Copy Trading Platforms and Brokers 2024

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 2024. 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

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    AvaTrade maintains a top position when it comes to social and copy trading tools. Traders can access the proprietary AvaSocial app as well as popular third-party platforms, DupliTrade and ZuluTrade. The comprehensive performance metrics can help you find the right strategy provider for your goals and risk appetite.

    AvaTrade Copy Trading

    AvaTrade maintains a top position when it comes to social and copy trading tools. Traders can access the proprietary AvaSocial app as well as popular third-party platforms, DupliTrade and ZuluTrade. The comprehensive performance metrics can help you find the right strategy provider for your goals and risk appetite.

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    Pepperstone facilitates the replication of experienced traders' strategies through MetaTrader Signals and DupliTrade. However, it lacks support for cTrader Copy and does not offer a proprietary social trading network similar to those found on platforms like eToro or Vantage, which foster lively social trading communities for aspiring traders.

    Pepperstone Copy Trading

    Pepperstone facilitates the replication of experienced traders' strategies through MetaTrader Signals and DupliTrade. However, it lacks support for cTrader Copy and does not offer a proprietary social trading network similar to those found on platforms like eToro or Vantage, which foster lively social trading communities for aspiring traders.

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    Launched in February 2023, the IC Social app offers an intuitive way to learn, share, and mirror the positions of other traders with just a few clicks. Additionally, the app features risk management tools and supports dedicated trading groups. Alternatively, IC Markets grants access to Signal Start, along with well-known third-party copy trading platforms including ZuluTrade and cTrader Copy.

    IC Markets Copy Trading

    Launched in February 2023, the IC Social app offers an intuitive way to learn, share, and mirror the positions of other traders with just a few clicks. Additionally, the app features risk management tools and supports dedicated trading groups. Alternatively, IC Markets grants access to Signal Start, along with well-known third-party copy trading platforms including ZuluTrade and cTrader Copy.

  4. XM

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    XM global offers a pre-integrated signals service via the MT5 platform. Aspiring investors can view detailed performance metrics and copy the trades of strategy managers. It's easy to set up, only requiring a handful of steps after logging in to your MQL5 community account.

    XM Copy Trading

    XM global offers a pre-integrated signals service via the MT5 platform. Aspiring investors can view detailed performance metrics and copy the trades of strategy managers. It's easy to set up, only requiring a handful of steps after logging in to your MQL5 community account.

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    DNA Markets offers Signal Start, a user-friendly copy trading solution. The tool is easy to use and new traders enjoy the first 3 months subscription-free. On the negative side, it lacks the social trading features you get with more comprehensive apps like eToro.

    DNA Markets Copy Trading

    DNA Markets offers Signal Start, a user-friendly copy trading solution. The tool is easy to use and new traders enjoy the first 3 months subscription-free. On the negative side, it lacks the social trading features you get with more comprehensive apps like eToro.

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    RoboForex offers a market-leading copy trading service for currency traders - CopyFX. The minimum investment is low at $100 and you retain control over your allocated funds. RoboForex also offers MetaTrader 4 MultiTerminal (Multi Account Manager), allowing traders to manage multiple accounts from one master solution.

    RoboForex Copy Trading

    RoboForex offers a market-leading copy trading service for currency traders - CopyFX. The minimum investment is low at $100 and you retain control over your allocated funds. RoboForex also offers MetaTrader 4 MultiTerminal (Multi Account Manager), allowing traders to manage multiple accounts from one master solution.

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    Trade Nation Seychelles offers signals and copy trading. These are attractive options for beginners and those looking to a hands-off approach to online trading. You can leverage the expertise of seasoned traders to speculate on popular financial markets, including forex, stocks and commodities.

    Trade Nation Copy Trading

    Trade Nation Seychelles offers signals and copy trading. These are attractive options for beginners and those looking to a hands-off approach to online trading. You can leverage the expertise of seasoned traders to speculate on popular financial markets, including forex, stocks and commodities.

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    eToro continues to deliver one of the best proprietary copy trading platforms on the market, at no additional cost for eToro clients. The web-based platform features a user-friendly and interactive layout and also comes with a community chat, making it a stand-out choice for beginners.

    eToro Copy Trading

    eToro continues to deliver one of the best proprietary copy trading platforms on the market, at no additional cost for eToro clients. The web-based platform features a user-friendly and interactive layout and also comes with a community chat, making it a stand-out choice for beginners.

