Best Online Trading Communities
Online trading communities offer an accessible environment where investors can interact with each other. Users can learn new forex trading techniques, swap crypto tips and share stock market insights. This guide explains how day trading communities work, their pros and cons, plus what to look for in chat rooms and forums. We also list the best online trading communities in 2026.
Brokers With the Best Trading Communities
Some online brokers offer social feeds, forums and networks where traders can learn and discuss trading. After joining, reading through and sometimes posting, these are the top platforms for traders looking to join a community:
-
1
Interactive Brokers -
2
NinjaTrader -
3
eToro USAeToro USA LLC and eToro USA Securities Inc.; Investing involves risk, including loss of principal; Not a recommendation -
4
Moomoo -
5
AvaTrade -
6
ZuluTrade
Why Are These The Best Communities For Active Traders?
Here are our key findings after exploring these firms' online trading communities:
- Interactive Brokers - The Interactive Brokers Forum is home to a strong community of knowledgable traders. Compared to other communities we’ve explored, the IBKR Forum suits the more experienced trader with some advanced concepts and trading themes discussed. It’s also an excellent hub for resources on Interactive Brokers’ tools and services, including APIs and reporting. The filtering options are a step above most community feeds we’ve been on, allowing you to select by categories, authors, titles, published dates, and more.
- NinjaTrader - NinjaTrader fosters an active trading community, with its forum receiving a revamp and migrating to a cleaner interface. It’s a good option for futures traders, especially those wanting to learn how to use and get the most out of the NinjaTrader software. The forum has received tens of thousands of posts on everything from strategy and indicator development to API and external integrations. However, it’s less education or general market update focused than the communities on platforms like eToro.
- eToro USA - eToro has one of the best online trading communities for retail investors in the US. Some of our team have used and posted in the intuitive community feed, which is very active during major trading sessions and comes with handy filters like ‘Popular Investors’ and ‘Public English Feed’. It’s an excellent place to share ideas and ask questions of active traders on everything from US technology stocks and moves in the USD to the price of gold and what’s going on with Bitcoin.
- Moomoo - Moomoo offers a collaborative community with more posters than feeds like eToro during our test period. Discussions often focus on stocks, crypto and economic data announcements, generally from the US. There’s a good mix of users, from newer traders to more experienced traders, making it a good fit for users looking to connect with other retail investors. The ability to like, comment and even translate posts and comments also makes it especially accessible.
- AvaTrade - AvaTrade’s AvaSocial tool is one of the top trading community tools we’ve seen. Right from the app, you can chat with other traders about forex, stocks, commodities and crypto, with the ability to find mentors or set up group chats. It’s an easy way to join and become part of an online trading community. It’s also provided via a partnership with FCA-regulated Pelican Trading for further peace of mind.
- ZuluTrade - ZuluTrade is an obvious pick for those who don’t just want to communicate with other traders but also copy trades. Easy to use, you can find discussions by hastags and trending topics, post images and videos, though the frequency of posts overall falls behind most other firms in this list. Also keep in mind that much of the engagement centres around trades and strategies you can follow, rather than some of the more education-focused conversations we’ve seen elsewhere.
Comparison of Community Features
Beyond just a hub to interact with other traders, users may want a way to copy strategies and access other educational resources. See which of these top communities for traders also offer these:
| Broker | Trading Ideas | Copy Trading | Education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | - | ✘ | ✔ |
| NinjaTrader | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ |
| eToro USA | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Moomoo | - | ✘ | ✘ |
| AvaTrade | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| ZuluTrade | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Interactive Brokers
"Interactive Brokers is one of the best brokers for advanced day traders, providing powerful charting platforms, real-time data, and customizable layouts, notably through the new IBKR Desktop application. Its superb pricing and advanced order options also make it highly attractive for day traders, while its diverse range of equities is still among the best in the industry."
Christian Harris, Reviewer
Interactive Brokers Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies |
| Regulator | FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM |
| Platforms | Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 |
| Minimum Trade | $100 |
| Leverage | 1:50 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF |
Pros
- IBKR continues to deliver unmatched access to global stocks with tens of thousands of equities available from 100+ market centres in 24 countries, most recently the Saudi Stock Exchange.
- IBKR is one of the most respected and trusted brokerages and is regulated by top-tier authorities, so you can have confidence in the integrity and security of your trading account.
- With low commissions, tight spreads and a transparent fee structure, IBKR delivers a cost-effective environment for short-term traders.
