StockCharts Alternative: StockSetups vs StockCharts
Veteran charting, SCTR rankings and ChartSchool education.
Pricing last verified September 14, 2026
Quick answer: StockCharts ($19.95–49.95/mo plus real-time add-on) is best for technical analysts who want classic charting (incl. point & figure), SCTR rankings and deep education. StockSetups ($29/mo, 14-day free trial, real-time data included) is the better fit if you don't want real-time data billed separately with exchange fees on top.
StockCharts is a charting institution: ACP charts, point & figure, the SCTR ranking, and ChartSchool — one of the best free technical-analysis libraries anywhere. Decades of commentary and history make it a favorite with classic technicians.
Plans run Basic $19.95, Extra $29.95 and Pro $49.95/mo (approx., Sep 2026), but US real-time data is a +$9.95/mo add-on with exchange fees billed on top, and scans are something you write yourself. StockSetups includes real-time data and 35+ alert types in $29, and scans the whole market into ranked setups with trade plans.
Side by side
| StockCharts | StockSetups | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Basic $19.95 · Extra $29.95 · Pro $49.95/mo (approx., Sep 2026) | $29/mo flat — less on annual |
| Trial & billing | Free tier (2 alerts); annual = one month free | 14-day free trial, cancel in one click, free board forever |
| Daily pattern scan | User-written scans; SCTR rankings | ~12,300 US stocks & ETFs → 4 long lanes, conviction + trade plan |
| Real-time alerts | Technical alerts; no ranked intraday alert tape | 35+ intraday alert types — included, no add-on |
| Real-time data cost | US real-time +$9.95/mo plus exchange fees; free users get BATS-only real-time | Included in $29 — no exchange fees or subscriber agreements (sampled consolidated tape: real prices, volume calibrated) |
| AI ranking & 'why it's moving' | Not a focus | AI Smart Picks (Claude Opus) + AI catalyst — included |
| Congress / insider / Reddit / SEC | Not a focus | All fused into one per-symbol dossier (incl. executive OGE) |
| Public track record | No published forward track record | Forward-tracked Signal Report Card, win/loss shown |
| Charting | Excellent classic charting incl. point & figure | Purpose-built setup charts (not a full TradingView-style studio) |
| Options flow | Not a focus | Not offered |
| Mobile app | Web + app | Web only — native app not yet |
StockCharts pricing and features are approximate and were last verified September 14, 2026 — check their site for current details.
Choose StockCharts if…
- You want classic charting, point & figure and SCTR rankings.
- You value ChartSchool education and long-running market commentary.
- You prefer writing your own technical scans.
Choose StockSetups if…
- You don't want real-time data billed separately with exchange fees on top.
- You want a live intraday alert tape and custom alert rules included.
- You want patterns found and ranked with a trade plan rather than scans you write.
Frequently asked
Is real-time data extra on StockCharts?
Yes — US real-time is an add-on (about $9.95/mo as of Sep 2026) with exchange fees billed on top. StockSetups includes real-time data in its $29 plan with no exchange fees or subscriber agreements.
Get daily signals & real-time alerts.
StockSetups scans ~12,300 US stocks & ETFs after every close and sorts every long setup into four ranked lanes — each with a trade plan — plus an always-on engine firing 35+ real-time intraday alerts. Free for 14 days, cancel in one click.
Start free — 14-day full access →More comparisons
Accuracy note. Competitor names and logos are the property of their respective owners; StockSetups is not affiliated with StockCharts. The pricing, features and other details above were accurate to the best of our knowledge as of September 14, 2026, and competitor offerings change often. This comparison is our opinion, provided for general information only — always confirm current details on StockCharts's own site. Spot something out of date or wrong? Please contact us and we'll fix it.