Paper Trading Limitations

[Townsend]

It is possible for code to not work in paper trade mode.

Actually, you should NOT be using the paper trade mode at all.
I've tried it a few times.
Problem is: fills are always horrible. Not in the usual sense. Always way better than they would be in real trading. Makes trading for a profit VERY easy.

Not realistic at all. If you want to paper trade with realistic fills use TradingView. It's free.
Of course, you can still use TOS for charts, which are best. That's what I do.

 

[dirtyrug]

@Townsend

are you saying don't use paper trade in tos? i have been learning how to paper trade on this since feb 2025. is it really that bad, as in not realistic? so when live trading, it will be very difficult to get an order filled?

 

[useThinkScript]

Paper trading on ThinkOrSwim is a practice mode. It lets you try out trades using fake money, so you can learn how the app works without risking any real cash.

The prices and trades in paper trading are not real-time. The data is delayed, and the way your trades get filled is handled by the app’s computer algorithms, NOT the real stock market. This means it doesn’t match what would happen if you were trading live.

Think of it like basketball practice. Practicing helps you get comfortable with the tools and the process, but it’s not the same as playing in a real game with real pressure and real results.

Your question:
Will your orders get filled once you move to live trading? Whether your order goes through depends on how you set it up (like the price you choose and the type of order).

In short: use paper trading to get familiar with ThinkOrSwim, but don’t expect it to be like real trading.

@dirtyrug