Copy Trading Platforms and Brokers 2022
As one of the most hands-off investing strategies, it’s clear why copy trading is popular – but does it work? We’ve created a comprehensive guide to copy trading in 2022. We review the pros and cons, explain how it works and the risks involved. We also share our tips to finding the best platforms and list the best copy trading brokers in the UK.
Copy Trading Brokers
Pepperstone offers spread betting andCFD trading to both retail and professional traders. Clients can trade FX, indices, commodities and shares on MT4, MT5 and cTrader platforms.
Copy Trading PlatformPepperstone offers an impressive range of third-party platforms, including MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader and DupliTrade. The broker also offers social trading and an account mirroring tool, Myfxbook. The tool offers automated analytics which allows traders to track, compare and share trading activity within a user-friendly dashboard.
Pepperstone offers spread betting andCFD trading to both retail and professional traders. Clients can trade FX, indices, commodities and shares on MT4, MT5 and cTrader platforms.
Copy Trading PlatformPepperstone offers an impressive range of third-party platforms, including MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader and DupliTrade. The broker also offers social trading and an account mirroring tool, Myfxbook. The tool offers automated analytics which allows traders to track, compare and share trading activity within a user-friendly dashboard.
Leading forex and CFD broker regulated in Ireland, Australia, Canada and South Africa. Avatrade are particularly strong in integration, including MT4
Copy Trading PlatformRegulated across multiple jurisdictions, AvaTrade not only offers a proprietary platform, but also a selection of social and copy trading systems, including its own AvaSocial app, along with MetaTrader suites. There’s also the web-based platforms, DupliTrade and ZuluTrade, which are both easy-to-use and suit novices and experts alike.
Leading forex and CFD broker regulated in Ireland, Australia, Canada and South Africa. Avatrade are particularly strong in integration, including MT4
Copy Trading PlatformRegulated across multiple jurisdictions, AvaTrade not only offers a proprietary platform, but also a selection of social and copy trading systems, including its own AvaSocial app, along with MetaTrader suites. There’s also the web-based platforms, DupliTrade and ZuluTrade, which are both easy-to-use and suit novices and experts alike.
Reliable and affordable trading since 2009. Join over 900,000 others trading on 400+ CFD products over assets like forex, gold, indices, cryptocurrency and shares from 0.0 spreads through TradingView, MT4 or MT5. Vantage is ASIC regulated and client funds are segregated. Open an account in under 5 minutes.
Copy Trading PlatformWith access to over 400 instruments, traders enjoy social and copy trading at Vantage with the MetaTrader packages, DupliTrade, ZuluTrade and Myfxbook. ZuluTrade is one of the largest social trading communities, which uses a sophisticated algorithm to rank top signal providers.
Reliable and affordable trading since 2009. Join over 900,000 others trading on 400+ CFD products over assets like forex, gold, indices, cryptocurrency and shares from 0.0 spreads through TradingView, MT4 or MT5. Vantage is ASIC regulated and client funds are segregated. Open an account in under 5 minutes.
Copy Trading PlatformWith access to over 400 instruments, traders enjoy social and copy trading at Vantage with the MetaTrader packages, DupliTrade, ZuluTrade and Myfxbook. ZuluTrade is one of the largest social trading communities, which uses a sophisticated algorithm to rank top signal providers.
eToro is a multi-asset platform which offers both investing in stocks and cryptoassets, as well as trading CFDs.
Copy Trading PlatformOne of the best proprietary platforms currently on the market is the award-winning eToro CopyTrader, which is free of charge for eToro clients. The web-based platform includes a user-friendly and interactive layout and also comes with social features, including a community chat.
eToro is a multi-asset platform which offers both investing in stocks and cryptoassets, as well as trading CFDs.
Copy Trading PlatformOne of the best proprietary platforms currently on the market is the award-winning eToro CopyTrader, which is free of charge for eToro clients. The web-based platform includes a user-friendly and interactive layout and also comes with social features, including a community chat.
BDSwiss offer 250+ Shares, Indices, Forex, Commodities and Cryptocurrencies markets via CFDs. With spreads from 1 pip and an award winning app, they offer a great package.
Copy Trading PlatformForex copy trading is available with access to successful investors selling their positions and strategies to aspiring traders.
BDSwiss offer 250+ Shares, Indices, Forex, Commodities and Cryptocurrencies markets via CFDs. With spreads from 1 pip and an award winning app, they offer a great package.
Copy Trading PlatformForex copy trading is available with access to successful investors selling their positions and strategies to aspiring traders.
FXTM is a leading forex and CFD broker. Offering a huge range of markets and 6 account types, they cater to all levels of trader.
Copy Trading PlatformFXTM is a popular copy trading broker connecting clients to established investors with successful portfolios.
FXTM is a leading forex and CFD broker. Offering a huge range of markets and 6 account types, they cater to all levels of trader.
Copy Trading PlatformFXTM is a popular copy trading broker connecting clients to established investors with successful portfolios.
