test to access 58 systems you can backtest. In the example below, I selected the MACD Expert System and ran it on the entire Nasdaq 100.
After 60 seconds, the backtest completed and presented me with a list of every buy or sell trade and, of course, the strategy’s capital drawdown. You can click through any trade to see the trade background, size, duration, and profit or loss.
Of course, the inbuilt systems will not make you super-rich; you want to backtest and develop your own system to get an edge in the market. With some scripting or programming skills (or using AI chatbots), you will achieve this with MetaStock. If you do not have programming skills, you can ask MetaStock or one of the many MetaStock Partners to help you build your system.
Many premium MetaStock stock trading systems are also sold by their partners and are usually backed by training and webinars to support their clients.
MetaStock Forecaster Skills
The MetaStock Forecaster is unique in the industry because it lets you use hundreds of strategies to predict future stock prices. The forecaster analyzes past events and their impact on the stock price, and forecasts future events.
The most significant addition to MetaStock’s arsenal is the forecasting functionality, which sets it apart from the competition.
The forecaster strategies are called recognizers, and over 70 are available. Recognizers are based on common technical chart setups, such as new 52-week highs or lows, candlestick patterns, or MACD crossovers.
You are then presented with an interactive report that lets you scan the many predictive recognizers. These help you plan for realistic outcomes and profits for a particular trade setup. Watch this video to understand the MetaStock Forecaster better.
You can even use AI-like functionality to test a set of variables in your backtesting. For example, you could test if the price moves above the moving average of 10, 14, or 20 in a single test to see which moving averages work best with that stock.
MetaStock is one of the few vendors that takes forecasting seriously. System backtesting is excellent because it allows you to test whether a theory, idea, or set of analyses has worked in the past. Forecasting takes it to a whole new level by running the backtesting forward to see how successful you might be with a strategy under certain circumstances. The configurable nature of the backtesting and forecasting reporting is excellent.
Forex sentiment-based forecasting is an exceptional feature. The forecasting functionality is MetaStock’s most significant advantage, setting it apart from the crowd.
MetaStock’s new version brings upgrades to OptionScope and Power Console, along with two free trading systems and the Greg Morris Candle pattern recognition add-on. It also now includes Performance Systems Plus, the top-selling system, at no cost, as well as the Daryl Guppy ATR indicators.
Unique Pattern Recognition That Supports Further Research
Published chart-pattern rating: 3.70. I find MetaStock’s candlestick recognition and accompanying analysis useful for moving beyond simply spotting a shape on a chart. Recognizing a setup gives me a starting point; investigating its historical behavior helps me decide whether it deserves a more detailed strategy test.
MetaStock provides automatic Candlestick recognition from version 20, so you will get the add-on “Greg Morris’ Japanese Candle Recognition” for free. Greg Morris is widely regarded as a global authority on Japanese Candlestick trading and has published on the topic.
This add-on provides a sophisticated trading system with full candlestick backtesting, analysis, and signal generation. It forecasts the direction of the next move in stock price and the probability of the Candlestick signal’s success.
The probability rating of the Candlestick recognition success is absolutely critical, and no other software offers this level of professional Candlestick trading system.
In the image below, this signal (highlighted in yellow) predicts a 77% chance of success.
You get forecasting of the direction of the next move in stock price and also the probability of the Candlestick signal being successful
Flexible Technical Scanning with Explorer
Published scanning rating: 3.71.† Explorer helps me search a group of instruments for technical conditions instead of inspecting every chart manually. Its formula-based approach is particularly useful when I know the setup I want to find. That makes it a practical companion to MetaStock’s charting and system-testing tools.
For the best market scanning and screening, you must have MetaStock R/T, including MetaStock’s Xenith platform. Xenith integrates real-time data from Refinitiv, real-time news from Reuters, and global financials to provide the most powerful scanning and screening available to retail investors.
MetaStock R/T has an incredible database of global fundamental data, covering not just companies but also countries, economies, and industries. The possibilities for filtering and scanning are endless.
I want better integration between MetaStock and the Xenith software, which combines fundamentals and technical analysis to enable better charting and technical analysis on fundamentals. However, the wealth of data is first-class.
Using Xenith, you can see an in-depth analysis of company fundamentals, from debt structure to the top ten investors, including level II market liquidity. Watchlists featuring fundamentals and powerful market scanning are outstanding.
XENITH’s Financial News and International Research
My financial-news rating: 5.00. XENITH is one of the strongest reasons to consider a MetaStock configuration that includes it. I particularly value the depth of international news and company research when investigating the events behind a price move. It gives me more context than a chart alone can provide.
MetaStock R/T + Xenith has full Refinitiv integration, providing institutional-level news, analysis, and outlook. This is the fastest global news service available, including translations into all major languages.
