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FP Markets Demo Account: How It Works, Expiry and Demo vs Live
FP Markets' demo accounts run on MT4, MT5 and cTrader with live prices, and stay open as long as you log in at least once every 30 days. You can add or remove demo funds, and MT4 demos allow up to 200 positions and orders. Here is how to open one and use it well.
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FP Markets actively encourages new clients to try its demo first. A demo account gives you virtual money on the same platforms and live prices as a real account, so you can test FP Markets' spreads, execution and tools before you deposit. Its FAQ says a demo doesn't expire as long as you use it, but if you don't log in for more than 30 days it expires automatically and can't be reactivated.
There's one important difference from a live account: demo trades aren't sent to the market, so fills can be faster and slippage lower than you'd see with real money.
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader |
|---|---|
| Prices | Live |
| Expiry | After 30 days without logging in |
| Balance | Add or remove demo funds |
| MT4 demo limit | 200 positions and orders |
| TradingView | Paper Trading mode |
How to open a demo
- Register for a demo through FP Markets' demo registration page or the Client Portal.
- Choose MT4, MT5 or cTrader and your account type.
- Download the platform from the Client Portal.
- Log in with the demo account number, password and server.
Demo vs live
| Demo | Live | |
|---|---|---|
| Money | Virtual | Your deposit |
| Prices | Live | Live |
| Platform features | Same | Same |
| Execution | Not sent to the market | Executed in the market |
| Fills and slippage | May be faster, less slippage | Real conditions |
| Expiry | After 30 days inactive | Disabled after 3 months at zero balance |
Keeping your demo alive
Log in at least once every 30 days. If a demo expires, FP Markets can't reactivate it, but you can add a new one from the Client Portal in a couple of minutes. Note anything you want to keep, such as templates or indicator settings, so you can reload them on the new account.
Changing your demo balance
FP Markets lets you add or remove funds on a demo, and publishes a short video on how. Set the balance to the amount you plan to deposit. Practising on a much larger balance teaches position sizes you won't be able to use live.
Limits on demo
An MT4 demo account can hold up to 200 positions and orders combined. That is plenty for manual trading, but an EA that opens many grid orders may hit the cap, so test such strategies with that limit in mind.
Practising on TradingView
TradingView has its own Paper Trading mode: open a chart, open the Trading Panel and choose Paper Trading. FP Markets notes that paper trades don't reflect the speed and execution of an integrated live account. Live trading through TradingView needs an FP Markets Raw account. Our FP Markets platforms guide explains the set-up.
A four-week demo plan
- First week: learn order entry, stop loss and take profit on your chosen platform.
- Second week: compare Standard and Raw costs on the pairs you trade.
- Third week: trade one strategy with fixed rules and record every trade.
- Fourth week: review the record; if your rules held, move to a small live account.
Testing EAs on demo
Run any Expert Advisor on a demo before going live. FP Markets allows EAs, but limits accounts to 5,000 actions in 24 hours; an EA that breaches it on a live account gets the account set to read-only. A demo shows you how active your EA really is. Our FP Markets VPS guide covers running EAs around the clock.
Moving to a live account
When you're ready, register for a live account, pass verification and deposit. There's no fixed minimum deposit, so you can start small. Our FP Markets account opening guide walks through each step.
What a demo can't show you
- Real slippage during news, since demo trades aren't sent to the market.
- How you react to losing real money.
- Swaps adding up over weeks on a live balance.
- The discipline to keep sizes small when a trade goes well.
Comparing Standard and Raw on demo
Open one Standard and one Raw demo and place the same trades on both for two weeks. Record the spread at entry and add US$6 per lot on Raw. The totals show which account is cheaper for your style. Our FP Markets account types guide explains the difference.
Checklist before going live
- You have a written plan with entry, exit and risk rules.
- At least 30 demo trades have been reviewed against it.
- You know your platform's order types and how to set stops.
- Standard or Raw has been chosen from your own costs.
- Your first live deposit is money you can afford to lose.
Keeping a trading journal
A demo is only as useful as the record you keep. For every trade, note the date, instrument, entry, stop, target, size and the reason you took it, then the result and what you'd change. After a few weeks, patterns appear: times of day that work, setups that don't, and mistakes you repeat.
MetaTrader can export your demo history from the Account History tab with Save As Report, which saves the numbers. Add your own notes on reasons and emotions. That journal is what tells you if you're ready to trade live.
Use FP Markets' demo to settle the Standard-or-Raw question with your own trades. Run the same strategy on both for a fortnight and compare the costs; it is the cheapest way to choose an account.
Mateo opened an FP Markets MT5 demo, set the balance to $500 and traded EUR/USD for four weeks, logging in daily. His demo results were steady, so he opened a live Raw account with $500 and used the same 0.02-lot size he had practised.
Frequently asked
Does FP Markets offer a demo account?
Yes, on MT4, MT5 and cTrader, with live prices and virtual money.
Does the FP Markets demo expire?
Only if you don't log in for more than 30 days. Expired demos can't be reactivated, but you can open a new one.
Can I change my FP Markets demo balance?
Yes. FP Markets lets you add or remove funds on a demo account.
Is the FP Markets demo the same as live?
The functionality is the same, but demo trades aren't sent to the market, so fills may be faster and slippage lower.
Is there a limit on demo trades at FP Markets?
An MT4 demo can hold up to 200 positions and orders combined.
Can I practise on TradingView with FP Markets?
TradingView's Paper Trading mode lets you practise; live trading needs an FP Markets Raw account.
Can I open demos on cTrader at FP Markets?
Yes. FP Markets offers demo accounts for cTrader as well as MT4 and MT5.
Do I need documents for an FP Markets demo?
No. Verification only applies when you open a live account.
Does an FP Markets demo use real spreads?
Demo accounts run on live prices, so spreads behave as they do live, though demo trades aren't sent to the market.
Can I export my FP Markets demo trades?
Yes. In MetaTrader, use the Account History tab and choose Save As Report.
Can I use EAs on an FP Markets demo?
Yes. Testing EAs on demo first is the safest way to check how they behave.
Do FP Markets demos show live prices?
Yes. Demo accounts use live market prices.
How do I add funds to an FP Markets demo?
FP Markets publishes a short video showing how to add or remove funds on a demo account.
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