Trade Forex on 0.0 pip spreads with the world's leading True Raw forex broker - IC Markets.
Copy Trading PlatformBased in Australia, IC Markets, is a good all-round broker for the MetaTrader suites, cTrader, ZuluTrade and Myfxbook. IC Markets has been around for over 10 years, so clients also enjoy a comprehensive range of educational tools and research.
Trade Forex on 0.0 pip spreads with the world's leading True Raw forex broker - IC Markets.
Copy Trading PlatformBased in Australia, IC Markets, is a good all-round broker for the MetaTrader suites, cTrader, ZuluTrade and Myfxbook. IC Markets has been around for over 10 years, so clients also enjoy a comprehensive range of educational tools and research.
Axi is a global online FX and CFD trading company, trusted by 60,000+ ambitious customers in 100+ countries around the world.
Copy Trading PlatformAfter partnering with Pelican Trading, Axi has launched a user-friendly copy trading service that provides access to more than 30 products across popular financial markets.
Axi is a global online FX and CFD trading company, trusted by 60,000+ ambitious customers in 100+ countries around the world.
Copy Trading PlatformAfter partnering with Pelican Trading, Axi has launched a user-friendly copy trading service that provides access to more than 30 products across popular financial markets.
Quotex offers a proprietary web platform that offers digital options and copy trading.
Copy Trading PlatformClients can copy the trades of successful Quotex traders with a single click.
Quotex offers a proprietary web platform that offers digital options and copy trading.
Copy Trading PlatformClients can copy the trades of successful Quotex traders with a single click.
Fusion Markets are delivering low cost forex and CFD trading via low spreads and trading costs. Their message is - Stop paying too much to trade
Copy Trading PlatformThe broker's native copy trading platform, Fusion+, offers access to experienced traders with low to zero fees and a hassle-free follower process.
Fusion Markets are delivering low cost forex and CFD trading via low spreads and trading costs. Their message is - Stop paying too much to trade
Copy Trading PlatformThe broker's native copy trading platform, Fusion+, offers access to experienced traders with low to zero fees and a hassle-free follower process.
FBS is a top online broker offering MT4 & MT5 trading across a range of instruments.
Copy Trading PlatformThe CopyTrade solution from FBS lets beginners replicate the success of top traders with secure, flexible trading tools. Clients can use the user-friendly mobile app to compare traders, allocate funds and create a unique trading portfolio.
FBS is a top online broker offering MT4 & MT5 trading across a range of instruments.
Copy Trading PlatformThe CopyTrade solution from FBS lets beginners replicate the success of top traders with secure, flexible trading tools. Clients can use the user-friendly mobile app to compare traders, allocate funds and create a unique trading portfolio.
PrimeXBT is a Bitcoin-based platform offering highly leveraged trading in FX, indices, commodities, & cryptocurrencies.
Copy Trading PlatformPrimeXBT offers an excellent Covesting module where traders can follow the strategies of other users with free and paid-for signals.
PrimeXBT is a Bitcoin-based platform offering highly leveraged trading in FX, indices, commodities, & cryptocurrencies.
Copy Trading PlatformPrimeXBT offers an excellent Covesting module where traders can follow the strategies of other users with free and paid-for signals.
FXCM are an FCA regulated, London based broker. Companies under the FXCM umbrella are also regulated in Australia and South Africa.
Copy Trading PlatformFXCM offers social and copy trading on forex, CFDs and cryptos through the hugely popular ZuluTrade platform.
FXCM are an FCA regulated, London based broker. Companies under the FXCM umbrella are also regulated in Australia and South Africa.
Copy Trading PlatformFXCM offers social and copy trading on forex, CFDs and cryptos through the hugely popular ZuluTrade platform.
GO Markets is an ASIC-regulated FX & CFD broker.
Copy Trading PlatformGO Markets uses Myfxbook AutoTrade platform to provide investors with the option to copy other traders
GO Markets is an ASIC-regulated FX & CFD broker.
Copy Trading PlatformGO Markets uses Myfxbook AutoTrade platform to provide investors with the option to copy other traders
RaceOption is a binary options and CFD platform offering trading contests and prize giveaways.
Copy Trading PlatformReplicate the positions and strategies of multiple traders while leveraging the RaceOption leaderboard.
RaceOption is a binary options and CFD platform offering trading contests and prize giveaways.
Copy Trading PlatformReplicate the positions and strategies of multiple traders while leveraging the RaceOption leaderboard.
GemForex is a Japanese CFD and forex broker offering a curated selection of trading products.
Copy Trading PlatformGemForex offers a free forex mirror trading tool that operates without the need for VPS.
GemForex is a Japanese CFD and forex broker offering a curated selection of trading products.
Copy Trading PlatformGemForex offers a free forex mirror trading tool that operates without the need for VPS.
TopFX is a Cyprus headquartered broker offering MT4, cTrader and copy trading.
