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Author: Emily Lanham
Trading Economist
Emily Lanham

Automated Trading Software

As we all know, technology moves forward at a startling pace. Just to think that the Internet was only available using a dial-up modem less than 25 years ago and yet now we achieve unthinkably fast speeds via fibre optic cables. It is thanks to this that online trading is possible at all and one of the most exciting technological advances for day traders is the emergence of trading robots as an everyday trading tool.

‘Robot’ is very much a colloquial term, the better description is automated algorithmic software, but that is a bit of a mouthful of course. Whichever name you happen to prefer, this type of trading can certainly save you time and increase your trading productivity. However, it does require some input from you and it is not the key to instant wealth, as some unscrupulous businesses may suggest.

As with every aspect of day trading, there are always decisions for you to make. If you intend from the outset to employ some level of automation to your trading, then you must choose both your broker and platform wisely. This is one part of the process we can help you with, by studying our guides and broker reviews you can gain insight and also be reassured that any broker that makes it to our recommended list is legit.

Top Rated CFD Sites

#1 - Pocket Option: Best Overall

Pocket Option Logo
9.8
Superb
Bonus Up-to $2000 Assets 130+
Min. Trade $1 *Payout % 92.76%
Over 130+ assets to trade now
Instant access to social trading
Single account option, for everyone
Tournament with prize of $50,000
IFMRRC is not an official regulator
Limited account funding methods
Deposit Methods
Visa Klarna PayPal MasterCard
168 visited this site today
Pocket Option Review

Editors Summary

Pocket Option offers many excellent features to new and existing traders. When you check-out the various account types, you will see that they work with traders of any level – newbie, beginner, experienced, master etc. This site is so easy to use, and while CySEC does not license them, they have good feedback online and tick all of the boxes of a trusted broker. We love the ease of use and no-frills approach which is replicated with a great user experience.

#2 - IQcent: Best Free Demo

IQcent Logo
9.3
Excellent
Bonus Up-to $1600 Assets 150+
Min. Trade $1 *Payout % 91.48%
Over 150+ assets to trade now
Account options for every trader
Trading available 7 days a week
Super-fast 1 day withdrawals
Demo account has less features
UK-based, but licensed offshore
Deposit Methods
AMEX Bitcoin Klarna PayPal
70 visited this site today

Editors Summary

It is clear to see that IQcent mean business and that their all-around offering to traders is making them a serious competitor in the digital options market place. From their easy to use trading platform to the fact that they offer such good withdrawal terms, you can't help but feel that this broker is going to capture the market, quickly. With a base in London, reputable licensing, an acceptance of US customers they tick all the boxes when it comes what traders want.

#3 - Raceoption: Best Mobile App

Raceoption Logo
9.1
Very Good
Bonus Up-to $1000 Assets 140+
Min. Trade $1 *Payout % 89.72%
Over 140+ assets to trade now
Bespoke platform for PC and mobile
Low min deposit of $0.10 per trade
Great support in multiple languages
Platform not suited to pro traders
No free demo account option
Deposit Methods
AMEX Klarna PaySafeCard MasterCard
36 visited this site today
Raceoption Review

Editors Summary

Raceoption, while a relatively new broker, tick all of the boxes when it comes to trading. They are competitive and offer all of the things that you would expect. Benefits include an excellent mobile trading platform, welcome and deposit bonuses and a good support system. There are phone numbers available in many languages, alternatively, you can send a message with your details, and someone will get back to you.

Risk Warning / Ad Disclosure

Risk Warning: The products offered by the companies listed on this website carry a high level of risk and can result in the loss of all your funds. You should never risk money that you cannot afford to lose.

Ad Disclosure: Some of the links that you will find on this website are advertisements for which we do receive financial gain for referring new customers.

How Day Trading Robots Work

Robots

The search for a robot is a little more tricky for the day trading community. Unless you are confident enough to code the software yourself, there is no ‘one size fits all’ software option that will work for all types of assets.

Choose a Robot Service

Choosing a robot service is a little easier if you trade mainly on the Forex markets. The MT4 platform was originally developed for trading Forex and has many automated options built-in and included within its library. The MT5 version is more suited to cross-asset traders, as is the cTrader platform, but you will still need to select the right software to download depending on the asset you intend trading.

Download The Software

For the MT4 and MT5 platforms, automated software can be downloaded directly from the platform libraries. These are trusted sources and the download/installation will take place quickly, with a minimum of intervention needed. The cTrader platform also includes a version called cTrader Automate, but you may find the setup process a little daunting if you are a beginner.

Enter Your Settings

The next part of the process will require your attention, as it is at this stage you ‘tell’ the robot how you want it to behave. You will need to include technical indicators and constraints for money management as well as rules for defining your entry and exit points. If all of this sounds a little complex, then you can often try out a ‘copy’ trade, to see how these rules have been applied in a given scenario.

Sit Back, Relax And Enjoy

All trading, including the automated version, still requires robust trading plans and strategies and careful programming of the software. So long as you are aware that getting everything right is not going to happen overnight and allow time for a ‘learning curve’ sooner or later you will be able to feel comfortable with your robot and get to the relaxing part.

