AllocateSmartly alternatives: 5 tools compared

Written by the Tactfolio research teamPublished Updated 3 min read

AllocateSmartly tracks published tactical asset allocation strategies and emails you their signals. Good AllocateSmartly alternatives include Tactfolio, TuringTrader, Portfolio Visualizer, testfolio, and Composer. Each one fits a different need. We make Tactfolio, so read our notes with that in mind. Every fact about the other tools comes from their own websites, checked on October 16, 2026.

AllocateSmartly alternatives at a glance#

ToolBest forBuild your own?Trades for you?Price
TactfolioRunning classic strategies automaticallyYesYes, in your Alpaca accountFree, Plus $12 a month ($99 a year), Pro $29 a month ($249 a year). Everything is free until billing opens. See pricing
TuringTraderReady-made portfolios with share countsNoNoFree basic plan, paid from $49.95 a month
Portfolio VisualizerTesting preset tactical modelsSettings onlyNoFree plan, paid from $30 a month, billed yearly
testfolioFree daily backtests of tactical rulesYesNoFree tiers, paid from $15 a month
ComposerAn all-in-one app that also holds your accountYesYes, as your brokerFree for one strategy, paid from $10 a month

Why people look for an AllocateSmartly alternative#

AllocateSmartly is a signal service. You can combine its strategies, but you can’t write your own. You also place every trade yourself. It costs $49 a month or $399 a year after a free limited tier. Some people want to automate the trades, change a rule, or pay less.

Tactfolio#

Tactfolio is a platform where you build rules-based investing strategies, backtest them on decades of real prices, share them, and run them automatically in your own Alpaca account. You can build by hand in a visual builder or by asking an AI assistant.

Its 60+ classic strategies come from many of the same authors AllocateSmartly credits. Examples are Mebane Faber’s GTAA, Gary Antonacci’s dual momentum, and Wouter Keller’s BAA. Each one is built from its source, tested every day, and ready to copy and change. You can then run it in a paper account or your own Alpaca account. Tactfolio covers long-only strategies on US-listed stocks and ETFs.

TuringTrader#

TuringTrader publishes rule-based tactical portfolios and emails rebalance alerts with exact share counts. You place the trades yourself. The Basic plan is free and includes portfolios from books and papers. Premium costs $49.95 a month and adds its own portfolios and alerts. Infinite costs $79.95 a month and adds API access.

Portfolio Visualizer#

Portfolio Visualizer has preset tactical models, such as moving averages, dual momentum, and adaptive allocation. You can change their settings and backtest them on monthly data back to 1972. Paid plans show the next trade signal. It does not trade. Read Tactfolio vs Portfolio Visualizer.

testfolio#

testfol.io is a backtesting site with daily data. A free account includes a tactical allocation backtester and simulated tickers with long histories. Paid plans add optimizers and email alerts. It does not trade.

Composer#

Composer is a no-code app and broker. You can build tactical strategies, copy community ones, and have Composer trade them. Your money sits in a Composer account, and live trading is for US residents. Read Tactfolio vs Composer.

How to choose#

  • To run classic strategies automatically at your own broker, try Tactfolio.
  • To follow ready-made portfolios with share counts by hand, try TuringTrader.
  • To test preset models on long monthly data, try Portfolio Visualizer.
  • For free daily backtests of your own tactical rules, try testfolio. Read testfol.io alternatives for more.
  • For one app that holds the money and trades, try Composer.

A strategy can do worse after it is published than in its backtest. Why past results mislead explains why.

Common questions#

Is there a free alternative to AllocateSmartly?#

Yes. Tactfolio has a Free plan, and every feature is free until billing opens. Its classic strategies come from many of the same authors. TuringTrader’s Basic plan and testfolio’s free tiers are free too.

Can I automate AllocateSmartly strategies?#

AllocateSmartly itself does not trade. On Tactfolio, you can copy a classic strategy, such as dual momentum, and run it in your own Alpaca account.

Which alternative lets me change a strategy’s rules?#

Tactfolio, testfolio, and Composer let you change the rules or build your own. TuringTrader and AllocateSmartly give you finished strategies.

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