Copy Trading PlatformTopFX offers low-cost copy trading tools to account holders through the cTrader platform.
TopFX is a Cyprus headquartered broker offering MT4, cTrader and copy trading.
Copy Trading PlatformTopFX offers low-cost copy trading tools to account holders through the cTrader platform.
Switch Markets offers leveraged trading on forex, commodities, indices and cryptocurrencies.
Copy Trading PlatformSwitch Markets offers copy trading services with low fees via the MetaTrader 4 terminal.
Switch Markets offers leveraged trading on forex, commodities, indices and cryptocurrencies.
Copy Trading PlatformSwitch Markets offers copy trading services with low fees via the MetaTrader 4 terminal.
OpoForex is an offshore forex and CFD broker, offering copy trading services and the MT4 platform.
Copy Trading PlatformOpoForex offers copy and social trading through Fiboda.
OpoForex is an offshore forex and CFD broker, offering copy trading services and the MT4 platform.
Copy Trading PlatformOpoForex offers copy and social trading through Fiboda.
Kucoin is a global crypto exchange offering spot and margin trading alongside lending services and trading bots.
Copy Trading PlatformKucoin offers copy trading via automated bots with low fees and instant deposits.
Kucoin is a global crypto exchange offering spot and margin trading alongside lending services and trading bots.
Copy Trading PlatformKucoin offers copy trading via automated bots with low fees and instant deposits.
VT Markets is an Australian-based broker offering forex, stocks, and commodity trading.
Copy Trading PlatformVT Markets offers copy trading via ZuluTrade.
VT Markets is an Australian-based broker offering forex, stocks, and commodity trading.
Copy Trading PlatformVT Markets offers copy trading via ZuluTrade.
Pionex is a cryptocurrency exchange with impressive automated trading tools and bots.
Copy Trading PlatformPionex clients can find other successful investors and copy their trading bot setups.
Pionex is a cryptocurrency exchange with impressive automated trading tools and bots.
Copy Trading PlatformPionex clients can find other successful investors and copy their trading bot setups.
Optimus Futures is an introducing broker partnering with numerous FCM services. It offers hundred of global assets across 40+ trading platforms.
Copy Trading PlatformCopy trading services are available across some of the broker's extensive range of platforms.
Optimus Futures is an introducing broker partnering with numerous FCM services. It offers hundred of global assets across 40+ trading platforms.
Copy Trading PlatformCopy trading services are available across some of the broker's extensive range of platforms.
Naga is a social investing platform offering copy trading on major financial markets including cryptocurrencies and stocks.
Copy Trading PlatformNaga is a leading copy trading platform offering low fees and exposure to thousands of experienced traders and hundreds of different instruments.
Naga is a social investing platform offering copy trading on major financial markets including cryptocurrencies and stocks.
Copy Trading PlatformNaga is a leading copy trading platform offering low fees and exposure to thousands of experienced traders and hundreds of different instruments.
RoboMarkets is an award-winning broker offering flexible margin trading.
Copy Trading PlatformRoboMarkets offers a bespoke copy trading service - CopyFX. Clients can use the broker's leaderboard to pick traders and strategies to follow.
RoboMarkets is an award-winning broker offering flexible margin trading.
Copy Trading PlatformRoboMarkets offers a bespoke copy trading service - CopyFX. Clients can use the broker's leaderboard to pick traders and strategies to follow.
NPBFX offers trading in leading financial instruments as well as copy trading.
Copy Trading PlatformNPBFX offers social trading via the ZuluTrade solution with a long list of signal providers to follow.
NPBFX offers trading in leading financial instruments as well as copy trading.
Copy Trading PlatformNPBFX offers social trading via the ZuluTrade solution with a long list of signal providers to follow.
M4Markets is a forex broker offering deposit bonuses with MT4 & MT5 tools.
Copy Trading PlatformM4Markets clients can use the Copy Trader app to mirror successful trading strategies in their accounts.
M4Markets is a forex broker offering deposit bonuses with MT4 & MT5 tools.
Copy Trading PlatformM4Markets clients can use the Copy Trader app to mirror successful trading strategies in their accounts.
Zenfinex is a UK-headquartered broker offering social trading, low fees and MT4.
Copy Trading PlatformZenfinex offers social copy trading through the interactive iOS and Android ZenConnect mobile app. Investors can buy and sell on the financial markets using the tips and positions of other traders.
Zenfinex is a UK-headquartered broker offering social trading, low fees and MT4.
Copy Trading PlatformZenfinex offers social copy trading through the interactive iOS and Android ZenConnect mobile app. Investors can buy and sell on the financial markets using the tips and positions of other traders.
MultiBank FX is a regulated forex and CFD broker offering sign-up deposit bonuses, tight spreads and MT4 trading.
Copy Trading PlatformClients can start copy trading in three simple steps at MultiBank FX, gaining access to profitable online traders from around the world.
