Must-Read for 2025 | The Complete Guide to Choosing the Top 5 Stock Market Desktop Tools

As investors increasingly prioritize online trading experiences, the desktop applications for stock markets remain irreplaceable. Compared to mobile apps, why are desktop versions so favored? The answer is simple—wider screens, faster data processing, multi-window synchronized monitoring, and stronger system stability. Imagine how difficult it is to track Taiwan stocks, Japanese stocks, and commodities simultaneously on a 6-inch mobile screen, whereas on a computer, it’s effortless. Additionally, desktop applications eliminate the risks of losing your phone or running out of battery, making them ideal for professional investors who need to monitor markets around the clock.

Based on these core advantages, this article reviews five stock market desktop applications to watch in 2025, helping investors make informed choices based on their needs.

Taiwan Stock Market Investors’ First Choice: San-Take Stock Market Desktop

San-Take Stock Market has become an essential tool for retail investors in Taiwan. Founded in the 1990s, this company has long cultivated the Taiwanese stock market, accumulating extensive market operation experience. In fact, as early as the early 1990s when Taiwan’s stock market was just beginning, San-Take Information launched its first-generation trading software, which has been iteratively upgraded with the development of the internet.

Desktop Trading Experience

San-Take’s desktop software offers real-time Taiwan stock quotes and 24 technical analysis indicators (including RSI, KD, and other common tools). Notably, it features ten viewing modes, with customizable interface styles in the top right corner to suit different investors’ visual preferences. For post-market data, San-Take provides industry-leading information richness. The software also includes auxiliary functions such as strategy-based stock selection, AI intelligent stock picking, and new stock winners, helping investors select targets more scientifically.

Limitations and Solutions

It should be noted that San-Take does not provide order placement services itself but adopts a “multi-broker order” mode. Since September 2023, the platform has integrated three partners—Yuan Fu Securities, E.SUN Securities, and Union Securities—requiring users to select a specific broker within the app to place orders. This undoubtedly adds steps to the process, but for investors who only want to monitor markets, it’s not a major issue. Additionally, San-Take’s international stock features are relatively weak, with delays in US stocks and ADRs, making it suitable for traders focused on the Taiwan market.

Cross-Market Trading New Choice: Mitrade Desktop

Mitrade, established in 2011 in Melbourne, Australia, is a fintech company mainly offering forex, CFDs, and multi-asset trading services. Its desktop support includes both Web and downloadable applications—Web version requires no download, just login; desktop version needs to be downloaded and installed.

Ease of Use

Mitrade’s interface design philosophy is “simplicity is king.” Even beginners can quickly get started without a steep learning curve. After opening the app, users can easily browse market quotes, charts, and trading history. This stock market desktop app is especially suitable for international market traders, covering over a hundred assets including US stocks, Australian stocks, global indices, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, forex, and precious metals. Notably, Mitrade has localized operations in Taiwan, supporting NTD deposits and withdrawals, significantly reducing foreign exchange costs.

Trading Performance and Security

The platform features a high-speed trading engine to ensure quick execution at the best prices, with no delays. Technical analysis tools include trend lines, moving averages, RSI, and more. Importantly, Mitrade supports leverage trading, allowing traders to choose leverage ratios flexibly when placing orders. The platform employs advanced encryption and multi-layer security measures, prioritizing data privacy. New users can register for a 90-day free demo account with $50,000 virtual funds, allowing risk-free practice.

Target Users

This platform is less suitable for long-term investors and is mainly aimed at short- to medium-term traders and leverage trading enthusiasts.

Hong Kong and US Stock Investment Tool: Futu NiuNiu Desktop

Futu NiuNiu has rapidly risen in the Chinese-speaking investment community. In 2019, it successfully listed on NASDAQ (stock code: FUTU) and holds securities licenses in Hong Kong, the US, and Singapore. This makes it one of the preferred platforms for Asian investors to access Hong Kong and US markets.

Interface Design and Features Layout

Futu NiuNiu’s desktop application features a clean, intuitive design. The top left displays price charts (supporting trend lines and technical analysis tools), the top right shows company financials and valuation info, the bottom left is for options trading, and the bottom right displays bid-ask data. This layout makes key data easily accessible, covering real-time quotes and trading functions for Hong Kong stocks, US stocks, and A-shares (Shanghai-Hong Kong and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Connect).

