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Automated Forex Trading

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Written By
James Barra
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Written By
James Barra
James is an investment writer with a background in financial services. As a former management consultant, he has worked on major operational transformation programmes at prominent European banks. James authors, edits and fact-checks content for a series of investing websites.
» James Barra Profile Page
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Edited By
Jemma Grist
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Edited By
Jemma Grist
Jemma is a writer, editor and fact-checker focused on retail trading and investing. Jemma brings a unique perspective to the forex, stock, and cryptocurrency markets and works across several investment websites as a researcher and broker analyst.
» Jemma Grist Profile Page
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Fact Checked By
William Berg
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Fact Checked By
William Berg
William contributes to several investment websites, leveraging his experience as a consultant for IPOs in the Nordic market and background providing localization for forex trading software. William has worked as a writer and fact-checker for a long row of financial publications.
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Updated
Jul 24, 2024

Automated forex trading is a hands-off approach to investing which makes use of advanced software and tools. A computer program essentially analyses price patterns, decides whether to buy or sell, and executes forex trades on the investor’s behalf. Human intervention is then about choosing and tweaking trading algorithms based on performance.

Importantly, the liquid and high-speed world of forex auto trade copiers is steadily making manual trading obsolete. In fact, institutional FX traders have been using automated trading robots for many years. The technology is now available to retail traders through bots for computers, plus iOS, Android, Windows, and other operating systems.

This tutorial explains how automated forex trading works and lists the best bots and supporting brokers in 2024.

The Best Brokers For Automated Forex Trading

Click a broker for details
  1. 1
    FOREX.com
    Active Trader Program With A 15% Reduction In Costs
    Ratings
    4.9 / 5
    4 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.6 / 5
    4.6 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.8 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    3.6 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    $100
    0.01 Lots
    1:50
    NFA, CFTC
    Forex, Stocks, Futures, Futures Options
    MT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
    Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, ACH Transfer
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN
    Go To FOREX.com
  2. 2
    NinjaTrader
    Ratings
    4.3 / 5
    2.8 / 5
    2.9 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    4 / 5
    4 / 5
    4 / 5
    3 / 5
    3.2 / 5
    $0
    0.01 Lots
    1:50
    NFA, CFTC
    Forex, Stocks, Options, Commodities, Futures, Crypto
    NinjaTrader Desktop, Web & Mobile, eSignal
    ACH Transfer, Debit Card, Wire Transfer, Cheque
    USD
    Go To NinjaTrader
  3. 3
    Interactive Brokers
    Ratings
    4.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    4.6 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    3 / 5
    4.4 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    $0
    $100
    1:50
    FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM
    Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies
    Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, eSignal, TradingCentral
    Cheque, ACH Transfer, Wire Transfer, Automated Customer Account Transfer Service, TransferWise, Debit Card
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF
    Go To Interactive Brokers
  4. 4
    Pocket Option
    50% Deposit Bonus
    Ratings
    2 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    2.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    3 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    4 / 5
    4.2 / 5
    $50
    $1
    MISA
    Binary Options, Currencies, Commodities, Stocks, Indices, Cryptos
    Web, MT4, MT5
    Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Bitcoin Payments, Volet, Perfect Money, Visa, Mastercard, Debit Card, WebMoney, FasaPay, Ethereum Payments, Maestro, JetonCash, Airtel
    USD
    Go To Pocket Option
  5. 5
    RedMars
    Ratings
    3.3 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    4 / 5
    2.8 / 5
    3 / 5
    4.7 / 5
    4.6 / 5
    €250
    0.01 Lots
    1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
    CySEC, AFM
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Cryptos
    MT5
    Credit Card, Wire Transfer, Debit Card, Sticpay, FasaPay, Bitcoin Payments, Trustly, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Klarna, Mastercard, Visa
    USD, EUR
    Go To RedMars
  6. 6
    OANDA US
    CFDs are not available to residents in the United States.
    Ratings
    4.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    2.8 / 5
    4 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    4.7 / 5
    3.7 / 5
    $0
    0.01 Lots
    1:50
    NFA, CFTC
    Forex, Crypto with Paxos (Cryptocurrencies are offered through Paxos. Paxos is a separate legal entity from OANDA)
    OANDA Trade, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist
    Wire Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Debit Card, ACH Transfer
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD
    Go To OANDA US
  7. 7
    IG
    Forex trading involves risk. Losses can exceed deposits.
    Ratings
    4.9 / 5
    4 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    4.9 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    4.9 / 5
    5 / 5
    4.6 / 5
    4 / 5
    $0
    0.01 Lots
    1:30 (Retail), 1:250 (Pro)
    FCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA, FINMA, CONSOB, AFM
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting
    Web, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
    PayPal, Wire Transfer, Mastercard, Credit Card, Visa, Debit Card
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, ZAR, SEK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD
    Go To IG
  8. 8
    Sage FX
    $1,500 trading competition
    Ratings
    2.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    3 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    2.5 / 5
    3 / 5
    1.3 / 5
    1.8 / 5
    0 / 5
    0 / 5
    $10
    0.01 Lots
    1:500
    Pending
    Forex, indices, cryptos
    TradeLocker
    Credit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum Payments
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD
    Go To Sage FX
  9. 9
    CEX.IO
    Ratings
    2.5 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    3 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    2.5 / 5
    4 / 5
    4.6 / 5
    3.1 / 5
    $20
    $1
    GFSC
    Cryptos
    TradingView
    Debit Card, Credit Card, Wire Transfer, Swift, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Neteller, Apple Pay, Google Wallet, Bitcoin Payments
    USD, EUR, GBP
    Go To CEX.IO
  10. 10
    Uphold
    Terms Apply. Cryptoassets are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk.
    Ratings
    3 / 5
    3.4 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    2.3 / 5
    3 / 5
    1.5 / 5
    4.6 / 5
    4.4 / 5
    $0
    $1
    Cryptos
    Desktop Platform, Mobile App
    Wire Transfer, ACH Transfer, Bitcoin Payments, Debit Card, Credit Card, Mastercard, Visa, Ethereum Payments
    USD, EUR, GBP
    Go To Uphold