Cons
- You can only have one active session per account, so you can’t have your desktop program and mobile app running simultaneously, making for a sometimes frustrating trading experience.
- IBKR provides a wide range of research tools, but their distribution across trading platforms and the web-based 'Account Management' page lacks consistency, leading to a confusing user experience.
- TWS’s learning curve is steep, and beginners may find it challenging to navigate the platform and understand all the features. Plus500's web platform is much better suited to new traders.
NinjaTrader
"NinjaTrader continues to meet the demands of active futures traders looking for low fees and premium analysis tools. The platform hosts top-rate charting features including hundreds of indicators and 10+ chart types."
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer
NinjaTrader Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | Futures, Forex, Stocks, Options, Commodities, Futures, Crypto (non-futures depend on provider) |
| Regulator | NFA, CFTC |
| Platforms | NinjaTrader Desktop, Web & Mobile, eSignal |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:50 |
| Account Currencies | USD |
Pros
- NinjaTrader continues to deliver comprehensive charting software for active day traders with bespoke technical indicators and widgets
- You can get thousands of add-ons and applications from developers in 150+ countries
- Traders can get free platform access and trade simulation capabilities in the unlimited demo
Cons
- The premium platform tools come with an extra charge
- There is a withdrawal fee on some funding methods
- Non forex and futures trading requires signing up with partner brokers
eToro USA
"eToro remains a top pick for traders looking for leading social investing and copy trading services. With a low deposit, zero commissions and an intuitive platform, the broker will meet the needs of newer day traders."
eToro USA Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | Stocks, Options, ETFs, Crypto |
| Regulator | SEC, FINRA |
| Platforms | eToro Trading Platform & CopyTrader |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 |
| Minimum Trade | $10 |
| Account Currencies | USD |
Pros
- A free demo account means new users and prospective day traders can try the broker risk-free
- eToro USA Securities is a trustworthy, SEC-regulated broker that is a member of FINRA and SIPC
- The low minimum deposit and straightforward account opening process means beginners can get started quickly
Cons
- The proprietary terminal doesn't support trading bots and there are no additional stock market analysis tools
- Average fees may cut into the profit margins of day traders
- There's a narrower range of day trading instruments available compared to competitors, with only stocks, ETFs and cryptos
Moomoo
"Moomoo remains an excellent choice for new and intermediate stock traders who want to build a diverse investment portfolio. What really stands out is the broker's user-friendly app and the low trading fees."
Moomoo Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | Stocks, Options, ETFs, ADRs, OTCs |
| Regulator | SEC, FINRA, MAS, ASIC, SFC |
| Platforms | Desktop Platform, Mobile App |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 |
| Minimum Trade | $0 |
| Leverage | 1:2 |
| Account Currencies | USD, HKD, SGD |
Pros
- There are reduced options contract fees from $0.65 to $0
- The broker offers access to extended pre-market trading hours
- It is reassuring that Moomoo holds licenses with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), among others
Cons
- There is no phone or live chat support - common options at most other brokers
- There is no negative balance protection, which is a common safety feature at top-tier-regulated brokers
- It's a shame that there is no 2 factor authentication (2FA), despite the other security features on offer
AvaTrade
"AvaTrade offers active traders everything they need: an intuitive WebTrader, powerful AvaProtect risk management, a smooth 5-minute sign-up process, and dependable support you can rely on in fast-moving markets."
AvaTrade Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Crypto, Spread Betting, Futures |
| Regulator | ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ISA, CBI, JFSA, FSRA, BVI, ADGM, CIRO, AFM |
| Platforms | WebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, AvaFutures, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:30 (Retail) 1:400 (Pro) |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD |
Pros
- Support at AvaTrade performed excellently during testing, with response times of 3 minutes and localized support in major trading jurisdictions, including the UK, Europe and the Middle East.
- AvaTrade launched AvaFutures to offer low-margin access to global markets, then expanded in 2025 as one of the first brokers to add CME’s Micro Grain Futures, and then later in the year went further by integrating with TradingView.
- Years on, AvaTrade remains one of the few brokers offering a bespoke risk management tool, AvaProtect, that insures losses up to $1M for a fee and is easy to activate on the platform.
Cons
- Although the deposit process itself is smooth, AvaTrade still doesn’t facilitate crypto payments, a feature increasingly offered by brokers like TopFX, which caters to crypto-focused traders.
