Top 5 Stock Market Desktop Software 2025 Review Guide

Why Investors Still Need Desktop Charting Tools

By 2025, mobile apps have become extremely convenient, but for serious traders, desktop trading software remains irreplaceable.

First, hardware advantages determine analysis depth. Desktop screens are wider, with powerful processors capable of displaying far more detailed K-line data and charts than mobile phones. Precise analysis of MACD indicators or multi-layered technical analysis software operations are indeed limited on a 6-inch mobile screen.

Second, multitasking capabilities determine monitoring efficiency. Desktop computers can run multiple windows simultaneously to monitor Taiwan stocks, Japanese stocks, US stocks, and commodities, allowing real-time awareness of market surprises. Mobile devices are limited by screen size, making such parallel monitoring nearly impossible.

Third, stability guarantees trading experience. Desktop applications won’t be interrupted by battery drain or device loss, allowing investors to monitor markets all day without worrying about disconnection risks.

For these reasons, the desktop version of stock market apps remains active in 2025. This article highlights 5 mainstream tools to help different investors find the most suitable charting platform.

In-Depth Review of 5 Core Software

Sanduo Stock Market: A Professional Choice for Taiwan Market

Sanduo Information has been established since the 1990s, with nearly 30 years of experience in Taiwan’s stock market, becoming a standard tool for many Taiwan stock investors.

Core Advantages: Built-in 24 professional technical indicators (covering RSI, KD, and other common tools), supporting ten charting modes, with customizable interface styles in the top right corner. Post-market data is comprehensive, with features like strategy-based stock selection and AI intelligent stock picking. As a technical analysis software, Sanduo’s data processing capability and system stability in Taiwan stocks are impeccable, rarely crashing or lagging.

Application Boundaries: Sanduo does not offer order placement services itself. In 2023, it introduced multi-broker order execution (Yuanta, E.SUN, Uni-President), but the process is relatively cumbersome. Coverage of international stocks is insufficient, with noticeable delays in US stocks and ADRs.

Suitable for: Local investors focused on Taiwan market who require detailed technical analysis.

Mitrade: One-Stop Solution for International Asset Trading

Founded in 2011, Australian Mitrade is a global fintech company offering forex, CFDs, and multiple asset classes.

Core Advantages: Provides both web and desktop applications, with no download needed for web trading. The interface is simple and intuitive, ideal for beginners. As a technical analysis tool, it offers trend lines, moving averages, RSI, and other standard tools. Covers over 100 global assets (US stocks, Australian stocks, indices, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, precious metals), all managed with one account. Well-localized for Taiwan, supporting NTD deposits and withdrawals to avoid currency conversion costs. No delay in order execution, supports leverage trading and various order types. High-level encryption and multi-layer security ensure fund safety.

Application Boundaries: Margin trading is not suitable for long-term holding, better suited for short-term trading.

Suitable for: Intermediate traders interested in international markets and seeking straightforward operation.

Futu NiuNiu: Hong Kong and US Stock All-in-One Platform

Listed on NASDAQ in 2019 (ticker FUTU), holding securities licenses in Hong Kong, the US, and Singapore, it is a popular choice for Asian investors trading Hong Kong and US stocks.

Core Advantages: The desktop interface layout is well-designed: top left shows trend charts with trend lines and technical indicators; top right displays company financials and valuation data; bottom left covers options trading; bottom right shows bid-ask quotes. Notably, it has built-in options pricing calculation functions to help investors quickly assess intrinsic and time value. Supports Windows and Mac desktop versions, with seamless sync between mobile and desktop. Offers real-time quotes and trading for Hong Kong stocks, US stocks, and A-shares (Shanghai-Hong Kong and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Connect).

Application Boundaries: Does not support credit card deposits, only bank wire and ACH, with a relatively complex deposit process.

Suitable for: Hong Kong and US stock traders, especially those focused on options trading.

Interactive Brokers: Institutional-Grade Global Market Tools

Founded in 1977, Interactive Brokers (IB) is a US-based broker renowned for its Trader Workstation (TWS) desktop software, handling the highest trading volumes worldwide, favored by bond and overseas asset investors.

Core Advantages: Highly customizable trading interface, allowing users to configure windows and tools according to preferences. Supports multiple order types and algorithmic trading, suitable for high-frequency traders. As a technical analysis platform, it includes real-time charts, indicators, market scanners, and strategy backtesting. Access to over 120 markets globally, covering stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds, and more.

Application Boundaries: Its extensive features make the interface complex, with a steep learning curve for beginners. Mobile security verification is cumbersome, affecting trading speed.

Suitable for: Experienced professional investors, high-frequency traders, and institutional investors.

Tradingview: Industry Benchmark for Chart Analysis

Founded in 2011 in the US, over a decade it has become a leading global platform for financial charting and analysis, with many brokers (including Yahoo Finance) integrating its chart engine.

Core Advantages: Unmatched charting capabilities, with over 100 technical indicators and drawing tools, supporting freehand drawing, marking, coloring, and trend analysis. Comprehensive database covering Taiwan stocks, US stocks, forex, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and even Indian stocks. Built-in social platform for viewing stock introductions, investor discussions, and latest news. As a technical analysis software, its interface is clean and user-friendly, suitable for short-term beginners. Available as web and desktop versions.

Application Boundaries: Does not provide order execution; requires third-party broker accounts for trading. Full features require paid subscription; free version offers limited basic charting.

Suitable for: Chart analysis enthusiasts, technical traders, and advanced users.

Desktop vs. Mobile Usage Comparison

Although all five software offer both desktop and mobile applications, user experience varies significantly:

Sanduo Stock Market: The mobile app, operated by 47 broker agencies, is Taiwan’s largest charting app, but the company info display is less comprehensive than the desktop version, and chart experience is less smooth.

Mitrade: The mobile app maintains the simplicity of the desktop version but offers limited depth in professional technical analysis features.

Futu NiuNiu: The desktop features are fully ported to mobile, but some functions require multiple taps to access, making complex operations confusing.

Interactive Brokers: Its extensive features make the mobile app design inevitably less comprehensive; login security verification is cumbersome and impacts trading speed.

Tradingview: Its excellent charting and drawing experience on desktop are difficult to fully replicate on small screens, limiting functionality.

Recommendations and Summary

Each of the five software has its own strengths; the choice depends on trading goals:

• If you prioritize interface simplicity and user-friendliness for beginners, Mitrade is the best.
• If you seek deep chart analysis and rich indicators, Tradingview is unmatched.
• If you need market diversity coverage, Interactive Brokers leads.
• If focusing on Taiwan local market, Sanduo Stock Market is the professional choice.
• For a balanced feature set, Futu NiuNiu offers a good compromise.

Investors should evaluate their preferred trading instruments, risk tolerance, and operational proficiency to select the most suitable technical analysis platform. Regardless of choice, desktop applications provide significant advantages in screen space, processing power, and stability, greatly enhancing charting and analysis efficiency compared to mobile versions.