Check the free tier first
TradingView's free plan covers most retail charting needs, MetaTrader and cTrader are free through any supporting broker, Myfxbook's analytics cost nothing, and BabyPips' course is free. Before paying for any tool, check whether the free tier does what you need; for a lot of traders the honest answer is yes.
Use trials properly
Most paid platforms offer a free trial, typically 7 to 30 days. Use it to test the exact features you would pay for, and set a reminder to cancel before it converts, because trials almost always roll into a paid plan. TradingView's 30-day trial and the trials on journals such as TradeZella are listed as free-trial offers on FrugalFX.
Annual billing and seasonal sales
Annual billing is the standing discount on nearly every subscription, commonly 15% to 40% off twelve monthly payments. Beyond that, the reliable sale is Black Friday: TradingView, most journals and many VPS hosts discount their annual plans heavily in late November, and the discounts are usually deeper than any promo code during the year.
Broker bundles
Some brokers give clients a free VPS once they trade a minimum volume, free access to premium charting through a TradingView integration, or free market data that would otherwise cost money. If you already trade with a broker, its client area is the first place to look before paying a third party; the broker pages on FrugalFX note where a free VPS or platform access applies.
Where coupon codes fit
Codes for platforms and tools tend to come through partners and are usually 10% to 30% off the first payment. They are worth using, but rank them after the free tier, the trial and annual billing, because those three are worth more and never expire.
Where to go next
Trading forex, CFDs and other leveraged products involves significant risk. This guide is general information, not investment advice. FrugalFX earns affiliate commissions on some links.