Free Trading Competitions| Top Contests To Win Real Prizes

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Best brokers with Forex demo contests:

XM Group - Best Order Execution (99.35% of orders are executed nearly instantly)
Pocket Option - Best for Social Trading (top rated service by customers)
Bybit - A global cryptocurrency exchange offering Forex and CFD trading through the MetaTrader 5 platform, with leverage of up to 1:500.
Octa - Best for overnight trading (no swap fees)
LiteFinance - Best for multilingual support (15 languages)

We offer a professional analysis of broker trading competitions, highlighting the most lucrative contests with real-world prizes. This guide examines top brokers providing opportunities for traders to showcase their skills and compete for more than just recognition. Whether you are a seasoned professional or new to trading, broker competitions can help you refine your strategies while earning tangible rewards.

What Are Trading Competitions and How Do They Work?

Trading competitions are organized contests where participants trade financial instruments such as stocks, Forex, cryptocurrencies, or other assets on a designated platform, competing for rewards based on their trading performance. These competitions are hosted by brokers, or trading platforms to encourage participation, showcase their features, or attract new users.

How They Work:

Registration: Participants sign up through the hosting platform, often for free or with a small entry requirement. Some competitions are open to demo accounts, while others require live trading accounts.
Rules and Objectives: Each competition has a defined set of rules, such as the assets to trade, trading duration, and evaluation criteria (e.g., highest returns, profit-to-loss ratio, or trading volume).
Virtual or Real Funds: Contests may use virtual funds (in demo competitions) or real funds (in live trading competitions), allowing both beginners and experienced traders to participate.
Scoring and Leaderboards: Participants are ranked on a leaderboard based on their performance. Metrics like profitability, consistency, or trade accuracy are typically used for scoring.
Rewards: Winners receive tangible rewards, such as cash prizes, trading credits, or exclusive benefits like reduced fees or premium account features.

Benefits of Trading Competitions:

Skill Development: Traders improve strategies under competitive conditions.
Risk-Free Learning: Demo competitions allow participants to practice without financial risk.
Real Rewards: Many competitions offer significant monetary prizes or other benefits.
Community Engagement: Participants can network and learn from peers during the competition.

Trading Competitions for Cash: A Comprehensive Review

This review highlights trading competitions offering cash rewards, focusing on key details such as contest names, prize sizes, expiration dates, and steps to participate. We've also included referral links or codes for easy access to these opportunities.

	Bonus/promotion name	Expiration date	Bonus Size ($, %)	Referral code or referral link to the bonus page
XM Group	XM Competitions	Unlimited	Prize pool $130,000	Claim your bonus
Pocket Option	Pocket Option Tournament and Competitions	Unlimited	Prize pool up to $5000	Claim your bonus
Bybit	Merch Mystery Box Event	July 27, 2025	Share of 15,000 USDT	Claim your bonus
Octa	Champion MT4 Demo Contest	Monthly	$40 to $500	Claim your bonus
LiteFinance	Best Of The Best Demo Contest	Month end	$1,000 to $4,000	Claim your bonus
NPBFX	Trading Battle Demo	Monthly	$100 to $1,000	Claim your bonus
InstaForex	Great Race	December 19, 2025	Prize pool - $55,000	Claim your bonus

Request Bonus

Unlimited

Expiration date

The XM Competitions Program offers a variety of trading contests through its Copy Trading Platform, allowing traders to compete for cash rewards or trading credits. Open to both new and existing clients, participants need a verified real or demo trading account to join. Competitions range from daily challenges to monthly marathons, with performance ranked based on trading activity. The program provides a fun, competitive way for traders to showcase their skills and earn additional rewards.

How to claim?

Open an XM real or demo account
Complete the verification process
Meet the equity requirements
Join competitions through the Copy Trading Platform

Request Bonus

Unlimited

Expiration date

Pocket Option hosts various competitions and tournaments for traders, ranging from daily and monthly events to special festive contests. Participants pay a small entry fee and compete to achieve the highest trading profits. The top performers win rewards, such as cash, trading funds, and bonuses, which enhance their trading capital. Tournaments cater to different skill levels, including demo tournaments for beginners and VIP tournaments for advanced traders.

How to claim?

