A trading journal app that captures the chart, not just the numbers
Most trading journal apps are a spreadsheet with a login: rows of numbers you have to maintain by hand. ChartRecap is built around the one thing a spreadsheet can't do, a one-click snapshot of the setup on every trade, and it computes the analytics for you so review is thinking instead of formula-wrangling. It runs in any browser, syncs across your devices, and it's free with no trade limit and no card.
What a journal app should do that a spreadsheet won't
A spreadsheet can hold your trades, but it makes the three things that matter most a chore. It can't easily attach the chart to a row. It needs hand-built formulas to compute expectancy. And it doesn't group trades by setup for you, which is where the real patterns live. An app that does those three automatically is the difference between a journal you keep and one you abandon. The guide on a journal versus a spreadsheet walks through the trade-offs.
Capture-first, so you review the setup
The core of the app is capture. Snapshot the chart the moment you enter, and it's attached to the trade for good. On review day you're looking at what you actually saw, not reconstructing it from memory. That single habit turns a row of numbers into a real feedback loop.
Real analytics, computed for you
R-multiple and expectancy. Every trade in multiples of your risk, and your average expectancy per trade, the numbers that tell you if your edge is real. The R-multiple guide and expectancy formula explain the math.
Win rate by setup. A blended win rate hides the truth. Broken down by setup, you see which one to trade more of and which to cut.
Discipline analytics. Tag trades against your plan and see what breaking your own rules costs, plus revenge-trade detection and post-loss sizing.
Works in any browser, free to start
There's nothing to install. ChartRecap runs on desktop and mobile and syncs across them, so you can log on your laptop and review on your phone. The free plan has no trade limit and needs no card. New to this? Start with a beginner's guide to journaling.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a good trading journal app?
Three things a spreadsheet can't do well: it attaches the chart to each trade, it computes expectancy and R-multiple for you, and it lets you review trades grouped by setup instead of one at a time. If an app does those three, it saves you the busywork that kills most journals.
Do I need to install anything?
No. ChartRecap runs in any modern browser on desktop or mobile, so there's nothing to install and your journal syncs across devices. You log a trade on your laptop and it's there on your phone.
Is there a free trading journal app?
Yes. ChartRecap's free plan has no trade limit and needs no card. CSV import and the analytics are free; the only paid feature is the AI setup grading. Most traders can run their whole journal on the free plan.
Can I import my existing trades?
Yes. You can import broker CSVs (ChartRecap auto-detects common formats), and there are converters for MetaTrader statements. Fills are grouped flat-to-flat so a scaled position stays one trade instead of padding your win count.
What analytics does the app compute?
R-multiple per trade, expectancy and profit factor, win rate by setup, plan-vs-execution rule adherence, hold-time and session breakdowns, and an equity curve built from your actual fills. The numbers update as you log.
Reflects ChartRecap's free plan and publicly available information as of August 2026. Not financial advice.