Open a virtual portfolio
Select a supported market and create a simulated account for the activity you want to observe.
Paper trading for beginners
A paper trading simulator for your own decisions.
Practice simulated trading across supported markets in a virtual portfolio without committing real capital. Start with manual orders, then add simple conditions and strategies as the mechanics become familiar.
- Simulated activity
- Multiple asset classes
- No coding required
Choose what to practice
STOCK ORDERReview shares, price, and order typeSIMULATED
OPTION SPREADInspect legs, expiration, and net debit2 LEGS
FUTURES POSITIONObserve contracts, ticks, and margin1 CONTRACT
REAL CAPITAL COMMITTEDNO
ManualStart directly
RulesAdd conditions
StrategyBuild gradually
A gradual path
Move from an order to a complete strategy—one concept at a time.
Investfly separates the decisions so you can understand what each one changes before combining them.
Place a manual order
Review the instrument, direction, quantity, price, and order type before submitting it.
Automate one condition
Create a price or indicator condition that can notify you or submit an eligible simulated order.
Build a strategy
Combine a universe, entry rules, sizing, exits, and position controls when you are ready.
Explore market mechanics
Practice simulated trading in the language of each market.
Virtual activity is still simulated, but the configuration should reflect the instrument you are exploring.
Stocks & ETFs
Shares and portfolios
Observe position quantities, balances, price changes, and order status in a virtual stock portfolio.
Explore stocksCrypto
Spot pairs and quantities
Experiment with supported spot-crypto pairs and scheduled accumulation without implying leverage or short selling.
Explore cryptoOptions
Contracts, legs, and DTE
Inspect how expiration, strikes, option actions, collateral, and multi-leg structures affect a position.
Explore optionsFutures & forex
Ticks, pips, and margin
Observe how directional contracts and currency pairs use different sizing, price increments, and account mechanics.
Explore derivativesUnderstand the boundary
Simulation is a testing environment—not a prediction.
Virtual portfolios can help you observe how your inputs behave, but simulated fills, prices, market conditions, liquidity, fees, and timing can differ from live trading.
Keep reviewing
- Check every instrument and order input.
- Review hypothetical backtest assumptions.
- Monitor simulated strategy activity over time.
- Authorize live use separately, only if you choose.
When you want more control
Your next step can still be visual.
Move into the no-code builder for complete strategy configuration, or explore Python later if your logic requires custom code.
Paper trading questions
Know what simulation can—and cannot—show you.
What is a paper trading simulator?
A paper trading simulator models orders, positions, balances, and market activity without committing real capital. In Investfly, virtual portfolios provide this ongoing simulated environment across supported markets.
What is the difference between a backtest and a virtual portfolio?
A backtest applies your rules to selected historical data. A virtual portfolio observes simulated activity as time moves forward. Both are hypothetical and can differ from live trading.
Can beginners practice more than stock trading?
Investfly virtual portfolios support learning paths for stocks and ETFs, spot crypto, options, futures, and forex, subject to the current capabilities and data available for each market.
Does paper trading predict live results?
No. Simulation cannot reproduce every fill, spread, fee, liquidity condition, outage, or market event. Use it to understand mechanics and evaluate your rules, not as a prediction or guarantee.
Start with simulated activity
Create your first virtual portfolio.
Explore supported markets, review every input, and decide what you want to learn next.
No credit card required. Virtual portfolios are simulations and do not predict live results.