For any modern trader, a powerful trading platform is an essential cog in the wheel.

Whether you deal exclusively in Forex Markets or exhibit a bent towards multiple investment vehicles, such as Commodities, Indices or Cryptocurrencies, your online trading platform should be robust enough to support your current and future trading needs.

Different Traders have different needs. Some prefer trading on the go with a mobile application or some opt for dedicated time frames on a personal computer through a website.

Needless to say, all traders have certain common needs, when it comes to finding the ideal trading system for them. They require advanced analytical tools to foresee any dramatic market swings (both upward and downward) and analyse its impact on their market positions.

Besides, they need access to the market’s heartbeat in the form of crucial news and updates.

Another factor that weighs high on the traders’ agenda is the speed of deal execution.

These constitute just some of the countless requirements of a modern-day trader.

A straightforward rule of thumb to select a trading platform is to enrich your trading experience and not add to the burden.

So, in light of the needs of the modern trader and investor, the most Reliable Trading Platform will have the following characteristics:-

1. Ultra-fast trade execution speed

Traders holding positions in highly volatile instruments know the value of a few milliseconds.

When the market exhibits erratic behaviour with intermittent swells and plunges, a slight delay in trade execution could damage your returns; sometimes even result in huge losses.

This means the trading platform you use should be high-speed and reliable for undertaking your take profit and stop-loss positions.

Put simply; you can say that the fastest trading platform has efficiently checked off one of the most critical factors that the new-gen trader needs.

2. Cross-device accessibility

Since the trading fraternity is constantly on the move, the platform should be flexible to replicate this behaviour.

This implies that the software should ideally have a desktop version, a mobile app, and a full-fledged web-based application.

It also means the platform should be able to run on all the operation systems seamlessly.

Most importantly, it should allow users to save their trade workspace settings (including technical analysis, stock screens, and watch lists) and customise their layouts.

All in all, the trader must get a consistent experience irrespective of the device he/she uses to implement his/her trade strategies.

3. Multi-asset trade functionality

While choosing a website for starting with online trading, look for the one which offers the most number of Forex Pairs for Trading.The platform should support the trade execution of multiple investment vehicles, including popular ones such as cryptos, indices, commodities, stocks, and Forex.

More asset classes supported means more convenience for the trader and more avenues to plan asset diversification strategy.

Quite simply, while choosing a website for starting with online trading, look for the one which offers the most number of Forex Pairs for Trading.

Since the forex market is the largest and most liquid market globally, it is best if you don’t put all your eggs in one basket. That is, try trading in a few ‘safe’ instruments apart from your usual currency pairs.

Now the next obvious question arises-

Which forex broker offers the most currency pairs?

Most Forex Brokers offer the same popular currency pairs such as EURUSD, USDJPY, USCAD and others.

According to market experts, look for at least 50+ currency pairs in the list of instrument your broker provides. That is, obviously if you exclusively trade in the foreign exchange market.

Apart from this, look for platforms which provide maximum segment diversification. If you only trade in currency pairs, try your hand at safe commodities like XAUUSD/XAGUSD or highly volatile indices like DAX30 or NASDAQ. According to your preference, you can also choose long term stocks like TESLA, AMAZON or chip into the new-age rage of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum.

So, your safest bet would be to find a platform which offers the most type of asset classification.

Trade-in Currencies, Commodities, Indices, Cryptos and US Stocks

4. Advanced trading calculator

Another fundamental feature of a trading platform is that it should be easy to use for the novice traders as much as it is for the veterans.

The starters may find it relatively difficult to calculate their returns based on the pips and swaps; this is where the advanced trading calculator functionality can make life easier.

It can instantly show you how much profit or loss you could make depending on your stop loss, lot size, and limit order, allowing you to make more informed trading decisions without getting lost in the jargons.

Many also feel they should be able to trade directly from the charts and do so on any device running on any operating system.

5. Live market news and analysis

The trading platform needs to keep traders abreast of the market movements and significant events via live feeds, technical analysis, and running audio commentary.

Tracking regular market movements is one of the most significant features of a good trading platform.

As a result, the traders can predict events that may cause sudden surges and drops in the market and impact their earnings.

On the flip side, they can continuously keep an eye on real-time market opportunities.

This is one of the most critical features every good trading platform has.

And some of the other trading platforms have the in-built capability to handle all the elements all at once. i.e. trading in commodities, currencies, indices and stocks using the same platform.

6. Direct trading from advanced charts

The ideal platform offers users access to crucial technical indicators, such as Fibonacci Retracement, Elliot Waves, Chart Overlay, and Simple Moving Average, to name a few.

They should also allow traders to directly execute all trades (market order, stop loss, take profit, and pending order) from the charts.

7. Filtered news feed

Newsfeeds are something very regular in all the online Forex Trading platforms.

Market updates and newsfeed help understand the market and help traders decide which instrument to invest in.

But if you are a daily trader who shuffles from expert analysis, latest trends and current prices before deciding which stock to buy, obviously the time will be limited to go through the news feeds and get updated about the current statistics.

A filtered news feed with only essential information can be very convenient and time-saving to make it easier.

8. Open-source support ecosystem via API

Though largely overlooked, having an appropriate open-source environment for product improvement and a robust support ecosystem with add-ons allows traders to customise their trading experience.

Such a support community of developers goes a long way in helping traders realise their platform’s maximum potential as they can add or remove specific elements.

9. Order execution tools

Another important thing is to provide a favourable and profitable condition to the client.

That way, they have a user-friendly interface to place the order according to their convenience.

Some platforms also have features or videos or webinars to better understand forex trading and crypto space and the market.

The spontaneity and efficiency are the keys that all trading platforms try to maintain because nobody wants to trade in a complicated and slow platform.

10. Analytical tools

Analytical capabilities are the main reason for the traders to move from a conventional mode of trading to online trading terminals.

These tools help analyse the trends merged with the historical data to make possible predictions to make the best profitable stock investment with no risk factors.

These tools also save your time for an in-depth analysis or evaluations and guide you to come to a profitable decision.

11. Visual representation of data

The advanced technology makes it easy by simplifying the data into charts or other visual solutions which is very convenient for the traders to understand the market.

Navigation tools provide easy access as traders with minimal software knowledge also can operate.

Some of the trading platforms are developed by FX brokers by analysing their client’s requirements and demands.

As this is a very competitive sector, it is necessary to keep up with the other leading brokers by upgrading the trading terminals.

12. Data confidentiality

Trading involves the sharing of highly confidential data.

While you make sure that your broker offers the lowest, cheapest brokerage rates for online trading, you also need to ensure that the broker is reliable.

Deposit when you are sure about the safety of your funds.  Brokers committing 100% fund safety is quite rare these days, but do not settle for less. Choose a broker who protects your data as well as your funds!

13. Advanced ordering tools

For a daily trader, a second might be too precious to lose!

Hotkey or shortcuts need to be in-built in the platform to track orders or place an order quickly.

Other advanced ordering tools should be used to deal with complicated orders like timed orders, bracket orders, peg orders, hidden orders, basket orders etc.

14. One-click bulk order closing

The platform should allow traders to close all their open positions, thereby maximising the profit during winning trades and minimising loss while losing trades.

Such a bulk order closing functionality can prove invaluable especially for highly volatile markets by allowing you to either close all deals or only the winning/losing ones.