What is Paper Trading?
Paper trading, also known as virtual trading or simulated trading, is a risk-free way to practice buying and selling securities without using real money. Instead of actual capital, you use virtual funds to execute trades, track positions, and measure performance. This allows beginners to learn the mechanics of trading and experienced traders to test new strategies without financial risk.
Our free paper trading simulator provides you with $100,000 in virtual cash to practice with. You can execute market orders, limit orders, and stop orders. Track your open positions, set stop losses and take profit levels, and analyze your trade history—all in a realistic trading environment that mirrors real market conditions.
How to Use This Paper Trading Simulator
- 1
Select a Symbol
Choose from popular stocks like AAPL, TSLA, MSFT, or enter any custom symbol you want to trade. The simulator will generate realistic price movements.
- 2
Choose Order Type
Select Market Order for immediate execution, Limit Order to buy/sell at a specific price, or Stop Order to trigger at a certain price level.
- 3
Set Position Direction
Go Long (Buy) if you expect the price to rise, or go Short (Sell) if you expect the price to fall. Short selling lets you profit from declining prices.
- 4
Add Risk Management
Optionally set Stop Loss and Take Profit levels to automatically manage your risk and lock in profits when price targets are reached.
- 5
Monitor & Manage
Track your open positions, pending orders, and trade history. Close positions manually or let your stop loss/take profit orders execute automatically.
Why Use a Paper Trading Simulator?
Zero Financial Risk
Practice trading without risking real money. Learn from mistakes without financial consequences.
Test Strategies
Experiment with different trading strategies, position sizes, and risk management techniques.
Track Performance
Monitor your P&L, win rate, and trading history to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
Build Confidence
Gain experience and confidence before committing real capital to the markets.
Order Management
Practice with market, limit, and stop orders. Learn how different order types work.
100% Free Forever
No hidden fees, no subscriptions, no registration required. Start practicing immediately.
Understanding Order Types
| Order Type | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Market Order | Executes immediately at the current market price | Quick entry/exit when speed matters more than price |
| Limit Order | Executes only at your specified price or better | Buying at support levels or selling at resistance |
| Stop Order | Becomes a market order when price reaches stop level | Breakout entries or protecting profits |