TradeZella Review: Is This the Best Trading Journal to Improve Performance?

If you’re serious about becoming a profitable trader, your problem probably isn’t strategy.

It’s feedback.

Most traders don’t lose because they lack indicators — they lose because they don’t track what’s actually working.

That’s where a proper trading journal comes in.

Over the past year, I’ve been using TradeZella as my primary trading journal software to analyze my trades, optimize performance, and eliminate what isn’t working.

This isn’t a hype review.

This is how I actually use it — and what has genuinely improved my trading.


Why a Trading Journal Is Non-Negotiable

If you don’t track:

  • Win rate
  • Average win vs average loss
  • Profit factor
  • Expectancy
  • Performance by symbol
  • Performance by timeframe

…you are trading blind.

The best trading journal doesn’t make you profitable.

It shows you where you’re leaking money.

That’s the difference.


What Makes TradeZella Different?

There are plenty of trading journal apps out there. What I like about TradeZella is that it combines:

  • Automated broker syncing
  • Advanced performance analytics
  • Trade replay functionality
  • Custom tagging and filtering
  • Clear visual reporting

It’s essentially trade journaling on steroids.

Instead of manually logging trades into Excel, your data pulls in automatically — and the platform breaks it down into actionable insights.


How I Use TradeZella to Improve My Trading

1️⃣ The Dashboard (Daily Feedback Loop)

The first thing I check is:

  • Net P&L
  • Win rate
  • Average win/loss
  • Profit factor
  • Expectancy

If your win rate is below 50%, your average winner must be significantly larger than your average loser.

If your profit factor is barely above 1.0, you’re surviving — not thriving.

Seeing this clearly prevents emotional decision-making.


2️⃣ Trade Replay (Massive Edge)

This is one of the most powerful features inside TradeZella.

You can replay your trades candle-by-candle and see:

  • Did you cut winners too early?
  • Are your stops too tight?
  • Do trades typically move further in your favor?
  • Are you getting wicked out unnecessarily?

This is especially useful if you run trading automations or take multiple trades during the week.

You can review 10+ trades in minutes and immediately see patterns.

⚠️ This is one of the features that really needs to be seen visually — I break this down step-by-step in the video walkthrough below.


3️⃣ Tagging Setups, Mistakes & Timeframes

This is where optimization happens.

I tag:

  • Setup type (breakout, flag, etc.)
  • Timeframe
  • Emotional mistakes
  • Execution errors

Over time, the data becomes obvious.

For example, I discovered:

  • My 1-day timeframe trades were profitable
  • My 5-minute timeframe trades were consistently losing
  • Certain futures contracts stopped working and needed to be cut

That allowed me to:

  • Eliminate lower timeframes from swing trading
  • Remove underperforming symbols
  • Double down on what was statistically working

That’s not intuition.

That’s data-driven decision-making.


4️⃣ Comparing Symbols & Strategies

Another powerful feature is the comparison tool.

You can compare:

  • Symbol vs symbol
  • Timeframe vs timeframe
  • Strategy vs strategy
  • Custom tag vs custom tag

This alone helped me eliminate trades that were consuming capital but underperforming.

Most traders never see this clearly because they never organize their data.


Two Ways to Use TradeZella

If you’re newer:

Use it to backtest or paper trade strategies. Build data before risking real capital.

If you’re already trading:

Start tracking now. Gather 30–60 days of data. Adjust based on evidence. Scale what proves itself.

The key is consistency.


Watch the Full TradeZella Tutorial (Step-By-Step Walkthrough)

In the video below, I walk through:

  • Connecting broker accounts
  • The full dashboard breakdown
  • Trade replay in action
  • Filtering reports
  • Identifying what to cut and what to scale

Some of the technical features (like replay and advanced filtering) are much easier to understand visually.

👉 Watch the full TradeZella tutorial here:


Is TradeZella the Best Trading Journal?

In my experience, it’s one of the best trading journal platforms if you:

  • Want automation instead of manual spreadsheets
  • Trade actively (futures, stocks, options, crypto)
  • Care about performance analytics
  • Want to make adjustments based on real data

It won’t make you profitable overnight.

But it will show you exactly where you’re winning — and where you’re bleeding.

