7 Best Automated Trading Platforms In Australia (2025)

Auto trading has exploded in popularity thanks to films like The Big Short and real-world events like the ‘Flash Crash’ that have thrust trading into the spotlight.

But just because automated trading has hit the headlines and a few influencers are trying to convince you they have the golden ticket, should you even be considering it?

Well, there are really two main reasons people get into this space. You either:

No matter which camp you fall into, I’ve tested ALL the major platforms available to Australian traders, and I’m breaking down the seven best options that could potentially transform your trading game.

1. Interactive Brokers.

Best automated trading platform for algorithmic traders.

If automated trading platforms were cars, Interactive Brokers would be a Formula 1 racer – built for serious performance but definitely not for beginners learning to drive.

IBKR is the undisputed king for professional algorithmic traders in Australia.

Their Trader Workstation, or TWS, is like the trading equivalent of a NASA control room – packed with features that would make any data scientist drool.

Pros.

Interactive Brokers doesn’t just offer automation – it provides institutional-grade tools that put you in the same arena as the big players.

With direct market access and some of the most robust APIs in the business, you can build custom trading strategies with surgical precision.

However, what truly sets IBKR apart is their ultra-low commissions.

While this is important for almost any trading strategy, this is absolutely key for algorithmic trading.

When you’re making hundreds or thousands of trades, those savings add up dramatically and can be the difference between a profitable strategy or losing money.

Cons.

Let’s be real – IBKR is NOT for the casual trader. The interface feels like it was designed by engineers for engineers, with little thought for user experience.

You’ll need genuine technical skills to harness the power here and its lack of support for MetaTrader is further proof you’re in the deep end straight away.

Consequently, the learning curve here is steep, like scaling Everest steep.

Going back to the F1 analogy, IBKR can make you look like Liam Lawson in his ill-feted stint with Red Bull – you may think you have some trading experience, but are you truly ready for what IBKR can throw at you?

Verdict.

IBKR is for the serious algo trader who values execution quality and customization above all else.

The platform was designed for insti traders, not the retail market, but if you can climb that learning curve, you’ll find a platform with almost limitless potential.

While the other platforms on this list might have features that surprise you, you’ll know pretty quickly whether IBKR is right for you.

Specifications.

2. Pepperstone.

Best for those who want to trade CFDs only.

Next up is Pepperstone – the platform that strikes an impressive balance between professional-grade features and accessibility.

While not as overwhelming as IBKR, Pepperstone has carved out a reputation as THE go-to platform for investors wanting to use MetaTrader automated trading in Australia, while also offering TradingView and cTrader.

Pros.

What really makes Pepperstone shine is their execution quality. We’re talking razor-thin spreads, with raw spreads starting from 0.0 pips on major forex pairs with just a $3.50 commission per lot.

Pepperstone’s execution speeds start from 50 milliseconds (30ms for Razor accounts), with a 99.89% fill rate and no dealer intervention.

Why does this matter? In algorithmic trading, especially with scalping strategies, even a 100 millisecond delay can be the difference between profit and loss.

These swift execution times are facilitated by Pepperstone’s No Dealing Desk (NDD) model, which connects traders directly to a pool of Tier 1 liquidity providers, ensuring minimal intervention and optimal pricing.

This compares favourably to IBKR’s 75-130ms execution speed, making Pepperstone a great choice for high-frequency trading or scalping strategies.

Cons.

Despite all its strengths, Pepperstone doesn’t offer access beyond CFDs.

While this is unlikely to be a deal breaker for most; investors wishing to use one broker for all their investing needs might find this limiting.

Another potential drawback is their high leverage options. While this can amplify returns, it can equally amplify losses – a dangerous proposition for inexperienced traders testing algorithmic strategies..

Verdict.

Pepperstone hits that sweet spot between professional capabilities and user-friendliness.

If you’re comfortable with MetaTrader and want institutional-grade execution, this should be high on your list, particularly if your focus is on forex CFD trading.

Specifications.

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3. eToro.

