Fips vs an Excel or Google Sheets trading journal
Most traders start their journal in a spreadsheet, and for good reason: it is free, familiar and completely under your control. It also means copying every trade by hand, maintaining formulas and fixing the sheet when something breaks. Fips takes that manual work away.
Want to stay in a spreadsheet for now? Download our free trading journal template for Excel and Google Sheets.
Why traders move off spreadsheets
Less copying
MT4 and MT5 accounts sync automatically: connect with the account number, server and read-only investor password, or run the Fips connector on your own computer, which sends your account data to Fips. No broker partnership is needed. cTrader (view-only Open API access), Interactive Brokers (Flex Web Service token) and crypto exchanges such as Binance, Bybit, OKX, Kraken and Coinbase (read-only API key) sync automatically too; Hyperliquid and dYdX v4 connect with a wallet address. Other platforms, for example TradeLocker, DXtrade or Match-Trader, come in through CSV import with a column mapper. Re-upload a fresh export to keep it current, or add trades manually.
Statistics that do not break
Performance statistics are calculated from the trade data, so there is no formula range to extend or cell reference to fix. Pro adds advanced analytics.
Position sizing built in
Free lot size and risk calculators run in the browser, with pages for prop firms and specific symbols.
Backtesting and calendar
Bar-by-bar chart replay and an economic calendar live in the same product as your journal.
Fips vs a spreadsheet journal
| Item | Fips | Excel / Google Sheets |
|---|---|---|
| Getting trades in | Automatic sync through read-only access for MT4/MT5, cTrader, Interactive Brokers and major crypto exchanges, plus CSV import with a column mapper for other platforms | Typed in or pasted from broker exports |
| Performance statistics | Calculated from your trade data; advanced analytics on Pro | Formulas you write and maintain |
| Lot size / position sizing | Free lot size and risk calculators | Your own formula |
| Backtesting | Bar-by-bar chart replay | Not included |
| Economic calendar | Included | Not included |
| Custom metrics | Statistics built into the journal | Anything you can build in a formula |
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Who should pick which
A spreadsheet may still be fine if
- You need a very specific custom metric and enjoy building it yourself.
- You trade rarely and like reviewing each trade by typing it in.
Fips may suit you better if
- Entering trades has become a chore or your formulas keep breaking.
- You trade on MT4 or MT5 and want a read-only connection that syncs automatically, with CSV import for other platforms.
- You want backtesting, an economic calendar and position sizing in one place.
Fips at a glance
- Free plan
- Free forever, no credit card. Trading journal with a 30-day trade history, the economic calendar, free calculators and chart replay backtesting.
- Pro
- $19.99/month or $139/year (save up to 42%). Unlimited history, advanced analytics, data export and priority support. 7-day free trial, card required.
- Team
- $69.99/month or $559/year.
- Refunds
- On your first payment: within 7 days on Pro monthly, within 30 days on Pro annual and Team.
- MT4 / MT5
- MT4 and MT5 accounts sync automatically: connect with the account number, server and read-only investor password, or run the Fips connector on your own computer, which sends your account data to Fips. No broker partnership is needed.
- Other platforms
- cTrader (view-only Open API access), Interactive Brokers (Flex Web Service token) and crypto exchanges such as Binance, Bybit, OKX, Kraken and Coinbase (read-only API key) sync automatically too; Hyperliquid and dYdX v4 connect with a wallet address. Other platforms, for example TradeLocker, DXtrade or Match-Trader, come in through CSV import with a column mapper. Re-upload a fresh export to keep it current, or add trades manually.
- Backtesting
- Bar-by-bar chart replay on real 1-minute history (EURUSD, GBPUSD, USDJPY, AUDUSD and USDCAD from 2003, NZDUSD from 2005, gold from 2009), with spread, commission, slippage and statistics in R. Manual replay, no tick data.
- Tools
- Free lot size and risk calculators in the browser (including prop-firm and symbol pages), a prop-firm rules reference and an economic calendar.
- Where it runs
- Web app in private beta (join the waitlist for an invite), in 6 languages.
- Coming soon
- AI trade coach; futures support; native iOS and Android apps; Windows, macOS and Linux desktop apps.
- Made by
- T2MA Labs LLC.
Moving your spreadsheet into Fips
- Join the Fips waitlist; when your invite arrives, create your free account. No credit card required.
- Save the trade sheet as CSV (Excel: Save As → CSV; Google Sheets: File → Download → Comma Separated Values (.csv)).
- In Fips, open CSV import, upload the file and match your columns (symbol, side, entry, exit, size, P/L) with the column mapper.
- Connect your accounts with read-only access so new trades sync automatically: MT4 and MT5 with the investor password or the Fips connector, cTrader with view-only Open API access, Interactive Brokers with a Flex Web Service token, crypto exchanges with a read-only API key. Other platforms come in by CSV import, re-uploaded whenever you want to bring the journal up to date, or by manual entry.
FAQ
Yes. Save or download the sheet as CSV and import it in Fips. The column mapper lets you match your own column names.
No. Free lot size and risk calculators run in the browser, including pages for prop firms and specific symbols.
MT4 and MT5 accounts sync automatically: connect with the account number, server and read-only investor password, or run the Fips connector on your own computer, which sends your account data to Fips. No broker partnership is needed. cTrader (view-only Open API access), Interactive Brokers (Flex Web Service token) and crypto exchanges such as Binance, Bybit, OKX, Kraken and Coinbase (read-only API key) sync automatically too; Hyperliquid and dYdX v4 connect with a wallet address. Other platforms, for example TradeLocker, DXtrade or Match-Trader, come in through CSV import with a column mapper. Re-upload a fresh export to keep it current, or add trades manually.
Fips is free forever with a 30-day trade history and no credit card. Pro is $19.99/month or $139/year (save up to 42%) and adds unlimited history, advanced analytics, data export and priority support, with a 7-day free trial (card required). Team is $69.99/month or $559/year.
Get early access to Fips
Free forever with a 30-day trade history, chart replay backtesting and the free lot size and risk calculators. No credit card required. The web app is in private beta: join the waitlist for an invite.