cBot
Also known as: cAlgo robot, cTrader bot, cTrader Automate robot, C# trading robot
What is it?
A cBot is cTrader's automated trading program: a strategy written in C# that runs inside the platform and places, manages and closes orders on your account without manual input. It is cTrader's equivalent of the MetaTrader expert advisor. The differences from an EA are practical rather than conceptual.
| Dimension | cBot (cTrader) | Expert Advisor (MT4 / MT5) |
|---|---|---|
| Language | C# on .NET | MQL4 / MQL5 |
| Standard library | Full .NET: HTTP, JSON, threading | Purpose-built; HTTP needs a URL whitelist |
| Compiled file | .algo | .ex4 / .ex5 |
| Backtest data | Tick data with broker spread + commission | Tick or M1 modelled; quality varies |
| Ecosystem size | Smaller, younger marketplace | Two decades of published strategies |
A cBot is written in C# against the .NET runtime in the cTrader Automate editor, so the whole .NET standard library is available - HTTP clients, JSON parsing and threading all work without the workarounds MQL requires. It compiles to an .algo file, runs per chart instance with its own parameters, and backtests on tick data with the platform's own spread and commission model applied. The trade-off is reach.
MQL4 and MQL5 have two decades of published strategies and a large marketplace behind them, while the cBot ecosystem is smaller and younger. What you gain is a modern language, a cleaner API for order and position handling, and a platform whose broker base is predominantly no dealing desk, which changes what a strategy can reasonably assume about its fills.
Why it matters: A cBot is the C# strategy that automates a cTrader account, so it is the entry point for anyone running a trading bot on a platform other than MetaTrader.
The platform a strategy is written for determines the brokers, order types and backtest fidelity available to it, which shapes what the strategy can realistically do.
Real-world example
A trader compiles a breakout strategy as a cBot, attaches it to the EUR/USD 15-minute chart with a 0.20-lot parameter, and backtests it on tick data with the broker's real commission before going live.
How SignalBots handles it
SignalBots publishes each signal as prices and direction rather than platform-specific code, so a cTrader user can act on the same call from a cBot that a MetaTrader user acts on from an EA.
Pro tip
Backtest a cBot with your broker's real commission and spread loaded rather than the defaults, because tick-level testing will otherwise flatter a high-frequency strategy badly.
Common pitfalls
Assuming an EA can be dropped into cTrader. MQL and C# share no runtime, so the strategy has to be rewritten and its logic verified again afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
What language are cBots written in?
C#, running on .NET inside cTrader Automate. That gives access to the full standard library, unlike MQL4 and MQL5, which are purpose-built trading languages with a much narrower runtime.
Can I run an MT4 or MT5 expert advisor as a cBot?
No. The platforms share no runtime or API, so the strategy has to be rewritten in C# and retested from scratch. Only the trading logic transfers, never the code itself.
Where do I get cBots?
cTrader has its own marketplace and a community that publishes open-source strategies, though the catalogue is far smaller than MetaTrader's. Treat any downloaded bot as unverified until you have backtested it yourself.
Do cBots need a VPS?
Only if you need them running while your own machine is off. cTrader also offers cloud hosting for cBots, which removes the need to run a VPS for that purpose alone.
Is cBot backtesting more accurate than MT4's?
Generally yes, because cTrader tests on tick data with the broker's variable spread and commission applied by default. Accuracy still depends on the quality of the data you load. Your capital is at risk.
Trading involves substantial risk of loss. Historical and backtested results do not guarantee future performance. Read the full risk warning.
