Paper Trader is a live-market practice environment — the same mechanics as a real brokerage account, with no real capital at risk. It's how you learn the craft without learning it the hard way. This guide gets you placing your first practice trades.
Getting started
Open Paper Trader from your Portal. You start with a simulated balance, so there's nothing to fund and nothing to lose. Find an instrument, and you're ready to place your first order.
Placing trades
Paper Trader runs real order mechanics: market orders fill at the current price, limit orders fill only at your set price or better, and stop orders trigger once the market hits your level. Practising with all three is the point — it's where the learning is.
Tracking your positions
Your portfolio view shows open positions, what they're worth now, and how you're doing overall. Watch how your decisions play out over time, not just trade by trade.
Tips
- Treat it like real money — the habits you build here are the ones you'll keep.
- Practise limit and stop orders, not just market orders; they're how you manage risk.
- Review your portfolio regularly to see what's working and what isn't.
Frequently asked
Is any real money involved?
No. Paper Trader is a practice environment — no real capital is ever at risk.
Are the mechanics realistic?
Yes — it runs the same order types, position tracking, and portfolio view as a real brokerage account.
Still stuck? Reach the team from the Contact page, or head back to the Help Centre for guides to the rest of the Vastura apps.