Short answer
Use a demo account to test one fixed set of rules — one asset, one expiry, one entry signal — for at least 100 trades, logging each one. Go live only if your win rate stays above the break-even rate for your payout, and start with stakes of 1–2% of a small balance.
The mistake most people make
They open a demo, click Higher and Lower for an hour, see the virtual balance grow and decide they are ready. A demo with random clicks proves nothing.
A 4-week plan
- Week 1 — pick the rules. One asset (e.g. EUR/USD), one expiry (e.g. 5 minutes), one entry signal (e.g. a pullback to the EMA), fixed trading hours.
- Weeks 2–3 — collect 100+ trades. Do not change the rules mid-test.
- Week 4 — review. Win rate, average payout, longest losing streak, best and worst hours.
The journal
| Date | Time | Asset | Expiry | Direction | Payout | Result | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-11-03 | 14:10 | EUR/USD | 5m | Call | 86% | Win | Pullback to EMA 21 |
A spreadsheet is enough. The point is that you can calculate your real win rate instead of guessing.
Go-live checklist
- Win rate over 100+ trades is above the break-even rate for your payout (see the table).
- Your longest losing streak would cost less than 20% of your planned balance at your stake size. Check with the losing streak calculator.
- You know the legal situation in your country.
If any box is unticked, stay on the demo.
FAQ
How long should I trade on demo?
Until you have at least 100 trades with the same rules. Fewer trades are not enough to tell skill from luck.
Why are demo results better than real ones?
Without real money at stake, people follow their rules more calmly. Expect your live results to be somewhat worse and plan for it.
How this page was made: drafted with AI assistance from public sources and our own test logs, then checked and edited by the ExpiryLab editorial team. The date above shows the last check. How we test · Editorial policy