And that’s what serious traders need.


Final Thoughts

Trading isn’t about finding the perfect system.

It’s about continuously optimizing.

Markets change. Conditions shift. Strategies go in and out of favor.

If you’re not tracking your data, you won’t see it happening.

If you want to try TradeZella, I’ve linked it below. First time users can save 20%!

👉 Try TradeZella here

And if you want to see exactly how I use it inside my own trading, watch the full breakdown above.

How To Create a Custom Layout on Interactive Brokers Desktop App (Step-by-Step)

If you’re using the new Interactive Brokers Desktop App, one of the best things you can do is build a layout that actually fits your trading style.

The default layout works — but customizing it makes a huge difference in speed, clarity, and execution.

In this guide, I’ll walk you step-by-step through how to create your own custom layout inside the new IBKR Desktop platform.


Step 1: Download the New IBKR Desktop App

If you haven’t installed it yet:

  1. Log into your Interactive Brokers account online
  2. Go to the Trade tab
  3. Select Try the New Desktop App
  4. Download the correct version for your machine

Once installed, you’ll see the default trading layout.


Step 2: Create a New Layout

On the left-hand side, scroll to the Layouts section.

You’ll see:

  • Basic Trading
  • Options Trading
  • Advanced Trading

Instead of using one of these presets, click the plus (+) icon to create a brand-new layout from scratch.

This gives you a blank canvas.


Step 3: Add Widgets Using the Toolbox

On the right-hand side, click the toolbox icon. This is where all your widgets live.

You can add tools for:

  • Watchlists
  • Charts
  • Portfolio
  • News
  • Heat Map
  • Quote Details
  • Quick Trade Entry
  • Rapid Order Entry

You simply click a widget and drag it where you want it.


Example Layout Structure (Simple & Clean)

Here’s a practical setup if you’re swing trading:

Left Column

  • Watchlist
  • News
  • Heat Map

Center

  • Large primary chart (this should be the focus)

Right or Bottom Section

  • Portfolio view
  • Quote details
  • Quick trade entry
  • Rapid order entry

Resize widgets by dragging their borders until everything fits comfortably.


Step 4: Customize Quick Trade Entry

One of the most powerful features is Quick Trade Entry.

You can configure:

  • Default share size
  • Default order type
  • Buy/Sell market shortcuts

If you frequently trade the same position size, setting this up properly makes execution much faster.


Step 5: Rename and Save Your Layout

This is important.

In the top right:

  1. Click Rename Layout
  2. Give it a descriptive name (example: “Swing Trading” or “Scalp Layout”)
  3. Save it

Now every time you log in, your custom layout will load automatically.


Want to see a visual?

Here’s a quick visual walkthrough showing you the process:


Why Custom Layouts Matter

A clean layout:

  • Reduces decision fatigue
  • Speeds up execution
  • Keeps important information visible
  • Eliminates clutter

You can also create multiple layouts depending on whether you’re swing trading, day trading, or trading options.


Final Thoughts

The new Interactive Brokers Desktop App is far simpler than the old TWS platform, and building a layout only takes a few minutes.

Start with a blank layout.
Add only what you need.
Keep it clean.

Over time, tweak it to match your workflow.

If you’re serious about improving execution and staying organized, this is one of the simplest upgrades you can make.

How to Place Trades on TradingView With Almost Any Broker (Step-by-Step)

TradingView is widely known for having some of the best charting and backtesting tools available. What many traders don’t realize—especially beginners—is that you can place trades directly on TradingView using supported brokers, instead of switching back and forth between charting and a broker’s native platform.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to connect a broker and place trades on TradingView, step by step, in a simple and practical way.


Can You Place Trades Directly on TradingView?

Yes—TradingView allows you to execute trades directly from your charts by connecting a supported broker through the Trading Panel.

Once connected, you’re trading real money from your brokerage account while using TradingView’s charts, tools, and layouts. This is especially useful if:

  • You prefer TradingView’s charts over your broker’s platform
  • You already pay for real-time data on TradingView
  • You want faster, more visual order placement

Brokers That Work With TradingView

TradingView integrates with a wide range of brokers across different asset classes, including stocks, futures, forex, and crypto.