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    Blackbull Markets offers an excellent selection of social and copy trading products on its CopyTrader system, plus HokoCloud, DupliTrade and Myfxbook. Traders can copy trades and strategies in a range of popular financial markets with user-friendly risk management tools.

    BlackBull Markets Copy Trading

    Blackbull Markets offers an excellent selection of social and copy trading products on its CopyTrader system, plus HokoCloud, DupliTrade and Myfxbook. Traders can copy trades and strategies in a range of popular financial markets with user-friendly risk management tools.

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    Fusion+, the broker's native copy trading platform, offers access to experienced traders with low fees and a hassle-free follower process. Alternatively, a third-party tool, DupliTrade, connects aspiring investors with established traders, ensuring a choice of hands-free solutions for different preferences.

    Fusion Markets Copy Trading

    Fusion+, the broker's native copy trading platform, offers access to experienced traders with low fees and a hassle-free follower process. Alternatively, a third-party tool, DupliTrade, connects aspiring investors with established traders, ensuring a choice of hands-free solutions for different preferences.

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    Pocket Option hosts a user-friendly social trading service. Available in the platform, you can use the ‘Top Ranked Trades’ leaderboard, among others, to find traders to follow. The social trading solution is also available 24/7 and has active community chats. Tip: check the number of trades made and profit generated over several months rather than comparing providers over a few days.

    Pocket Option Copy Trading

    Pocket Option hosts a user-friendly social trading service. Available in the platform, you can use the ‘Top Ranked Trades’ leaderboard, among others, to find traders to follow. The social trading solution is also available 24/7 and has active community chats. Tip: check the number of trades made and profit generated over several months rather than comparing providers over a few days.

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    GO Markets uses the Myfxbook AutoTrade platform to provide investors with the option to copy other traders. Learn from profitable traders with straightforward risk management tools.

    GO Markets Copy Trading

    GO Markets uses the Myfxbook AutoTrade platform to provide investors with the option to copy other traders. Learn from profitable traders with straightforward risk management tools.

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    You can copy the trades of experienced investors using real-time signals. You only pay a fee on winning trades, starting from 10%. New subscribers can also get started with a competitive $100 minimum deposit.

    NordFX Copy Trading

    You can copy the trades of experienced investors using real-time signals. You only pay a fee on winning trades, starting from 10%. New subscribers can also get started with a competitive $100 minimum deposit.

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    A copy trading service is pre-integrated into the broker’s web platform, where you can follow and replicate the trades of up to 10 established investors. Where it shines is its ease of use - you simply decide how much you want to invest and hit 'copy'. On the downside, the pool of master traders is narrow and you get limited data on past performance, making it less reliable.

    IQCent Copy Trading

    A copy trading service is pre-integrated into the broker’s web platform, where you can follow and replicate the trades of up to 10 established investors. Where it shines is its ease of use - you simply decide how much you want to invest and hit 'copy'. On the downside, the pool of master traders is narrow and you get limited data on past performance, making it less reliable.

  15. Axi

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    After partnering with Pelican Trading, Axi remains a strong option for traders seeking a reputable copy trading service. The user-friendly app requires no minimum deposit and connects seamlessly to your MT4 trading account.

    Axi Copy Trading

    After partnering with Pelican Trading, Axi remains a strong option for traders seeking a reputable copy trading service. The user-friendly app requires no minimum deposit and connects seamlessly to your MT4 trading account.

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    Traders enjoy social and copy trading at Vantage with the MetaTrader packages, DupliTrade, ZuluTrade and Myfxbook. ZuluTrade is one of the best social trading communities, using a sophisticated algorithm to rank top signal providers.

    Vantage FX Copy Trading

    Traders enjoy social and copy trading at Vantage with the MetaTrader packages, DupliTrade, ZuluTrade and Myfxbook. ZuluTrade is one of the best social trading communities, using a sophisticated algorithm to rank top signal providers.

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    VT Markets continues to offer copy trading via its proprietary service, VTrade. Followers can choose from 100+ strategy providers through a user-friendly platform, whilst providers can boost their earnings through the rebate scheme.

