The 10 best trading platform design examples in 2024

Seamless trading experience. That’s pretty much all users want from a trading platform, and you think everyone would have it. But no…

Speaking from experience as a SaaS and Fintech design agency, many online trading solutions are far from intuitive.

Smooth UX that empowers people to make informed investment decisions - that’s what we’re after today.

Along with some useful first-hand design tips, we have compiled a list of ten best trading platform design examples in 2024 that have come very close to creating a perfect trading experience. 

Trading platform UI design - what to focus on

To create a trading platform whose interface gives your users the freedom to quickly and securely execute their transactions, the primary focus should be on designing a seamless and not-too-overcomplicated experience. First of all, consider incorporating these features:

1. Market updates
2. Advanced ordering and research tools
3. Visual data representation
4. Financial calculators
5. Automated trading advisors

Navigation plays another crucial role in platform usability. 

Frequently used options should be prominently placed in headers, while less common functions can reside in footers. This way, you can easily access key features while maintaining a clean interface.

And don’t forget the customization! 

Offer analytic tools to help your users understand market conditions and develop strategies. Consider also integrating with customized bots for investment apps. Additionally, give timely notifications and comprehensive research tools so your traders can stay informed and make better decisions.

Trading platform design - Top 10 for 2024

Our team has carefully chosen the following trading platforms for their features, user-friendly designs, and ability to cater to different types of investors, from beginners to experienced traders.

Quantango

Quantango’s platform has a minimalist design and an aesthetic that feels modern and appropriate for a tech-driven platform. The interface is clean and intuitive, with a sectioned layout and smart use of negative space for effortless navigation. Animations don’t distract from key functionalities either. 

The platform's design also supports extensive customization, allowing users to create and back-test trading instruments using diverse datasets. The platform makes it easy to work with diverse datasets, backtest ideas, and analyze risk - all in one place.

Fidelity

Fidelity’s platform is characterized by its simplicity and accessibility, which is particularly appealing to those new to trading. The interface is clean and organized, so it’s easy to navigate the wide range of investment options. The platform also features extensive educational resources to help get started.

The brokerage firm covers the user experience and design basics well, making it suitable for both new and experienced investors who want to manage their money.

Charles Schwab

The next trading platform with a nice design and UX, Charles Schwab, integrates the feature-rich thinkorswim tools, giving traders access to advanced charting and analysis capabilities. What’s important, the experience is consistent across desktop, web, and mobile applications. 

Schwab’s design is clean, with a focus on usability, so that both new and experienced traders can efficiently navigate it. Overall, the platform’s interface, combined with a low fee structure and extensive resources, makes it a good choice for many trading needs.

Robinhood

Robinhood’s trading platform is also designed with ease of use in mind. The clean, minimalist mobile-first interface is intuitive for beginners, with features like fractional share investing and instant funding making the process accessible. 

The platform’s educational resources are integrated into the interface, which is perfect for new investors. Despite its simplicity, Robinhood provides advanced charts and tools for more experienced users,and that makes it an another versatile platform with a great design.

SaxoTraderGO

Similarly, SaxoTraderGO strikes a balance between simplicity and functionality. The platform's user-friendly interface is well-suited for traders who value an uncluttered experience without sacrificing access to essential tools. 

SaxoTraderGO also offers a nice selection of technical indicators and analysis features, along with reliable order execution, which are arguably the key components for making informed trading decisions. The consistent experience across desktop and mobile devices ensures seamless trading on the go.

MetaTrader 4 and 5

MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) are already established industry standards in the Forex trading space. Their feature-rich design certainly facilitates this.

Among them, MT4 prioritizes an approachable, transparent layout that allows traders to focus on important aspects of their activity. 

Later, MT5 builds upon this foundation with a more contemporary design and expanded analytical capabilities. Both platforms are also recognized for their dependable order execution and great mobile trading support.

AvaTrade Web

​​AvaTrade's web-based platform was chosen for this list due to its data accessibility and intuitive market navigation. The layout is designed to minimize visual complexity, so users can better concentrate on trading. 

The platform's extensive collection of technical indicators and analytical tools also serves professionals who rely on in-depth market analysis. The mobile application replicates the web platform’s efficiency, providing a seamless experience across devices. 

M1 Finance

M1 Finance combines automated investing with high customization and has an intuitive design on both desktop and mobile. The platform’s layout is user-friendly, visualizing portfolios through easy-to-understand pie charts. Users can create custom portfolios or choose from pre-built expert pies. 

M1 Finance also supports fractional shares and automated deposits, which is good for diverse investment strategies. Besides, it offers educational resources and a straightforward sign-up process as well.

Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers (IB) is designed for serious traders, so it’s more focused on offering a rather deep and sophisticated platform. The interface, while complex, is organized and efficient, providing access to a wide range of advanced trading tools. 

Although it can be quite overwhelming for beginners, the platform's extensive educational resources, competitive margin rates, and access to a wide range of asset classes make it an appealing choice for those seeking a professional-grade trading environment.

TradingView

Lastly, TradingView is known for its great charting capabilities and social trading features. The platform's intuitive interface seamlessly integrates advanced technical indicators and a collaborative community-driven approach. 

Traders can use shared strategies and analyses to enhance their decision-making process. TradingView's mobile app provides on-the-go access to live data and graphs, so the trading experience it offers feels very sophisticated and interconnected.

Tips for designing best trading platform UI

Jump to this section next time you need some tips for the key elements of your trading platform’s user interface design. We tried keeping it short and simple, with a focus on actionable strategies and value. Enjoy.

Intuitive navigation

- Keep navigation simple and familiar, so users can quickly find essential sections like FAQs.

- Use mega menus for complex trading layouts.

- Add essential elements to the header menu and less frequently used pages to the footer.

- Make transitions between pages smooth and engaging with animated effects.

Simple sign-up

- Allow users to sign up with social accounts like Google+, Facebook, StockTwits, and LinkedIn.

- Avoid long forms and ask for additional details later.

- Provide instructions or immediate help during the sign-up process.

Personal accounts

- Allow users to set custom notifications, invest in selected stock collections, and access detailed analysis of top movers.

- Provide recent news and cryptocurrency prices in dashboards.

- Include visual reports of user activity and allow them to configure personal settings, send and receive messages, and view forum stats.

Special features (consider adding some of these to make the trading experience better)

- Visual market analytics with dynamic bars, charts, market calendars, or currency pairs tables.

- Real-time news feed that provides ongoing, relevant information to traders.

- Financial calculators to help investors understand potential gains or losses from each trade.

- Automated FX trading advisors that fulfill trading strategies based on client-set conditions.

- Different order types - for example, offer conventional stop-losses, take-profits, limit and stop entry orders, partial trade closures, and trailing stop-losses to help users manage financial risks.

- Community and forums, such as chat rooms and forums, where traders can connect, share strategies, and discuss news.

Summary

A successful trading platform isn't just about features. It's about creating an ecosystem for your traders that supports them throughout their journey. Proper and thoughtful design is how you do it.

The top 10 platforms featured in this article demonstrate the importance of balancing functionality with usability, providing a seamless trading experience that sets them apart from the rest.

Incorporating these design principles and features into your own platform, you can easily build a loyal user base and establish your brand as a leader in the trading industry. If you’re ready for it, reach out to Merge, and we’ll help.