How Deriv Bots Work

The groundwork every bot guide assumes you already have — creating a Deriv API token, choosing demo vs real, and connecting safely.

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A Deriv bot on BinaryBot.live is a web page that trades for you through Deriv's official API. You create an API token in your Deriv account, paste it into the bot, and the bot places contracts on your own account. BinaryBot.live never holds your money, and there's nothing to download.

Demo account Real account
Balance Virtual funds from Deriv Your own deposit
Same bots and settings Yes Yes
What it's for Testing every setting and watching a losing streak play out Only settings you've already tested on demo

Your first bot session, in order

  1. Open a Deriv account. Start on the demo account; it comes with virtual funds.
  2. Create an API token in your Deriv account settings with the Read and Trade scopes. Leave Admin and Payments unticked, because no bot here needs them. The API token guide walks through each screen.
  3. Paste the token into a bot and choose a market. If you're not sure which bot, the free bots comparison sorts them by what they trade.
  4. Set Stop Loss and Target Profit in dollars before you press start, not after the first loss.
  5. Run it on demo until you've seen a losing streak and know what it cost at your stake.

When a bot connects but doesn't trade

A stalled bot usually comes down to one of these:

  • The token is missing the Trade scope, so the bot can read your balance but can't buy contracts.
  • The strategy is waiting for its entry pattern. On Sniper Bot V2, ZIGZAG 7 TICKS trades far less often than ROLL CAKE, so an empty log usually means the pattern hasn't appeared yet.
  • On Sniper Bot V2, Take Profit and Stop Loss only apply when their checkboxes are ticked.

The full checklist is in why a Deriv bot isn't placing trades.

Frequently asked questions

How do Deriv bots work?

A Deriv bot connects to your Deriv account through the official API using a token you create, then buys contracts automatically according to its settings. On BinaryBot.live the bots run in your browser, except AutoPilot, which runs on Deriv's servers.

Is it safe to give a bot my Deriv API token?

Grant only the Read and Trade scopes. That lets a bot place trades but not move money or change your account, and you can delete the token in your Deriv settings at any time. Never share a token with the Admin or Payments scope.

Can I use a Deriv bot on a demo account?

Yes. Every bot on BinaryBot.live works on a Deriv demo account with virtual funds, and that's where every new setting should be tested first.

Do I have to deposit money to try a Deriv bot?

No. A demo account has virtual funds, so you can connect a bot and watch it trade without depositing. You only need a deposit when you move the bot to a real account.