> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.trada.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.trada.io/copy-trading/copy-trading.md).

# How copy trading works

How copy trading works in Trada — a copier maps one master account to many follower accounts, copying every trade in real time with per-account control.

Copy trading is the core of Trada. A **copier** copies every position from one master account (the **sender**) to one or more follower accounts (the **receivers**) — across six Forex and CFD platforms, in real time. Each receiver is sized and controlled on its own.

You manage copiers on **Copy Trading**: the list view at a glance, and a detail page per copier for configuration and live monitoring.

<figure><img src="https://1071438488-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FOsaVyFC53CtoAY5kabHr%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-9c10f8e46ef73f872fbfad2ab98fe2dcce239a94%2Fcopier-detail.svg?alt=media" alt="A copier&#x27;s detail page showing KPI cards, the sender account, receiver accounts, and open trades"><figcaption><p>A copier's detail page — performance KPIs, the sender (master) account, the receiver accounts, and live open trades.</p></figcaption></figure>

## The model

* A **copier** connects **one sender** to **one or more receivers**.
* When the sender opens a trade, each receiver opens its own version based on its settings. When the sender closes or modifies a trade, receivers follow.
* Copying runs as each trade happens, with a sub-second target latency.

{% hint style="info" %}
A copier's receivers must be in the same market as its sender. Every account you can connect today is a Forex or CFD account, so every copier today is a Forex copier.
{% endhint %}

## What you control

Each receiver copies independently, so a $5,000 evaluation and a $50,000 funded account can take their own size from the same master. Per receiver, you set:

* **Lot sizing** — one of three modes, including fixed % risk. See [Lot-sizing modes](/copy-trading/configure-receiver/lot-sizing-modes.md).
* **Stop-loss and take-profit** — inherited, fixed, or refined. See [Stop-loss & take-profit modes](/copy-trading/configure-receiver/sl-tp-modes.md).
* **Risk protection** — Daily and Overall limits that close the copier's positions, stop the copier, or both, plus a cap on open positions. See [Risk protection](/copy-trading/configure-receiver/risk-protection.md).
* **Copy direction** — both sides, buy only, or sell only.

At the copier level you also set [working hours](/copy-trading/working-hours.md) and [symbol mapping](/copy-trading/symbol-mapping.md).

## Supported platforms

Copy trading works across the accounts you already use:

| Market      | Platforms                                                                   | Availability                    |
| ----------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| Forex / CFD | MetaTrader 4 · MetaTrader 5 · cTrader · TradeLocker · DXTrade · MatchTrader | Available                       |
| Futures     | NinjaTrader · Rithmic · DXFeed                                              | Coming — can't be connected yet |

A sender and its receivers can sit on different platforms and brokers — [symbol mapping](/copy-trading/symbol-mapping.md) handles the naming differences between them.

## Account rules

* An account can be a **sender in one copier and a receiver in another**.
* An account can be a **receiver in several copiers** at once.
* An account **cannot be both sender and receiver in the same copier**.

## Plan limits

Plans cap how many copiers you can run at once:

| Plan       | Copiers   |
| ---------- | --------- |
| Free       | 1         |
| Starter    | 1         |
| Pro        | 2         |
| Elite      | Unlimited |
| Enterprise | Unlimited |

There is no limit on receivers per copier beyond your account quota. See [Plans & pricing](/plans-and-billing/plans-billing.md).

## In this section

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### [Create a copier](/copy-trading/create-a-copier.md)

Start a copier and manage them from the list view.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### [Add the sender](/copy-trading/sender-account.md) and [configure receivers](/copy-trading/configure-receiver.md)

Choose the master account, then add and tune each follower.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Add controls

Set [risk protection](/copy-trading/configure-receiver/risk-protection.md), [symbol mapping](/copy-trading/symbol-mapping.md), and [working hours](/copy-trading/working-hours.md).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Monitor and resolve

Watch [copier states](/copy-trading/lifecycle.md) and [logs](/copy-trading/copier-logs.md), and use [Troubleshooting](/copy-trading/troubleshooting.md) when a trade doesn't copy.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

***

Trading carries risk of loss. Trada is software; you retain all trading responsibility. See [Risk disclaimer & legal](/reference/legal.md).