Paper Trading vs Real Trading
Learn how Polycopy Paper Trading bots differ from Real Trading bots: simulated fills with estimated fees and 0.82% entry slippage, runs of 7-14 days, the 10 active Paper bot limit, and Premium requirements for live execution.
Last updated September 14, 2026
Choose Paper Trading or Real Trading
Paper Trading is free for signed-in users and simulates Trader Bots or Strategy Bots without real orders. Real Trading bots use a connected, funded Polymarket wallet and require Premium.
Know how long a Paper run lasts
Trader Bot setup and Strategy Bot setup both start a 14-day Paper run. Pausing does not extend the scheduled end date.
Stay within the active Paper limit
You can run up to 10 active Paper Trading bots at once across all traders, and up to 5 on any single trader. Paused and ended Paper bots do not count toward either limit.
Paper P&L is net of simulated fees and slippage
Paper P&L is net of simulated Polymarket and Polycopy fees and 0.82% entry slippage. Fee estimates vary with entry price and trade date. Open positions use available sell-side prices. Actual fills, liquidity and costs can differ from Real Trading.
Understand simulator limits
Simulated costs are calibrated averages, not a quote for your bot: the fee is a blended rate that runs higher on crypto markets and lower on sports, and simulated slippage does not grow with your order size. Paper bots also have no real queue position or market impact, and never fail on live order placement or wallet signing. Treat Paper P&L as a good-faith estimate of Real Trading, not a promise of it.
Start Real Trading separately
Real Trading uses a separate bot and requires Premium, a connected wallet, available funds and trading authorization. For a Strategy, return to its page on Bots and choose Real Trading. The Paper run keeps its own record.