These requirements apply to the desktop Pro plan — the locally installed Tradecopia application. If you are on Pro+ Lite or Pro+, your Tradecopia instance runs on Tradecopia's infrastructure and has no local hardware requirements.
You might need this article if:
You're setting up Tradecopia desktop for the first time and want to check your machine meets the requirements
You're experiencing performance issues and want to know if your hardware is a limiting factor
You want Tradecopia to run continuously and are weighing a VPS against a managed web plan
You want to know whether you can run Tradecopia on your own VPS
You are on a Chromebook, phone, or tablet and want to know if the desktop app will run on it
You're upgrading your setup to support more follower accounts
Hardware
Component | Minimum | Recommended for larger setups |
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB+ for large account groups |
CPU | Modern multi-core processor | High-frequency (3.5 GHz+) with strong single-core performance |
Storage | SSD | NVMe SSD for fastest log and event handling |
Network adapter | Standard | Gigabit Ethernet — low-latency NIC preferred |
Tradecopia processes multiple accounts in parallel. Hardware performance has a direct impact on execution alignment across accounts:
More RAM means smoother handling of large account groups
Higher single-core CPU frequency means faster order processing
Faster storage means quicker log and event handling
Lower-latency network means tighter alignment between leader and follower fills
With a stable Ethernet connection and capable hardware, the desktop plan can manage 50+ accounts simultaneously. For setups of 20 or more accounts, hardware becomes a meaningful factor — CPU and RAM upgrades will produce a noticeable improvement in replication speed.
Operating system
Windows — fully supported
macOS — fully supported
The desktop app runs only on Windows and macOS. It does not run on a Chromebook, phone, or tablet. If you use one of those devices, the web plans (Pro+ Lite and Pro+) run in a browser on any device. See Can I use Tradecopia on my phone, tablet, or Chromebook? (KN-0055).
Running Tradecopia continuously: a VPS or a managed web plan
If you want Tradecopia to run 24/7 without keeping your own computer on, you have two options.
Run Pro on your own VPS. This is supported. A VPS is a remote, always-on server you rent, and it removes the dependency on a physical machine staying on. Hosting it close to your broker's servers can also reduce latency. The trade-off is that you manage two things yourself: the Tradecopia desktop app and the VPS. That means provisioning the server, keeping it online, applying operating system updates, monitoring it, and relying on your VPS provider's uptime. It also keeps some of the desktop experience: to reach your VPS you connect to it from another computer using a remote desktop (RDP) session, so you still need a PC to access and manage your setup. You cannot open it directly on a phone or tablet the way you would a website.
Use a web plan (Pro+ Lite or Pro+). The web plans give you the same always-on benefit, but Tradecopia runs and manages the whole setup for you. Your instance runs on optimized infrastructure positioned close to broker servers, and we handle the hosting, maintenance, version updates, and monitoring. There is nothing for you to set up or keep online, and when a new version ships, it is applied for you. You also reach it differently: instead of a remote desktop session from a PC, you open your instance directly in any web browser, including on your phone or a mobile browser, from anywhere. Your instance is dedicated to running your copy trading and is not opened up to other applications, which keeps it optimized and uninterrupted for that purpose.
Both approaches keep your replication running around the clock. The difference is how much of the setup and upkeep you handle yourself. For a fuller look at the web plans, see Should I choose Tradecopia Pro+ Lite or Pro+? and What do I need to run Tradecopia Pro+ Lite or Pro+?.
Network
Use wired Ethernet — Wi-Fi introduces latency and connection instability that can interrupt replication
Close bandwidth-heavy applications during trading sessions — downloads, video streaming, and large file syncs compete for the same connection
Ensure no firewall or antivirus software is blocking Tradecopia's outbound connections to broker endpoints
Lower latency to your broker means faster replication — hosting your VPS in a location geographically close to your broker's servers reduces this further
Accounts and credentials
Before running Tradecopia desktop, you need:
A Tradecopia account — register at tradecopia.com
Active login credentials for each broker account you want to connect — Tradovate, NinjaTrader, TopStepX, or Rithmic
Related articles
What is the difference between Tradecopia desktop and the web versions? — if you're weighing desktop against a web plan
Should I choose Tradecopia Pro+ Lite or Pro+? — the fully-managed web plans as the alternative to running Pro on your own VPS
What do I need to run Tradecopia Pro+ Lite or Pro+? — what the web plans need to get started
Can I use Tradecopia on my phone, tablet, or Chromebook? (KN-0055) — which devices the desktop and web plans run on
How to reinstall Tradecopia or do a clean reset — if you are reinstalling after a system issue