- The AvaSocial app is good but not great – the look and feel, plus the navigation between finding strategy providers and account management needs upgrading to rival category leaders like eToro.
- AvaTrade’s WebTrader has improved, but work is still needed in terms of customizability – frustratingly widgets like market watch and watchlists can’t be hidden, moved, or resized.
ZuluTrade
"We recommend ZuluTrade for investors interested in joining one of the world's largest and best-performing social trading networks. The platform is user-friendly and clients can copy trade in a variety of popular financial markets."
ZuluTrade Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | CFDs; Forex, Stocks, Cryptos, Commodities, Indices |
| Regulator | HCMC in EU, FSA in Japan, FSC in Mauritius, FSCA in South Africa |
| Platforms | X Open Hub, Match-Trader, MT4, MT5, ActTrader |
| Minimum Deposit | Broker Dependant |
| Minimum Trade | $1 |
| Leverage | Broker Dependent |
Pros
- Reliable and easy-to-use mobile app
- More than 90,000 leaders to follow and copy which could result in greater earnings
- Only view the top leaders who comply with stringent criteria, demonstrating consistent and reliable performance
Cons
- Employing an effective money management system can be difficult for beginners
- Some inconsistent leaders to be aware of
- Leaders are not formally vetted. The ZuluGuardTM feature does mitigate this risk, however, by automatically removing a leader when detecting a trading strategy has deviated from its expected loss profile
What Are Trading Communities?
Trading communities offer a space to learn new strategies and ask questions of experienced traders. There are a variety of trading chat rooms available, from broad and free of charge services to forums focussed on particular financial markets, such as forex.
Moderators should actively police trading discussions to prevent scams and remove anyone causing trouble. Some services charge a fee which helps to deter trolls. But caution is always required as we still see some bots and topics posted for ulterior motives, such as trying to sell a service.
With the rise of social media, some traders are also turning to communities on channels like X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and TikTok, though the quality and reliability of information on some of these channels can be misleading, and even plain wrong at times.
Benefits
Online trading communities can provide a knowledge and confidence boost for new and experienced investors. Advantages include:
- Support – The life of a day trader can feel isolating and stressful, especially when the market suddenly moves against you. Having an interactive community gives you a place to swap stories, break down definitions and vent when things go wrong.
- Eyes on the market – Having multiple traders focussed on the financial markets can help alert you to potential market opportunities.
- Learn new techniques – For beginners, chat rooms are a great place to pick up tips and tricks from seasoned traders.
Drawbacks
Despite the benefits, there are some downsides to becoming part of an online trading community:
- Scams – Finding a credible community can be difficult, especially if you’re a beginner. Some websites operate scams where they take your money without providing a secure or reliable community. As a result, it’s worth choosing a provider with positive user reviews.
- Membership fees – Some trading communities charge a fee for their services. As well as access to established investors, you may benefit from additional resources such as tailored market insights. Of course, any fees will cut into your profits.
- Bad ideas spread fast – Whilst chat rooms can be a great place to pick up good ideas, bad ideas can spread just as fast. It’s important to do your own due diligence before acting on tips.
What To Look For In A Trading Community
There are several aspects you should take into account when choosing between different options:
- A fair price for the service offered
- A civil tone and respect for different viewpoints
- Active moderators who prevent trolls and scams
- A style of trading and conversation that suits you
Bottom Line
Day trading communities can be a great place to learn new strategies, test ideas and swap tips. They can benefit both new and experienced traders. However before you sign up, take into account any fees, read our reviews and check that the market you’re interested in is covered, be that forex, stocks or cryptocurrencies.
FAQ
What Is A Trading Community?
An online trading community is a forum or chat room where members can interact with each other. Users can ask questions and share market insights to help inform trading decisions.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Trading Chatrooms?
Online chat rooms can help you find a community of like-minded traders. Retail day trading, in particular, can feel lonely so a place where you can find a mentor or explore ideas can be a useful resource.
Are Trading Communities Free?
Some chatrooms are free while others charge for their services. Paid-for providers typically charge a monthly or annual subscription with one-off charges for additional resources, such as one-on-one sessions with coaches or bespoke market insights.
Are Trading Communities Safe?
The quality of services vary and so too does the level of security. Chatrooms that aren’t adequately monitored can perpetuate the spreading of false or misleading information, meaning damaging trading decisions could be made. That’s why it’s important to fact-check and do your own research before acting on any information shared on these channels.