Best automated trading platform for copy trading.

eToro is a slightly different proposition from the first two.

Since its introduction in 2007, the platform has completely revolutionised how regular people approach automated trading.

While most investors using IBKR or Pepperstone will copy investors using algorithms (or even go it alone), eToro offers investors the chance to copy more traditional investment strategies.

If IBKR is a Formula 1 car, eToro is more like a Tesla with autopilot – still powerful and can be a lot of fun, but designed so anyone can use it.

Pros:

What makes eToro special is how they’ve democratised automated trading through their copy trading feature. With just a few clicks, you can automatically mirror the trades of investors who’ve proven their success over time.

The platform offers an extensive network of traders to follow – from conservative dividend investors to aggressive crypto traders – allowing you to tailor your automated approach to your risk tolerance and goals.

Their Smart Portfolios are another standout feature, giving you exposure to themed investments like “Big Data” or “Healthcare” without needing to pick individual stocks.

These features ultimately save you time, allowing you to “set-and-forget” for large periods of time, similar to your super fund in that regard.

The fact that most of these strategies do not employ leverage, also minimises your risk exposure compared to a lot of the CFD-based algorithmic trading.

Cons.

The tradeoff for this accessibility is customization. While you won’t be short of assets to invest in, you will feel limited if you want granular control over your automated strategies. But then, this is not their target market, so it’s unlikely to be a concern for most considering this platform.

Fees are a concern, however. Aussie investors will have to convert AUD to USD when depositing funds and then repeat this process to withdraw…and not at a particularly competitive fx rate of 1.5%.

In addition, there is a $5 fee levied to all withdrawals.

There are ways around this, using Wise, or by increasing your portfolio size which will unlock discounted fees. But let’s be clear, the time you save on managing your portfolio does come at a price.

Verdict.

Ultimately, eToro takes a very different approach to automated trading, targeting a different kind of user. Its platform has made automated trading accessible to everyone, not just coding experts.

While it should be considered a premium product, the trade-off is your time back in spades.

For those of you better at earning money in your day job, rather than trying to code an algorithm, eToro might be well worth the slightly higher fees.

Specifications.

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4. AvaTrade.

Best alternative to Pepperstone.

AvaTrade sits somewhere between Pepperstone and eToro, offering multiple ways to automate your trading journey.

While not as well-known as some other names on our list, AvaTrade offers something unique: flexibility in how you approach automated trading. You will find access to MT4 and MT5, as well as DupliTrade, ZuluTrade and AvaSocial.

Unfamiliar with these? Don’t worry, here’s the key points

AvaSocial

Think of AvaSocial as a more curated version of eToro’s CopyTrade, targeting a slightly more sophisticated investor.

While anyone with enough followers can become a “Popular Investor” (i.e., users can copy their trades), AvaSocial vets signal providers more strictly. In theory, this increases the quality of these investors, but also reduces the quantity available.

Should you care? It does feel reassuring that there is some sort of quality control. However, plenty of fund managers have proven that technical ability does not equal performance.

eToro’s fees for their model are also more transparent and the trading history will be easier for beginners to understand.

Ultimately, it’s buyer beware, it’s your money you’re entrusting to someone, so make sure you feel comfortable with your decision – demo accounts (offered by both) are a great way to dip your toe in the water.

DupliTrade

While AvaSocial was a proprietary offering, DupliTrade is a third-party offering that integrates with MetaTrader 4/5.

It allows investors to copy tader’s signals and strategies in real-time. Its user-friendly interface makes it a good starting point for those interested in more technical automated trading strategies.

ZuluTrade

ZuluTrade and DupliTrade are fairly similar in broad strokes – think of them as Linux and Windows in terms of operating systems.

ZuluTrade offers more options but requires more competence from the user in order to separate signal from noise.

If you’re looking to use ZuluTrade, it’s likely that you’ve already got a pretty good handle on the basics discussed here.

Pros.

What makes AvaTrade stand out is their product offerings which straddle both types of automated trading.

