11 BEST PAPER TRADING APPS (TRADE WITH NO RISK)

WHAT IS PAPER TRADING?

First things first, what is paper trading? Is it some kind of a simulated game?

Or is it risk-free trading? Let’s find out everything about paper trading.

Do you know where paper trading came from? When there were computers, traders practiced their trades on paper. That’s how we got the name “paper trading.”

Paper trading, aka demo trading, allows you to trade forex, stocks, options, and others without investing real money.

The major difference between paper trading and real trading is that no actual money is at stake in paper trading. A paper trading account has the same appearance and feels like a real money account, but trades provide no actual financial gains or losses to the account owner.

So, what exactly is the aim of paper trading? Traders use paper trading for educational purposes. It’s a good method for new investors to get a feel for how complicated financial instruments like forex and others work.

You are a pro and don’t need paper trading; think again! Paper trading is not just for newbies. For pros, it is a great way to try out new forex or stock market strategies without taking any risks.

WHY DO YOU NEED PAPER TRADING?

The basic advantage of paper trading is that it allows you to become familiar with the broker’s trading platform. Not all trading platforms are the same.

Before you commit to a certain broker, you should ensure that you are comfortable with the overall trading process. Another reason paper trading is essential is to practice.

Perhaps you’re new to trading and wish to begin a winning approach. Or perhaps you’ve been trading stocks and now looking to move towards forex. In the trading world, a saying goes, “It’s not the trading system that fails the trader; it’s the trader that fails the trading system.”

One goal of paper trading is to create a trading strategy, sort out the flaws, and watch how you react to changing market circumstances. Are you self-disciplined enough to stick to your rules? If not, you should keep doing paper trading. Whatever the reason, paper trading allows you to open and close trades without losing anything.

IS PAPER TRADING THE SAME AS REAL TRADING?

There should be no difference between how we trade on paper and real life. However, our minds can play us.

You’ll be amazed at how well you do while paper trading; however, things may change if you start trading with real money. When a deal goes against you, you quickly notice that actual money is leaving your account.

As a result, it may be more difficult to keep emotion out of your trading decisions. So, that’s where the difference comes from real and paper trading.

WHAT ARE THE BEST PAPER TRADING APPS FOR 2023?

You want to get started with paper trading. The easiest way to do that is through paper trading apps.

So, what are some of the best paper trading apps? Here are the 11 best apps you can try.

Before I go further, there’s something I need to add, “How to select the best paper trading app?”

You’ll need to look at more than just the risk-free aspect of the paper trading apps. After all, you’re probably looking for an app you’ll eventually use for real trading. So, here are some of the factors you need to look for:

• Regulation
• Trading assets (forex, stocks, commodities, etc.)
• Trading platforms and tools
• Account types
• Trading fees
• Deposits/withdrawals methods
• Educational resources

You’ll be thinking, “Oh gosh! I have to look for all of that.” Don’t worry; we have made all the effort for you and compiled a list of the 11 best paper trading apps you can try.

1. TD AMERITRADE

Our top pick for paper trading is TD Ameritrade. TD Ameritrade provides paperMoney, a stock simulator that operates on their trading platform thinkorswim. PaperMoney pulls real-time data to let you test your strategy in real time.

It includes various assets such as stocks, options, futures, Bitcoin, and currency markets. There are also several indicators and charting tools available. Plus, it is free to use, and you don’t need a brokerage account. You can check our detailed TD Ameritrade review here.

TD Ameritrade platform

2. eToro

eToro is one of the most popular brokers out there. eToro has a demo account, which allows you to practice with $100,000 in virtual funds.

You can trade multiple trading assets and trade on the eToro native platform. Furthermore, unlike the other apps on our list, eToro allows you to easily switch between your real and demo accounts.

eToro is one of the few apps that allows users from the US, the UK, and other countries. If you want to learn more about eToro, read our eToro review for a more in-depth look at what the broker offers.

eToro web platform

3. INTERACTIVE BROKERS

You must first create and fund a real trading account with Interactive Brokers before you start a demo account.

