TradingView Free vs paid: what you need for alerts & automation
You don't need the top plan to trade systematically — but the free tier can't automate. Here's what actually changes between plans for alerts and bridges, without the marketing.
For automation, only a few plan features matter. Forget the long feature grid; focus on these.
What matters for automation
- Webhook alerts. The single must-have — a bridge like TradersPost or PineConnector needs TradingView to POST a webhook on each alert. This is a paid feature.
- Number of active alerts. Free allows very few simultaneous alerts; automating a strategy across instruments needs more, which higher tiers provide.
- Server-side alerts. Paid alerts fire from TradingView's servers, so they work with your machine off — essential for hands-free trading.
- History depth. More bars of history on higher tiers means deeper, more honest backtests.
The practical answer
The free plan is fine for charting and learning, but it can't send webhooks, so it can't automate. To run a bridge you need a paid tier that includes webhook alerts and enough active-alert slots for your setup. Exact plan names, alert counts and pricing change — confirm current details on TradingView before subscribing.
Manual vs automated
If you only want to trade alerts manually, a lower paid tier (or even free, for a single alert) can work — you read the alert and place the order. For true hands-off execution you need webhooks plus the alert headroom. See how to automate MNQ and the alert templates.
Puravida Edge works on either path — manual from alerts, or automated through a bridge once you're on a webhook-capable plan.
FAQ
Can I automate TradingView strategies on the free plan?
No. Webhook alerts — required for a bridge to receive signals — are a paid feature. The free plan is fine for charting but can't automate.
Which TradingView plan do I need for automation?
One that includes webhook alerts and enough active-alert slots for your instruments, with server-side alerts so they fire when your computer is off. Check current plan names and pricing on TradingView.
Do I need a paid plan to trade alerts manually?
Not necessarily — for manual trading you just read the alert and place the order yourself, so a lower tier (or a single free alert) can work. Automation is what requires webhooks.
Not financial advice. Performance figures referenced are hypothetical, modeled outputs (1,500-path Monte Carlo on a 12-month sample). Past performance does not guarantee future results. Tool names are referenced for education; verify current features and prop-firm rules directly.