Is this stock market simulator free?

Yes. The Swift Penguin stock market simulator is completely free — no signup, no credit card, and no paywall. Your virtual portfolio is saved in your browser so you can return anytime.

Does the stock market simulator use real stock prices?

Yes. Quotes and charts use live market data (via Finnhub), so you’re practicing against real prices for stocks and ETFs like AAPL, TSLA, NVDA, and SPY — not random fake prices.

Do I need an account to use this trading simulator?

No. Start trading immediately with virtual cash. Positions, watchlist, and trade history are stored locally in your browser — nothing is uploaded to a server.

How much virtual money do I start with?

You start with $100,000 in virtual cash by default. On the Stats tab you can choose a different starting amount when you reset your portfolio.

Can I practice with ETFs and popular stocks?

Yes. Search any ticker or company name, or tap popular symbols like AAPL, MSFT, GOOGL, AMZN, NVDA, TSLA, META, and SPY. You can also click the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow overview tickers to trade those ETFs.

Is paper trading worth it for beginners?

Yes — if you treat it seriously. Use the simulator to learn order sizing, diversification, and emotional discipline. Track why you buy, set an exit plan, and review your win rate on the Stats tab before moving to a real brokerage.

How is a stock market simulator different from real trading?

You don’t risk real money, so emotions are lighter and fills are simplified (market orders at the current quote). Real brokers add fees, spreads, partial fills, and tax considerations. Use the simulator to build skill, then start small with real capital.

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Stock Market Simulator

Q: What is paper trading?

Paper trading (also called virtual or simulated trading) means placing buy and sell orders with fake money while using real market data. It’s the safest way to learn how stocks move and test strategies before risking real capital.

Free paper trading with live prices: buy/sell stocks, watchlist, charts, portfolio allocation, win-rate stats, and CSV export. $100,000 virtual cash — no signup.

Paper trade stocks and ETFs with live market prices, a watchlist, charts, and portfolio stats. Start with virtual cash, practice buy/sell discipline, and export your trade history — no brokerage account required.

Market Overview

Total Value

$100,000.00

+$0.00 (+0%)

Buying Power

$100,000.00

100.0% cash

Holdings

$0.00

0 stocks

Realized P&L

+$0.00

No closed trades

Search Stocks

Search by company name or ticker, then practice paper trades with live prices

Popular Stocks

What is a stock market simulator and why should you use it?

A stock market simulator (also called paper trading or virtual trading) lets you practice buying and selling stocks with fake money while using real market data. It's the safest way to learn trading strategies, test new ideas, or get comfortable with market movements without risking a single dollar. Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced trader testing a new strategy, this free stock market simulator gives you real-world practice without real-world consequences.

How to use this free paper trading simulator

Start with $100,000 virtual cash (customize on reset in Stats).
Search a ticker or company name, or tap a popular stock.
Review the live quote and price chart.
Buy or sell by shares or dollar amount — use % shortcuts for practice sizing.
Track positions, watchlist, win rate, and export your order history as CSV.

Your portfolio stays in your browser, so you can close the tab and come back later to see how your picks performed — just like checking a real brokerage account.

Key features of our stock market simulator

Live market data: Trade against real quotes and charts, not random simulated prices.
Flexible order sizing: Enter shares or a dollar amount, plus 25% / 50% / 75% / Max shortcuts.
Watchlist: Follow tickers without buying them — saved locally like your portfolio.
Portfolio allocation:See each holding's weight, unrealized P&L, and cash percentage.
Performance stats: Realized P&L, win rate, and best/worst closed trades.
CSV export: Download your paper trade history for journaling or spreadsheets.
No signup: Start immediately. Reset anytime with custom starting capital.

Frequently asked questions

Tips for using a stock market simulator effectively

Treat it like real money: Reckless paper trades teach bad habits. Size positions intentionally.
Journal your reasoning: Note why you bought and your exit plan — then review Stats after you close trades.
Test one strategy at a time: Momentum, value, or buy-and-hold ETFs like SPY/QQQ — keep the experiment clear.
Give trades time: Check back over days or weeks; markets rarely prove a thesis in five minutes.

Related free trading tools

Pair this simulator with our live stock lookup for fundamentals, the position size calculator to practice risk sizing, the portfolio tracker for real holdings, and the investment return calculator to measure results. Browse all free stock trading tools.

Popular stocks to practice with

New to trading? Start with liquid names like Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Tesla (TSLA), Amazon (AMZN), or Nvidia (NVDA). Or practice diversified ETF paper trading with SPY (S&P 500), QQQ (Nasdaq-100), or DIA (Dow). High volume and clear news flow make these easier learning vehicles than illiquid small caps.

This stock market simulator is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Past performance (even simulated) does not guarantee future results. Real trading involves risk of loss. Always do your own research and consider consulting a financial advisor before investing real money.

Free share worth up to £100 when you sign up

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