Reuters is also the world’s largest news agency and provides TV news coverage through smartphone and smart TV applications. The package includes Reuters Insider alerts, exclusive content, and research provided by expert analysts on the financial network team.
In the image above, you see Xenith streaming the news screen for Netflix. Look at the screenshot below; the attention to detail and the amount of original news from the Reuters Network mean you will get this news before anyone else.
It includes detailed company financial snapshots, stock quotes, charts, analyst estimates, a full listing of financial details and SEC filings, and upcoming events, so you are prepared for action.
Included are stocks, options, bonds, futures, FX, and macroeconomic news and data—an unparalleled source of information.
This breadth is most useful when I need to examine company fundamentals and broader market developments alongside technical analysis. It also affects the buying decision: the chosen package needs to cover the regions, instruments and exchange entitlements I actually use. I would compare the complete configuration cost in my MetaStock pricing and discounts guide.
Useful Alerts and Expert Advisor Commentary
My alert rating: 3.67. MetaStock’s alerts help draw attention to conditions I want to monitor, while Expert Advisors can mark strategy signals and provide commentary on a chart. I find that useful for making a trading method easier to follow consistently.
Their usefulness depends on the rules and data behind them. Delayed data affects when a condition becomes available, and a signal still needs a decision about entry, position size and exit. I treat these features as analytical assistance; receiving an alert does not mean a broker has received or filled an order.
Knowledgeable Support for a Complex Platform
My support rating: 4.00. Support matters with MetaStock because learning the software can involve several different challenges: installation, data subscriptions, formulas and strategy testing. Access to knowledgeable assistance makes that process more manageable, especially when I have a specific task to complete.
I would use the evaluation period to ask practical questions about the intended setup. Which package covers my watchlist? What data is delayed? How should I construct the exploration or test? Those answers help establish whether the platform fits my needs. My rating reflects the value of support, rather than a guaranteed response time.
A Steeper Learning Curve Than I Would Like
Published speed-and-ease-of-use rating: 3.33. MetaStock can feel like several specialist applications brought together. Chart analysis, Explorer, System Tester and XENITH each have their own workflows. The Power Console helps organize access, but learning to navigate between the tools takes time.
My advice is to begin with one chart layout, one exploration and one system test. During a trial, I would concentrate on the tasks I expect to repeat daily: updating data, running scans and reviewing results. The depth is worthwhile when it serves a defined purpose, but the learning commitment is a drawback for anyone seeking a simple workspace.
Limited AI Capabilities Despite Useful Forecasting Tools
My AI and algorithmic rating: 2.50. I like Forecaster, but its appeal needs a precise explanation. It examines historical occurrences of selected setups and summarizes what followed. My demonstrations include CCI divergence and custom pattern recognizers, which help me investigate the range of historical outcomes associated with an idea.
My reservation concerns expectations about AI. Historical pattern analysis and parameter optimization do not, by themselves, establish machine learning or a conversational assistant. I would use Forecaster to develop a hypothesis, translate it into explicit rules, and test those rules separately. I value that research process, while recognizing that a favorable historical distribution cannot determine the next outcome.
Limited Broker Connectivity and Trade Execution
My broker-connectivity rating: 1.67. The MetaStock setup I reviewed is primarily an analysis and research workstation. I would plan for a separate execution workflow, which adds friction for someone who wants to research, enter, and manage trades in one place.
MetaStock is broker-agnostic, meaning it does not provide broker integration, chart-based trade execution, or live, integrated profit-and-loss analysis. You will need to enter your trades into a broker’s platform independently.
Still, the package is powerful because it lets you configure multiple data providers, including your broker.
MetaStock covers all stock exchanges and all asset classes: Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Options, Futures, Forex, and Bonds.
MetaStock can improve by integrating with brokers. The company excels at developing stock trading systems that generate signals and deliver powerful technical analysis.
This limitation matters especially when automation is the objective. Creating a strategy, displaying a signal, and submitting an order are separate capabilities.
A Less Connected Community Experience
My community rating: 3.25. MetaStock has a specialist ecosystem of add-ons, trading methods, training, and formula expertise. That can help someone develop a particular analytical approach. However, I miss the convenience of browsing chart ideas, discussing setups, and adapting shared tools within a more connected community environment like TradingView.
The add-on marketplace also creates additional purchasing decisions. I would learn the included tools before buying more systems, then assess exactly what an add-on contributes and whether it requires other products. Clear rules and understandable results matter more to me than the number of systems available.
Who Should Choose MetaStock?
MetaStock makes the most sense to me for an experienced analyst with a defined research process. If you want detailed charts, custom formulas, repeatable system tests, and historical setup analysis, there is plenty to investigate. XENITH offers an additional reason to consider it if excellent real-time international news and in-depth financial research are part of that process.