    VT Markets Copy Trading

    VT Markets continues to offer copy trading via its proprietary service, VTrade. Followers can choose from 100+ strategy providers through a user-friendly platform, whilst providers can boost their earnings through the rebate scheme.

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    Choose between manual and automated copy trading at with a range of leading market signals.

    Tradeview Copy Trading

    Choose between manual and automated copy trading at with a range of leading market signals.

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    PrimeXBT offers a decent copy trading service where traders can follow the strategies of other users with free and paid-for signals. Once you have found a suitable strategy provider, you simply need to hit ‘follow’ to get started.

    PrimeXBT Copy Trading

    PrimeXBT offers a decent copy trading service where traders can follow the strategies of other users with free and paid-for signals. Once you have found a suitable strategy provider, you simply need to hit ‘follow’ to get started.

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    FXTrading.com is global broker offering highly leveraged CFDs on 10,000+ assets, including forex, stocks, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies. Competitive prices with raw spreads and low to zero commissions are available. Traders can use the popular MetaTrader 4 platform and will have access to a suite of additional analytical tools and other resources. The multi-regulated brokerage is authorized by the ASIC and VFSC.

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    The Signal Centre is FCA-regulated and offers insights into forex, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Users can receive up to 40 signals before the trading day starts.

    ThinkMarkets Copy Trading

    The Signal Centre is FCA-regulated and offers insights into forex, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Users can receive up to 40 signals before the trading day starts.

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    M4Markets continues to deliver a user-friendly copy trading service to beginners looking to mirror other strategies and to experienced investors looking to become a mentors. The service easily synchronizes with your trading platform and is active 24/7.

    M4Markets Copy Trading

    M4Markets continues to deliver a user-friendly copy trading service to beginners looking to mirror other strategies and to experienced investors looking to become a mentors. The service easily synchronizes with your trading platform and is active 24/7.

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    The Forex Copy system provides access to a huge network of experienced traders with strategies that can be mirrored in a few clicks. You only need $10 to get started with the copy trading solution.

    SuperForex Copy Trading

    The Forex Copy system provides access to a huge network of experienced traders with strategies that can be mirrored in a few clicks. You only need $10 to get started with the copy trading solution.

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    Videforex offers an integrated copy trading service where users can automatically or manually replicate the positions of other traders. Simply choose a trader and asset class and specify the investment amount.

    Videforex Copy Trading

    Videforex offers an integrated copy trading service where users can automatically or manually replicate the positions of other traders. Simply choose a trader and asset class and specify the investment amount.

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    The TradeCopier service allows aspiring investors to copy the strategies of top traders in real-time. The tool is a great way for beginners to learn from more experienced investors, whilst strategy providers can earn performance fees.

    IronFX Copy Trading

    The TradeCopier service allows aspiring investors to copy the strategies of top traders in real-time. The tool is a great way for beginners to learn from more experienced investors, whilst strategy providers can earn performance fees.

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    Ingot Brokers offers a bespoke copy trading app where users can copy seasoned traders with low fees and detailed performance metrics. Beginners can learn from seasoned traders who in turn can generate a second revenue stream by marketing their trades.

    Ingot Brokers Copy Trading

    Ingot Brokers offers a bespoke copy trading app where users can copy seasoned traders with low fees and detailed performance metrics. Beginners can learn from seasoned traders who in turn can generate a second revenue stream by marketing their trades.

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    FXCM offers social and copy trading on forex, CFDs and cryptos through the hugely popular ZuluTrade platform. The sign-up process is quick and you can track your performance in real-time.

    FXCM Copy Trading

    FXCM offers social and copy trading on forex, CFDs and cryptos through the hugely popular ZuluTrade platform. The sign-up process is quick and you can track your performance in real-time.

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    4xCube is an online forex and CFD broker registered and licensed in the Cook Islands. Clients can trade on popular financial markets and choose between three accounts based on their capital and trading strategy.

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    Clients can follow copy trading signals on the MetaTrader platform. Alternatively, signal providers can generate extra income by selling their positions. You can start copy trading in a few easy steps.

    ForexChief Copy Trading

    Clients can follow copy trading signals on the MetaTrader platform. Alternatively, signal providers can generate extra income by selling their positions. You can start copy trading in a few easy steps.

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    Kwakol Invest continues to offer straightforward copy trading, connecting newbies with experienced traders. The leaderboard makes it easier to find suitable strategy providers with insights into the number of followers, total returns and more. You also only pay a fee on profitable positions, making the service more affordable than some competitors.

