Backtest trading strategies on years of real market history — free.
Run a moving-average crossover, buy-and-hold or your own rule against over a decade of daily price data in seconds. See return, drawdown and Sharpe ratio versus the S&P 500, with commissions and slippage built in.
What you can backtest
Stocks & ETFs
Backtest any US stock or ETF on over a decade of daily data. Free on every plan.
Options & futures
Backtest option and futures strategies on the Trader and Pro plans, with contract details modeled in.
Crypto
Test strategies on Bitcoin, Ethereum and other major cryptocurrencies included in the free tier.
Commissions & slippage
Set per-trade commissions, per-contract fees and slippage in basis points so results stay realistic.
Benchmark comparison
Every backtest compares your equity curve against buy-and-hold or an index like the S&P 500.
Full stats
Total return, annualized return, maximum drawdown, Sharpe ratio and win rate — all in one report.
How backtesting works
- 1.Pick a ticker — any US stock, ETF, or (on paid plans) option or future.
- 2.Choose a rule — buy-and-hold, moving-average crossover, or a custom entry you define.
- 3.Set the date range, commission and slippage.
- 4.Run the backtest and see the equity curve, return, drawdown and Sharpe ratio versus the benchmark.
Frequently asked
Is AlphaLab's backtesting tool really free?
Yes. The free plan includes backtesting on years of historical daily data for stocks, ETFs and crypto. You can run buy-and-hold, moving-average crossover and other rules, with commissions and slippage, and compare against a benchmark like the S&P 500 — at no cost.
What can I backtest?
Stocks, ETFs, options, futures and crypto. Each backtest shows an equity curve, total return, maximum drawdown, Sharpe ratio and a comparison against buy-and-hold or a benchmark index. Options and futures backtesting are available on the Trader and Pro plans.
How far back does the historical data go?
Most US equities have daily data going back over a decade. You pick the start and end dates, and the backtest runs against that historical window in seconds.
Does the backtest include commissions and slippage?
Yes. You can set a per-trade commission, a per-contract options fee and slippage in basis points so results stay realistic. Defaults are conservative and you can adjust them per strategy.
Can I backtest a moving-average crossover strategy?
Yes. Moving-average crossover is one of the built-in rules. Choose your ticker, set the fast and slow moving-average periods, pick a date range and run it to see the simulated equity curve and stats versus buy-and-hold.
AlphaLab vs. the tools you might already know.
AlphaLab vs. TradingView
TradingView is the standard for charting and idea-sharing. AlphaLab is a different tool: a beginner-first simulator that pairs backtesting and paper trading with a structured curriculum, so you learn why a strategy worked, not just whether it did.
Read the full comparisonAlphaLab vs. Investopedia Simulator
Investopedia's simulator is a well-known, free way to paper trade stocks. AlphaLab goes further: backtesting on years of history, options and futures, portfolio risk tools, and a curriculum that teaches the concepts behind each trade.
Read the full comparisonAlphaLab vs. Stratos
Stratos is a newer paper-trading app focused on a clean mobile experience. AlphaLab is a broader lab: backtesting, multi-asset paper trading, portfolio risk tools and a beginner curriculum, all in the browser with no app install.
Read the full comparisonRun your first backtest free
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