I would look elsewhere first if your priorities are quick setup, a free starting point, social chart sharing or integrated order execution. The right comparison is with the tasks you need to complete, not the length of the feature list.
| Your main priority | What I would investigate |
|---|---|
| MetaStock’s charting, formulas and historical system research | D/C or R/T, depending on the data needed |
| Intraday MetaStock analysis plus XENITH news | R/T with the appropriate data package |
| An accessible general charting workspace | My TradingView review |
| An automated AI-driven approach to strategy research | My TrendSpider review |
| A scanner-focused AI day trading workflow | My Trade Ideas review |
My Final Verdict: Is MetaStock Worth It?
Yes, MetaStock is worth buying if you need real-time news, the broadest selection of stock charts and indicators, and innovative stock backtesting and forecasting technology for all international markets.
My recommendation for any investor or trader is to go for MetaStock R/T + Xenith. Together, they offer a staggering depth of fundamental research and news, and MetaStock offers industry-leading in-depth analysis, backtesting, and forecasting.
Fear not if $265 per month for the MetaStock R/T Xenith Package is too much. If you want the end-of-day data and all the MetaStock functionality, the price starts at a reasonable $75 per month. You can even buy one-off lifetime licenses if you prefer.
MetaStock is also worth it if you want to develop your own backtested stock system or purchase a tested strategy from the marketplace.
Compare MetaStock plans and available offers.
For the supporting methodology and measurements, see my MetaStock benchmark lab test.
Compare to Similar Products
In our tests comparing MetaStock with TrendSpider, TradingView, and Trade Ideas, it ranks fourth, passing 8 of 11 tests. For automated stock chart analysis, backtesting, and automated bot trading, TrendSpider is better. For community, ease of use, and powerful charting, TradingView is a preferred option.
Stock Rover is better than MetaStock for long-term growth, dividends, and value investors. For AI-driven robotic day trading, Trade Ideas is the better option.
| Features ✔★ = Best-in-class. | TrendSpider | TradingView | Trade Ideas | MetaStock |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.5 |
| Pricing | $54 | $214 | $0 | $15 | $35 | $70 | $89 | $178 | $75|$100|$265 |
| Global Market Data | USA | ✔ | USA | ✔ |
| Powerful Charts | ✔★ | ✔★ | ❌ | ✔★ |
| Stocks | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Futures | ✔ | ✔ | ❌ | ✔ |
| Forex | ✔ | ✔ | ❌ | ✔ |
| Cryptocurrency | ✔ | ✔ | ❌ | ✔ |
| Social Community | ❌ | ✔★ | ✔ | ❌ |
| Real-time News | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔★ |
| Screeners | ✔★ | ✔ | ✔★ | ✔ |
| News Scanning | ✔ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔ |
| Backtesting | ✔★ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔★ |
| Code-Free Backtesting | ✔★ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Automated Analysis | ✔★ | ✔ | ✔★ | ✔ |
FAQ
Is MetaStock suitable for beginners?
Beginners can learn it, but I would recommend starting with a narrow set of tasks. Its range of tools can be overwhelming before you have a clear analytical method in place.
What is the difference between MetaStock D/C and R/T?
D/C is intended for delayed-data research, including end-of-day, swing, and position trading. R/T supports intraday analysis and requires XENITH. The right choice depends on the data and workflow you need.
Can MetaStock place trades automatically?
No, its Expert Advisors or alerts do not execute orders. Trade execution is a separate workflow; anyone seeking automation should check out TradingView or TrendSpider.
Does MetaStock use AI?
No, the capabilities I evaluated center on formulas, system testing, and historical forecasting. I would assess those tools individually rather than assume that a forecast or an automated calculation is powered by machine learning.
Does MetaStock work on a Mac?
MetaStock is Windows software. A Mac user considering a Windows environment should confirm compatibility and support for the complete MetaStock/XENITH configuration before subscribing.
Does buying MetaStock remove subscription costs?
No, a software license and market data are separate purchases. R/T still requires XENITH, and other data or maintenance costs can apply depending on the product and configuration.
Hi Kevin, well if you value data control, powerful technical charts, and realtime news, then MetaStock could be a good choice.
i am already interested about the sofware i want to know how to installed the in computer and how to trade it and to know if it this very benefic for me and for the investment
I have been a trader for over 40 years, the only way to trade the market is not to trade the market. Read a Random Walk Down Wallstreet and then invest, not trade ,then dollar cost average into a no load mutual fund. relax enjoy life, and you will beat the “stock market experts’ every time.
Hi Barry,
I just came across your website and was impressed by the way you presented Metastock. I have been distributor and trainer for Metastock since the year 2000. I have recently produced and add-on for Metastock under the name The Elasticity Toolkit. I also run the site http://www.metastockswiss.ch which includes a database of Metastock Indicators, systems and explorations. Please take a look and tell me what you think. Any criticism is welcome.
Best reagrds,
Tim Straiton