MultiBank FX is a regulated forex and CFD broker offering sign-up deposit bonuses, tight spreads and MT4 trading.
Copy Trading PlatformClients can start copy trading in three simple steps at MultiBank FX, gaining access to profitable online traders from around the world.
LH Crypto combines a digital alt coin exchange with a user-friendly online brokerage offering an array of tools, instruments and payment options.
Copy Trading PlatformMT5 offers market signals from established investors so clients can manually or automatically copy trading positions.
LH Crypto combines a digital alt coin exchange with a user-friendly online brokerage offering an array of tools, instruments and payment options.
Copy Trading PlatformMT5 offers market signals from established investors so clients can manually or automatically copy trading positions.
Tradeview is based in the Cayman Islands and offers four leading trading platforms and 100+ financial instruments.
Copy Trading PlatformChoose between manual and automated copy trading at with a range of leading market signals.
Tradeview is based in the Cayman Islands and offers four leading trading platforms and 100+ financial instruments.
Copy Trading PlatformChoose between manual and automated copy trading at with a range of leading market signals.
JFD Bank offers comprehensive trading services, complete with MT4 and MT5 platforms and a range of products.
Copy Trading PlatformJFD Bank offers mirror trading to retail investors with multiple providers and strategies to copy.
JFD Bank offers comprehensive trading services, complete with MT4 and MT5 platforms and a range of products.
Copy Trading PlatformJFD Bank offers mirror trading to retail investors with multiple providers and strategies to copy.
ICM Capitals offers ultra-low spreads on FX, CFDs and futures via the MT4 platform.
Copy Trading PlatformClients of ICM Capital can use the MetaTrader 4 platform to interact with and copy the trades of other investors. Both manual and automated copy trading is available.
ICM Capitals offers ultra-low spreads on FX, CFDs and futures via the MT4 platform.
Copy Trading PlatformClients of ICM Capital can use the MetaTrader 4 platform to interact with and copy the trades of other investors. Both manual and automated copy trading is available.
Global FX is an unregulated broker offering a suite of trading tools and products.
Copy Trading PlatformGlobal FX offers a CopyDeal service where clients can follow and execute the positions and strategies of top traders.
Global FX is an unregulated broker offering a suite of trading tools and products.
Copy Trading PlatformGlobal FX offers a CopyDeal service where clients can follow and execute the positions and strategies of top traders.
IFC Markets is a top broker offering the bespoke NetTradeX plus MT4 & MT5.
Copy Trading PlatformFollow and profit from top traders using IFC Market's copy solution.
IFC Markets is a top broker offering the bespoke NetTradeX plus MT4 & MT5.
Copy Trading PlatformFollow and profit from top traders using IFC Market's copy solution.
Global Prime is a multi-regulated trading broker offering 100+ markets.
Copy Trading PlatformInteract with and copy the trades of experienced investors with Global Prime's exclusive copy trading service.
Global Prime is a multi-regulated trading broker offering 100+ markets.
Copy Trading PlatformInteract with and copy the trades of experienced investors with Global Prime's exclusive copy trading service.
BlackBull Markets offers forex and CFD trading on the MT4 & MT5 platforms.
Copy Trading PlatformBlackbull Markets offer social and copy trading products on HokoCloud, DupliTrade and MyFxBook
BlackBull Markets offers forex and CFD trading on the MT4 & MT5 platforms.
Copy Trading PlatformBlackbull Markets offer social and copy trading products on HokoCloud, DupliTrade and MyFxBook
OctaFX offers multi-asset trading on a range of platforms and mobile solutions.
Copy Trading PlatformCopy trading in OctaFX is offered through a proprietary platform and mobile app, as well as the MetaTrader suites and cTrader. cTrader Copy is a flexible investment platform offering a smooth copy trader experience alongside advanced trading features.
OctaFX offers multi-asset trading on a range of platforms and mobile solutions.
Copy Trading PlatformCopy trading in OctaFX is offered through a proprietary platform and mobile app, as well as the MetaTrader suites and cTrader. cTrader Copy is a flexible investment platform offering a smooth copy trader experience alongside advanced trading features.
FP Markets is a multi-asset broker offering a choice of trading platforms.
Copy Trading PlatformFP Markets Social Trading app allows for the straightforward mirroring of established traders with an easy-to-follow ranking system.
FP Markets is a multi-asset broker offering a choice of trading platforms.
Copy Trading PlatformFP Markets Social Trading app allows for the straightforward mirroring of established traders with an easy-to-follow ranking system.
Admiral Markets is leading Forex and CFD broker offering the MT4 & MT5 platforms
Copy Trading PlatformAdmiral Markets offers an intuitive copy trading solution where subscribers can mirror the strategies of proven investors while setting their own stop loss and take profit limits in line with their risk appetite.
Admiral Markets is leading Forex and CFD broker offering the MT4 & MT5 platforms
Copy Trading PlatformAdmiral Markets offers an intuitive copy trading solution where subscribers can mirror the strategies of proven investors while setting their own stop loss and take profit limits in line with their risk appetite.
