Gunbot and Surmount AI follow very different philosophies in crypto automation. Gunbot hands full strategy control to the user inside a self-hosted app, while Surmount AI runs proprietary, cloud-hosted algorithms behind the scenes. This 2025 comparison digs into how each platform handles deployment, pricing, strategies, and exchange support so you can decide which approach matches your trading style.
Core Differences at a Glance​
| Feature | Gunbot | Surmount AI |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | Self-hosted (desktop, server, or VPS) | Fully cloud-hosted SaaS |
| Control & Transparency | User-defined strategies, complete parameter visibility | Black-box AI strategies, minimal transparency |
| Pricing Model | One-time lifetime license (starts at \$59) | Performance fee (for example, 10 percent of net profits) |
| Core Strategy Types | Spot & Futures Grid, DCA, Indicator-Based, Liquidity Provider, Scalping, Trailing, Custom JS | Proprietary AI-driven quantitative models |
| Custom Scripting | Full JavaScript engine plus TradingView webhook support | None |
| Exchange Integrations | Native connectors for 25 + spot and futures exchanges | Primarily Binance and Coinbase (2025) |
| API Key Custody | Local—API secret or private key stays on your device | Stored on vendor servers |
Deployment Model and API Key Security​
Gunbot runs on hardware you control (Windows, macOS, Linux, or any VPS). Because the program executes locally, your exchange API secret or private key never leaves your machine.
Surmount AI operates entirely in the cloud. You upload API keys to its servers so the service can place trades on your behalf.
Takeaway: If you want maximum custody and minimal third-party risk, Gunbot’s local-only storage model is the safer route.
Strategy Control, Transparency, and Customization​
- Gunbot: Ships with highly tweakable presets and a JavaScript engine for writing strategies from scratch. You can fine-tune every parameter, test changes in backtests, and even chain multiple strategies together.
- Surmount AI: Determines entries and exits through proprietary machine-learning models. Users pick a risk profile and let the system handle the rest. Under-the-hood logic is not disclosed or user-editable.
Takeaway: Gunbot favors power users and developers who enjoy experimenting. Surmount AI targets traders who would rather outsource all decision-making.
Pricing Model and Long-Term Cost​
- Gunbot: Pay once, keep it forever—no profit split and no subscription clock ticking. Even adding advanced editions is a flat upgrade fee.
- Surmount AI: Fees are skimmed only when the AI makes a profit, but those cuts compound. An extra \$1,000 gain means part of it—often ten percent—goes straight to the platform.
Over months or years of active trading, Gunbot’s fixed cost can work out dramatically cheaper, especially if you already turn steady profits.
Exchange Support​
Gunbot bundles native connectors for 25 + exchanges covering both spot and derivatives markets. Binance, OKX, Bybit, Bitget, Kraken, KuCoin, Coinbase Advanced Trade, and decentralized venues like dYdX v4 are included out of the box, giving you flexibility to arbitrage or simply pick the venue with the best fees.
Surmount AI limits itself to major, high-liquidity exchanges—currently Binance and Coinbase—adequate for most retail traders but restrictive if you need niche pairs or prefer a different fee structure.
Takeaway: Gunbot offers far broader venue choice.
Who Should Choose Gunbot?​
- Traders and developers who want full code-level control over strategy logic.
- Security-conscious users who insist that the API secret stays on-device.
- Anyone looking for a predictable, one-time cost instead of an open-ended fee share.
- Enthusiasts who like to experiment with custom grids, DCA, liquidity provision, or indicator combos.
- Users needing to connect to multiple centralized or decentralized exchanges.
Who Should Choose Surmount AI?​
- Investors who prefer a hands-off, algorithm-as-a-service model.
- Traders comfortable with black-box decisions so long as the results are good.
- People who accept a performance fee in exchange for zero setup work.
- Users trading exclusively on large exchanges like Binance or Coinbase.
Verdict​
Gunbot and Surmount AI sit on opposite ends of the automation spectrum.
Gunbot is ideal for proactive traders who demand transparency, granular control, and a cost structure that does not eat their profits. You write or tweak the strategy, keep the API secret on your own hardware, and pay only once.
Surmount AI is built for those who want to set up an account, choose a risk tier, and forget about technical details. The trade-off is opacity, a recurring performance fee, and surrendering custody of your exchange keys to the provider.
Pick Gunbot if you enjoy crafting strategies and want the lowest ongoing costs. Pick Surmount AI if you value convenience and are willing to share a slice of any gains with an AI that trades in the background.