Frequently asked questions

The questions we hear most, answered plainly.

Plain answers on how Otto trades, how large its drawdowns are, how the results are recorded, and what it costs. Every figure is published on the live results or the backtest and labelled as such.

How Otto trades

The method, in plain terms.

Does Otto use martingale, grid or averaging?
No. Otto never adds to a losing position and never increases its position size after a loss. Every trade is opened with a fixed stop loss, and if the market moves against it, the trade is closed at that stop.
Will Otto make me money?
We cannot promise that, and no honest seller can. Otto has losing months in its backtest, and it will have losing months in live trading. What we can offer instead is a live record you can inspect, recorded on Karnek, a trade-tracking platform, where the record cannot be edited, and a full account of how each strategy works.
Why only six strategies?
Because six is what survived testing. A large number of strategy configurations were tested across every market, timeframe and strategy type available to us, on the same historical data, with the same costs and the same pass criteria. The large majority failed, and the six included in Otto are those that met the bar. The full count is published in the tested strategies library. Further strategies are in forward testing and will be added only if they pass.
Risk and proof

How much it can lose, and how you check it.

How large are the drawdowns?
Otto's largest backtested drawdown and its largest live drawdown to date are both published, each labelled as backtest or live, on the live results and backtest pages, where they update automatically. The backtest covers 17 years. Drawdown scales with the risk setting you choose, so a higher setting means deeper drawdowns as well as larger gains. The figures are not printed here because the only version worth quoting is the one on the record.
What happens in a market crash?
Each position is closed at its stop loss. Otto then halves its position sizes while the account is in drawdown, and beyond a set limit it stops opening new trades until the account recovers. The Index Dip-Buy strategy has an additional filter that prevents it from buying into an unusually large single-bar fall, so it does not step in front of a genuine collapse. Otto's 17-year backtest spans several past market shocks, which are named on the backtest page.
How do I know the results are real?
Otto's accounts are monitored by Karnek through a read-only connection to the broker, which records each trade from the broker's own data. Nothing is uploaded and the record cannot be edited, by us or by anyone else. You can open the live record and check every trade, with its stop loss and target, before you decide to buy.
What exactly is the backtest?
Otto's own simulation of the six core strategies across 17 years of market history, on realistic spreads, commission and slippage. The full method is published on the backtest page. It is a backtest, not a live record, and it is labelled as one wherever it appears. Karnek records the live trades, read-only from the broker, it does not run the backtest.
Where the figures come from

Every number lives on the record, not on this page.

Drawdowns, monthly figures, trade counts and minimum balances are published on the live results, the backtest and the pricing page, each labelled live or backtest and updated automatically. We keep them off this page so the only version you read is the one on the record.

Live · recorded on Karnek

Days live, closed trades, current and largest drawdown

All read directly from Otto's demo accounts through a read-only connection to the broker, so the record cannot be edited. Open the live results to see them as they stand.

View live results Read the backtest
Setup, accounts and buying

Brokers, prop firms, capital and refunds.

Which brokers and account types does Otto work with?
Otto runs on MetaTrader 5 and requires a broker that offers the major stock indices, currency pairs and gold. The supported account type, and the list of brokers on which Otto has been tested, are confirmed on the getting started page.
Do I need a VPS?
Yes. Otto needs to run continuously, and a VPS keeps it trading without interruption when your own computer is off or offline. A recommended specification is given on the getting started page.
Can I use Otto on a prop firm or funded account?
Yes. Otto has a dedicated Prop mode with tighter limits designed for funded-account rules. It applies a low per-trade risk limit, a daily loss limit and a total loss limit, and when a limit is reached it closes its positions and pauses trading. Prop mode reduces the risk of breaching a firm's rules, but it does not remove it, and you remain responsible for your account. Check your firm's rules on automated trading before you use it.
How much capital do I need?
Otto's position sizing is percentage-based, so it scales to the size of the account. A minimum balance for each risk setting is confirmed on the pricing page. Very small accounts may be unable to open the minimum lot size at the Low setting.
Can I get a refund?
Otto is sold by subscription. The refund terms are set out in full on the refund page.
Before you buy

The live record answers most of it.

Every trade Otto has taken is recorded as it happens, with its stop loss and its target. Read it before you decide.

View live results Get started