Frequently Asked
Questions

TopTrades is a social copy trading network where skilled traders — called Traders — can anonymously share their live trades with other traders — called Clients. TopTrades provides its own proprietary trade copier software so that Client trades are automatically executed in real-time, without manual intervention. It works across multiple trading platforms including NinjaTrader, cTrader, MetaTrader, and Sierra Chart.

Unlike most copy trading platforms that are tied to a single broker or trading platform, TopTrades is broker-agnostic and supports multiple trading platforms simultaneously. Its trade copier supports cross-platform copying (e.g., NinjaTrader to cTrader) and cross-market copying (e.g., Futures to CFDs) — a rare feature in the industry. Traders can also remain fully anonymous while sharing their trades.

Creating a TopTrades account is free. Clients pay subscription fees to follow specific Traders. Traders keep 50% of every subscription fee they generate. There are no upfront costs to become a Trader or to browse the platform.

TopTrades supports Forex, Futures, CFDs, and Crypto trading. The trade copier can copy trades across different asset classes — for example, a Trader trading Futures can have their trades automatically mirrored in a follower's CFD account.

A trade copier is software that automatically replicates trading actions — opening, modifying, and closing positions — from a master (Trader) account to one or more follower (Client) accounts in near real-time. When a Trader executes a trade, the TopTrades trade copier captures the signal and instantly sends the same trade details (entry, stop loss, take profit) to all connected Client accounts, typically within milliseconds.

The TopTrades trade copier currently supports:

• NinjaTrader Trade Copier
• cTrader Trade Copier
• MetaTrader Trade Copier
• Sierra Chart Trade Copier
• TradeStation Trade Copier (coming soon)

All platforms require Windows. Traders and Clients who don't use one of these platforms can still send or receive trade information via webhook endpoints.

Yes. The TopTrades trade copier supports both cross-broker copying (Trader and Client can use different brokers) and cross-platform copying (e.g., a Trader on NinjaTrader can have trades copied into a Client's MetaTrader account). It also supports cross-market copying such as Futures to CFDs.

Trades are copied globally within milliseconds. TopTrades can replicate trades to multiple Client accounts worldwide simultaneously with very minimal latency. For best performance, both Traders and Clients are recommended to use a VPS (Virtual Private Server) to ensure their trade copier software runs 24/7 without interruption.

The TopTrades trade copier requires Windows. This is because the supported trading platforms (NinjaTrader, MetaTrader, cTrader, Sierra Chart) run on Windows. A Windows VPS is recommended for uninterrupted 24/7 operation.

Traders earn a 50% revenue share of every Client subscription fee. The more Clients subscribe to your trades, the higher your potential subscription price and income. TopTrades automatically handles billing and payouts, so you can focus entirely on trading.

No. TopTrades allows Traders to share their trades completely anonymously. Your personal identity is never disclosed to Clients or the public. Only your trading performance stats (win rate, average gain, etc.) are visible on your public Trader profile.

Traders with a high win rate and consistent average gain attract the most subscribers. TopTrades displays live performance statistics on every Trader's profile, so Clients can make informed decisions. Building a strong, transparent track record is the most effective way to grow your subscriber base and income.

To start copy trading on TopTrades: (1) create a free account, (2) browse and choose a Trader whose performance matches your goals, (3) subscribe to that Trader, (4) install the TopTrades trade copier software on your Windows computer or VPS, and (5) connect it to your trading platform. After that, trades are copied automatically.

TopTrades provides a Trader Search tool that lets you filter Traders by name, win rate, and average gain. Focus on Traders with a consistent win rate over a meaningful number of trades, not just short-term results. Make sure the Trader's style (markets traded, trade frequency, risk level) aligns with your own trading goals and risk tolerance.

Yes. Clients have the option to receive trade signals as messages in various formats — including TEXT, JSON, and XML — rather than having them automatically executed. This is useful if you prefer to review signals before placing trades manually.

A VPS (Virtual Private Server) is not required but is strongly recommended, especially for Traders. A Windows VPS ensures your trade copier runs 24/7 without interruption, even when your personal computer is off. TopTrades recommends ChartVPS for reliable, low-latency trading VPS solutions.

Yes. Traders and Clients who do not use one of the natively supported trading platforms can submit or receive trade information through TopTrades' webhook endpoints. This provides flexibility for users with custom trading setups or algorithmic trading systems.

