Compatibility
Windows 10 May 2020 Update or later is required (version 2004, OS build 19041). The included read-only Android companion requires Android 16 or later (API level 36+).
Before You Download Or Buy
StockTracker is a Windows desktop app for tracking estimated dividend income and payment timing. This section summarizes the compatibility, licensing, update, support, and refund information that is useful before you install or purchase.
Free And Paid Versions
Free mode supports up to 5 positions. The paid version is a $20 one-time purchase that unlocks unlimited positions. The Android companion is included without a separate license.
Updates And Internet
Updates are free for free-mode and paid users. StockTracker checks for updates, notifies you, and lets you choose whether to download and install them. Internet access is needed for update checks, downloads, and market-data quotes, but not to install an update already downloaded.
Support And Refunds
Email stocktracker@fastmail.com for help. The developer aims to respond within a few days. Purchases include a 30-day money-back guarantee; reasonable later requests may be considered case by case. A refunded license is no longer valid.
Portfolio files are stored locally on your computer. StockTracker does not require a StockTracker account or an online portfolio service. See the Windows Privacy Policy and Android Privacy Policy for data-handling details.
StockTracker is portfolio-organization software, not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. View the $20 product page when you are ready to purchase.
Windows Installation Warning
The StockTracker Windows installer is not currently digitally signed. Windows may therefore show a security warning the first time you open it.
What the warning means: A message such as “Windows protected your PC” means Windows could not verify the publisher or establish enough reputation for the installer. It is not, by itself, a finding that StockTracker contains malware.
Install from the official download
- Download StockTracker from the official Northgate Software or StockTracker product page.
- Open the installer. If Windows shows the SmartScreen warning, select More info.
- Review the publisher and file details, then select Run anyway only if you intended to download StockTracker from the official source.
Some Windows 11 security settings and organization policies may block unsigned applications without offering a Run anyway option. Do not disable Windows security broadly to install StockTracker; contact support if the official installer cannot be opened on your computer.
When the installer is digitally signed in a future release, this guidance will be updated. Until then, the official download source and the Windows warning are important parts of deciding whether to continue.
Get Started
A StockTracker portfolio is a JSON file on your computer. Open an existing portfolio, import a brokerage export, or add positions and save a new one.
Free mode supports up to 5 positions.
Portfolio data is stored locally, not in the cloud.
Import A Brokerage Export
- Select File > Import Positions.
- Choose the import source, then choose whether to replace the current portfolio or merge the imported positions into it.
- Select Save or press Ctrl+S to save the portfolio.
Add Positions Manually
- Select Add.
- Enter the symbol, purchase details, shares, and optional dividend information. Use Find Dividend Info to look up suggested dividend details.
- Select Save or press Ctrl+S to save the portfolio.
Use File > Open Positions when you want to switch to another saved portfolio file. Use File > Export Positions CSV when you want a spreadsheet-friendly copy of the current portfolio, including dividend yield, yield on cost, yearly dividend, and dividend income weight.
Schwab positions CSV exports and flexible spreadsheet position files are supported. Select Help > Brokerage Export Help when you need steps for getting a supported file.
Import Brokerage Exports
StockTracker imports position files exported from supported brokerages and flexible position spreadsheets. Export one account at a time, save the file locally, then choose File > Import Positions and select the exported file.
Charles Schwab Positions CSV (.csv)
- Sign in to Schwab on the web.
- Open Accounts > Positions.
- Choose the account you want to export.
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Select Export on the Positions page.
The Export button is in the Positions page toolbar. - Confirm the export if Schwab prompts you, then save the CSV file to your computer.
- Return to StockTracker and import that saved CSV file.
StockTracker expects the Schwab positions export, not a transaction history, statement, or tax document export.
Spreadsheet Positions (.xlsx)
- Create or export a spreadsheet containing one row per position.
- Include recognizable columns for Symbol and Shares.
- Optionally include price, cost, dividend, date, schedule, or asset type columns.
- Return to StockTracker and choose Spreadsheet Positions (.xlsx) as the import source, then review or adjust the detected columns in the mapping window.
Column order can vary, and common names like ticker, quantity, units, current price, average cost, and asset class are recognized. Confirmed mappings are remembered locally for similar future spreadsheets.
CSV Positions (.csv)
- Create or export a CSV containing one row per position.
- Include recognizable columns for Symbol and Shares.
- Optionally include price, cost, dividend, date, schedule, or asset type columns.