Trade on the financial markets with low cost, leveraged products at HYCM.
Copy Trading PlatformCopy the positions of experienced and profitable traders at HYCM with straightforward risk management tools.
Trade on the financial markets with low cost, leveraged products at HYCM.
Copy Trading PlatformCopy the positions of experienced and profitable traders at HYCM with straightforward risk management tools.
Infinox is a UK-based broker offering MT4 trading with tight spreads.
Copy Trading PlatformWith IX Social (Infinox social trading), you can automatically replicate the trades of the best investors.
Infinox is a UK-based broker offering MT4 trading with tight spreads.
Copy Trading PlatformWith IX Social (Infinox social trading), you can automatically replicate the trades of the best investors.
Hantec Markets is a multi-regulated online FX broker offering MT4 and a tailored service providing flexibility to suit any trader.
Copy Trading PlatformInternational clients can use the ZuluTrade add-on for copy trading
Hantec Markets is a multi-regulated online FX broker offering MT4 and a tailored service providing flexibility to suit any trader.
Copy Trading PlatformInternational clients can use the ZuluTrade add-on for copy trading
Videforex accepts deposits in a range of cryptos and fiat currencies. Payouts reach 95% per trade.
Copy Trading PlatformVideforex offers an integrated copy trading service where users can automatically or manually replicate the positions of other traders.
Videforex accepts deposits in a range of cryptos and fiat currencies. Payouts reach 95% per trade.
Copy Trading PlatformVideforex offers an integrated copy trading service where users can automatically or manually replicate the positions of other traders.
Fondex is an award-winning forex and CFD broker with industry low trading costs.
Copy Trading PlatformFondex offers a top-rated copy trading solution where beginners can mirror the buy and sell positions of experienced investors.
Fondex is an award-winning forex and CFD broker with industry low trading costs.
Copy Trading PlatformFondex offers a top-rated copy trading solution where beginners can mirror the buy and sell positions of experienced investors.
TP Global FX offers a long list of popular financial assets with spreads from 0.1 pips. With a focus on innovation and transparency, they are a growing brand.
Copy Trading PlatformFollow and copy multiple professional traders using performance analytics and market signals at TP Global FX.
TP Global FX offers a long list of popular financial assets with spreads from 0.1 pips. With a focus on innovation and transparency, they are a growing brand.
Copy Trading PlatformFollow and copy multiple professional traders using performance analytics and market signals at TP Global FX.
InstaForex provide Forex, CFDs, Stock and Cryptocurrency trading. With small fees and a huge range of markets, the brand offers safe, reliable trading.
Copy Trading PlatformInstaForex offers a popular copy trading solution suitable for beginners.
InstaForex provide Forex, CFDs, Stock and Cryptocurrency trading. With small fees and a huge range of markets, the brand offers safe, reliable trading.
Copy Trading PlatformInstaForex offers a popular copy trading solution suitable for beginners.
What Is Copy Trading?
The definition of copy trading, also known as copycat trading, is simple: an investor selects an experienced trader with proven results who matches their risk profile, and copies their trades.
Trades can either be copied automatically using software from the multiple vendors on the market, or can be placed manually by communities of traders communicating their ‘signals’ via social platforms or forums.
Traders are either ‘Masters’ or ‘Followers’. Followers are essentially ‘making a copy’ of Master trading accounts.
This system requires minimal time and knowledge and could potentially bring hefty profits for those following the correct trader. This makes it great for beginners or those who are time poor. However, there is no upside without risk, meaning investors can experience losses if the Master trader is wrong.
Copy Trading Platforms
There are many copy trading platforms and applications that allow trades to be copied, making it an easy strategy to follow. Investors can choose between third-party software available at multiple providers and exclusive copy trading platforms.
MetaTrader 4 (MT4)
MT4 is offered by some of the best brokers in the business, including Pepperstone, AvaTrade, FXTM, XM, and Alpari. Access the MetaTrader 4 copy trading function via the ‘Signals’ tab on webtrader, desktop or mobile apps.
- Master trader rankings make it easy to choose the best performers
- Available on both live and demo accounts
- Over 3,200 free and paid signals
- Chat function
- VPS service
MetaTrader 5 (MT5)
Copy trading on the MT5 system is also available through their ‘Signals’ service on web and mobile. MT5 offers the added benefit of copying trades executed at different brokerages. This is another popular platform with top companies, including BDSwiss.
- Fully automated trades, just set your signal parameters
- Ultra-fast and secure data transmission
- Fixed signal subscription price
cTrader
The cTrader Copy function is fully integrated into the cTrader platform and offers reliable trading with a defined fees system and transparent strategy history. Popular websites that use cTrader include OctaFX.
- Copy investing account is separate from trading account
- Strong cTrader community
- Equity-to-equity ratios
ZuluTrade
ZuluTrade has become a big player on the automated trading scene since its inception in 2007. Increasingly, brokers such as VantageFX are partnering with the firm.
