Which brokers support automated trading?
Most regulated retail brokers offering MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, or a public REST/FIX API support automated trading. Common categories include MT4/MT5 brokers (IC Markets, Pepperstone, FP Markets, Tickmill), cTrader brokers, and API-first brokers (Interactive Brokers, Alpaca, OANDA). The Automated Trader platform is broker-connected, so you open and fund a supported account and the strategy executes through it.
What should I look for in a broker for trading bots?
Five things matter: (1) true ECN or raw-spread execution with low slippage, (2) tight commissions on the symbols your strategy trades, (3) explicit permission for Expert Advisors or API trading in the account agreement, (4) regulation in a recognized jurisdiction (ASIC, FCA, CySEC, NFA), and (5) reliable uptime — measured in your own data, not marketing copy.
Do I need a VPS to run automated trading?
Only if you self-host an EA on MetaTrader. A VPS keeps your terminal running 24/5 so trades aren't missed when your laptop sleeps. Platform-hosted strategies — like the ones licensed through The Automated Trader — run on managed infrastructure, so no VPS is required.
Are US brokers allowed for automated trading?
Yes. US retail traders can automate through NFA-registered brokers (e.g. OANDA, FOREX.com) and through API-first brokers like Interactive Brokers and Alpaca. US regulation restricts certain instruments (e.g. CFDs) and hedging on the same symbol, which can affect which strategies are compatible.
Will my broker ban me for using a trading bot?
Reputable brokers permit automated trading explicitly. Bans typically come from strategy types the broker prohibits — latency arbitrage, abuse of bonus promotions, or scalping at sub-second timeframes on a market-maker book. Strategies that hold trades for hours or days on regulated ECN brokers are not at risk.
The shortlist by category
- MT4 / MT5 (FX + commodities): IC Markets, Pepperstone, FP Markets, Tickmill — raw-spread accounts with EA support.
- cTrader (FX): Pepperstone cTrader, IC Markets cTrader — cleaner execution model than legacy MT4 for some algorithmic strategies.
- API-first (equities, FX, crypto): Interactive Brokers, Alpaca, OANDA — REST and FIX APIs for custom systems.
We don't take affiliate kickbacks for this list — it reflects what currently works for the strategies we run. Broker quality changes; verify regulation and current spreads before funding.
Where The Automated Trader fits
Rather than installing files on your own MT5 terminal and renting a VPS, you license a verified strategy and run it through a broker-connected platform. You still open and own the brokerage account; the platform handles the technical execution layer. See the available strategies or read how broker connection works.
Related reading: are trading bots actually profitable? · how algorithmic trading works