An AI trading bot is software that places trades automatically by following rules, and some now use AI to write those rules from a plain-language description. They come in three kinds: hosted bot platforms you log into, open source frameworks you run yourself, and AI assistants that draft the strategy. Ten are listed below in no particular order, as of Oct 2026.
A trading bot keeps working while you're asleep, which is the whole appeal and the whole risk. It'll follow its rules whether the market behaves or not, so it's worth knowing exactly what kind of bot you're signing up for.
Bots can lose money, and because they run unattended, losses can build before you notice. Trading carries a risk of loss and this isn't financial advice. Crypto rules differ from country to country, so check the rules where you live before you connect an exchange.
Trading bots compared at a glance
| Tool | Type | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Bitsgap | Hosted crypto bot platform | Grid and DCA bots across several exchanges |
| Cryptohopper | Hosted crypto bot | Templates and ready strategies on your exchange |
| Gainium | Open source bot platform | Backtesting and no-code bots with a journal |
| Hummingbot | Open source trading framework | Market making and custom strategies in code |
| Jesse | Open source Python framework | Self-hosted strategy research in Python |
| Kryll | Self-run visual bot builder | Drag-and-drop strategies on your own machine |
| StockHero | Bot app for stocks and crypto | Preset AI strategies on supported brokers |
| Stoic | Managed crypto strategies | Quant-built strategies instead of building your own |
| Superalgos | Open source visual bot platform | Visual scripting for technical users |
| Tradetron | No-code algo trading platform | Plain-English strategies for India's markets |
Ten AI trading bots and frameworks
Bitsgap
Best for: Crypto traders who want grid and DCA bots, AI insights and one place to manage several exchanges, plus manual trading tools.
Cryptohopper
Best for: A hosted bot that runs around the clock on your own exchange account, starting from ready-made templates; the page says AI bot-building is coming soon.
Gainium
Best for: Traders who want to backtest a strategy, run no-code bots and keep an automatic trade journal, from an open source platform with an AI assistant.
Hummingbot
Best for: Developers and crypto market makers who want an open source framework under the Apache 2.0 license, with connectors to many exchanges.
Jesse
Best for: Python coders who want a self-hosted framework for crypto and stocks, and can connect an AI agent to research, build and backtest a strategy.
Kryll
Best for: Dragging blocks into a strategy, replaying it on market history and running it on your own machine, with an AI that assembles one from plain language.
StockHero
Best for: Anyone who wants preset AI trading strategies on supported brokerages, with products listed for stocks, CFDs, forex and crypto rather than crypto alone.
Stoic
Best for: Crypto holders who'd rather use a ready strategy built by quant researchers than build a bot, with market-neutral and long-only index options listed.
Superalgos
Best for: Technically minded traders who want free, open source software running on their own premises, with a visual scripting environment for building bots.
Tradetron
Best for: Describing a strategy in plain English and having the AI turn it into a strategy card, on a platform built around India's markets.
Hosted, self-run or AI-written: how each page describes itself
Cryptohopper calls itself 'The AI crypto trading bot, since 2017', and Stoic leads with 'Crypto Trading Bot - AI Automated Crypto Trading'. Bitsgap says 'Universal Platform for Crypto Trading and Trading Bots', and StockHero says 'AI Trading App'. On the open source side, Superalgos offers 'Free & Open-Source Crypto Trading Bots' and Jesse 'Open-source Python Algo-Trading for Crypto & Stocks', while Hummingbot's start page has a path called 'I want AI to help me trade'. Then there are the strategy writers. Kryll says 'your own AI assembles a strategy on the canvas from a plain-language description', Gainium calls its helper an 'AI trading assistant', and Tradetron simply says 'Describe the strategy in plain English.'
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So the real choice is where the bot lives. A hosted platform runs on the vendor's servers and connects to your exchange account. A self-run framework runs on your own computer or server, which gives you control and leaves the upkeep to you. An AI strategy writer sits on top of either and drafts rules from your words, and you still need to read those rules before anything trades.
Questions that matter more than the AI label
- Where does the bot run: on the vendor's servers, or on your own machine?
- Which exchanges or brokers does it connect to, and does it trade from your own account? Look for that on the page itself.
- Can you backtest and paper trade before going live? A backtest uses past data and isn't a real result.
- If an AI writes the strategy, can you read every rule it wrote before it runs?
- How do you stop it? You want a clear pause button, and alerts when something goes wrong.
- What access does the exchange connection ask for? Give it no more than the bot needs to trade.
New to crypto? My guide on how to start investing in cryptocurrency covers the basics, and how crypto is taxed explains why the rules where you live matter.
Do you make an AI trading bot or framework? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Straight advice on running an AI trading bot
Decide where you want the bot to live before you compare features. If you'd like someone else to run the servers, a hosted platform is simpler. If you can code and want full control, an open source framework puts everything on your machine. If an AI drafts the strategy, read every rule it writes. Then backtest, paper trade, start small and watch it closely, because a bot can lose money faster than you'd expect.
Still choosing where to trade? My roundup of European crypto exchanges is a useful starting point before you connect any bot.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What is an AI trading bot?
It's software that places trades automatically by following a set of rules. The AI part varies: some use AI to draft the rules from a plain-language description, and others add an AI assistant or AI insights to a standard bot.
Can an AI trading bot lose money?
Yes. Bots can lose money, and because they run unattended, losses can build before you notice. Trading carries a risk of loss, and you can lose some or all of what you put in.
Is this list financial advice?
No. It describes what each bot's own page says, in no particular order, and doesn't tell you what to buy or which strategy to run.
What's the difference between a hosted bot and an open source bot?
A hosted bot runs on the vendor's servers and connects to your exchange account. An open source bot is code you download and run on your own computer or server, so you control it and you also maintain it.
Does a trading bot need access to my exchange account?
To trade for you, yes. Most connect through access keys the exchange gives you. Check what the connection is allowed to do, and give it no more access than the bot needs.
Can I test a trading bot without real money?
Many platforms describe backtesting on past data, and some offer paper trading. A backtest is a replay of history, not a real result, so treat it as a check on your rules rather than a forecast.