- Over 10,000 traders resulting in a strong choice of strategies
- Feature-rich, including ZuluScript trading bot (i.e Expert Advisors or EA)
- No limit on the number of traders you can follow, allowing for diversification
DupliTrade
DupliTrade is a leading copy trading platform for forex, crypto and stock markets. Clients benefit from transparent fees, easy registration and copy trading in offline mode.
- Scale up and down options
- Minimum trading deposits from $2,000
- Tough review process for Master traders
eToro
eToro is one of the biggest brokers for social and copy trading.
- Free account, zero commission on stocks and no management fees
- Education centre with PDF guides and details of how it works
- Huge social community
eToro copy trading platform
Coinbase began offering the service in 2019. And as of 2018, the nanotrading service XTrend also offers the feature. Other notable copy trading providers include MyFXBook (available on IC Markets) and FBS CopyTrade. Furthermore, Zignaly, a trading bot (EA) which specialises in crypto copy trading on notable exchanges such as Binance.
Copy Trading Vs Social Trading: What’s The difference?
Copy trading and social trading are different but closely linked. Copy trading usually refers to automated trades that are tied to a Master trader or manual trades that are made based on signals shared.
Social trading is when the trader still executes their own positions but communicates with and trusts in the signals provided by a network of more experienced traders. These interactions might be through a signals provider, the trading platform itself, or via a social network such as Telegram.
For example, eToro’s software allows you to tie your account to another trader’s (copy trading). But you can also review activity using their social news feed (social trading).
Further still, mirror trading involves the automated copying of trades, but a more complex version which lends itself to more frequent position movement. For this reason, it is mainly used by institutional investors with large capital that can take steeper losses.
Copy Trading Markets
You can copy trade on multiple popular financial markets:
- Stock and shares
- Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and Litecoin (LTC)
- Forex pairs such as USD/GBP, EUR/USD and USD/CAD
- Commodities such as gold, platinum and crude oil
- Indices such as FTSE, NASDAQ and Dow Jones
- CFDs
Note depending on your broker and the software they use, copy trading may only be available on some instruments. For example, forex signals tend to be available on most of the best platforms, but for the stock market, signals are less common.
Copy Trading Strategies
Does copy trading work? The short answer is, yes. But there are several factors that can impact the systems you use.
Risk Profile
Do your research and select a Master trader with a risk profile and strategy that you’re comfortable with. Do they pursue day trading whilst you prefer a more long-term ‘buy and hold’ method? Do you trust in big, well thought through bets rather than small scalping trades? These are crucial decisions when choosing who to copy – trust is key.
Manual Or Automatic
Automatic copy trades are the ultimate hands-off investments. But there are downsides, as you’re not able to review the trade for yourself. Losses could rack up without your knowledge if you’re not considering a trade before you place it, so many traders prefer to take a signal and place the trade themselves.
MetaTrader copy trading
Services such as NinjaTrader enable automatic trades whereas LiteForex provides networking tools for traders to exchange strategies and research. The IQ Copy trading robot also receives popular reviews and is free to download.
Broker Specific Trading
Some platforms allow you to copy trades from a different broker to that which you trade with. This enables you to select from a wider pool of Master traders and could allow better diversification of your portfolio.
Stop Losses
Automatic trades can mean automatic losses. So, consider using strategic stop losses to minimise this. On the downside, this can oust you from a trading strategy just before it starts winning, so place stops carefully.
Benefits Of Copy Trading
Beat The Fees
Investing in a hedge fund can mean costly fees and commissions. Copy trading means you can reap the rewards of profitable traders without paying through the nose. A typical hedge fund charges 2% in fees plus 20% depending on fund performance.
Check out the fees leveraged by your broker to see what you’re saving.
For Beginners
Trading successfully relies on intricate knowledge and experience. If you’re a beginner, you don’t have this edge yet. So, you may want to copy trade until you understand what it takes to successfully and consistently make profits.
Time Saving
With bots automatically executing your trades, there’s all the benefit without the time commitment.
Disadvantages Of Copy Trading
Long Haul
Even the best traders won’t make a profit 100% of the time, so you’ll need to trust in the strategy of the Master you’ve chosen. If you’re likely to pivot between traders after a couple of losses believing their strategy doesn’t work – copy trading may not be suitable for you.
Market Psychology
Trading is all about psychology. While some assets have a physical presence, like gold or crude oil, most are traded on value. And value is determined by what people will pay.
Therefore, if a large community of social traders begin unloading shares in a company, this could push the value of the stock down, regardless of the firm’s underlying profits.
In reality, professional traders exchange millions of pounds of stocks and share each day, so retail trading activity has less influence on value.
However, for this reason top traders often keep their strategy top secret. Therefore you may consider why any Master traders would let you copy their positions.
Master Profits
So, why would a Master let you copy their trades? The answer is commission. And this means there could be a conflict of interest.
