Which trading platform is the fastest?

The fastest trading platforms are TD Ameritrade Thinkorswim, TradeStation, and Interactive Brokers Traders Workstation (TWS) because they're desktop-based.

The desktop trading platform enables base code to run locally on your computer and maximizes speed. However, web-based trading platforms built with modern code can also match desktop platforms in overall speed, but an internet connection can be a bottleneck.

Of course, investors who use the relevant platforms on the Internet must be in a position to react quickly to possible price developments. Realistically, however, this is less dependent on the transmission time of the respective platform than on the respective trader or his attention.

In general, the price developments for hobby traders on the stock exchanges are not so serious that a decision within seconds is necessary. Traders and investors who are so deeply involved in the matter that a quick reaction is necessary must then also invest the corresponding time in stock market trading. Frequent and regular monitoring of price developments and hours of detailed observation of stock market prices are then indispensable. Differences in the data transmission of trading platforms often amount to only miliseconds and are therefore rather negligible in stock exchange trading.In order to be successful, it is not so much the split-second decision that is needed as comprehensive market and company knowledge.