Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Backtrader VS AmiBroker

Compare Backtrader VS AmiBroker and see what are their differences

Backtrader logo Backtrader

Backtrader is a complete and advanced python framework that is used for backtesting and trading.

AmiBroker logo AmiBroker

Professional tool for individual investor featuring: advanced formula language for writing indicators and trading systems; comprehensive back-testing reports; filtering by sectors; alerts and more...
  • Backtrader Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-30
  • AmiBroker Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-11-11

Backtrader features and specs

  • Versatility
    Backtrader supports a wide variety of data sources and formats, as well as different types of financial instruments, allowing for extensive backtesting and live trading capabilities.
  • Community and Documentation
    The platform has a strong community and comprehensive documentation, making it easier for new users to get started and for experienced users to troubleshoot and optimize their strategies.
  • Python Integration
    Written in Python, Backtrader allows users to leverage Python's extensive ecosystem of libraries for data analysis, machine learning, and other financial computations.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source project, users can modify and extend the platform to meet their specific trading and testing needs without restrictions, and contribute to its development.
  • Flexibility in Strategy Design
    Backtrader offers a flexible and intuitive framework to design complex trading strategies, enabling users to test multiple strategies with different parameters efficiently.

Possible disadvantages of Backtrader

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Despite its flexibility, new users may find Backtrader's extensive features and options overwhelming, requiring a significant amount of time to learn and effectively utilize.
  • Performance Issues
    For very large datasets, Backtrader might experience performance bottlenecks or require additional optimization, as Python is not the fastest language for high-frequency backtesting.
  • Limited Technical Support
    As a community-driven open-source project, Backtrader might lack the formal technical support and customer service that comes with commercial trading platforms.
  • Complexity in Live Trading
    Transitioning from backtesting to live trading can require significant additional setup and potential custom development, especially in integrating broker APIs.
  • Outdated Resources
    Some educational materials and tutorials may be outdated, leading to confusion due to interface or feature updates that are not well-documented.

AmiBroker features and specs

  • Customization
    AmiBroker provides a highly customizable platform with extensive scripting capabilities through AFL (AmiBroker Formula Language), allowing users to create custom indicators, backtest systems, and automated trading strategies.
  • Speed
    The platform is optimized for speed and can handle large datasets efficiently, making it suitable for high-frequency trading and backtesting complex strategies.
  • Advanced Charting
    AmiBroker offers advanced charting features with multiple time frames, drawing tools, and a wide variety of technical indicators to analyze market trends.
  • Data Integration
    The software supports integration with multiple data sources and brokers, providing flexibility in terms of data feeds and execution of trades directly from the platform.
  • Cost-Effective
    Compared to other high-end trading platforms, AmiBroker offers a cost-effective solution with a one-time purchase fee, making it accessible for individual traders and small trading firms.

Possible disadvantages of AmiBroker

  • Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive features and customization options, there is a steep learning curve, especially for those who are new to trading platforms or scripting languages.
  • User Interface
    The user interface may seem outdated or non-intuitive compared to newer trading platforms, which can affect user experience and ease of navigation.
  • Limited Built-in Data
    AmiBroker does not come with built-in market data, requiring users to subscribe to third-party data providers for real-time or historical data, which can be an additional expense.
  • Windows-Only
    The platform is only available for Windows, limiting accessibility for users on MacOS or Linux unless they use virtualization or dual-boot solutions.
  • Support
    While AmiBroker has an active community and extensive documentation, official support can be limited, making it challenging for users to get timely assistance for specific issues.

Backtrader videos

Backtrader Python Review

More videos:

  • Review - Algorithmic Trading with Python and Backtrader (Part 1)
  • Review - Backtrader Live Forex Trading with Interactive Brokers (Part 1)

AmiBroker videos

🚀Amibroker : Beginner's Guide for Indian Traders

More videos:

  • Review - Introduction to Amibroker
  • Review - Amibroker Review [Standard Tools]

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Backtrader and AmiBroker)
Finance
25 25%
75% 75
Development
100 100%
0% 0
Investing
8 8%
92% 92
Tool
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Backtrader seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 3 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Backtrader mentions (3)

  • My reality of trading and how i wish i had never started.
    I do like what I see and hear about backtrader.com. I would say they are a notable exception to my general rule of not trusting or using backtesting frameworks. However, I still think it is important to understand how the framework you are using works. So if you are using backtrader for backtesting you still need to put in the time to understand the backtesting engine. Source: about 2 years ago
  • My reality of trading and how i wish i had never started.
    What about backtrader.com? And I feel like it would be step 2 after you at least have something to backtrade and test haha. Source: about 2 years ago
  • I need to know what can go wrong with my 'masterplan'
    Backtesting is basically applying your strategy on historical price data to see if it makes money. I've used Backtrader it works decently well: https://backtrader.com/. Source: over 3 years ago

AmiBroker mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of AmiBroker yet. Tracking of AmiBroker recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Backtrader and AmiBroker, you can also consider the following products

quantra - A public API for quantitative finance made with Quantlib

MetaTrader5 - World-leading multi-asset platform that allows trading Forex, Stocks, Futures and CFDs.

QuantConnect - QuantConnect provides a free algorithm backtesting tool and financial data so engineers can design algorithmic trading strategies. We are democratizing algorithm trading technology to empower investors.

ProRealTime - Online trading, charting and technical analysis of stocks, futures, forex and commodities.

Quantopian - Your algorithmic investing platform

TradingView - The best charting tool for crypto and stocks