Start from zero to master simulated trading: 5 must-try free simulador de bolsa and virtual accounts

First, clarify: what is the difference between a simulador de bolsa and a virtual account?

Many people think that stock trading simulation software and broker demo accounts are the same, but that’s not the case. At first glance, they seem similar, both using virtual funds for practice, but fundamentally, there are differences.

simulador de bolsa is usually developed by financial education institutions, mainly to let you experience the feeling of investing—the adrenaline rush when opening and closing positions. They are essentially teaching tools, with well-known examples like “La Bolsa Virtual,” “Wall Street Survivor,” and the most popular “Investopedia Stock Simulator.”

Virtual accounts are different; they are provided by real online brokers, aiming to let you test their platform and services before opening an account. It’s not just about buying and selling assets—you can also experience risk management tools, community trading, automated trading, and a complete ecosystem. The experience in virtual accounts is often closer to real trading because brokers rely on this to attract you to deposit real money later.

Why use these tools? Two core values

Simply put, it’s about two words: learning and practice.

Learning is fundamental. If you have only a superficial understanding of investing, simulated trading can quickly familiarize you with the operational logic of various assets—how to buy stocks, how indices follow, how to exchange foreign currencies. Without real money pressure, you can boldly try mistakes.

Practice is for advancement. Even if you’re already familiar with investing, wanting to try new asset types or trading strategies, virtual accounts are your “safety box.” Even professional asset management firms and large funds run strategies on demo accounts before actual trading. This is not just for “rookies.”

Many reputable brokers support switching between virtual and real accounts at any time, allowing you to repeatedly verify ideas in a virtual environment and only go live with real money when you’re confident.

What can you trade? Asset menu overview

Basic setup (standard for simulador de bolsa):

• Domestic and international stocks
• Stock indices
• Forex

Advanced setup (usually included in broker virtual accounts):

• Cryptocurrencies
• CFD contracts
• ETFs
• Commodity futures
• Some high-end brokers also add bonds, structured products, and other professional assets

The richer the asset selection, the greater your practice space and the more trading scenarios you can cover.

5 free tools worth trying

When choosing these platforms, we focused on these aspects: ease of use, execution speed, order flexibility, whether they are unlimited, and asset richness.

1. An Australian broker’s virtual account

This Australian online platform is very popular in the Asian market, especially friendly to retail investors. Besides offering free unlimited virtual accounts, they also invest heavily in customer education.

All trades in the virtual account are CFD-based, meaning you can go long, short, and leverage—more flexible than just buying stocks. The platform supports both PC and mobile (iOS/Android), so you can trade anywhere. The most considerate feature is that virtual and real accounts can be switched at any time—test an idea in the virtual account, and if it looks good, switch to real trading.

Account bonus: Virtual account comes with $50,000 virtual funds.

2. MarketWatch Virtual Stock Exchange

This is a well-established and reputable simulador de bolsa. MarketWatch itself is a financial information platform, gathering strategies and market views from professional investors. Their virtual trading tool allows you to build your own portfolio, using the platform’s analysis data and watchlists.

Registration is completely free, with no barriers to entry.

3. A long-established UK broker

This is a historically reputable platform, even listed on the stock exchange itself—which is rare among peers. The virtual account offers CFD trading experience, with a wide range of assets.

The trading interface uses MetaTrader (industry standard tool), with low learning curve. There are also plenty of educational resources, so you can learn while practicing.

4. HowTheMarketWorks.com

This platform takes “education” to the extreme. It was one of the first to launch simulador de bolsa and now trains nearly 500,000 students annually.

Designed especially for teachers and students, with a user-friendly interface. The virtual account has $100,000 for trading, giving you plenty of room to experiment with various assets. Advanced features require a paid subscription, but basic functions are fully sufficient.

5. Social trading platforms

This platform is famous for its “social trading” model, with a simple and user-friendly virtual account. It lacks those complex, intimidating tools and charts, but the asset variety is comprehensive.

The biggest highlight is that virtual accounts can access community trading features—you can see what other traders are doing and even mimic their operations. Essentially, it combines social networking with trading, making it especially suitable for beginners who don’t want to be overwhelmed by countless candlestick charts.

Pitfalls of simulated trading you should know

Although simulated trading tools have many benefits, they are not perfect.

Speed and accuracy may be compromised. Some simulador de bolsa have slower execution speeds and less precise data. This is understandable—after all, they are educational tools, not commercial trading systems.

Time limits. Some brokers’ virtual accounts are only available for 30 days or less. This forces many users to switch to real accounts before they’re fully prepared. In contrast, unlimited accounts are much more user-friendly.

Psychological trap—“illusory happiness” of virtual funds. Because the money is virtual and appears out of thin air, many people make reckless investment decisions in virtual accounts, ignoring risks. This is called the “illusory happiness effect.”

Another trap is “funds abundance.” Virtual accounts often give you tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of euros, which sounds great. But the problem is, your real investment capital is usually much less. So, strategies that seem conservative in virtual trading might need to be more aggressive in real trading—altering the entire risk-reward balance.

Quick overview of virtual account usage

Using an Australian broker as an example (because it offers unlimited access, many assets, and quick account opening):

Step 1: Visit the official website Usually, there’s a “Open Virtual Account” button on the homepage—click it.

Step 2: Register a user Enter your country info. You can choose to “browse as a guest” for quick experience or fully register as a user (upgradable anytime). Virtual accounts are open to both.

Step 3: Start virtual trading After logging in, look for the virtual account indicator at the top right. You’ll see your virtual balance—the capital for trading.

Step 4: Practice Select assets you’re interested in and operate according to real trading logic. Whether on web or mobile app, you can trade anytime, anywhere.

Tips for making the most of your virtual account

💡 Dare to experiment Your virtual account is your testing ground. Try out new investment ideas, asset combinations, and trading techniques here without worry. Remember: the goal is learning, not “gambling entertainment.”

💡 Take it seriously Even though the money is fake, your operations should be as rigorous as real trading. Casual mistakes will diminish the value of what you learn.

💡 Combine with learning resources The most efficient approach is: virtual account + systematic learning simultaneously. This way, you can immediately verify theoretical knowledge through practice, much faster than just reading articles or watching videos.

💡 Not just for beginners Don’t think virtual accounts are only for newbies. Professional traders and asset management firms also use simulador de bolsa to test strategies. Find a suitable platform, and even experienced traders can keep using it.

Final words

The benefits of simulated trading tools and virtual accounts far outweigh the drawbacks. They are usually free (most of the time), and there are many options to choose from, so you can pick the most suitable one.

Especially those brokers supporting seamless switching between virtual and real accounts, allowing you to refine your trading strategies in a virtual environment first, then go live with confidence.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced trader, maintaining a virtual account is worthwhile. Systematic practice will significantly improve your trading skills and ultimate investment returns.

Start your free virtual account now! Through repeated practice and optimization, every trader can find their own trading rhythm.