Fortunately, after completing everything, it should not take more than 24 hours for your paper trading account to become available.

The demo accounts at Interactive Brokers provide $1,000,000 in virtual money. IBKR has excellent search tools and other advanced strategies that make it stand out from the rest. You can learn more about IBKR in our review.

Interactive Brokers Trader Workstation

4. IG

Founded in 1974, IG is one of the best choices for paper trading. Through IG’s demo account, you can start your paper trading venture.

Signing up for the demo account is simple. All you need is an email address and a phone number. The demo account with IG Markets never expires.

Also, there is no minimum deposit requirement for starting a live account. IG offers a wide range of educational resources with the IG Academy. From beginners to pros, everyone can take advantage of online trading courses.

If you are curious to learn more about IG, you can check our in-depth review.

IG trading platform

5. E*TRADE

E*Trade provides a paper trading platform, one of the greatest virtual simulators available. The paper trading account provides you with $100,000 in virtual cash.

You can practice trading stocks, options, and other assets. E*Trade offers a paper trading account on the Power E*Trade platform. Power E-Trade is the firm’s native trading platform.

The innovative web-based platform offers over 100 technical analyses and 30 drawing tools for your trading activity. You can get all of this when paper trading with E*Trade. You can check our E*Trade review here.

Power E*Trade

6. WEBULL

Webull paper trading combines all of the features of a great paper trading simulator. It provides paper trading platforms for web and mobile versions.

The app interface is superb, with a separate paper trading panel. The app’s usefulness is based on the live trading approach. It perfects your practice for real trading.

The app gives you a virtual money balance of $1 million, which you may change higher or lower. You only need to establish a Webull real account to use the finest paper trading app.

Webull paper trading app

7. AVATRADE

AvaTrade is one of the best options paper trading apps. You get access to real-time market data, 24/7 customer service, and forex trading education when you paper trade with AvaTrade. You will also be able to connect with several premium trading and market analysis tools.

The AvaTrade demo account has $10,000 in virtual currency. Furthermore, because it is only active for three weeks, all unused virtual balances in your paper trading account will expire after 21 days. However, AvaTrade can extend the period if you contact their support team.

If you want to know more about AvaTrade, you can check our detailed review here.

AvaOptions platform

8. FXCM

FXCM joins our list of the top demo forex accounts due to its commitment to forex education, and it’s a cherry on top with the demo account for any beginner.

It is also accessible on various trading platforms, including MT4, ZuluTrade, NinjaTrader, and Quant. You can link one of them to your desktop or mobile app and receive $50,000 in virtual funds when you sign up for a free demo account.

FXCM demo app

9. CAPITAL.COM

For currency traders, Capital.com is the ideal paper trading app. For 30 days, the app provides access to the demo account. It also provides access to many technical indicators, graphing, and other tools. You can have $10,000 in virtual funds when paper trading with Capital.com.

10. PLUS500

Plus500 is one of the top CFD paper trading apps. It allows you to trade multiple assets with a virtual money balance of £50,000. When your balance falls below £200, it is restored to its original amount.

The broker allows demo trading on the native platform. Here, you’ll find plenty of technical tools and risk management features.

Plus500 demo account

11. TRADING 212

Trading 212 is the ideal paper trading app if you are from the UK. Registering an account to use the paper trading app is unnecessary, and you can get started immediately.

If you want to upgrade to a real money trading account, there is no minimum deposit required by the broker.

Trading 212 homepage

FAQs

Is paper trading good for beginners?

Paper trading is ideal for beginner and experienced traders. It teaches trading concepts and risk management in a real-world setting.

How long should I practice paper trading?

There is no hard and fast rule for how long you should trade on paper before moving on to the real thing. Your trading goals mostly determine it.

Where can I open a paper trading account?

On websites, you can open a paper trading account with the brokers mentioned above.

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you want to start trading, paper trading is your best bet. It’s a perfect way to dip your toes in financial markets and get a feel of the real thing.
After practicing and honing your skills, you can open a live account. If you want to open a live account, we suggest the following brokers.