- Return to StockTracker and choose CSV Positions (.csv) as the import source, then review or adjust the detected columns in the mapping window.
This generic CSV import is separate from the dedicated Schwab CSV importer.
License And Free Mode
StockTracker runs in free mode until a license is activated. Free mode supports up to 5 positions. A free-mode badge appears in the main window while the app is unlicensed.
Activate
Select Help > Activate License when the app is unactivated, or use Settings > License at any time to manage the saved license key and see used and remaining activations. Activation is tied to the current Windows machine.
Over The Limit
Existing portfolios with more than 5 positions still open in free mode, and import remains available so you can replace or reduce the portfolio. Market data fetching is disabled until the portfolio has 5 or fewer positions or a license is activated.
Buy
Use the license dialog, limit dialog, or About box to open the StockTracker store page.
Reading Your Portfolio
The main table shows each position with the values StockTracker calculates from your saved data and the latest market data, with dividend timing kept visible while you scan the portfolio.
Price And Value
Current Price, Today's Change, Value, and Value Change update when market data is fetched.
Capital Gain
Capital Gain compares the current value against the purchase price and share count you entered.
Dividend Estimates
Daily, Monthly, and Yearly are estimates based on the dividend amount currently saved for each position.
Dividend Schedules
The M, Q, and Y badges mark monthly, quarterly, and yearly dividend schedules. Quarterly badge tooltips include the saved month-of-quarter group, such as Jan/Apr/Jul/Oct.
Next Payment
The green arrow at the left marks every position tied for the next estimated dividend payment. Projections preserve the saved day-of-month pattern, support an explicit end-of-month rule, clamp dates to shorter months, and move estimated weekend dates to a weekday within the same month.
Due Today
The arrow becomes a green star when the estimated dividend payment is due today.
Portfolio Dividend Yield
The bottom totals strip shows two portfolio-level dividend percentages below the yearly dividend total.
- Yield: estimated yearly dividend income divided by total current value.
- YOC: estimated yearly dividend income divided by total cost basis. This helps show the income return on the money originally invested, separate from later price changes.
Open Dividend Investing for beginner-friendly terminology, formulas, and rules of thumb.
Position Tools
Use these tools to complete dividend details and inspect values without adding more columns to the portfolio table.
Find Dividend Info
Use free public lookups to fill in dividend timing and amount details for stock positions.
- Right-click a stock position and choose Find dividend info, or use Find Dividend Info while editing a position.
- Review original and suggested values side by side, then accept, edit, reject, or open the lookup source.
- When provider or lookup data returns the calendar month's final day, StockTracker preserves that as an end-of-month pattern for future months.
- Only one portfolio-wide lookup can run at a time.
Position Tooltip Values
Hover a position row to see extra dividend and movement details without adding more table columns.
- Symbol
- The ticker symbol saved for the position.
- Today's Change
- The percentage change from previous close to current price.
- Yearly Yield
- The current estimated dividend yield, calculated from annual dividend per share and current price.
- Yield on Cost
- The estimated annual dividend per share divided by your saved purchase price. This helps show the income return on the money originally invested, separate from later price changes.
- Income Weight
- The position's estimated yearly dividend income as a percentage of the portfolio's estimated yearly dividend income. This helps show whether portfolio income is concentrated in a few holdings instead of spread across many positions.
- Monthly div per share
- The annualized dividend rate converted to an estimated monthly per-share amount.
- Annual div per share
- The estimated annual dividend amount for one share.
- Estimated Dividend Date
- The saved dividend timing pattern StockTracker uses for sorting and projected dividend payments. The Edit Position window can use a fixed day or an end-of-month rule. A projected date is recalculated after a market-data fetch, clamped to the target month's last day when needed, and moved to a weekday within the same month when it falls on a weekend.
Market Data
Use Fetch or press F5 to refresh prices. StockTracker supports Yahoo Quotes and Alpaca Markets for stocks, and CoinMarketCap for crypto.
- Open Settings > Quote Providers.
- Review the provider descriptions, choose a stock quote provider, and, when needed, enter its credentials.
- Select Save. Use Check to send a live test request to the selected provider. It requires internet access and valid credentials.
- Return to the main window and select Fetch.
Yahoo Quotes
Best when you want the easiest stock setup: no credentials are required, and dividend dates are included when Yahoo provides them. Yahoo quote access can occasionally fail outside StockTracker's control; switching to Alpaca Markets is the practical workaround until Yahoo access works again.