Yes. Futures, Forex, and Crypto trading carry a high level of risk. Copy trading does not eliminate this risk — past performance of any Trader is not indicative of future results. All trades listed on TopTrades are for informational purposes. Never risk capital you cannot afford to lose, and always conduct your own due diligence before subscribing to any Trader.

You can reach the TopTrades team via the contact page, or watch tutorials on the TopTrades YouTube channel. The TopTrades Forums are also a great place to get community support and trading insights.

Social trading is a broad concept where traders share ideas, strategies, and insights within a community. Copy trading is a specific feature within social trading where trades are automatically replicated from one account to another in real-time — no manual input required.

TopTrades combines both: it is a social trading network where you can discover and follow skilled traders, with an integrated trade copier that automatically executes their trades directly in your account.

A signal provider (also called a master trader or lead trader) is an experienced trader who shares their live trade signals with other traders. On TopTrades, signal providers are called Traders.

When a Trader executes a trade, their signal is broadcast through the TopTrades network and automatically copied into the accounts of their subscribers (Clients) via the trade copier software — within milliseconds, worldwide.

A local trade copier copies trades between accounts on the same computer or within the same trading platform instance (e.g., MT5 to MT5 on the same machine).

A remote trade copier copies trades over the internet to different computers, trading platforms, or brokers worldwide. The TopTrades trade copier is a remote trade copier — it replicates trades globally within milliseconds, across different brokers and platforms simultaneously.

Copy trading can be profitable, but results depend entirely on which Traders you choose to follow. Key factors include the Trader's win rate, consistency, risk management approach, and the markets they trade.

TopTrades displays transparent, live performance statistics for every Trader — including win rate and average gain — so Clients can make informed decisions. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Never invest more than you can afford to lose.

Copy trading is legal in most countries and is widely offered by regulated brokers and trading platforms worldwide. However, regulations vary by jurisdiction.

TopTrades is a trade information and technology platform. It is the responsibility of each user to ensure they comply with the financial regulations in their own country or region. Always consult a qualified financial advisor if you are unsure about local rules.

TopTrades itself has no minimum account size requirement. The capital needed depends on your broker, trading platform, and the markets you want to trade.

As a general guide: Forex and CFD accounts can often be started with a few hundred dollars, while Futures trading typically requires more capital due to margin requirements. Always start with an amount you are comfortable risking while you evaluate a Trader's real-world performance.

Whether copy trading is permitted on prop firm accounts depends entirely on the individual prop firm's rules. Some prop firms allow it; others prohibit it.

Always check your prop firm's terms and conditions before using any trade copier on a funded or challenge account. TopTrades is not responsible for any violations of third-party prop firm rules.

The main risks of copy trading include:

Market risk — all trading involves the possibility of loss, and copied trades are no exception.
Trader selection risk — a Trader with a strong past record may still have losing periods in the future.
Slippage — copied trades may be executed at slightly different prices than the original due to latency or liquidity differences.
Over-reliance — relying entirely on someone else's decisions without understanding the trades being copied.

TopTrades mitigates some of these risks by providing transparent, real-time performance data for every Trader on the platform, allowing Clients to make better-informed decisions.

Yes. The TopTrades trade copier supports NinjaTrader to MetaTrader (MT4/MT5) cross-platform copying. A Trader using NinjaTrader can have their trades automatically replicated into a Client's MetaTrader account at a completely different broker, in real-time.

Yes. NinjaTrader to cTrader cross-platform copying is fully supported by the TopTrades trade copier. Both platforms run on Windows, and the TopTrades trade copier handles the connection, symbol mapping, and real-time trade replication between them.

Yes. MetaTrader (MT4/MT5) to cTrader copying is supported. A Trader on MetaTrader can broadcast their trades to Clients using cTrader at any broker, across different countries, within milliseconds.

Yes. This is one of TopTrades' most unique features. The trade copier supports cross-market copying — for example, a Trader executing E-mini S&P 500 Futures trades can have those trades mirrored in a Client's CFD or Forex account. TopTrades handles symbol mapping between asset classes automatically.

Yes. The TopTrades Sierra Chart trade copier allows Traders using Sierra Chart to broadcast their trades to Clients on NinjaTrader, MetaTrader, or cTrader. Sierra Chart is particularly popular among Futures traders, making it an excellent source for high-quality Futures signals on the TopTrades network.