Crypto Trading Bot Fees Explained: What You Actually Pay

There are two kinds of cost with any trading bot: what you pay the bot, and what you pay the exchange. Most people only look at the first. Here's the full picture so nothing surprises you.

A one-time bot fee beats a monthly subscription over time — but the cost that actually adds up is exchange trading fees, so favor a bot that isn't over-trading.

On this page

What you pay the bot
Exchange trading fees
Spreads & funding
How to keep fees low
A worked example
FAQ

1. What You Pay the Bot

Bots charge in two models: a recurring subscription (monthly/annual) or a one-time payment for lifetime access. Over a year or two, one-time is usually far cheaper — a $30/month bot is $360/year, every year.

Prometheus is a one-time payment for lifetime access — no recurring fee to us, ever.

2. Exchange Trading Fees (The Real Cost)

Every trade the bot makes pays your exchange's maker/taker fee — typically ~0.02%–0.1% per side. This is separate from the bot, and it adds up fast if a bot over-trades.

A bot that fires dozens of trades a day can quietly cost more in exchange fees than a disciplined one that takes a few quality setups.

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3. The Costs People Forget: Spread & Funding

Spread — the gap between buy and sell price; wider on illiquid coins and during news.
Funding rate (futures only) — a periodic payment between longs and shorts for holding a position.

A good bot includes a spread guard so it doesn't trade into expensive conditions.

How to Keep Fees Low

Prefer a one-time bot over a subscription.
Use a bot that trades selectively, not constantly.
Check your exchange's fee tier — some discount for holding their token or higher volume.
Avoid illiquid coins with wide spreads.

A Simple Example

Say the bot takes 4 trades/day at 0.05% taker fee on a $1,000 position: that's ~$0.40/day in exchange fees, or ~$12/month — regardless of the bot's own price. Now imagine a bot that takes 40 trades/day: same math, 10× the cost. Trade quality matters more than trade quantity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do crypto trading bots charge fees?

Bots charge either a subscription or a one-time fee. Separately, you always pay your exchange's trading fees on each order the bot places — that exchange cost is often the larger one over time.

Is a one-time bot cheaper than a subscription?

Usually, yes. A one-time payment for lifetime access avoids the recurring cost of a monthly subscription, which keeps adding up every year you use it.

What's the biggest hidden cost of a trading bot?

Exchange trading fees on a bot that over-trades, plus spread on illiquid coins. A disciplined bot that takes fewer, higher-quality trades usually costs less in fees than one that trades constantly.

This article is for information only and is not financial advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Never trade money you cannot afford to lose.