    Kwakol Markets Copy Trading

    Kwakol Invest continues to offer straightforward copy trading, connecting newbies with experienced traders. The leaderboard makes it easier to find suitable strategy providers with insights into the number of followers, total returns and more. You also only pay a fee on profitable positions, making the service more affordable than some competitors.

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    Clients can start copy trading in three simple steps at MultiBank FX, gaining access to profitable online traders from around the world. Build a diverse portfolio while learning from experienced investors and saving time on market research.

    MultiBank FX Copy Trading

    Clients can start copy trading in three simple steps at MultiBank FX, gaining access to profitable online traders from around the world. Build a diverse portfolio while learning from experienced investors and saving time on market research.

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    PU Social enables clients to mirror the positions and strategies of expert traders. The app is available on iOS and Android devices and features a social investing network with thousands of traders.

    PU Prime Copy Trading

    PU Social enables clients to mirror the positions and strategies of expert traders. The app is available on iOS and Android devices and features a social investing network with thousands of traders.

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    The Errante copy trading solution allows users to choose from a selection of master traders with insights into their returns, volatility ratio, recovery factor, and more. There are also no restrictions on the number of traders you can follow.

    Errante Copy Trading

    The Errante copy trading solution allows users to choose from a selection of master traders with insights into their returns, volatility ratio, recovery factor, and more. There are also no restrictions on the number of traders you can follow.

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    Replicate the success of other traders via the cTrader platform or the FXPrimus MAM solution. Traders retain control over their capital and can get started in a few easy steps.

    FXPrimus Copy Trading

    Replicate the success of other traders via the cTrader platform or the FXPrimus MAM solution. Traders retain control over their capital and can get started in a few easy steps.

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    FP Markets Social Trading app allows for the straightforward mirroring of established traders with an easy-to-follow ranking system.

    FP Markets Copy Trading

    FP Markets Social Trading app allows for the straightforward mirroring of established traders with an easy-to-follow ranking system.

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    Copy trading is available through the popular third-party platform, Myfxbook. There is a $1000 minimum deposit for Anzo Capital clients and a $12 commission per lot round turn.

    Anzo Capital Copy Trading

    Copy trading is available through the popular third-party platform, Myfxbook. There is a $1000 minimum deposit for Anzo Capital clients and a $12 commission per lot round turn.

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    GC Invest allows clients to mirror the strategies of profitable traders with a $100 deposit. Commissions range from 0% to 70% and traders can track returns in real-time.

    Grand Capital Copy Trading

    GC Invest allows clients to mirror the strategies of profitable traders with a $100 deposit. Commissions range from 0% to 70% and traders can track returns in real-time.

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    Interact with and copy the trades of experienced investors with Global Prime's exclusive copy trading service. Over 40 different setups can be copied on the popular Myfxbook Autotrade platform.

    Global Prime Copy Trading

    Interact with and copy the trades of experienced investors with Global Prime's exclusive copy trading service. Over 40 different setups can be copied on the popular Myfxbook Autotrade platform.

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    International clients can use the ZuluTrade add-on for copy trading. This is one of the top-rated copy trading platforms with thousands of strategy providers to follow and mirror with straightforward risk management tools.

    Hantec Markets Copy Trading

    International clients can use the ZuluTrade add-on for copy trading. This is one of the top-rated copy trading platforms with thousands of strategy providers to follow and mirror with straightforward risk management tools.

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    FXOpen offers copy trading, enabling users to follow and copy the positions and strategies of other traders. Myfxbook and ZuluTrade are supported, two of the highest-rated and easiest to use third-party copy trading platforms on the market.

    FXOpen Copy Trading

    FXOpen offers copy trading, enabling users to follow and copy the positions and strategies of other traders. Myfxbook and ZuluTrade are supported, two of the highest-rated and easiest to use third-party copy trading platforms on the market.

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    Kucoin offers copy trading via automated bots with low fees and instant deposits. The service will appeal to beginners new to crypto trading. Users can choose a suitable trader in the marketplace and select 'copy' to start mirroring positions.

    KuCoin Copy Trading

    Kucoin offers copy trading via automated bots with low fees and instant deposits. The service will appeal to beginners new to crypto trading. Users can choose a suitable trader in the marketplace and select 'copy' to start mirroring positions.

