Best Brokers for Auto Trading
The following online brokers are among those are the most suitable for auto trading options. You will need to check whether they are compatible with your preferred auto trading service of course, but as a general rule these are the online brokers that we would recommend for this purpose.
Options offer many advantages, but it's fair to say that it isn't the easiest form of trading to learn and it can be quite time consuming. Not everyone has the time or the inclination required to become a successful options trader, but there is actually a way to make money out of options without having to learn all about the trading and that is through auto trading.
In our opinion, auto trading is no substitute for studying the subject and developing the necessary skills, but the fact remains that there are auto trading services that can possibly you make money. These services basically find opportunities for trades, and then automatically instruct your broker to carry out the required transactions. If you are going to use an auto trading service, then you will need to use a suitable online broker such as the ones that we have listed above.
You can read more about auto trading options here.
Choosing a Broker for Auto Trading
In many respects, choosing a broker for the purposes of auto trading is much easier than choosing a broker when you will be making trades and placing orders yourself. For one thing, your choice is limited to using an options broker that accepts the auto trading service you are using and, depending on what that service is, there may not be many brokers that do.
Of course, you may prefer to select your broker first and then see which auto trading services they accept. It doesn’t really matter which way around you work it, but we do recommend that you stick to reputable brokers such as the ones we have listed above. We would also advise that you only ever consider using an auto trading service that has a proven track record for making profits, and ideally one that has been recommended to you by someone you know who has some experience of using the service.
There are a few other considerations that you need to take into account when choosing an options broker for auto trading, and these include the commissions and fees that are charged, the minimum amount you need to deposit, and any restrictions on the value and volume of trades you can make. Even if you are not going to be actively making trades yourself, these are still things that you need to think about before selecting an online broker and signing up there.
Commissions and Fees
The commissions and fees that are charged are straightforward enough to check out, so it's worth comparing different brokers to see which are the most competitive. Always remember though, that cheapest is not necessarily best, and the commissions charged by a broker should be one factor that you look at and not the only factor.
It's also particularly important to check whether the standard commission rate applies if you are auto trading, as some brokers may charge higher commissions or additional fees if you are using an automated service. You should also see if there are any other standard fees, like an account management fee, that you might be liable for.
Minimum Deposit Amount
The minimum amount you need to deposit is something else you need to look at. A lot of online options broker stipulate that you must make a deposit of at least a certain amount, and this amount can vary significantly at different options brokers.
Some might require a substantial deposit while others will accept lower amounts. You will obviously have an idea of how much you are planning to deposit, so you need to make sure you use a broker that will allow you to deposit your preferred amount.
Value and Volume of Trades Required
In addition to the minimum size of a deposit, some online brokers will also stipulate that you need to make trades of at least a certain value and/or that you need to make at least a certain number of trades in a particular time period – usually a month. This might not be an issue for you, but it could be if you are only want to make relatively small trades.
The volume of trades is also worth bearing in mind, as you might find that an auto trading options service only makes a few trades on your behalf each month.
Summary
We should make it clear that we don’t particularly advise auto trading options as an alternative to making your own trades. We believe that you are likely to be much more profitable, certainly in the long run, if you take the time to learn about the subject and actually trade yourself. However, if you do wish to trade auto options then please make sure you use a reputable service. We also recommended that you use one of the online brokers that we have listed above.