MotiveWave
motivewave.com
Desktop charting and trading known for Elliott Wave, order flow and market profile tools, with a free Community edition and leased or bought paid editions.
What it is
MotiveWave is installed software for Windows, macOS and Linux, with companion iOS and Android apps on paid editions. It connects to more than 30 brokers and data services, including Interactive Brokers, Charles Schwab, TradeStation, CQG, Rithmic and Coinbase, so the markets you can chart and trade depend on the connection you use. Its Elliott Wave tools are what it is known for, but it also covers order flow (volume imprint, volume profile, VWAP), market profile (TPO), an advanced DOM, harmonic patterns and more than 300 studies.
Editions stack on each other. Community is free: charting, 280+ studies, replay and the Java SDK, one broker or feed per workspace, no live trading and no mobile app. Standard adds live trading, the mobile app, cloud workspaces and advanced replay. Order Flow adds order flow studies, the advanced DOM and a trade copier. EW Lite adds basic Elliott Wave tools. PRO adds multiple broker connections, strategy automation, backtesting and scanners. Ultimate adds advanced Elliott Wave, the Elliott Wave scanner and Hurst Cycles.
Each paid edition can be leased monthly, for 3 or 6 months, or bought outright. A purchase includes one year of updates and support, after which updates are an optional yearly fee. MotiveWave states that sales are final, so use the 14-day trial first.
Key features
- Elliott Wave tools
- Manual wave labeling, automatic wave analysis, time and price ratios, channels and an Elliott Wave scanner (scanner on Ultimate).
- Order flow and DOM
- Volume imprint by bid and ask, volume profile, VWAP, advanced DOM and market-by-order views on the Order Flow edition and above.
- Market profile
- TPO charts with expanded profiles and letter sequences.
- Strategy automation and backtesting
- Built-in strategies, backtesting, harmonic and study scanners on PRO and Ultimate.
- Broker and data connections
- 30+ brokers and feeds; Community allows one connection per workspace, PRO allows several at once.
- Java SDK
- Write custom studies, indicators and strategies in Java, available from the free edition up.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Community | $0 | Charting, 280+ studies, replay, Java SDK; no live trading or mobile app |
| Standard | $24/mo lease or $245 one-time | Live trading, mobile app, cloud workspaces, advanced replay |
| Order Flow | $49/mo lease or $595 one-time | Order flow studies, advanced DOM, trade copier |
| EW Lite | $89/mo lease or $1,395 one-time | Basic Elliott Wave tools |
| PRO | $99/mo lease or $1,495 one-time | Multiple brokers, strategy automation, backtesting, scanners |
| Ultimate | $159/mo lease or $2,295 one-time | Advanced Elliott Wave, Elliott Wave scanner, Hurst Cycles |
3- and 6-month leases and 4-installment purchases are also offered. Purchased licenses include 1 year of updates and support; extra years cost $55 (Standard) to $295 (Ultimate). Regional taxes may apply. Sales are final except at MotiveWave's discretion, with a 5% admin fee. Market data from your broker or feed is separate.
Free option: The Community edition: charting with 280+ studies, drawing tools, replay mode and the Java SDK, connected to one broker or data feed per workspace. It cannot place live trades and has no mobile app.
Checked September 25, 2026 on motivewave.com. Prices change; confirm on the provider's site before you subscribe.
Strengths
- Deep Elliott Wave toolset, including automatic wave analysis on higher editions
- Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux
- Choice of monthly lease or one-time purchase
- Free Community edition for charting without a time limit
Limitations
- No browser version: it is desktop software plus mobile apps
- Sales are final, with refunds only at the company's discretion
- Elliott Wave and automation features are in the more expensive editions
- Market data comes from your broker or feed and may cost extra
Good fit for
- Traders who use Elliott Wave, Gann or harmonic analysis
- Futures traders who want order flow and DOM tools on Mac or Linux
- Traders who prefer to own a license rather than rent software
Look elsewhere if
- Traders who want charting in a browser with built-in data (TradingView fits better)
- Casual investors who only need basic charts
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MotiveWave questions
Is MotiveWave free?
The Community edition is free for charting and analysis, but it cannot place live trades and has no mobile app. Paid editions start at $24 a month.
Does MotiveWave run on a Mac?
Yes. It supports Windows 10 and 11, macOS on Intel and Apple Silicon, and Linux, with iOS and Android apps for paid editions.
Which edition has Elliott Wave?
EW Lite has the basic Elliott Wave tools; Ultimate adds advanced Elliott Wave, automatic pattern recognition and the Elliott Wave scanner.
Can I get a refund?
MotiveWave states that all sales are final, except cases it reviews at its discretion with a 5% admin fee. A 14-day free trial is available first.
Which brokers does MotiveWave connect to?
More than 30 brokers and data services, including Interactive Brokers, Charles Schwab, TradeStation, CQG, Rithmic and Coinbase.
Written from MotiveWave's own website and documentation. All Trading Tools lists and compares tools; it does not recommend trades or give financial advice. Sources: motivewave.com, motivewave.com/products.htm.