What a self-hosted crypto trading bot is, the hardware it runs on, how it compares to SaaS bots, and what it takes to run one 24/7 on your own machine.
A self-hosted bot trades from hardware you control instead of a vendor's cloud. These answers cover what that means in practice: the hardware it runs on, how it differs from a SaaS bot, and what it takes to keep one running around the clock.
For a deeper comparison, read self-hosted vs SaaS crypto bot and our guide to the best self-hosted crypto trading bot.
It is a trading bot that runs on hardware you control, your own computer, a home server, or a VPS, instead of on a vendor's cloud. Your exchange API keys stay on that machine, and the bot connects directly to your exchange.
A SaaS bot runs in the cloud and stores your API keys on its servers so it can trade for you. A self-hosted bot runs on your machine and keeps your keys local. The trade-off is a few extra minutes of setup in exchange for self-custody and no vendor key store to breach.
Any machine that stays on and runs Python 3.10 or newer: a Mac, a Linux box, a Windows PC, a Raspberry Pi, a Mac mini, or a VPS from a provider like DigitalOcean, Hetzner, or AWS. It is lightweight and does not need a powerful machine.
Yes. A Raspberry Pi is a popular low-power option for running a bot 24/7. TradeArmor runs on a Pi, on a Mac mini, on a Linux server, or in Docker.
Yes. TradeArmor runs natively on macOS, including on an always-on Mac mini, and also on Linux, Windows, and Docker.
No. TradeArmor installs and then walks you through a browser-based setup wizard. There is no command line, no Python coding, and no YAML config editing required to get running.
The bot runs as long as the machine it is on stays awake and online. For 24/7 trading, run it on an always-on device like a Mac mini, a Raspberry Pi, or a VPS rather than a laptop you close.
Yes. TradeArmor ships a Docker setup, including an option to run inside a VPN container for geo-restricted exchanges. Code and data are volume-mounted so updates are a simple restart.
TradeArmor is a Progressive Web App. Open its URL on your phone and add it to your home screen, and it works like a native app with notifications. You can reach it over your local network, a VPN, or a secure Cloudflare Tunnel without exposing your keys.
Open-source frameworks are powerful but ship no signals, no dashboard, and no managed support, and they expect you to handle Python and configuration yourself. TradeArmor gives you the self-custody of self-hosting with a setup wizard, a real-time dashboard, built-in signals, and support.
Because the software runs on your machine and your keys are local, the bot keeps running on whatever version you have. You are not dependent on a cloud service staying online to keep trading.