This is why we think these brokers are the best in this category:

  1. FOREX.com - Founded in 1999, FOREX.com is now part of StoneX, a financial services organization serving over one million customers worldwide. Regulated in the US, UK, EU, Australia and beyond, the broker offers thousands of markets, not just forex, and provides excellent pricing on cutting-edge platforms.
  2. NinjaTrader - NinjaTrader is a US-headquartered and regulated brokerage that specializes in futures trading. There are three pricing plans to suit different needs and budgets, as well as ultra-low margins on popular contracts. The brand's award-winning charting software and trading platform also offers a high-degree of customization and superb technical analysis features.
  3. Interactive Brokers - Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a premier brokerage, providing access to 150 markets in 33 countries, along with a suite of comprehensive investment services. With over 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed firm adheres to stringent regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, amongst others, and is one of the most trusted brokers for trading around the globe.
  4. Pocket Option - Established in 2017, Pocket Option is a binary options broker offering high/low contracts on forex, stocks, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies. With over 100,000 active users and a global reach, the platform continues to prove popular with budding traders.
  5. RedMars - Launched in 2020, Cyprus-based RedMars offers competitive spreads on more than 300 instruments and leverage up to 1:500. Three accounts are available - Standard, Pro and VIP - serving a range of budgets and experience levels, with a fast and fully digital account opening process.
  6. OANDA US - OANDA is a popular brand offering exceptional execution, low deposit requirements and advanced charting and trading platform features. The top-rated brand has over 25 years of experience and is regulated by trusted agencies, including the NFA/CFTC. Around the clock support is available for short-term traders, alongside flexible contract sizes and automated trade executions.
  7. IG - Founded in 1974, IG is part of IG Group Holdings Plc, a publicly traded (LSE: IGG) brokerage. The brand-US offers spread betting, CFD and forex trading across an almost unrivalled selection of 17,000+ markets, with a range of user-friendly platforms and investing apps. For 50 years, IG has maintained its position as an industry leader, excelling in all key areas for traders.
  8. Sage FX - SageFX is an offshore, unregulated CFD broker that offers highly leveraged trading on forex, stocks, commodities, indices and crypto via the TradeLocker platform. Traders can access commission-free trading or an ECN account with tight spreads. While the broker's regulatory status is weak, it does provide segregated accounts and two-factor authentication.
  9. CEX.IO - CEX.IO is one-stop-shop for crypto investors where you can buy and sell popular digital tokens, speculate on prices with margin trading and earn rewards through staking. Since it launched in 2013, more than five million traders have deposited over $7.5 billion. CEX.IO is registered with the FinCEN in the US and the GFSC in the EU.
  10. Uphold - Uphold is a digital asset platform offering a range of services, from crypto trading and staking to payment cards that provides rewards and easy multi-currency payments. The company was established in 2015 and has enabled $4+ billion in transactions. Uphold is now active in 180+ countries and deals in 200+ crypto and fiat currencies.