This dual approach gives you the ability to try both a CopyTrade-type approach as well as explore where algorithmic trading is up your street.

AvaTrade has also prioritized mobile automation with their AvaTradeGO app, which features AvaProtect – a unique risk management tool that can automatically protect your positions from adverse market movements for a small fee.

Think of it as insurance for your trades that works seamlessly with automated strategies.

Cons.

Despite these strengths, AvaTrade does have some limitations. Their asset selection on copy trading platforms can feel restricted compared to brokers offering direct market access, potentially limiting diversification options.

Their spreads on automated solutions also tend to be higher than those of ECN brokers like Pepperstone or Vantage, which can impact profitability over time, especially for high-frequency strategies.

Perhaps most concerning for some traders is their inactivity fee – $50 after three consecutive months without trading activity.

While this encourages active portfolio management, it can be problematic for longer-term algorithmic strategies that trade less frequently.

Verdict.

AvaTrade offers perhaps the most diverse copy trading ecosystem of any platform on our list.

With their multi-platform ecosystem and unique risk management tools, they offer something genuinely different from the other brokers on our list.

Just be mindful of those inactivity fees if you’re planning less frequent trading strategies.

Specifications.

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5. IG Markets

Great alternative to Interactive Brokers.

IG Markets are one of the most established names in the Australian trading landscape that’s successfully adapted to the automation revolution.

With their rich history and solid reputation, IG combines the reliability of a traditional broker with modern automated trading capabilities.

Pros.

What impresses me about IG Markets is their versatility in platform options.

Beyond the standard MetaTrader offering, IG provides access to TradingView, ProRealTime, and L2 Dealer – creating an impressive toolkit for different automated trading approaches.

Let’s break down why these matter:

TradingView integration allows you to execute automated strategies through one of the most popular charting platforms in the world.

The Pine Script language lets you create custom indicators and strategies with a much gentler learning curve than MQL5 in MT5. While IBKR offers similar API access, IG’s implementation is more user-friendly and doesn’t require the same level of programming expertise.

ProRealTime is where IG truly differentiates itself. This platform offers one of the most powerful backtesters in retail trading, with the ability to code automated systems in ProscriptRLG language.

The historical data quality here is exceptional – a crucial factor for validating algorithmic strategies before deploying real money. Its latest update allows more granular strategy development and automatic execution with native OOP scripting, making it closer to MQL5.

IBKR is the only other platform on the list to offer similar functionality, However, this requires significantly more technical know-how compared to ProRealTime’s more accessible interface.

L2 Dealer provides direct market access with visibility into the order book – essential for certain high-frequency strategies and serious algo traders.

This puts IG in a similar league to IBKR for order execution quality, though IBKR still maintains the edge in terms of market access breadth.

Think of IG as offering maybe 80% of IBKR’s institutional capabilities but with a much more accessible entry point.

Cons.

This versatility comes with some tradeoffs. The minimum deposit required for DupliTrade is higher than some competitors, potentially creating a barrier for new traders.

Their cost structure can also be less favorable for frequent traders who need the tightest possible spreads for their algorithms. For example, 0.6 pips on major fx pairs is significantly higher than Pepperstone, further highlighting why Pepperstone is such a favourite for fx traders.

Finally, IG Markets lacks support for MT5. If this is a dealbreaker, then Pepperstone is probably the better option for you.

Verdict.

IG Markets brings the reliability of an established broker to the automated trading space. Its combination of copy trading and algorithmic capabilities makes them a versatile choice for a wide range of traders.

Specifications.

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6. Eightcap.

Great alternative to Pepperstone and AvaTrade.

Now for something completely different – Eightcap and its innovative approach to algorithmic trading without coding.

While not as well-known as some more-established names on this list, Eightcap has been quietly revolutionising how regular traders can access algorithmic strategies.

Pros.

What makes Eightcap truly unique is their partnership with Capitalise.ai – a groundbreaking platform that lets you build automated strategies using plain English commands.

Imagine typing “Buy Bitcoin when RSI drops below 30” and having an algorithm execute that strategy for you – no coding required. That’s the power of their no-code approach.

