Fips vs a Notion trading journal: purpose-built instead of hand-built
A Notion template is a popular way to start a trading journal: it is flexible, looks good and lives next to your other notes. The catch is that Notion is a general-purpose workspace, so every trade, every formula and every statistic is something you enter or build yourself. Fips is a dedicated trading journal that does that part for you.
Why traders move from Notion to Fips
Trades arrive on their own
A Notion database only holds what you type or import. Fips syncs MT5 trades automatically and imports CSV exports from any other platform, so the journal stays complete even on busy days.
Statistics without formulas
Win rate, profit factor, average win and loss and equity curve are calculated from your trades. In Notion these are formulas and rollups you have to write and maintain.
Risk tools in the same place
The lot size calculator and the economic calendar sit next to the journal, so planning and reviewing a trade happen in one app.
Still free to start
The Fips free plan covers the journal with 30-day history, the lot size calculator and the economic calendar, with no credit card.
Fips vs a Notion template
| Fips | Notion template | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting trades in | Automatic MT5 sync, plus CSV import for other platforms | Manual entry or CSV import into a database |
| Performance statistics | Calculated automatically from your trades | Formulas and rollups you build yourself |
| Lot size / position sizing | Built-in calculator with pip value and margin | Build your own formula |
| Economic calendar | Included | Not included |
| Layout and free-form notes | Structured journal with notes per trade | Fully customisable pages |
Notion is a general-purpose workspace; what a template can do depends on how it was built. Third-party brand names belong to their owners.
When Notion is still the better fit
- If you mostly write long-form reviews, keep a trading plan and want everything laid out exactly your way, Notion’s flexibility is hard to beat.
- If you take a handful of trades a month and do not mind entering them by hand, a template can be enough.
- Many traders use both: Fips for the trade data, statistics and position sizing, Notion for the written trading plan.
Fips at a glance
- Free plan
- Trading journal with 30-day history, lot size calculator, economic calendar and technical analysis toolkit. No credit card required.
- Pro plan
- Unlimited trade history, advanced analytics, data export and priority support.
- Broker sync
- MetaTrader 5 syncs automatically with a read-only investor password. Every other platform (MT4, cTrader, crypto exchanges, Interactive Brokers) comes in through CSV import.
- Everything else
- CSV import with a guided column mapper.
- Position sizing
- Built-in lot size calculator for forex, gold, silver and crypto with pip value and margin.
- Where it runs
- Web app and desktop app.
Moving from a Notion template to Fips
- Create a free Fips account.
- In Notion, open the trades database and export it as CSV (Markdown & CSV export).
- In Fips, open Journal → Import, upload the CSV and map the columns (symbol, direction, entry, exit, size, P/L).
- Connect your MT5 account so new trades sync automatically from now on, or import a CSV from any other platform.
FAQ
Try Fips free
The free plan includes the trading journal, the lot size calculator and the economic calendar. No credit card required.