If a Master is making profit from commission on copy trades, they may not need to run their portfolio at a profit for them to be winning. They just need to tempt enough followers to copy them.
Of course, this is a cynical view. And clearly Masters make more money from trading profitably as well. But, it highlights the importance of making sure those you copy have equal skin in the game. If you lose, do they lose too?
There are some signal services out there that are scams and are just looking for the commission – so it’s crucial to research where your signals are coming from and consider whether you trust the source.
How To Open A Copy Trading Account
So now we’ve explained all you need to know, you may be wondering how to start trading?
Firstly, you’ll need to open an account with a trading broker, making sure to choose one with copying trading functionality enabled software. You can copy trade on both real and demo accounts. Real accounts will require a minimum deposit to begin.
Download the trading platform and log in using the credentials required by your broker. Alternatively, select one of the mobile apps available on both Android (APK) and Apple (iOS) devices.
Wrapping Up
Copy trading has catapulted to popularity in the past 10 years. The range of software on the market makes it easy to choose a provider that suits you.
There are thousands of copy trading success stories. But, whether copy trading is good or bad for your profits depends on whose trades you copy and whether your capital allows you to follow a strategy in entirety. So, ensure you’ve done your research before you invest.
If you’re a beginner who is aware of the risks, copy trading could be a successful strategy compared to trading alone.
FAQ
Is Copy Trading Legal?
Yes, copy trading is legal and is supported by most regulatory boards including the FCA.
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has assessed that copy trading software that automatically executes trades on behalf of an investor could be considered portfolio management and at the very least, signals can be considered investment advice and therefore such activities should be regulated.
Not all UK brokers that offer copy trading are regulated, so make sure you check before you trade.
Is Copy Trading Halal?
Copy trading can be halal as long as the trades being copied comply with Sharia law. Check with your broker whether halal copy trading is possible.
Where Can I Copy Trade?
Copy trading is available at many leading UK brokers or through special software platforms. See our list of the best UK copy trading brokers 2022 for further details.
Does Copy Trading Work?
Yes, copy trading can work. But you’re only as good as your signals, so be careful to select the right source. Look for copy trading tutorial videos on YouTube or check out our guide as a starting point.
Is Copy Trading Right For Me?
If you have very little time to spare, or you are just starting out with trading, replicating others’ trades might be the answer. Becoming a forex trading guru doesn’t happen overnight – it takes time and dedication – and copy trading can be a shortcut for beginners or those with precious little time. But note that it’s critical that you choose the right traders to copy, so be prepared to spend at least a little bit of time on researching this when setting things up.
Additional Resources
- We recommend reading the copy trading article on DayTrading.com for an in-depth tutorial on copy trading platforms, relevant for traders both in the UK and globally.
- “Copy Trading” – a research paper by Jose Apesteguia, Jörg Oechssler, and Simon Weidenholzer, September 17 2019. The conclusion of this paper is that the ability to directly or indirectly copy other traders can lead to excessive risk taking.
- “The Transparency-Revenue Conundrum in Social Trading: Implications for Platforms and Investors” by Mingwen Yang, Eric Zheng, and Vijay Mookerjee at Jindal School of Management, The University of Texas at Dallas
Programming Your Own Copy Trading Software
Having the right software is crucial to implementing a long-term successful copy trading strategy. If you are unable to find an out-of-the-box copy trading software program that suits your needs and preferences, you can elect to create your own proprietary software.
Nowadays, nifty code editing tools have made it much easier to create your own software and learning a bit of coding to get the copy trading software solution that is 100% right for you can be well worth the investment. You should also take into account that freelancers with coding skills are available online, and hiring a professional for a small software project doesn’t have to cost big bucks.
Key points to remember
- Creating or ordering bespoke copy trading software will require an investment (time, energy and money) but it is an investment that can pay off big time if you get it right.
- In addition to making sure you get exactly the features needed for your specific trading strategy or strategies, you will also be able to forge the software in accordance with your interface preferences. This will make it easier for you to use the program, which in turn enhances the overall trading experience.
- A bespoke copy trading software application can work faster than one-size-fits-all software since it will not be weighed down by features you have no need for.
- For some copy traders, bespoke software is necessary to allow them to use highly complex algorithms.
Warnings
- You wouldn’t just hire a random carpenter for your house, hand them a blank check and hope for the best. You would ask for references, investigate them a bit, and negotiate the terms of the contract in advance. If you wish to hire a programmer to create software for you, you need to do the same.
- Untested software is prone to contain bugs (malfunctions). Popular commercial software has gone through hundreds or even thousands of hours of bug testing, troubleshooting and tweaking to get things right. Well-established commercial software has also been used by thousands of traders before you, who have stumbled upon issues here and there and reported them. With bespoke copy trading software made just for you, you get none of this. Get ready to do your own testing, and make sure you don´t risk big money during the trial and error period.