FOREX.com

"FOREX.com remains a best-in-class brokerage for active forex traders of all experience levels, with over 80 currency pairs, tight spreads from 0.0 pips and low commissions. The powerful charting platforms collectively offer over 100 technical indicators, as well as extensive research tools."

Christian Harris, Reviewer

FOREX.com Quick Facts

Bonus OfferActive Trader Program With A 15% Reduction In Costs
Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsForex, Stocks, Futures, Futures Options
RegulatorNFA, CFTC
PlatformsMT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit$100
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:50
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN

Automation

Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader

Pros

  • The in-house Web Trader continues to shine as one of the best-designed platforms for aspiring day traders with a slick design and over 80 technical indicators for market analysis.
  • With over 20 years of experience, excellent regulatory oversight, and multiple accolades including runner-up in our 'Best Forex Broker' awards, FOREX.com boasts a global reputation as a trusted brokerage.
  • FOREX.com offers industry-leading forex pricing starting from 0.0 pips, alongside competitive cashback rebates of up to 15% for serious day traders.

Cons

  • Demo accounts are frustratingly time-limited to 90 days, which doesn’t give you enough time to test day trading strategies effectively.
  • FOREX.com's MT4 platform offers approximately 600 instruments, significantly fewer than the over 5,500 available on its non-MetaTrader platforms.
  • There’s no negative balance protection for US clients, so you may find yourself owing more money than your initial deposit into your account.
Visit FOREX.com
FOREX.com Review

NinjaTrader

"NinjaTrader continues to meet the demands of active futures traders looking for low fees and premium analysis tools. The platform hosts top-rate charting features including hundreds of indicators and 10+ chart types."

Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

NinjaTrader Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsForex, Stocks, Options, Commodities, Futures, Crypto
RegulatorNFA, CFTC
PlatformsNinjaTrader Desktop, Web & Mobile, eSignal
Minimum Deposit$0
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:50
Account CurrenciesUSD

Automation

NinjaScript or via Automated Trading Interface

Pros

  • NinjaTrader is a widely respected and award-winning futures broker and is heavily authorized by the NFA and CFTC
  • Traders can get free platform access and trade simulation capabilities in the unlimited demo
  • You can get thousands of add-ons and applications from developers in 150+ countries

Cons

  • The premium platform tools come with an extra charge
  • There is a withdrawal fee on some funding methods
  • Non forex and futures trading requires signing up with partner brokers
Visit NinjaTrader
NinjaTrader Review

Interactive Brokers

"Interactive Brokers is one of the best brokers for advanced day traders, providing powerful charting platforms, real-time data, and customizable layouts, notably through the new IBKR Desktop application. Its superb pricing and advanced order options also make it highly attractive for day traders, while its diverse range of equities is still among the best in the industry."

Christian Harris, Reviewer

Interactive Brokers Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsStocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies
RegulatorFCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM
PlatformsTrader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, eSignal, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit$0
Minimum Trade$100
Leverage1:50
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF

Automation

Capitalise.ai & TWS API

Pros

  • IBKR continues to deliver unmatched access to global stocks with tens of thousands of equities available from 100+ market centres in 24 countries, most recently the Saudi Stock Exchange.
  • There's a vast library of free or paid third-party research subscriptions catering to all types of traders, plus you can enjoy commission reimbursements from IBKR if you subscribe to Toggle AI.
  • IBKR is one of the most respected and trusted brokerages and is regulated by top-tier authorities, so you can have confidence in the integrity and security of your trading account.

