You can add indicators to the backtest chart, configure their settings, and use them in your rules while you replay and trade. Indicators recalculate bar by bar as the chart advances, so their value at any moment reflects only the candles that had closed by then - which keeps indicator-based testing honest.
Adding an indicator
Open the indicator picker on the chart and choose the one you want - a moving average or EMA, for example. It draws onto the chart immediately and moves with price as you step forward. You can layer more than one if your strategy uses a combination, subject to your tier's limit.
Configuring settings
Each indicator has settings you can adjust - things like period, and sometimes a signal or a color to keep the chart readable. Set these to match your strategy exactly. If your rules call for a 50-period EMA, configure 50, not a rough approximation, so the backtest tests your real strategy rather than a lookalike.
Honest indicator backtesting
The key benefit of testing indicators in a replay tool is that they update only up to the current bar. In a static chart it is easy to glance at where an average will end up and unconsciously use that future knowledge. During bar-by-bar replay the indicator only knows what price has already done, so an indicator-triggered entry reflects a decision you could genuinely have made in real time - avoiding a subtle form of hindsight bias.
Important: indicators are tools for defining rules, not magic signals. An EMA cross is only worth trading if it produces positive expectancy in your backtest. Use indicators to specify entries and filters, then let the data judge whether they add an edge.
Tier limits
How many indicators you can apply depends on your plan. The free tier includes a limited set, which keeps charts clean and is plenty for simple systems, while paid tiers unlock more so you can build and test more complex indicator-based strategies. Either way, fewer indicators used deliberately usually beats a cluttered chart of overlapping signals.
Test an indicator strategy
Start a session in the simulator, add the indicator your strategy uses, configure it to your exact settings, and replay - taking entries when your indicator rules trigger. The report will tell you whether the indicator genuinely improves your results or just adds noise to the chart.
Indicators FAQ
Can I add indicators to a backtest chart?
Yes. Add indicators like moving averages and EMAs, configure their settings, and use them in your rules while replaying. They update bar by bar.
How many indicators can I use?
It depends on your tier. The free tier allows a limited set; paid tiers unlock more for building complex indicator systems.
Do indicators update correctly during replay?
Yes. They recalculate as each bar prints, so their value reflects only closed candles - keeping indicator-based backtesting honest.