What it does
StockSharp combines a visual strategy designer, .NET development library, market-data storage tools and trading applications. Designer supports visual blocks and coded strategies, while Hydra collects and stores historical data. A lasting free tier includes one connector in the desktop programs; paid plans expand access.
StockSharp's Hydra component loads and stores market data, while Designer builds strategies visually or in code. This separation helps establish a usable history before investigating strategy behavior. Designer's debugger can pause a calculation to show what a block returned.
The quick-start example opens a moving-average strategy. After downloading history with Hydra, point Designer's Backtest > Storage settings to that data directory. Load the instruments through Common > Market data, then open the SMA example in Schemas > Backtest. Choose the period and instrument, adjust the Candles block's timeframe, and start the simulation. Results appear in tabs for charts, orders, trades, profit and loss, positions and statistics.
| Plan | Published USD software price | Selected access |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0, no time limit | Free API and one connector in the programs |
| Premium | $995 for the first year; $498 renewal | Four program connectors, Shell and additional AI/cloud credit |
| Ultimate | $1,995 for the first year; $998 renewal | Unlimited connectors and further professional features |
Premium also lists a US$2,985 lifetime option. AI and cloud balances are credits, rather than a promise of unlimited processing. Broker and data-service arrangements remain separate from the software plan.
Create a StockSharp account with your name, email and password to use the plan route; phone is optional. Although some product pages use the words open source, the repository's current license explicitly places the code under StockSharp's own license agreement. Read those terms before modifying or redistributing it.
Strengths
- Combines visual strategy blocks with coded development
- Uses Hydra history directly in Designer backtests
- Provides trade, position and performance views after a simulation
Watch out for
- The free desktop-program tier includes only one connector
- Repository materials use a custom license rather than a general open-source license
- AI and cloud usage depends on the available credit balance
Best for
- Developers working with C# strategy and market-data tools
- Researchers who want visual strategy construction and historical testing
Sources
- StockSharp development and market-data products (Oct 27, 2026)
- StockSharp Designer visual strategy and debugger features (Oct 27, 2026)
- StockSharp Designer historical-testing quick start (Oct 27, 2026)
- StockSharp Free, Premium and Ultimate pricing (Oct 27, 2026)
- StockSharp account registration (Oct 27, 2026)
- StockSharp custom repository license notice (Oct 27, 2026)