Gunbot and Hummingbot are two popular crypto trading bots, but which one is better for your trading needs? In this guide, we break down both bots in terms of core features, supported strategies, pricing, and user experience, all in plain language.
Core Differences at a Glance​
| Feature | Gunbot | Hummingbot |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | Self-hosted desktop, server, VPS | Self-hosted command line (Docker, WSL, bare metal) |
| Pricing Model | One-time lifetime license from $59 (Gunbot Standard) | Core client free and open-source; optional Cloud SaaS modules from roughly $19 per month |
| Primary Focus | Versatile trading across spot and futures with deep JS scripting | Market-making, arbitrage, liquidity mining |
| Core Strategies | Spot & futures grid, DCA, indicator based, liquidity provider, scalping, trailing, custom JS | Market-making (multiple variants), cross-exchange arbitrage, liquidity mining, custom Python logic |
| Custom Scripting | Native JavaScript engine; accepts TradingView webhooks | Python strategy framework; powerful SDK |
| Exchange Integrations | Native connectors for 25 + exchanges (spot and futures) with consistent maintenance | 40 + connectors contributed by core team and community |
| API Credential Storage | Local only – the API secret / private key never leaves your machine | Local only – same local-only model |
| User Interface | Full GUI plus optional CLI | Primarily CLI, with community GUIs |
Deployment and API Security​
Gunbot​
Gunbot installs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and ARM devices. Everything – including the API secret (private key) – stays on the hardware you control. No cloud service is required unless you choose to run the bot on a rented VPS.
Hummingbot​
Hummingbot also runs locally, typically inside Docker. All API credentials remain on the server or PC you manage. Because the project is open-source, you can audit every line of code that touches your keys.
Bottom line: Both bots treat API secrets the right way – they never transmit them off-device.
Pricing and Long-Term Value​
- Gunbot: Pay once, own forever. The entry-level Gunbot Standard license is \$59. Higher tiers unlock features like backtesting, add-on packs, and extra exchange slots, but the lifetime model holds across all tiers.
- Hummingbot: The core CLI is free under Apache 2.0. If you want turnkey cloud deployment, monitoring dashboards, or advanced pre-built strategies, Hummingbot Cloud offers paid modules starting around \$19 per month.
Cost comparison example: At \$19 /month, the break-even point versus a \$59 Gunbot Standard license is just over three months. Past that mark, Gunbot’s lifetime model is cheaper. If you plan to stick strictly to Hummingbot’s free CLI, the cost is zero – assuming you are comfortable maintaining your own infrastructure.
Strategy Creation and Customization​
Gunbot​
Out of the box, Gunbot ships ready-to-use presets for grid, DCA, scalping, and indicator-driven trades. Advanced users can load or write full JavaScript strategies, call external APIs, and integrate TradingView signals. The GUI exposes every parameter with tooltips, so you can tweak without coding.
Hummingbot​
Hummingbot’s power is Python. You start by cloning a strategy template (market-making, arbitrage, or liquidity mining) and then extend it in code. Because the framework is open-source, developers can dive deep – adding new order types, risk models, or exchange connectors. For non-coders, the learning curve is steeper.
Strengths and Ideal Use Cases​
| Strength | Gunbot | Hummingbot |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Setup | Visual installers and wizards | Requires command-line familiarity |
| Breadth of Strategies | Broad – seven categories plus custom JS | Narrower focus – excels at liquidity provision |
| Community Focus | Long-running paid and volunteer user forum, weekly live streams, frequent stable releases | Active developer Slack/Discord, bounty programs, rapid experimental releases |
| Earning Programs | No direct liquidity mining, but community shares profitable presets | Liquidity mining campaigns with token or fee rebates |
| Programming Language | JavaScript | Python |
Exchange Connectivity in Practice​
Gunbot’s 25 + native connectors include leaders like Binance, Bybit, OKX, Kraken, and Coinbase Advanced Trade. Futures coverage spans USD-M and inverse perpetuals on major exchanges, and decentralized perpetuals on dYdX and HyperLiquid.
Hummingbot supports more than 40 connectors – a mix of centralized and decentralized venues – thanks to community pull requests. If an exchange is missing, Python developers can add it by implementing Hummingbot’s connector spec.
Community and Support​
- Gunbot: Commercial license holders gain access to a moderated Telegram group, a detailed wiki, and ticket-based support.
- Hummingbot: Backed by the Hummingbot Foundation, the project runs monthly community calls, publishes RFCs, and funds bounties paid in the HBOT token. Documentation is comprehensive, but help assumes technical literacy.
Learning Curve​
- Gunbot newcomers typically progress from preset strategies to minor parameter tweaks inside a week. Full JS scripting can be learned in stages without rewriting the whole bot.
- Hummingbot newcomers often spend the first week mastering the CLI, Docker basics, and YAML configs. Python proficiency is essential for custom work; otherwise you rely on contributed strategies.
Performance in the Wild​
Both bots publish publicly verifiable trade logs but not audited P&L reports. Community anecdotes suggest:
- Gunbot users gravitate toward grid or DCA on side-ways markets, and report stable returns on mid-cap pairs when parameters are dialed in.
- Hummingbot traders targeting liquidity mining rewards see variable but sometimes double-digit APY, especially when campaigns launch on smaller DEXs. Real-profit arbitrage opportunities are more sporadic and depend on latency and capital size.
Remember that past performance does not predict future results.
Who Should Choose Gunbot?​
- Traders wanting a GUI and ready-to-run strategies without writing Python
- Teams that prefer a one-time license rather than monthly charges
- JavaScript developers looking for full code access and TradingView webhooks
- Users who need both spot and futures automation on the same dashboard
Who Should Choose Hummingbot?​
- Python developers building bespoke market-making or arbitrage bots
- Traders chasing liquidity mining incentives paid by exchanges or token projects
- Users comfortable with Docker, CLI tooling, and open-source collaboration
- Firms needing fine-grained control over order placement logic and latency
Verdict​
Gunbot is the versatile all-rounder: quick to deploy, friendly to non-coders, but still deep enough for engineers via JavaScript. The \$59 lifetime entry point makes it a cost-effective pick for anyone planning to automate trades for more than a couple of months.
Hummingbot is the specialized toolkit: free to clone, endlessly extensible in Python, and laser-focused on liquidity provision. If you have development resources and a clear need for custom market-making or arbitrage, Hummingbot is hard to beat.
Choose Gunbot if you value a polished GUI, multiple strategy categories, and predictable one-off pricing. Choose Hummingbot if open-source flexibility and professional-grade market-making are your priorities.