Alpaca Markets
Best when you already have Alpaca API credentials or prefer an authenticated stock data source. Alpaca updates stock prices and previous close values, but it does not provide dividend dates.
CoinMarketCap
Used for crypto positions. CoinMarketCap requires an API key and updates crypto prices separately from the selected stock quote provider.
Changing providers does not change saved positions, purchase prices, shares, or saved dividend amounts. It affects future quote refreshes, including current price, previous close, daily change, and provider-supplied dividend dates. Credentials are stored encrypted on the device, and saved secret values are not shown again after saving.
Automatic Fetch
Automatic Fetch helps keep your portfolio history current on days when you forget a manual fetch or are away from home. Open Settings > Automatic Fetch to enable it, choose the days, and set the local time after which the fetch should run.
Choose The Days
Monday through Friday are selected by default. You can select or clear any day, including Saturday and Sunday.
One Fetch Per Selected Day
StockTracker fetches only when no successful market-data fetch has already happened on that day. A manual or startup fetch satisfies the schedule.
The desktop app must be running when the scheduled time arrives. Automatic Fetch does not register a Windows background task. Market-data access, provider credentials, and license or position limits still apply.
Projected Dividend Income Chart
The dividend income chart turns saved dividend schedules into a forward-looking payment calendar, so you can see when income is expected instead of only viewing daily, monthly, and yearly estimates.
- Select View > Dividend Income Chart.
- Choose Month, Quarter, or Year for the time period.
- Choose Points, Line, Cumulative Line, Combined Bars, or Stacked Bars for the chart type.
- Use the legend checkboxes to show or hide the total line and individual symbols. Select All and Deselect All update the whole legend at once.
- Hover a payment point to see the date, amount, shares, dividend-per-share value, and schedule used for that projection.
The chart includes stock positions with a saved dividend amount, share count, payment schedule, and dividend date. Projected dates use the saved fixed-day or end-of-month pattern, shorter-month clamping, and the same-month weekday weekend rule. Crypto positions, positions with no dividend schedule, and irregular dividends are not projected on the chart.
Portfolio Charts
Portfolio charts show a current snapshot of the portfolio from several angles. StockTracker does not need historical prices for these charts. Select View > Portfolio Charts, then use the Chart dropdown to switch views. Hover bars or points for holding details.
Allocation
Use Portfolio Allocation to see current value by holding and spot concentration.
Cost Basis
Use Cost Basis vs Current Value to compare what you paid with what each holding is worth now.
Performance And Movement
Unrealized Gain/Loss ranks holdings by total gain or loss. Today's Movers shows each holding's value change since previous close.
Dividend Income Mix
Dividend Income Weight vs Portfolio Weight compares each holding's share of portfolio value with its share of estimated annual dividend income.
Yield
Compare current yield with yield on cost to see income return from today's price and original cost basis.
Income Efficiency
Use Income Efficiency Scatter to compare annual dividend income against position size.
Trend Thumbnails
The compact graphs beneath the portfolio Value and Value Change totals provide a quick view of recent movement without opening a chart window.
Portfolio Value
The graph beneath Value shows the portfolio's recorded total value over the range selected in Settings > Display. Click it to open Historical Charts.
Today's Value Change
The graph beneath Value Change shows the total portfolio change since the previous market close after each successful market-data fetch today. It is informational only; it does not open a full chart.
Reading The Baseline
The faint dashed $0 line on the Value Change graph is the previous-close reference, not a recorded fetch. It gives the trend a consistent scale: points above it are gains for the day, and points below it are losses. Click the graph to show or hide the baseline when you want to emphasize smaller changes.
Historical Charts
Historical Charts show how your saved portfolio metrics change over time. Open View > Historical Charts to track portfolio value, unrealized capital gain, annualized dividend, dividend yield, and yield on cost.
How History Is Recorded
Each complete market-data fetch records a snapshot of the current portfolio. Both manual fetches and automatic fetches can add history; incomplete fetches do not create a snapshot.
Daily Points
The normal chart views aggregate recorded snapshots into one point per day, making it easier to see longer-term trends even when you fetched more than once on a day.
Intraday View
Choose Intraday to inspect every complete fetch from today. This is useful when you want to see how the portfolio changed during the day.
Time Periods And Metrics
Use All History, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, or a custom range. For a bounded period, use the arrows beside the date range to move backward or forward by one selected period; Refresh returns to the normal current range. Use the legend to choose which metric lines are visible.