Combined with support for both MT4 and MT5 platforms and competitive spreads, Eightcap creates an accessible on-ramp to algorithmic trading.

Its spreads on fx pairs are also very competitive, which is pleasantly surprising given EightCap is one of the smaller platforms on this list.

Cons.

One glaring omission from EightCap’s offering is its lack of a copy trading feature. This does feel somewhat limiting as an offering as, while they have made algorithmic trading more accessible, this is still quite an advanced strategy.

I can see EightCap offering an entry into the world of algorithmic trading, but then losing clients once they get more comfortable and want a broader range of features as offered by almost all the other names on this list.

They also offer fewer educational resources specifically for algorithmic traders compared to some competitors, potentially making the learning curve steeper.

Normally, I wouldn’t highlight this as a major issue, but it does seem a bit odd given its target client is likely to value this. However, it’s a relatively new broker, and the addition of webinars in 2025 suggests a positive step in this regard.

Finally, user feedback suggests that the scripting flexibility is still limited to simple logic, and it does not support full portfolio rebalancing or multi-timeframe triggers.

Verdict.

Eightcap is the dark horse in Australia’s automated trading scene.

Their no-code approach through Capitalise.ai makes algorithmic trading accessible to everyone, not just those with programming backgrounds.

However, this is pretty much all it offers so it will not be suitable for everyone.

Specifications.

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7. Vantage.

Best automated trading platform in Australia for CDF traders.

Last but certainly not least is Vantage – a platform that’s laser-focused on creating the ideal environment for MetaTrader algorithmic traders, while also offering TradingView.

While they might not offer the broadest range of automation tools, what they do, they do extremely well. Their offering is mot similar to Pepperstone, but there are some crucial differences between the two.

Pros.

Where Vantage truly shines is in their commission structure – at $3 per lot per side on RAW accounts compared to Pepperstone’s $3.50, they offer one of the most competitive rates in Australia.

For high-frequency algorithmic strategies executing hundreds of trades, this difference can significantly impact your bottom line over time.

Vantage also differentiates itself with its server infrastructure – while Pepperstone generally excels with execution speed, Vantage has specifically optimized their servers for MT4 Expert Advisors, reducing latency for this specific use case.

Their VPS (Virtual Private Server) offerings are also more tailored for MT4 EA trading, with packages specifically configured for different EA types.

Another subtle but important difference is Vantage’s more permissive approach to EA trading strategies.

While Pepperstone might restrict certain high-frequency or scalping algorithms during volatile market conditions, Vantage tends to be more accommodating to aggressive trading styles – a crucial consideration if your automated strategy falls into these categories.

Cons.

The trade-off for Vantage’s MT4 specialization is their less developed offering for MT5 users compared to Pepperstone.

If you’re planning to migrate to MT5 or want to run algorithms on both platforms, Pepperstone offers a more seamless dual-platform experience.

Vantage also lacks Pepperstone’s integration with DupliTrade, offering fewer options for traders who want to complement their custom algorithms with copy trading.

Their educational resources for algo traders are also less comprehensive than what you’ll find at Pepperstone.

Finally, Vantage’s liquidity providers, while solid, don’t quite match the tier-1 provider network that Pepperstone has established, which can occasionally result in slightly wider spreads during certain market conditions.

Verdict.

If you’re an MT4 purist who prioritizes cost-efficiency and runs aggressive algorithmic strategies, Vantage offers subtle but meaningful advantages over Pepperstone.

However, if you value platform flexibility and the highest tier of liquidity providers, Pepperstone might still be your better option.

Specifications.

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Final Word On The Best Automated Trading Platforms In Australia.

So there you have it – the seven best automated trading platforms available to Australian traders in 2025. It’s a lot of information to digest and your perfect match depends entirely on what you’re looking for. Here’s my two cents on where each platform shines:

What’s The Difference Between MT4 And MT5?

Quick point regarding MetaTrader and specifically, the difference between MT4 and MT5.