cTrader Market Replay — Free Tick-Data Chart Replay for Forex
cTrader includes a built-in Market Replay feature that replays historical price data directly on the chart using actual tick data. Unlike MetaTrader’s visual mode (which requires EA workarounds), cTrader’s replay is purpose-built and requires no plugins. Free with any cTrader broker account.
Platform: cTrader Desktop | Price: Free | Developer: Spotware Systems
Key Features
Replay Controls
- Play, pause, stop
- Multiple speed levels (slow to fast)
- Step forward bar-by-bar
- Select start date/time on chart to begin
- No rewind — must restart from a new point
Tick Data Quality
A key advantage over MetaTrader visual mode:
- cTrader stores tick-level data natively
- Replay reconstructs candles from actual tick data (not interpolated)
- Bid/ask spread lines visible during replay
- Quality depends on broker’s data depth (most provide several years)
Trade Execution
- Simulated trades during replay
- Market buy/sell
- Pending orders (limit, stop)
- SL/TP on orders
- Trade panel integrated into replay mode
- P&L tracked during replay
Indicators & Tools
- All cTrader built-in indicators available during replay
- Custom indicators via C# (cAlgo)
- Drawing tools work during replay
- Multiple timeframes viewable
- cBots can be tested during replay
Analytics
- Basic trade summary after session
- P&L tracking during replay
- Less detailed than dedicated tools like Forex Tester
- No built-in journal export
Supported Instruments
Depends on broker: forex (all pairs), indices CFDs, commodities, crypto CFDs, stocks CFDs.
Pricing
Completely free. cTrader is provided free by partnered brokers (IC Markets, Pepperstone, FxPro, etc.). Market Replay included at no extra cost. No plugins or subscriptions needed.
Pros
- Completely free with any cTrader broker
- Tick data quality built-in (no plugins needed)
- Clean, modern UI — much better than MetaTrader’s approach
- Integrated trade execution during replay
- Real spread visibility during replay
- Purpose-built replay (no dummy EA workarounds)
- C# indicator/bot ecosystem
- Level II data on some brokers
Cons
- Smaller broker adoption than MetaTrader (fewer brokers offer cTrader)
- No rewind
- Fewer third-party indicators than MetaTrader ecosystem
- Desktop only (no web replay)
- Limited analytics/journaling for replay trades
- Historical data depth varies by broker
- Cannot replay multiple instruments simultaneously
- Less community content than MT4/MT5 or TradingView
cTrader Replay vs Alternatives
| Feature | cTrader Replay | TradingView Replay | MT Visual Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free (limited) | Free |
| Tick Data | Yes (native) | No (OHLC) | MT5 only |
| Spread Visible | Yes | No | Limited |
| Trade Simulation | Yes | Paper Trading | Via EA only |
| UI Quality | Modern | Modern | Dated |
| Rewind | No | No | No |
| Indicators | C# custom | Pine Script | MQL4/MQL5 |
Who Should Use cTrader Replay?
cTrader Replay is the best free option for forex traders who want tick-data accuracy during replay without paying for plugins. If you already use a cTrader broker, it’s the obvious choice.
If you need rewind, use StrategyTune or Forex Tester. For more detailed analytics, try Soft4FX. For the largest instrument coverage, use TradingView Replay.