Historical data is stored locally in a separate portfolio-history database rather than in the portfolio JSON file. Use Reset Portfolio History in the Historical Charts window to clear the current portfolio's recorded history.
Android Companion
The Android app imports a read-only copy of the desktop portfolio over your local network so you can check portfolio totals and positions from your phone.
View On Android
To install the companion app, open Help > About on Windows, select Get Android Companion App, then scan the QR code with your Android phone.
The companion keeps the phone view focused on portfolio totals, quote refresh status, and position cards.
Import From Desktop
- On Windows, open the portfolio you want to share.
- Select File > Share Portfolio to Phone.
- On Android, select Import Portfolio.
- Scan the QR code, or paste the pairing payload.
- Close the sharing window when import is complete.
Phone sharing is intended for your local network. Keep the sharing window open only while importing.
Keyboard Shortcuts And Status
Ctrl+NAdd position
Ctrl+OOpen portfolio
EnterEdit selected position
DeleteRemove selected position
Ctrl+SSave portfolio
F5Fetch market data
Status Panel
Long-running actions show progress in the Status panel. Use Settings > Show/Hide Status Area or the Status panel header button to show or hide the panel, and drag the top edge of the expanded panel to resize it.
Troubleshooting
Market data does not refresh
Open Settings > Quote Providers and confirm the selected provider. Alpaca Markets and CoinMarketCap require credentials; Yahoo Quotes does not.
Automatic fetch did not run
Open Settings > Automatic Fetch and confirm that it is enabled, the day is selected, and the scheduled local time has passed. The desktop app must be running, the current portfolio must contain positions, and market-data fetching must be allowed for the current license and portfolio size. A manual or startup fetch already completed that day will prevent another automatic fetch.
The Android app cannot import from desktop
Keep both devices on the same network, leave the desktop share window open, and try each listed share URL if you are pasting details manually.
Dividend totals look different than broker statements
StockTracker estimates dividends from the current saved dividend amount. It does not reconstruct historical dividend payments.
A saved secret field is blank
That is expected. Saved secrets stay encrypted and hidden. Leave the field blank to keep the saved value, or enter a new value and save again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is my portfolio data stored?
Portfolio files are saved as JSON files wherever you choose on your computer. StockTracker does not upload your portfolio to a cloud account.
Can I track more than one portfolio?
Yes. Save each portfolio as a separate file, then use File > Open Positions to switch between them.
Can I import from another brokerage?
Yes, if you can export positions as a CSV or XLSX spreadsheet with recognizable symbol and share quantity columns. Schwab also has a dedicated importer for its positions CSV export.
Do I need quote provider credentials?
Not always. Yahoo Quotes can be used without credentials. Alpaca Markets and CoinMarketCap require your own provider credentials before they can refresh prices.
Does the Android companion edit my desktop portfolio?
No. The Android companion imports a read-only copy from the desktop app so you can view portfolio values on your phone.
Why is there no iPhone app?
StockTracker is built by a solo developer, and the ongoing app store costs and requirements for both Android and iPhone are not currently practical for the project. Android allows the companion app to be installed directly, while iPhone distribution generally requires the Apple App Store, so there is no iPhone companion app at this time.
What happens if I open a large portfolio in free mode?
The portfolio can still open, and you can import or reduce positions, but market data fetching is disabled until the portfolio has 5 or fewer positions or a license is activated.
Is StockTracker financial or investment advice?
No. StockTracker organizes portfolio information and estimates dividend income. It is not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice.
How do I activate after purchase?
Enter the Payhip license key in StockTracker's license or activation dialog. The paid license unlocks unlimited positions. Each license includes three total fresh activations; legitimate activation problems can be reviewed by support.
What happens after purchase?
Payhip provides your license information. Enter the license key in the Windows app. The Android companion is included and does not require a separate StockTracker license.
Why does Windows show a security warning during installation?
The StockTracker installer is not currently digitally signed, so Windows may show “Windows protected your PC” when you open it. This is a publisher-verification warning, not by itself a malware finding. Download only from the official source, then select More info and Run anyway if you choose to continue. See Windows Installation Warning for the full guidance.
Are updates free, and do I need an internet connection?
Updates are free for free-mode and paid users. StockTracker checks for available updates and lets you choose whether to download and install them. Internet access is needed to check for and download updates and to retrieve market data, but not to install an update that has already been downloaded.