Gunbot and Quadency both help traders automate crypto trades and manage portfolios, but they follow very different philosophies. Gunbot is self-hosted software that lives on your own machine, giving you total control and deep customization. Quadency is a cloud platform focused on a unified trading terminal experience with pre-built bots and portfolio tools. This 2025 comparison breaks down where each product shines.
Core Differences at a Glance
| Feature | Gunbot | Quadency |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | Self-hosted (Windows, macOS, Linux, VPS) | Cloud SaaS |
| Pricing Model | One-time lifetime license (starts at $59 for Gunbot Standard) | Free tier plus paid plans from $8 to $69 per month |
| Primary Focus | Customizable bot trading with user-controlled software | Unified trading terminal, portfolio management, pre-built bots |
| Core Strategies | Spot & Futures Grid, DCA, Liquidity Provider, Trailing, Custom JS, Indicator Based, Scalping | GRID, DCA, Smart Orders, Portfolio Rebalancer, preset trading bots |
| Custom Scripting | Full JavaScript engine with TradingView webhook support | “Strategy Coder” using a Pine-Script-style language (mainly for backtests) |
| Exchange Integrations | Native connectors for 25 + exchanges, plus an optional universal connector reaching 150 + spot venues | About 12 external exchanges plus Quadency’s own exchange |
| API Key Custody | Local — your API secret or private key stays on your device | Stored on Quadency servers for external exchange connections |
Why Local API Keys Matter
Gunbot saves the encrypted API secret or private key only on the machine where you install it. Quadency, being cloud-based, needs your keys on its servers to trigger trades. For users who must comply with strict security policies, keeping secrets off third-party infrastructure is non-negotiable.
Pricing and Long-Term Value
- Gunbot: Pay once, own forever. Even the entry-level Gunbot Standard license at $59 includes core features and unlimited strategy runs. Upgrades to higher tiers unlock more simultaneous pairs or exchanges but remain one-time purchases.
- Quadency: The free tier is generous for simple bots or manual trading. Power users, however, will quickly land in the $29 or $69 monthly plans to lift exchange limits or unlock advanced bots. Over a single year, that can exceed the cost of two or three Gunbot lifetime tiers.
A quick back-of-the-envelope check: twelve months on Quadency’s mid-range $29 plan is $348. The same budget buys Gunbot Pro and still leaves funds for a VPS if you do not want to run your PC 24/7.
Strategy Creation and Flexibility
Gunbot
- Ships with presets covering Spot & Futures Grid, DCA averaging, Indicator-based entries, Liquidity Provider tools, Scalping, and Trailing logic.
- The Custom JS engine is battle-tested; users can code anything from simple EMA crosses to multi-exchange triangular arbitrage in plain JavaScript.
- Supports webhook signals from TradingView, letting you drive bots with your favorite indicators.
Quadency
- Provides one-click GRID and DCA bots, plus smart order types like TWAP and portfolio rebalancing.
- The Strategy Coder uses a Pine-Script-style language. It’s intuitive for backtests but currently more limited for live deployment than Gunbot’s direct JS runtime.
Bottom line: If you value full code access, Gunbot is the clear winner. If you just want to tweak simple parameters inside ready-made bots, Quadency’s UI is faster.
Platform Scope and Exchange Coverage
Gunbot is purpose-built for automated trading and nothing else. It does not try to be a portfolio tracker. Instead, it offers tight execution on more than two dozen direct APIs, including Binance, Kraken, OKX, and on-chain venues like dYdX v4. An optional universal connector adds hundreds of smaller spot exchanges if you need niche liquidity.
Quadency positions itself as an all-in-one terminal: portfolio dashboards, manual order entry, unified balances, and bots in the same browser tab. Exchange coverage is narrower, but the platform treats each venue consistently, which new users appreciate.
Who Should Pick Gunbot?
- Traders demanding maximum security over API secrets.
- Users wanting lifetime ownership with no ongoing fees.
- Developers who need unrestricted strategy logic in JavaScript.
- Anyone trading on smaller or futures-heavy exchanges that Gunbot supports natively.
Who Should Pick Quadency?
- Traders seeking a single dashboard to monitor portfolios and place manual or automated orders.
- Beginners who prefer preset bots and a low-effort free tier.
- Users content to trade on the handful of major exchanges Quadency already integrates.
Verdict
Gunbot and Quadency are not direct clones; they cater to different mindsets.
- Choose Gunbot if you want self-hosted freedom, ironclad API key security, and the power to craft strategies without guardrails. The one-time license keeps long-run costs predictable.
- Choose Quadency if you need a slick browser terminal, easy-to-launch bots, and built-in portfolio tracking. Its free plan is a great sandbox, though advanced usage becomes a recurring expense.
Both platforms can coexist in the same toolkit. Run Gunbot on a VPS for hands-off custom automation while using Quadency’s free tier as a day-to-day portfolio cockpit. Pick the blend that fits your workflow and risk tolerance.