Unique Advantages

A major innovation is the built-in options price calculator, allowing options traders to easily understand the underlying value and time value of options, saving the trouble of independent research. It also offers Windows and Mac desktop versions for seamless cross-device operation.

Usage Considerations

The platform does not support credit card deposits; only bank wire transfers and ACH transfers are accepted, which may inconvenience some investors.

Professional Trading Platform: Interactive Brokers Desktop

Interactive Brokers (IB), founded in 1977 and headquartered in Connecticut, USA, originated as an options market maker. After decades of evolution, it has become a global leader in electronic trading, ranking among the top in trading volume, especially suitable for investors interested in overseas markets and bonds.

Powerful Trader Workstation (TWS)

IB’s desktop platform, Trader Workstation (TWS), is an extremely feature-rich professional trading software. The interface is highly customizable, allowing users to configure different windows and tools according to their trading habits. TWS supports various order types and algorithmic trading, with real-time charts, technical indicators, market scanners, and strategy backtesting. It provides access to over 120 markets worldwide, covering stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds, and funds.

Learning Curve

The downside is its complexity—due to its extensive features, the interface can be overwhelming for beginners, requiring significant time to master. It is mainly aimed at experienced traders, high-frequency traders, and institutional investors. Many users also report that mobile login verification is cumbersome, affecting trading speed.

Chart Analysis King: Tradingview Desktop

Tradingview was founded in 2011 by technical experts and traders. Over more than a decade, it has become a leading global platform for financial chart analysis. Its powerful charting capabilities have led many brokers and financial websites to embed its tools directly.

Industry-Leading Drawing and Analysis Features

Tradingview offers over 100 technical indicators and drawing tools, allowing users to draw, mark, color, and add trend lines freely. This combination makes it a paradise for technical analysis enthusiasts. Its database covers Taiwan stocks, US stocks, forex, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and even Indian stocks, with impressive comprehensiveness.

Community Interaction and User-Friendly

The platform includes social features, enabling investors to browse stock introductions, discussions, and latest news. Despite its extensive features, Tradingview’s interface remains uncluttered, and beginners can learn quickly. It is available as a web version and a desktop application.

Trading Execution Requires Separate Broker Support

Tradingview itself does not support order placement; users must register with supported brokers to trade. Full features require a paid subscription, but the free version is sufficient for daily market monitoring.

Differences Between Desktop and Mobile Versions

All five applications have both desktop and mobile versions, but user experiences differ significantly.

San-Take Stock Market: As Taiwan’s largest mobile trading app (serving 47 brokers, over 90% of the industry), its mobile version lags behind the desktop in enterprise info display and chart fluidity.

Mitrade: The mobile app maintains the simplicity of the desktop version but lacks advanced technical analysis features, which need further optimization.

Futu NiuNiu: The desktop version is feature-rich, but on mobile, some functions require multiple taps to access, increasing operational complexity.

Interactive Brokers: Due to its extensive features, the mobile app is less adapted to small screens, and login verification can slow down trading.

Tradingview: As a top-tier charting tool, the desktop experience is unmatched, but on small screens, its advantages are harder to fully utilize.

Investor’s Guide to Selection

Choosing a stock market desktop application should depend on your trading strategy and market focus. If you focus on Taiwan stocks and prioritize stability and reliability, San-Take Stock Market is the top choice; for simplicity and beginner friendliness, Mitrade performs well; for comprehensive features and market diversity, Interactive Brokers is unmatched; for advanced technical analysis, Tradingview is the industry leader; and for balanced Hong Kong and US stock trading, Futu NiuNiu is a solid option.

Quant traders might also consider MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which includes built-in technical analysis tools, automated trading (EAs), and strategy backtesting—more suitable for advanced users. However, MT5 requires broker account login, and Mac users may need virtual machines or web versions for full functionality.

Regardless of the platform chosen, desktop applications generally provide a more stable and efficient trading environment than mobile apps. Selecting the right tool based on your needs is the first step toward successful investing.