Gunbot and SnapBots 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 without any fluff.
Core Differences: Gunbot vs SnapBots
| Feature | Gunbot | SnapBots |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | Self-hosted (desktop, server, or VPS) | Cloud SaaS |
| Primary Strategy Types | Versatile: spot & futures grid, dca, indicator based, liquidity provider, scalping, trailing, custom js | Pre-built high-frequency scalping bots |
| Pricing Model | One-time lifetime license (starts at $59 for Gunbot Standard) | Per-trade fee (for example 0.05 percent of trade value) |
| Custom Scripting | Full JavaScript engine plus TradingView webhooks | Not available |
| Exchange Integrations | Native connectors for 25 + major exchanges (both spot and futures, including Binance, OKX, Kraken, and dYdX) | Roughly six tier-one exchanges selected for HFT |
| API Key Custody | Local – the API secret or private key remains on your device | Stored on SnapBots servers |
Deployment Model and API Key Security
Gunbot is installed on hardware you control: Windows, macOS, Linux, or a VPS. Your exchange API keys are saved locally; the private portion never leaves your machine. Because execution happens in your own environment, you can audit logs, set up additional firewalls, or run behind a VPN for extra peace of mind.
SnapBots is fully cloud hosted. You upload API keys to its servers so trades can be fired at microsecond speed. This convenience is balanced by the reality that a third party, and not you, holds the most sensitive credential for your exchange accounts.
Bottom line: If uncompromised control of your API keys is non-negotiable, Gunbot wins. Users comfortable with delegating custody may prefer SnapBots’ zero-maintenance model.
Strategy Catalog and Customization Depth
Gunbot
Gunbot’s strategy engine supports seven official categories:
- Spot & futures grid – programmable grid spacing, smart orders, and built-in drawdown controls.
- DCA (dollar cost averaging) – adaptive averaging with configurable distance, max safety orders, and trailing exits.
- Indicator based – trigger entries and exits using classic TA such as RSI, MACD, EMA cross, or custom combos.
- Liquidity provider – market-maker style quoting with adjustable spread and inventory targets.
- Scalping – fast, tick-level positions aimed at clipping small moves on liquid pairs.
- Trailing – dynamic trailing for entries, take profits, and stop losses across any strategy.
- Custom JS – write or import any JavaScript logic, backtest it, and push it live, all within the same GUI.
Because everything runs locally, latency is low enough for intraday work yet you keep the freedom to tweak every parameter or even fork the entire source of a community strategy. TradingView alerts can be wired straight into Gunbot to make discretionary overrides or hybrid systems.
SnapBots
SnapBots focuses on high-frequency scalping. You choose one of several ready-made bots optimized for liquidity pools on major exchanges. Parameters such as target spread or trade size can be fine-tuned within narrow bands, but you cannot edit the underlying code. The emphasis is on speed: order placement and cancellation are handled from SnapBots’ low-latency co-located servers.
Key takeaway: Gunbot is the clear leader in strategy breadth and depth. SnapBots offers plug-and-play speed but no coding freedom.
Pricing and Total Cost of Ownership
| Scenario | Gunbot Cost (once) | SnapBots Cost (recurring) |
|---|---|---|
| Light trader (10 trades per week) | \$59 | ≈ \$2 per week |
| Active swing trader (100 trades/week) | \$59 | ≈ \$20 per week |
| HFT scalper (1000 trades/day) | \$59 | ≈ \$350 per day |
Gunbot’s lifetime model is simple: pay once, update forever, trade as much as you like. Exchange fees still apply, but Gunbot never charges extra on volume.
SnapBots’ per-trade fee aligns costs with usage, which can be attractive for casual traders running small capital. As soon as volume scales, however, fees compound quickly. Over a single bullish quarter, an HFT portfolio can rack up more in bot fees than the cost of several Gunbot licenses.
Exchange Coverage
Gunbot ships with native connectors for more than 25 exchanges, covering spot, futures, and even a handful of on-chain perpetual DEXs like dYdX and HyperLiquid. Highlights include:
- Binance (spot and USD-M & COIN-M futures)
- Kraken (spot plus Kraken Futures)
- OKX (spot, perps, and dated futures)
- Bybit (USDT and inverse perpetuals)
- PancakeSwap (on-chain BSC DEX support)
SnapBots integrates a concentrated list of roughly six highly liquid venues that suit its latency-sensitive scalping bots. If you need niche pairs, exotic futures, or regional fiat ramps, Gunbot’s exchange roster is far broader.
User Experience and Community
- Ease of use: SnapBots wins on immediate onboarding. You sign in, paste API keys, select a bot, and press start. Gunbot demands an install, initial config wizard, and port forwarding if you want browser access outside your LAN.
- Learning resources: Gunbot has an active Telegram community with thousands of users, help center and email support. SnapBots maintains a help center and support tickets but a smaller peer community.
- Updates: Gunbot releases updates frequently. SnapBots’ core engine is updated continuously, though changelogs are brief to protect proprietary IP.
Risk Management Features
| Capability | Gunbot | SnapBots |
|---|---|---|
| Max drawdown limiter | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Dynamic position sizing | ✔️ | Limited |
| Exchange safu integration | ✔️ | ✖️ |
| On-the-fly strategy switch | ✔️ | ✖️ |
| Local backtesting | ✔️ | ✖️ |
Gunbot’s local backtester lets you validate ideas against historical ticks before risking capital. SnapBots requires live deployment or paper trading inside its closed environment.
Pros and Cons Summary
Gunbot
Pros
- Lifetime license – no hidden recurring costs
- Runs locally – API secret never leaves your device
- Seven strategy families plus unlimited custom JS
- 25 + exchange connectors, including DeFi perps
- Active community and third-party add-ons
Cons
- Initial setup takes longer than cloud SaaS
- Performance depends on your hardware and internet
SnapBots
Pros
- No install – start trading from any browser
- Ultralow-latency infrastructure out of the box
- Pre-tuned HFT bots for micro-scalping
Cons
- Fees scale linearly with trade count
- Limited to a small set of exchanges and strategies
- API keys stored off-device
- No code customization or deep analytics
Who Should Choose Gunbot?
- Traders who want full control of software, credentials, and strategy code
- Users needing a wide range of strategies beyond pure scalping
- High-volume or long-term traders who want predictable costs
- Developers building bespoke algorithms in JavaScript
- Anyone requiring connectors to less common exchanges or DeFi venues
Who Should Choose SnapBots?
- Traders who value convenience and instant deployment over customization
- Users specifically targeting high-frequency scalping on major CEXs
- Individuals comfortable paying a percentage of every trade rather than an upfront fee
- Anyone who prefers not to manage local infrastructure
Verdict
Gunbot and SnapBots target different segments of the automated-trading spectrum.
Gunbot is the superior choice if you need versatility, deep customization, full control of API secrets, and a cost structure that does not penalize high volume. Its self-hosted design and powerful JavaScript engine open the door to any strategy you can imagine.
SnapBots excels when you want to run high-frequency scalping bots immediately without writing code or managing servers. The trade-off is higher variable costs, fewer exchanges, and limited strategy options.
For most traders seeking a robust, future-proof automation stack, Gunbot delivers more power and better value than SnapBots in 2025 and beyond.