AmiBroker — Fastest Retail Backtesting Platform with AFL Scripting

AmiBroker is a lightweight, extremely fast technical analysis and backtesting platform. Known for its AFL (AmiBroker Formula Language), blazing-fast optimization engine, and ability to handle massive datasets. It can backtest thousands of symbols in seconds — making it the fastest retail backtesting platform available.

Language: AFL (proprietary) | Platform: Windows | Price: $299-499 one-time | Since: 1995

AFL (AmiBroker Formula Language)

AFL is a C-like, array-processing language. Unlike bar-by-bar event-driven languages, AFL operates on entire arrays of data at once (vectorized), which is why it’s so fast.

// Simple moving average crossover
Buy = Cross(MA(Close, 50), MA(Close, 200));
Sell = Cross(MA(Close, 200), MA(Close, 50));
  • Array-based: operates on entire price series at once
  • C-like syntax, simplified
  • 100+ built-in technical indicator functions
  • Matrix operations support
  • Can call external DLLs (C/C++)
  • COM/OLE automation

Difficulty: Intermediate — the array paradigm takes getting used to, but it’s efficient once learned.

Strategy Tester Features

  • Speed: Can test thousands of symbols in seconds. Fastest retail backtesting engine.
  • Smart optimization: CMA-ES, SPSO (Particle Swarm), Tribes — converges faster than genetic algorithms
  • Walk-forward analysis built-in
  • Monte Carlo simulation built-in
  • Portfolio backtesting with position sizing, ranking, and rotation
  • Multi-threaded — uses all CPU cores
  • Custom fitness functions (CAR/MDD, Sharpe, custom)
  • Position sizing: Fixed, percent of equity, Kelly criterion, custom
  • Commission/slippage: Fully configurable
  • Performance reports: Equity curve, drawdown, MAE/MFE analysis, trade list, sector analysis
  • Timeframes: Tick, 1-sec to monthly, custom intervals with built-in time-frame compression

Supported Instruments

  • Stocks, Futures, Forex, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Crypto (via data import)
  • Any instrument with OHLCV data

Pricing

EditionPrice
Standard$299 one-time
Professional$379 one-time
Ultimate Pack Pro$499 one-time

All editions include 24 months free upgrades and support. Perpetual license. 30-day free trial. Data feeds sold separately.

Pros

  • Blazing fast backtesting and optimization (fastest retail platform)
  • Affordable one-time pricing ($299-499) — no subscription
  • Smart optimization algorithms (CMA-ES, PSO, Tribes) outperform genetic algos
  • Walk-forward analysis and Monte Carlo simulation built-in
  • True portfolio-level backtesting with ranking/rotation
  • Handles thousands of symbols efficiently
  • Lightweight — runs well on modest hardware
  • Extensive position sizing options
  • Active development since 1995

Cons

  • Windows-only (Mac via Wine/VM with issues)
  • Dated UI — looks like a Windows XP application
  • AFL is unique to AmiBroker — not portable
  • Steep learning curve for the array-based paradigm
  • No built-in data feed — must purchase separately
  • No web/cloud version
  • Limited real-time trading automation (Pro edition only)
  • Documentation could be more beginner-friendly
  • No native options backtesting
  • Small community compared to MetaTrader or TradingView

Who Should Use AmiBroker?

AmiBroker is ideal for systematic traders who need raw speed, smart optimization, and portfolio-level backtesting at a one-time cost. If you run large parameter sweeps across hundreds of symbols, nothing in the retail space is faster.

If you want free backtesting, use MetaTrader. For modern UI and community, try TradingView. For EasyLanguage compatibility, consider MultiCharts. For Python-based backtesting, see Backtrader or VectorBT.

Resources