How Robots Save Time

Todays Top Traders
Trader Broker Asset Profit

Fully automated trading is not going to suit everyone, if you have the time and concentration levels to monitor your trades personally, it may make you feel as if you have lost some control, for example. For others, it is a blessing in disguise meaning they do not have to be in constant attendance for fear of missing an opportunity.

Just bear in mind that as a human, you have your limitations and also this rather annoying need to eat and sleep. The beauty of robots trading for you is that they will continue to work at the same pace, for as long as you want them to. You will still have control over their activities by setting clear rules for trading activity and you can always intervene if something goes awry.

You will need to spend a certain amount of time setting up your software, telling the robot the rules, so to speak. These will include money management and when to enter or exit a trade. Once you have done this, the software will do all the hard work for you, accurately scanning huge amounts of data and identifying trades that fit the criteria you have set.

Periodically you will need to review and adjust your rules, or may wish to start implementing more complex trading strategies once you have gained confidence in your software. However, the amount of time this entails is nominal compared to the long hours you would have to spend doing even a tiny part the robot’s job; even the best professional traders cannot compete with the speed and consistency of a robot.

The Benefits of Automation

Automated trading does a whole lot more than saving you valuable time. For example, it is natural (and human) to feel emotionally involved in your trading, but this can lead to errors or missed opportunities. Your robot does not have these human traits and will stick consistently to the rules you have set for it.

There are a whole lot of benefits to be gleaned by using automated trading software, aside from making a profit that is and here are just a few:

  • Monitor multiple trades at the same time
  • Faster order entry speed
  • Instant reaction to market fluctuations
  • No emotional input (removes the fear of loss and pilot error)
  • Backtesting functionality (using historical data)
  • Consistency of trades (sticking to the plan)

If you are still uncertain, it is always possible to ‘try before you buy’ using opportunities from trading platform developers, broker demo accounts, online tutorials and of course the guides on our website, which we have developed to help traders just like you.

Just bear in mind that as a human, you have your limitations and also this rather annoying need to eat and sleep.

How to Find Legit Software

You can see from the information in this guide that automated trading can certainly be advantageous to you, but that it does have certain limitations for some day traders. The best advice if you want to give it a try is to try it out first in a simulation platform. You can do this for MT4, MT5 and cTrader by downloading the platform from the relevant developer’s websites, which also have many robot programs you can test. You cannot trade live from these platforms, but you will gain valuable experience by experimenting with them.

As well as reviewing brokers, we also keep abreast of trading trends and technologies and one thing that has crossed our radar is the emergence of AI trading software. As we already have smart cars and homes available, it was logical that this would be something that was developed. But before you get too excited, the available software is still in beta and so far it has only been developed for stock trading, but we are sure it is only a matter of time before it becomes much more widespread.

Our broker reviews are completed by a panel of experts, most of them with extensive trading experience under their belts. The brokers that make it onto our recommended list have been fully vetted on every aspect of their operation, so by choosing one of them, you can be sure that the broker is legit, leaving you to concentrate on finding the right tools to complement your day trading.

Our Review Rating System (More Info)

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Expert Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

Is robot software trustworthy and reliable?

It is the same principle as sourcing any type of software to download, always make sure that the source of the download can be trusted and avoid any that promises to make you rich.

Can they predict the right decisions to make?

Robots use a complex algorithm based on past market analysis to decide which trades are most likely to succeed. However, they cannot predict the future, so if there is an unusual market event, this can affect the robot’s decision.

Will I need to pay money for decent software?

As with many things in life, you don’t get much for free, so if you want software that is up to the task, you will need to pay for it or develop the skills to create it yourself.

What if my trading software gets it wrong?

Robots are not ‘plug and play’ you will need to tell the software what you want it to do and there will be a learning curve before you start to see the right results.

How do I find the best services to use?

There are two ways we suggest, either find a broker that is fully supportive of traders ‘scaling up’ automation on their platform or try out some of the robot software on a platform developers website.

Top Rated CFD Site

#1 - Pocket Option: Best Overall

Pocket Option Logo
9.8
Superb
Bonus Up-to $2000 Assets 130+
Min. Trade $1 *Payout % 92.76%
Over 130+ assets to trade now
Instant access to social trading
Single account option, for everyone
Tournament with prize of $50,000
IFMRRC is not an official regulator
Limited account funding methods
Deposit Methods
AMEX Klarna MasterCard Skrill
165 visited this site today
Pocket Option Review
Risk Warning / Ad Disclosure

Risk Warning: The products offered by the companies listed on this website carry a high level of risk and can result in the loss of all your funds. You should never risk money that you cannot afford to lose.

Ad Disclosure: Some of the links that you will find on this website are advertisements for which we do receive financial gain for referring new customers.

Meet The Author
Emily Lanham
Emily Lanham
Trading Economist

Emily has written for us for 2 years, and with an education and career in economics, markets are something she understands. Working as a consultant for various financial institutions gives Emily the ability to devote a certain amount of her time to the site.

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