Cons

  • IBKR provides a wide range of research tools, but their distribution across trading platforms and the web-based 'Account Management' page lacks consistency, leading to a confusing user experience.
  • TWS’s learning curve is steep, and beginners may find it challenging to navigate the platform and understand all the features. Plus500's web platform is much better suited to new traders.
  • You can only have one active session per account, so you can’t have your desktop program and mobile app running simultaneously, making for a sometimes frustrating trading experience.
Visit Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers Review

Pocket Option

"Pocket Option excels for its easy-to-use web platform which provides a best-in-class user experience for short-term binary traders. The $50 minimum deposit is also accessible for beginners while opening an account is really easy. Looking at the negatives, Pocket Option still trails alternatives in its market offering and regulatory credentials."

Jemma Grist, Reviewer

Pocket Option Quick Facts

Bonus Offer50% Deposit Bonus
Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsBinary Options, Currencies, Commodities, Stocks, Indices, Cryptos
RegulatorMISA
PlatformsWeb, MT4, MT5
Minimum Deposit$50
Minimum Trade$1
Account CurrenciesUSD

Automation

Yes

Pros

  • The web platform shines for its straightforward design and usability that will appeal to beginners looking to speculate on popular financial markets in a few clicks
  • The range of payment methods beats the majority of rivals, providing fast, secure and convenient deposits for traders in most countries
  • Extremely fast and smooth sign-up process that takes less than 2 minutes

Cons

  • Pocket Option offers a slimmed down iteration of the MT4 and MT5 that doesn't provide the full charting package for advanced traders
  • The maximum binary contract length of 4 hours is restrictive for longer-term trading strategies. Alternatives like Videforex offer binaries up to 1 month
  • You need to deposit $1000 to access the extended list of 250+ assets, otherwise just 130+ assets are available
Visit Pocket Option
Pocket Option Review

RedMars

"RedMars is the best fit for experienced day traders familiar with the MetaTrader 5 platform and based in the EU, where the broker is authorized by the CySEC. However, the threadbare education and research tools make it unsuitable for beginners."

Christian Harris, Reviewer

RedMars Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Cryptos
RegulatorCySEC, AFM
PlatformsMT5
Minimum Deposit€250
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR

Automation

Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader

Pros

  • The broker is one of a limited number of firms to offer an account specially designed for VIPs with premium support and invites to exclusive events
  • Getting started on RedMars is incredibly easy - you can be up and running in just a few minutes based on tests
  • RedMars offers one of the best platforms for day trading, MT5, hosting 21 timeframes, dozens of analytical tools, flexible templates and algo trading

Cons

  • While RedMars' spreads are within industry averages, they don't offer a significant edge over the cheapest day trading brokers we've personally used, notably IC Markets
  • The no-frills trading environment offers little beyond the basics, with no Islamic account, PAMM account or copy trading.
  • With just 300 instruments, RedMars offers a narrow trading environment, particularly compared to category leaders like BlackBull Markets which offers 26,000 assets
Visit RedMars
RedMars Review

OANDA US

"OANDA remains an excellent broker for US day traders seeking a user-friendly platform with premium analysis tools and a straightforward joining process. OANDA is also heavily regulated with a very high trust score."

Jemma Grist, Reviewer

OANDA US Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsForex, Crypto with Paxos (Cryptocurrencies are offered through Paxos. Paxos is a separate legal entity from OANDA)
RegulatorNFA, CFTC
PlatformsOANDA Trade, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist
Minimum Deposit$0
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:50
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD

Automation

Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader

Pros

  • The broker's API facilitates access to 25 years of deep historical data and rates from 200+ currencies
  • OANDA is a reliable, trustworthy and secure brand with authorization from tier-one regulators including the CFTC
  • There's a strong selection of 68 currency pairs for dedicated short-term forex traders

Cons

  • It's a shame that customer support is not available on weekends
  • The range of day trading markets is limited to forex and cryptos only
  • There's only a small range of payment methods available, with no e-wallets supported
Visit OANDA US
OANDA US Review

IG

"IG continues to provide a comprehensive package with an intuitive web platform, best-in-class education for beginners, advanced charting tools bolstered by its recent TradingView integration, real-time data, and fast execution speeds for experienced day traders."

