cTrader

cTrader gives developers and algorithm users a way to inspect how a cBot behaves before running it on a live account. In Windows or Mac, select a cBot instance and open Backtesting. Choose the date range, then use the settings cog to set starting capital, commission per million traded units, the historical-data source and fixed or random spreads. A local CSV file can supply custom historical data.

Visual mode replays the chart at an adjustable speed. Without it, the test runs to a final report. The Equity and Trade statistics tabs help show whether a result depended on a few trades or concealed a large fall in account value. Keep the settings consistent when comparing variations, since a changed spread or data source can alter the simulated execution.

Accounts and execution

Create a cTrader ID with an email and password, then confirm the email. The same ID can connect several broker accounts. The cross-broker app can create a demo account with virtual funds; a live account requires registration with a supported broker, whose instruments, eligibility and charges apply.

Cloud cBots can run from all cTrader apps, while local execution and historical backtesting use Windows or Mac. A local instance stops when the desktop app closes. Stopping a bot does not automatically close positions it has already opened.

Spotware provides free cloud execution, subject to instance limits that can vary by broker. The Store separately contains free and paid tools, and some sellers offer limited trials. Those tool prices are separate from brokerage costs. Developers can also use the public Open API, an application programming interface for their own trading applications and data displays.