Gunbot and Shrimpy.io target different trading needs. Gunbot is a self-hosted trading bot toolkit for hands-on strategy design, while Shrimpy.io is a cloud portfolio-automation platform built for passive management and social trading. This 2025 comparison focuses on automation approach, strategy flexibility, pricing, and long-term value so you can pick the best fit.
Core Differences at a Glance
| Feature | Gunbot | Shrimpy.io |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | Self-hosted app (Windows, macOS, Linux, VPS) | 100 percent cloud SaaS |
| Primary Focus | Customizable trading automation | Portfolio rebalancing, index tracking, social copy trading |
| Pricing Model | Lifetime license starting at $59 (Gunbot Standard) | Monthly subscriptions from free up to \$299 / mo |
| Strategy Types | Spot & futures grid, DCA, indicator-based, liquidity provider, scalping, trailing, custom JS | Automated portfolio rebalancing, index replication, copy trading via social leaderboard |
| Custom Scripting | Full JavaScript engine plus TradingView webhook support | REST API for external developers on higher-tier plans |
| Exchange Integrations | Native connectors for 25 + exchanges across spot, futures, and DeFi | ≈ 15 major exchanges |
| API Key Custody | Local – your API secret/private key stays on your device | Stored on Shrimpy servers |
Why the exchange numbers differ
Some sources cite “100+ exchanges” for Gunbot by counting historical adapters and third-party plugins. In 2025 the official release ships with reliable first-party connectors for 25 plus major venues—including Binance, Kraken, OKX, Bybit, dYdX, and HyperLiquid—covering spot, perps, and on-chain DEXs. That still exceeds Shrimpy’s cloud lineup of roughly fifteen CEXs.
Deployment and API-Key Security
Gunbot: Self-Hosted Control
Running on your own hardware means you choose where and how the bot lives—home PC, dedicated server, or lightweight VPS. Your exchange API secret keys never leave the machine you control, insulating you from vendor breaches and providing offline backup options.
Shrimpy.io: Cloud Convenience, Third-Party Custody
Shrimpy’s web dashboard is convenient: log in from any browser, connect exchanges once, and automations run 24 × 7. The trade-off is that your encrypted API keys reside on Shrimpy infrastructure. If your operational model or compliance policy requires strict local custody, Gunbot is the better fit.
Bottom line: Self-hosting requires more technical effort but gives maximum control over credentials and uptime.
Functionality Showdown
Gunbot: Real-Time Strategy Execution
Gunbot focuses on active trading. You can run a grid on BTC-USDT, an adaptive DCA dip-buyer, or a custom JS script issuing frequent scalps. The local UI provides granular backtesting, visual profit-and-loss tracking, and live TradingView signal ingestion for mixed indicator pipelines.
Shrimpy.io: Passive Wealth Management
Shrimpy is built for set-and-forget allocations. Pick a target weighting—say, 40 percent BTC, 30 percent ETH, 30 percent alt index—and Shrimpy rebalances on your schedule. One click mirrors a top trader’s portfolio. For investors who value simplicity over micromanagement, Shrimpy reduces decision fatigue.
Key takeaway: Gunbot is a programmable trading terminal. Shrimpy is a crypto-focused robo-advisor.
Pricing and Lifetime Value
| Cost Scenario | Gunbot | Shrimpy.io |
|---|---|---|
| Up-front | \$59 (Standard) or higher tiers for more features and exchange seats | \$0–\$299 per month |
| 12-Month Total | Still \$59 for Standard (no forced upgrades) | \$1 788 at \$149 / mo or \$3 588 at \$299 / mo |
| Break-Even | Gunbot becomes cheaper than any paid Shrimpy plan in the first month | Subscription never overtakes one-time license |
Long-term, Gunbot’s perpetual license is a fraction of Shrimpy’s annual cost, even before multiple accounts or higher trading volumes. If you trade actively, Gunbot’s ROI can compound quickly.
Strategy Customization Depth
- Gunbot offers seven verified strategy families out of the box: spot & futures grid, DCA, indicator-based, liquidity provider, scalping, trailing, and fully custom JS. Each block exposes dozens of parameters—step sizes, cooldown timers, dynamic take-profit logic—so tinkerers can push performance.
- Shrimpy.io customization revolves around allocation targets and rebalance cadence. Advanced users can write external code against Shrimpy’s REST API, but intra-candle logic still lives outside the platform.
If you want to write and debug complex strategies in one place, Gunbot’s integrated console is the better fit.
Exchange Coverage and Liquidity Access
Gunbot’s native list covers leading CEXs (Binance, OKX, Kraken, KuCoin, Bybit) and DeFi perp venues like HyperLiquid and dYdX. Running the same strategy on centralized and on-chain books helps during exchange outages or region-specific restrictions.
Shrimpy’s portfolio engine supports major custodial exchanges but omits many futures markets and chain-native DEXs. If you trade derivatives or hunt for deep altcoin liquidity, you may hit limits quickly.
Community, Support, and Learning Curve
| Aspect | Gunbot | Shrimpy.io |
|---|---|---|
| Official Docs | Comprehensive wiki, strategy documentation, API docs | Step-by-step portfolio guides, API docs |
| Learning Curve | Steeper—requires local install and basic server hygiene | Smooth—web interface, no install |
| Customer Support | Ticket system | In-app chat for subscribers, email support |
Beginners who enjoy tinkering will find Gunbot’s Telegram community valuable. Those wanting immediate portfolio automation with minimal setup will appreciate Shrimpy’s simplicity.
Who Should Choose Gunbot?
- Traders who design, build, and control their own execution logic
- Users requiring local custody of API secrets
- Individuals seeking one-time purchase economics
- Developers comfortable with JavaScript
- Traders needing access to both CEXs and DeFi perp DEXs
Who Should Choose Shrimpy.io?
- Long-term investors prioritizing periodic rebalancing
- Users interested in social copy trading
- Anyone preferring a pure cloud dashboard with zero local maintenance
- Developers working on portfolio analytics via API rather than intraday trading logic
Verdict
Gunbot and Shrimpy.io are not direct substitutes; they sit at opposite ends of the crypto automation spectrum.
- Gunbot is a programmable trade engine for active traders and developers who want fine-grained control, local API security, and lifetime ownership at a predictable price.
- Shrimpy.io is a portfolio manager for passive investors seeking effortless rebalancing and community-driven indexing, with an ongoing subscription fee.
If your goal is to craft and iterate on high-frequency or rule-based trading strategies, Gunbot is the better tool. If you want your crypto allocation to track a target mix or mirror a top performer with minimal effort, Shrimpy.io delivers that experience.
Final Thoughts
The choice depends on how you define “automation.” Gunbot automates execution logic; Shrimpy.io automates portfolio composition. Some traders run both—Gunbot for active grids on futures pairs and Shrimpy for a passive long-term BTC–ETH basket. Evaluate your time, technical appetite, and budget, then pick (or combine) the platform that aligns with your strategy.