Christian Harris, Reviewer

IG Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting
RegulatorFCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA, FINMA, CONSOB, AFM
PlatformsWeb, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit$0
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:30 (Retail), 1:250 (Pro)
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, ZAR, SEK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD

Automation

Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, build your own on ProRealTime

Pros

  • IG offers an extensive collection of professional and engaging educational resources, including webinars, articles, and analysis.
  • The ProRealTime advanced charting platform is free as long as certain modest monthly trading activity requirements are met.
  • The IG app offers a superb mobile trading experience with a clean design that helped it secure Runner Up at our 'Best Trading App' award.

Cons

  • Beginners might find IG’s fee structure complex, with various fees for different types of trades or services, potentially leading to confusion or unexpected charges.
  • While there is negative balance protection in the UK and EU, there is no account protection or guaranteed stop losses for US clients.
  • Stock and CFD spreads still trail the cheapest brokers like CMC Markets based on tests.
Visit IG
IG Review

Sage FX

"Sage FX will suit forex traders looking for high leverage and ECN spreads. The broker's prop trading service will also appeal to users looking for funded accounts with up to $200K available."

Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

Sage FX Quick Facts

Bonus Offer$1,500 trading competition
Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsForex, indices, cryptos
RegulatorPending
PlatformsTradeLocker
Minimum Deposit$10
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:500
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD

Automation

Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader

Pros

  • Low starting deposit from $10
  • Ability to deposit and withdraw via Bitcoin
  • Flexible accounts with STP and ECN solutions available

Cons

  • Lacks educational resources and other extra features
  • Relatively narrow range of asset classes
  • Not regulated by any reputable body
Visit Sage FX
Sage FX Review

CEX.IO

"CEX.IO continues to serve a range of crypto investors looking to buy, sell, trade, hold and earn with low fees. The tiered pricing structure will appeal to active traders while rookie investors will enjoy the straightforward platform interface and excellent education."

Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

CEX.IO Quick Facts

Demo AccountNo
InstrumentsCryptos
RegulatorGFSC
PlatformsTradingView
Minimum Deposit$20
Minimum Trade$1
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP

Automation

Yes - through APIs

Pros

  • High quality educational materials are available through the University feature
  • CEX.IO continues to offer competitive pricing with 0.01% taker and 0% maker fees for high-volume traders
  • The range of 200+ cryptocurrencies is competitive and will serve more experienced traders

Cons

  • A maintenance fee applies after 12 months of no activity
  • The broker has limited regulatory oversight
  • The Exchange Plus platform delivers a cluttered interface compared to competitor platforms
Visit CEX.IO
CEX.IO Review

Uphold

"Uphold remains a top choice for crypto investors looking for a one-stop-shop solution to accessing the markets. There are over 250 tokens to buy, sell and trade through flexible platform options."

William Berg, Reviewer

Uphold Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsCryptos
PlatformsDesktop Platform, Mobile App
Minimum Deposit$0
Minimum Trade$1
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP

Automation

Automated crypto trading bots

Pros

  • Crypto staking is available on 30+ tokens with above-average rates up to 16%
  • UK users can get the Uphold card with up to 2% cashback in XRP
  • The proprietary app is extremely easy to use with a slick design and navigation

Cons

  • Customer service is slow based on tests, with limited contact options
  • The charting analysis features on the platform trail specialist exchanges
  • Uphold operates with limited regulatory oversight
Visit Uphold
Uphold Review

Automated Forex Trading Explained

The top autopilot forex trading systems scan the markets to identify price patterns and execute trades. Software follows a set of rules and criteria, programmed by the developer and/or tailored by the individual forex trader.

Let’s say an investor knows how to code and create an automated forex trading robot. This means they could instruct it to short the EUR, for example, if the European Central Bank (ECB) eases its monetary policy. The investor can dictate the lot size, plus the profit to accumulate before closing the position.

Trading platforms like MetaQuotes’ MT4 and MT5, plus TradeStation, all support with the build of automated forex trading systems, including with Expert Advisors (EAs) that follow a set of rules rooted in technical analysis. MT5’s programming language is MQL5 while EasyLanguage is TradeStation’s simple coding language that is particularly popular with beginners. Python and R are also suitable for programming automated forex trading systems.

Types of Forex Trading Automation

You can separate forex trading systems into two groups:

Copy Trading

One of the best forms of forex automation is through copy trading. This is a time-saving and beginner-friendly way to speculate on currencies while learning from the pros. All you need to do is find an experienced investor and copy their positions.

On most platforms, after you select an investor, you simply set the system to ‘follow’ or ‘copy, and your account automatically mirrors the positions of the master trader.

