Auto vs Manual Copy Trading: Which Should You Choose?

When you set up a strategy in RelayTrades, one of the most important choices is the execution mode: auto or manual. Both copy the same trades within the same risk limits, the difference is whether you approve each trade first. Here is how each one works and when to use it.

How auto copy trading works

In auto mode, when the trader you follow places a trade, the matching order is routed to your account automatically. It is sized to your settings and checked against your risk limits before it goes in, but you do not have to do anything in the moment. This is the fastest path, entries happen close to the original trade, which matters for strategies that depend on timing.

• Best for: strategies you already trust and want to run hands-off.
• Strength: speed and consistency, you never miss a trade because you were away from your phone.
• Trade-off: trades happen without your real-time review, so your risk limits and sizing do the gatekeeping.

How manual copy trading works

In manual mode, each copied trade becomes an approval request instead of an instant order. You get a notification with the trade details and a countdown, in RelayTrades the window is 30 seconds, and the trade is only placed if you tap Accept in time. If you decline or the timer runs out, the trade is skipped and nothing is placed.

• Best for: evaluating a new trader, copying only some of a trader’s ideas, or when you want a human check on every entry.
• Strength: you keep a final say on each trade before any money is committed.
• Trade-off: you can miss fast-moving entries if you do not approve in time, and the fill price reflects the moment you approve, not the original signal.

The 30-second manual window is deliberate: it keeps the price you fill at close to the signal, so an approval that sits too long expires rather than filling at a stale price.

Which one should you choose?

A common approach is to start in manual mode while you get comfortable with a trader’s style and frequency, then switch to auto once you trust it and want the speed and consistency. Either way, your risk limits, sizing rules, and kill switch apply in both modes, the execution mode only changes whether you approve each trade, not the safeguards around it. You can change the mode per strategy at any time.

A note on risk

Neither mode removes market risk. Auto can place a losing trade quickly; manual can let you skip a winner. The point of the choice is control versus speed, not avoiding losses. Size conservatively, keep your daily-loss caps in place, and remember that past performance is not indicative of future results.