You’ll find the full list inside TradingView itself, and it’s updated regularly. Not every broker supports every asset type, so it’s always worth checking TradingView’s current integration list before committing to a setup.


Step-by-Step: How to Connect a Broker to TradingView

Connecting a broker is straightforward and usually takes only a minute or two.

Step 1: Open the Trading Panel

In the top right of your TradingView chart, click “Trade” (This was recently moved from the button panel)
This opens a list of supported brokers.

Step 2: Select Your Broker

Choose your broker from the list. The panel includes many options, and the list continues beyond what’s visible at first glance.

Step 3: Log In

You’ll be prompted to log into your brokerage account.
Some brokers require two-factor authentication, which may add an extra step.

Step 4: Confirm the Connection

Once connected, you’ll see your account number(s) on the bottom panel. Here you can toggle between accounts and choose the one you want to use (if you have multiple accounts with that broker).

At this point, you’re ready to place trades directly from TradingView. Just hit the “Trade” button in the top right again to open up the trade panel. You should be an “Order” option as well as a “DOM” option to trade with. 

DOM (Depth of Market) allows you to place limit orders directly on a price ladder, but if you’re new, the regular order panel is usually easier to start with.


Order Types Available on TradingView

TradingView supports the most common order types you’ll need:

  • Market Orders – Buy or sell immediately at the current price
  • Limit Orders – Buy or sell at a specific price
  • Stop Orders – Trigger a market order at a defined price
  • Stop-Limit Orders – Trigger a limit order after a price is reached

The order types behave the same way they do on other trading platforms—the execution logic doesn’t change just because you’re using TradingView.


Setting Stop Loss and Take Profit Levels

One of TradingView’s strengths is how visual trade management can be.

Before placing a trade, you can:

  • Add a stop loss
  • Add a take profit
  • See potential profit and loss directly on the chart

You can also:

  • Drag orders directly on the chart
  • Modify order types without reopening the order panel
  • Remove stops or targets with a single click

This makes it much easier to understand risk before committing to a trade.


Market Orders vs Limit Orders (Important for Beginners)

  • Market orders execute immediately at the best available price, which can result in small price differences due to the bid-ask spread.
  • Limit orders allow you to control the exact price, but they may not fill if the market doesn’t reach that level.

For beginners, limit orders often provide more control and clarity.


Routing, Time in Force, and Extended Hours

Most traders can leave routing set to smart routing, which helps find the best available fill.

You can also adjust:

  • Time in force (Day, Good-Til-Canceled, etc.)
  • Whether orders can fill during pre-market or after-hours, depending on your broker’s permissions

These settings are optional, but it’s good to understand what they do before trading live.


Modifying or Canceling Orders

Once an order is placed:

  • You can modify stops and targets by dragging the orders on the chart or by clicking Modify Order (pencil icon under Orders > All)
  • TradingView shows projected profit and loss before confirming changes
  • You can cancel all active orders with a single click

If enabled in your settings, TradingView can also display arrows or markers showing where orders were filled.


Limitations to Be Aware Of

There are a few important limitations to understand:

  • Options trading is not currently supported through TradingView broker integrations
  • Some brokers may restrict certain assets or order types
  • Execution speed depends on the broker, not TradingView itself

TradingView is the interface—but your broker still handles the actual execution.


Tracking and Improving Your Trades

Placing trades is only part of the process. Long-term improvement comes from:

  • Tracking trades with something like Tradezella or personal software (BTW you can always use code “TC10” on TradeZella to save 10% at checkout).
  • Reviewing performance
  • Understanding risk vs reward over time

Using a trade journal alongside TradingView helps you identify what’s working and what isn’t, especially as your strategy evolves.


Watch the Full Video Walkthrough

If you prefer to see this process live—connecting a broker, placing trades, and adjusting orders visually—you can watch the full walkthrough on my YouTube channel, where I go step by step through the interface in real time.


Final Thoughts

Trading directly on TradingView can simplify your workflow significantly. Once your broker is connected and your order settings are understood, trade execution becomes faster, clearer, and more visual.

The key is to:

  • Know your risk before entering
  • Use stops and targets consistently
  • Keep the process simple while you’re learning

With a little practice, TradingView can become a powerful all-in-one environment for charting and execution.