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    Admiral 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 Copy Trading

    Admiral 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.

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    Copy trading is available through HUBx, a service designed to help investors automatically mirror the positions of successful traders. This is ideal if you want hands-off access to popular financial markets.

    TMGM Copy Trading

    Copy trading is available through HUBx, a service designed to help investors automatically mirror the positions of successful traders. This is ideal if you want hands-off access to popular financial markets.

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    Pionex clients can find other successful investors and copy their trading bot setups. This allows users to buy and sell cryptos 24/7 from a user-friendly platform and app.

    Pionex Copy Trading

    Pionex clients can find other successful investors and copy their trading bot setups. This allows users to buy and sell cryptos 24/7 from a user-friendly platform and app.

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    With IX Social (Infinox social trading), you can automatically replicate the trades of the best investors. On the negative side, the usability and choice of master traders lags behind competitors like eToro.

    INFINOX Copy Trading

    With IX Social (Infinox social trading), you can automatically replicate the trades of the best investors. On the negative side, the usability and choice of master traders lags behind competitors like eToro.

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    Baxia Markets has partnered with award-winning copy trading solutions; Zulutrade and Myfxbook. These are among the most well-regarded copy trading apps that connect aspiring traders to seasoned investors.

    Baxia Markets Copy Trading

    Baxia Markets has partnered with award-winning copy trading solutions; Zulutrade and Myfxbook. These are among the most well-regarded copy trading apps that connect aspiring traders to seasoned investors.

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    RoboMarkets offers a bespoke copy trading service - CopyFX. Clients can use the broker's leaderboard to pick traders and strategies to follow.

    RoboMarkets Copy Trading

    RoboMarkets offers a bespoke copy trading service - CopyFX. Clients can use the broker's leaderboard to pick traders and strategies to follow.

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    You can use the broker's Allpips platform to copy the trades of experienced investors. Thousands of traders have joined the community and new users can get started with a $100 deposit. That said, it doesn't rival category leaders like eToro with its highly active social trading network.

    AdroFX Copy Trading

    You can use the broker's Allpips platform to copy the trades of experienced investors. Thousands of traders have joined the community and new users can get started with a $100 deposit. That said, it doesn't rival category leaders like eToro with its highly active social trading network.

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    Replicate the positions and strategies of multiple traders while leveraging the RaceOption leaderboard. You can start copy trading in three fast steps and follow multiple traders simultaneously.

    Raceoption Copy Trading

    Replicate the positions and strategies of multiple traders while leveraging the RaceOption leaderboard. You can start copy trading in three fast steps and follow multiple traders simultaneously.

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    The copy trading tool is available for all account types, including the lowest - Bronze. You can pick a trader based on their returns and ranking. The sign-up process is quick and account activation is instant.

    Binarycent Copy Trading

    The copy trading tool is available for all account types, including the lowest - Bronze. You can pick a trader based on their returns and ranking. The sign-up process is quick and account activation is instant.

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    Copy other traders with a $100 starting payment. You only pay a commission on winning trades. Just2Trade ranks the top strategies and provides good insights into the number of subscribers, fees and monthly yields.

    Just2Trade Copy Trading

    Copy other traders with a $100 starting payment. You only pay a commission on winning trades. Just2Trade ranks the top strategies and provides good insights into the number of subscribers, fees and monthly yields.

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    Use copy trading signals on MT4 to replicate strategies in your own live account. No additional fees apply and the platform is available via downloadable software plus a web-accessible solution.

    World Forex Copy Trading

    Use copy trading signals on MT4 to replicate strategies in your own live account. No additional fees apply and the platform is available via downloadable software plus a web-accessible solution.

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    Copy trading is available via the award-winning ZuluTrade platform. There are over 100,000 registered users and master traders, providing an array of trading opportunities and strategies to follow.

    FXCentrum Copy Trading

    Copy trading is available via the award-winning ZuluTrade platform. There are over 100,000 registered users and master traders, providing an array of trading opportunities and strategies to follow.

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, AvaTradeXM, 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

Copy Trading does not amount to investment advice. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.

eToro copy trading platform Past performance is not an indication of future results.

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 others 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 trading 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

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 2024 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

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

vim logoOne 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 interface

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.

Further Reading