DIY: Programming your own copy trading software
You do not have to be an expert programmer to do this, but you do need at least some basic programming skills and know-how to code a trading algorithm.
Fortunately, there are software packages available nowadays that make the coding process easier than it used to be. With that said, they are intended for people with at least basic programming skills – they won’t do the job for you.
One example of a popular choice is for building copy trading bots (copy trading software) is Vim.
Using VIM to create your software
One of the best tools you can use to make it easier and more efficient to create your software is WIM. WIM is a universal text editor specifically designed to make it easy to develop your own software. It is used by a huge number of skilled programmers and coders from around the world.
Vin was first created in 1991 by Bram Moolenaar (Vim’s founder). It was based on Bill Joy’s vi text editor.
Bram Moolenaars goal was to create a universal text editor that was designed with coding in mind. Many other texts editors inject extra information in the files when you save them. This can create problems and corrupt code. VIM will therefore never add anything extra to your code. It will also automatically identify and colour code different elements in your code which makes it a lot easier to read and edit the code. You can quickly find the line that you want to find and edit. VIM is turning 40 years old this year but remains one of the best text editors for coding and one of the best tools to use if you want to create your own trading software.
One large benefit of using VIM is that vim is “charityware”. Any income that the software generates is used to help children. It will help you create your software and help make the world a better place at the same time.
Vim is not just a basic text editor. It can also help you create code by easily inserting different functions into your code. It is a command-based editor where you use text commands to activate and insert different functions. There are no menus for you to use. It is all text-based.
This might make it sound like the software is hard to use but nothing could be further from the truth. The command-based interface provides a very uncluttered clean interface that put the focus on the code above everything else. This makes it very easy to see and edit the code without having parts of the screen occupied by menus and other interfaces. This allows VIM to offer a very large selection of features while still keeping a very clean interface.
Vim will be suitable for your needs regardless of whether you are a novice or expert coder. Experts can use advanced functions while the novice can limit themselves to the functions they understand. The command-based interface means that you will never be overwhelmed by menus filled with functions you do not understand. You can find a very detailed guide on all the functions that VIM offers and how they function on VIMs official website VIM.org. You can find tips and tricks on a number of other websites.
VIM is very popular among freelance coders since it is easy to use and makes it easy to find bugs and errors. VIM is a very good choice if you want to try to create your own software but know that you might need to hire a freelance coder to perform part of the work. This is due to the fact that VIM makes it very easy for the freelancer to quickly familiarize himself with the work you have already done. It is possible to use VIM to edit software that has been created in another code editor but it is always good to use a popular editor like VIM right from the start since it makes it easier to cooperate with other workers since you know that the screen will look identical for both of you if you use the same editor. This makes it easier to communicate. Small differences between how different editors display things can increase the risk of miscommunications.
VIM supports hundreds of different programming languages and is a good code editor almost regardless of which programming language you want to use. There is a large selection of different plugins available that you can use to add extra functionality to VIM:
Hiring a programmer to create the software
Creating your own copy trading software can be a fun and rewarding process, but it does require an investment in both time and energy – especially if you need to start at the bottom rung by learning basic programming and algorithm coding skills.
An option to DIY is to hire a professional to create the copy trading software for you, in accordance with your specifications. Still, we advise you to at least learn the basics about copy trading software before you hire anyone since that will make it easier for you to understand (and communicate) what you actually want – and what you do not want.
There is an abundance of freelancing programmers available online that are willing and able to take on small projects, such as programming a bespoke copy trading software that will only include the specific features required by your trading strategy. Ideally, select a programmer that has programmed this type of software in the past and can provide you with some examples of previous work.
Since you will be risking your own hard-earned cash using the software for copy trading, simply going with the lowest bidder is not recommended since a poorly designed copy trading robot can cause enormous losses. On the other hand, paying for a high-priced programmer does not automatically mean that you will get a high-quality product, so you need to do your own research before picking a programmer instead of relying on price to guide you.
Important: Communication is essential. If you can´t explain what it is that you want, how will the programmer be able to know? You are asking for a bespoke product here, so you can´t simply order ”the usual stuff” from the menu. If you are having trouble communicating with your programmer, it might be because:
A.) You know too little about the subject to provide valuable and detailed input.
B.) Your ideas are still half-baked and you need some serious handholding to reach a conclusion about what kind of product you actually want to have built for you.
C.) There are communication issues between you and the programmer, and you would be better off selecting another programmer that finds it easier to connect with you.
Take the trading platform’s API into account
API is short for Application Programming Interface. When creating a copy trading robot, the API provided by the trading platform must be taken into account. Otherwise, the trading robot will not work on the trading platform.
This also means that the API will restrict your freedom a bit when it comes to programming a copy trading robot. If your robot can not communicate properly with the trading platform, automatic trades can not be carried out.
Also, remember that your copy trading robot can only make trades and other actions that are supported by the trading platform.
If a particular copy trading feature is essential to you, make sure you use a trading platform that will support that feature.