Desktop app or web app — which should you use?
First-time users often wonder whether to install the desktop app or just use the web app. The honest answer: both run the same chart engine on the same account. Your layouts, watchlists, alerts and Pine scripts work identically on either — you can switch any time, so there's no wrong choice to undo.
The differences at a glance
| Capability | Desktop | Web |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-monitor detachable windows | Yes | — |
| Native OS notifications (app closed) | Yes | Browser only |
| Lower-latency streaming | On supported feeds | Standard |
| Offline cache of recent layouts | Yes | — |
| No install, instant access | Install needed | Yes |
When desktop wins
If you watch markets for hours, spread charts across monitors, or keep alerts running all day, the desktop app is the better home. It detaches charts to any screen, fires system-level notifications even when you're in another app, and streams more smoothly on supported feeds.
When web is enough
If you check charts occasionally or hop between machines — office PC, tablet, a borrowed laptop — the web app is the path of least resistance: open the browser, sign in, and you're always on the latest version.
- Same account, same engine — settings carry over both ways.
- Heavy screen time / multi-monitor / always-on alerts → desktop.
- Occasional checks and many devices → web.
Want multi-monitor layouts and native alerts? Try the desktop app.
Download the desktop app, free