Register an account
Verify your profile
Select a Tournament
Pay the participation fee (if required)
Trade according to the tournament rules
Claim your rewards through your trading account

Request Bonus

July 27, 2025

Expiration date

Bybit launches the Merch Mystery Box Event, giving all eligible users the chance to win exclusive branded merchandise worth a share of 15,000 USDT. To participate, clients must register for the event, complete identity verification, deposit at least 100 USDT, and achieve a minimum of 100 USDT in trading volume on Spot or Derivatives. The top 10 traders by performance will receive mystery boxes filled with limited-edition Bybit gear and tech accessories, shipped after the event concludes. The promotion runs from July 1 to July 27, 2025, and is not available to institutional users or clients from restricted regions. Winners are selected based on trading results, and the merch cannot be exchanged for cash or withdrawn.

How to claim?

Register for the event on the promo page
Complete identity verification
Make a qualifying deposit
Trade the required volume on Spot or Derivatives
Compete for top ranking to win a mystery box

Request Bonus

Monthly

Expiration date

OctaFX is running a demo contest for its clients to become the champion of the month. The client with the highest profit percentage at the end of the month will win a prize of $500. The second and third runners-up will receive $300 and $100, respectively. Each participant must register a new demo account for each contest round. The contest is open to all clients who have registered with OctaFX. The winners will be announced on the first Monday of the following month.

How to claim?

Open a new Demo Champion contest account

Request Bonus

Month end

Expiration date

This is a demo contest that ranks traders based on their profitability and risk management. The contest is open to all LiteFinance clients who have a demo account. The contest lasts for one month and has a prize pool of $10,000. The contestants can trade any instruments and use any strategies they want. The winners are determined by the highest percentage of profit, the lowest relative drawdown, the lowest deposit utilization rate, and the lowest leverage at the end of the contest. The prizes are credited to the winners’ real accounts and can be used for trading or withdrawn after meeting the trading volume requirement of 1 lot per $10. The contest is subject to certain terms and conditions. This promotion is available to all clients, except those from the USA, Japan, Israel, and EU countries.

How to claim?

Register in the personal area
Verify your profile
Register on the contest page

Request Bonus

Monthly

Expiration date

NPBFX offers a monthly demo trading competition called “Trading Battle Demo”. The competition is open to all clients who have a registered demo account with NPBFX. The goal of the competition is to achieve the biggest profit, increase the initial funds by a minimum of 30%, and close a minimum of 10 trades. The top 10 traders with the highest profit at the end of the month will receive prizes ranging from $100 to $1,000. In addition, there is a special prize of the newest iPhone 15 Pro for the trader who increases their initial deposit by more than 50 times.

How to claim?

Open a DEMO account with the specified balance.
Complete the verification process.
Register to participate in the contest.

Request Bonus

December 19, 2025

Expiration date

Great Race is a popular contest among demo accounts by InstaForex. The winners will be determined monthly by the highest balance at the end of each stage and the final. Contestants may use any trading strategy and trading advisors without any limitations, with a minimum trade size of 0.01 lot and a maximum trade size of 10 lots. After the contest results are released, the winners have 30 days to open and validate their live trading accounts. The winner's verified live trading account will be credited with the prize money. The prize money cannot be withdrawn from the account, but any profit made over the prize amount can be withdrawn.

How to claim?

Register a new Demo account with the specified deposit for each stage.
Sign up for the contest.
Trade using the required leverage and trade size limits.

Request Bonus

Why is it worth participating in trading competitions?

Participating in simulated stock trading competitions can do wonders for your skills - if you approach it the right way. Rather than just focusing on winning, see it as an exciting challenge to leverage the low-risk environment.

You'll gain invaluable experience implementing different strategies without the pressure of real dollars on the line. It's like trading a "practice account" on steroids. When the closing bell rings, you'll have fresh lessons from every position.

Don't just go it alone either. Networking is key for growth. Reach out to the top performers to discuss which tactics worked best under pressure. You never know when a new contact could turn into a valuable mentorship.

Finishing toward the top of the leaderboard opens doors too. Sponsor judges will be impressed by a display of raw trading talent. This can lead to opportunities more established traders may not even know about.

Even if you don't place, reflecting on feedback is fundamental. An outside perspective highlights areas for refinement. Learning how others approached the same market conditions is enlightening.

Most importantly, remember it's supposed to be fun. Don't stress over small losses. Relish every trade as a chance to test your wits against others fueled by the same passion. This competitive spirit will serve you well on the real trading floors.

In the end, participating in simulated competitions is what you make of it. See it as a playground to sharpen your skills for the bigger show ahead.

What are the disadvantages of trading competitions?

While simulated trading competitions can definitely hone your skills, it's important to be aware of some downsides too before diving in. Everything is roses until you hit the inevitable bumps in the road.

For one, competing against others fuels the competitive fire inside us all. But it can also bring out unhealthy behaviors if you're not mindful. Obsessing over short-term performance risks tunnel vision versus focusing on long-term development.

