What is a Demo Account
A demo account is a type of account offered by trading platforms, which is funded with fake money that enables a prospective customer to experiment with the trading platform and its various features, before deciding to set up a real account funded with the customers actual money. Demo accounts are offered by a wide variety of online trading platforms, including stock trading platforms, foreign exchange trading venues and commodities exchanges.
BREAKING DOWN Demo Account
Demo accounts became widespread in the twenty-first century, along with online trading. They are marketed to customers as a way for a customer to test a platform’s user experience and features before committing their own money to these investments or paying the platform trading commissions. For instance, one popular online stock trading platform is TD Ameritrade's thinkorswim. Prospective customers of the company, or customers who simply want to spend time practicing trading strategies risk-free, can sign up for a demo account online. Once you have a demo account you can use their “paperMoney” platform to buy and sell stocks using fake money, but test those trades under real, live market situations. According to TD Ameritrade, the product is geared toward who’ve always wanted to trade, but don’t have enough money, have the money but don’t know where to start, or are experienced traders who want to test new strategies.
Demo accounts are also popular means for traders who are experienced trading in stocks, but want to experiment with other asset classes. For instance, investors may want to open a demo account before they start investing in futures, commodities, or currencies, even if they already have much experience investing in stocks. That’s because these markets are subject to different influences, allow different kinds of market orders and feature different kinds of margin requirements than stock markets.
Compete Risk Free with $100,000 in Virtual Cash
Put your trading skills to the test with our FREE Stock Simulator. Compete with thousands of Investopedia traders and trade your way to the top! Submit trades in a virtual environment before you start risking your own money. Practice trading strategies so that when you're ready to enter the real market, you've had the practice you need. Try our Stock Simulator today >>
trading risk-free Start Trading CFDs
Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70.52% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Copy-trading services imply additional risks to your investment due to nature of such products. If the risks involved seem unclear to you, please apply to an outside specialist for an independent advice. Trading CFDs on virtual currencies implies additional risk to your investment due to the nature of such products.