The best-known and most popular forex copy trading platforms include:

The auto robot solutions listed above offer a wide range of automation-related features. MT4 and MT5, for example, provide everything from social trading with large community support to free and fully automated forex trading software downloads. eToro, on the other hand, does not feature bots, but it has a solid copy and social trading framework.

Forex Signals

The top brokers offer forex trading signals on iOS, APK and desktop devices. Some offer this service for free, while others charge a subscription. Brokerages may have teams of experts churning out signals while other rely solely on automated analysis.

The human factor is an important component of a quality signal service. Humans will mix various economic indicators with fundamental and technical triggers.

Robots

Bots generate and react to signals automatically. They essentially act on market data without human intervention. Thus, they completely remove the emotion-based element of forex investing.

The profitability of forex trading robots, however, varies. Traders will have to supervise and tweak code as robots are not infallible. Even the most lucrative programs need attention now and then.

MT4 & MT5

MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) were created by MetaQuotes and offer some of the most popular automated forex trading solutions called Expert Advisors (EAs).

Expert Advisors represent the gold standard in automated forex trading. People code these programs in a C++ like language. EAs automatically monitor forex markets and identify trading opportunities based on parameters set by the user.

Benefits include:

Of course, there are also some drawbacks:

Best automated forex trading app
FX Trading on MT4

Free Automated Forex Trading Software

People are usually right to distrust free, too-good-to-be-true deals. With automated currency exchange trading systems, the situation is a tad more nuanced, however.

Scammers will sometimes offer you software for free, then require you to sign up with a certain broker. This way, they can pick up the commission resulting from your registration. Such scams are relatively easy to spot. If the returns sound too good to be true, they probably will be.

Of course, there are no guarantees that expensive solutions will outperform free auto trading packages. However, paid-for solutions tend to yield better results. The most important thing is to look at user reviews and ratings before paying for anything. The best brokers and marketplaces provide details on historical profit and loss, risk metrics and information on the strategies used.

Getting Started

Automated forex trading systems are available all over the world, from Australia and Singapore to India, Canada and South Africa. Beginners should start by testing with small amounts or by using a paper trading account.

Most forex brokers and companies that support this type of investing allow back-testing on demo accounts. This is the process of running your best automated forex trading strategy with past price data to assess its ability to turn a theoretical profit. Such systems are available on demo accounts, so the trader does not have to risk real money to start with.

And whilst it hopefully goes without saying, the key starting point for forex investors should be to automate the manual strategies that are already successful.

Note, you do not have to be a scripting language expert to use software. The MQL community supports virtual marketplaces, where you can discuss, order, and buy ready-made or customized automated trading programs.

Automated forex trading software definition
Robot-Expert Advisor Marketplace

Final Word

There are many bots, signals and technology solutions when it comes to automated forex trading. For beginner investors we recommend reading software reviews online and back-testing strategies on free demo accounts. Alternatively, see our list of the best brokers for automated forex trading to get started today.

FAQs

Is Automated Forex Trading Profitable?

How much money you make will ultimately depend on your skill and knowledge as an investor. Institutions can generate serious returns because they employ the best analysts, gather many years of data, and have access to market-leading technology. Fortunately, retail forex traders can build their own robots, download free solutions, or buy programs online at the MetaTrader Marketplace, for example.

What Is The Best Automated Forex Trading Software?

The best automated forex trading software will depend on whether you want a fully automated solution or a partial service that simply provides alerts and signals. Importantly, the better the inputs into an algorithm, the better the results tend to be. The MetaTrader Marketplace is a good place to find the top forex auto trading programs.

Does TradingView Support Automated Trading Forex?

No – TradingView does not currently support automated forex trading. Instead, you may want to use desktop and mobile friendly platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5.

Can A Forex Robot Make Money?

Using an automated forex robot without proper back-testing and research is risky. Robots cannot guarantee easy or fast money. Fortunately, the top brokers and platforms publish information on previous profit and loss to help traders find the best solutions.

How Does Automated Forex Trading Work?

Some brokers offer forex trading solutions that allow retail investors to automate manual strategies. Traders can code their own algorithms using beginner-friendly scripting languages alongside tutorials and guides available online. See our article above for the main advantages of automated forex trading.