The leaderboard spotlight draws everyone's attention as well. But remember, those at the top one month may fade the next as conditions change. True mastery lies in consistency, not flash-in-the-pan scores.

You'll also face limitations compared to real markets. Strategies proven on historical data may not translate identically to live volatility. Rely too much on prior results and it could leave knowledge gaps down the line.

Time commitment is another factor to weigh carefully. Juggling work, family life, and competition preparation could easily lead to burnout. Make sure any extra hours genuinely further your education rather than add undue pressure.

On the social side, overeager networking may backfire if not genuine. Forced connections will see through empty flattery versus authentic discussion. Quality usually trumps quantity here.

Above all, guard against seeing competitions as ends in themselves rather than means to an end. The real goal remains applying lessons in your real-world trading career. Don't lose sight of continual growth beyond any contest period.

Done right with balanced reflection, competitions absolutely add value. But one size never fully fits all - so proceed thoughtfully.

Expert Opinion

Firstly, it's important to approach competitions with the right mindset. The goal shouldn't just be winning prizes - focus instead on using it as an opportunity to test strategies and glean insights into your own strengths and weaknesses. Review your performance critically to ensure you're really learning.

My advice would be to start with smaller, more frequent contests if possible. Jumping straight into month-long competitions with a huge field of entrants can be intimidating, and it's easy to lose sight of the learning aspect. Shorter events allow for more iterations of testing ideas.

When selecting a competition, think about which broker's platform you most want experience on. While top prizes draw us in, getting comfortable on a particular interface could be more valuable long-term. Don't neglect proper strategy and risk management either - keep position sizes small even on demo accounts.

Most importantly, remember that backtesting on historical data isn't the same as live trading. Strategies that work in one environment may fail in another. Use competitions as one part of your learning, but don't see them as a substitute for real-money experience over time. Pay attention to how psychology like fear and greed affect you.

FAQs

How does trading competition work?

Trading competitions are contests where traders compete to achieve the best results, usually by making profitable trades within a specific timeframe. Participants use virtual funds to trade, and those with the highest returns win prizes.

Is there a Forex trading competition?

Yes, many brokers and platforms host forex trading competitions. These contests allow traders to showcase their skills, compete for prizes, and gain experience without using real money.

What are the benefits of trading competition?

Participating in trading competitions can help you improve your trading skills, develop strategies, and gain exposure to different markets. It's a chance to learn, test your abilities, and potentially win rewards.

How can I win in trading?

Winning in trading requires a combination of knowledge, practice, and discipline. Focus on learning about the markets, developing a sound trading strategy, managing risk, and maintaining emotional control. Consistency and continuous learning are key.

Team that worked on the article

Winnifred Emmanuel is a freelance financial analyst and writer with years of experience in working with financial websites and businesses. Her expertise spans various areas, including commodities, Forex, stocks, and cryptocurrency. Winnifred tailors her writing to various audiences, including beginners, while also providing useful insights for those who are already familiar with financial markets.

Learn about our editorial policies

Dr. BJ Johnson is a PhD in English Language and an editor with over 15 years of experience. He earned his degree in English Language in the U.S and the UK. In 2020, Dr. Johnson joined the Traders Union team. Since then, he has created over 100 exclusive articles and edited over 300 articles of other authors.

Mirjan Hipolito is a journalist and news editor at Traders Union. She is an expert crypto writer with five years of experience in the financial markets. Her specialties are daily market news, price predictions, and Initial Coin Offerings (ICO).

Forex Trading

Forex trading, short for foreign exchange trading, is the practice of buying and selling currencies in the global foreign exchange market with the aim of profiting from fluctuations in exchange rates. Traders speculate on whether one currency will rise or fall in value relative to another currency and make trading decisions accordingly. However, beware that trading carries risks, and you can lose your whole capital.

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency is a type of digital or virtual currency that relies on cryptography for security. Unlike traditional currencies issued by governments (fiat currencies), cryptocurrencies operate on decentralized networks, typically based on blockchain technology.

Risk Management

Risk management is a risk management model that involves controlling potential losses while maximizing profits. The main risk management tools are stop loss, take profit, calculation of position volume taking into account leverage and pip value.

Backtesting

Backtesting is the process of testing a trading strategy on historical data. It allows you to evaluate the strategy's performance in the past and identify its potential risks and benefits.

CFD

CFD is a contract between an investor/trader and seller that demonstrates that the trader will need to pay the price difference between the current value of the asset and its value at the time of contract to the seller.

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