Signals, robots and copy trading
Three ways to hand over the decision, with the same 20-pip move on EUR/USD
| Step | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Signal service | ₱0 to ₱2,000 per month | The signal tells you what to do, but you still place the order. The fee varies by provider and is often charged in PHP by GCash or bank transfer. |
| Robot or expert advisor | ₱1,500 to ₱8,000 one-off or yearly | The robot places orders automatically. The price depends on the vendor and whether it is a one-time licence or a subscription. |
| Copy trading | ₱0 to ₱3,000 per month, plus a share of profit | The platform mirrors another account. Some charge a flat fee, some take a percentage of gains, and some do both. This varies between brokers. |
| One pip on one standard lot of EUR/USD | 10 units of the quote currency, converted at the current rate | 100,000 x 0.0001 = 10. At around 1.0850, that is roughly ₱10 if the quote currency is PHP, but the exact peso amount depends on the exchange rate at the time. |
| A 20-pip move on 0.10 lots | ₱20 | 20 pips x 10 units per pip x 0.10 lots = 20 units of the quote currency, converted to pesos. The same move on 1.00 lot would be ₱200. |
Your broker may round the exchange rate, charge a spread on entry and exit, add commission, or apply a swap if the position is held overnight. These costs are separate from the signal, robot or copy fee, and they vary between brokers.
The mistake people make here
The common mistake is to treat a signal, a robot or a copy account as a transfer of risk. It is not. You still choose the lot size, you still hold the position when the market moves against it, and you still owe any loss. The fee is the smallest part of the cost. Before using any of these, decide the maximum you are willing to lose on a single trade, set the lot size from that number, and check whether the provider is registered with the SEC Philippines. If a provider promises a result or a win rate, that is a reason to stop, not a reason to pay.Check yourself
If one pip on one standard lot of EUR/USD is 10 units of the quote currency, what is the value of a 15-pip move on 0.20 lots?
15 pips x 10 units per pip x 0.20 lots = 30 units of the quote currency. Converted at the current rate, that is the peso figure. At around 1.0850, it is roughly ₱30, but the exact amount depends on the exchange rate.
A copy service charges ₱2,000 per month and takes 20 per cent of profit. If your account gains ₱5,000 in a month, what do you pay in total?
₱2,000 flat fee plus 20 per cent of ₱5,000, which is ₱1,000. Total cost is ₱3,000. Your net gain before other costs is ₱2,000.
You pay ₱1,500 for a robot and it places a trade that loses 25 pips on 0.10 lots. What is the market loss before any broker charges?
25 pips x 10 units per pip x 0.10 lots = 25 units of the quote currency. Converted at the current rate, that is the peso loss. At around 1.0850, it is roughly ₱25, and the ₱1,500 robot fee is separate.