If you're opening cTrader for the first time, the screen can look crowded with panels, buttons and numbers. In this beginner's guide you'll learn how to find your way around the interface, place orders with a stop loss and take profit, work out the right volume in lots or units, and make use of the platform's most helpful tools. At the end, you'll see how cTrader is used on Funded Profit accounts.
In short: cTrader is a trading platform available on desktop, web and mobile. The essentials come down to four areas: the symbol list, the chart, the order panel and the positions panel at the bottom. Before every trade, set your stop loss, take profit and volume based on the risk you've chosen, not on what "feels right."
What cTrader is and where to use it
cTrader is a platform for trading currencies, indices, metals and other instruments, known for its clean interface, solid charting tools and transparent order information. You can use it in three ways:
- Desktop: the most complete version, ideal if you trade from a fixed computer.
- Web: runs in your browser with nothing to install.
- Mobile: apps for iOS and Android, handy for checking positions or managing a trade away from your desk.
Your account is the same across all three versions, so whatever you do in one shows up in the others.
A tour of the interface
The exact layout depends on the version and your settings, but these are the main areas.
Symbol list
On the left you'll see watchlists with the available instruments and their bid and ask prices. You can build your own lists with the handful of pairs you actually trade. Fewer symbols on screen usually means fewer distractions.
Chart area
The chart sits in the middle. From the top toolbar you can change the timeframe and chart type (candles, bars, line and others such as Heikin Ashi or Renko), add indicators and use drawing tools. cTrader lets you work with a single chart, several at once, or charts detached into a separate window.
Active symbol panel
On the right there's usually a panel with buy and sell buttons for the selected symbol, information about the instrument and shortcuts for creating orders.
Bottom panel: positions and account
At the bottom is the trade-watch panel, with tabs for open positions, pending orders and history. This is also where you'll find the key account figures:
- Balance: your account balance, not counting open trades.
- Equity: your balance plus or minus the floating result of open positions.
- Used margin and free margin: how much margin your positions take up and how much is left.
Get used to watching equity, not just balance. Many risk rules are measured against what your account is worth in real time.
How to place an order with a stop loss and take profit
The most complete way to open a trade is the New Order window, which on desktop opens with the F9 key or from the corresponding button.
Order types
- Market: fills at the best available price right now.
- Limit: triggers if price reaches a better level than the current one (buying lower or selling higher).
- Stop: triggers if price reaches a worse level than the current one, useful for entering breakouts.
- Stop limit: a stop order that only fills within a price range you define.
Step by step with a market order
- Pick the symbol and direction: buy or sell.
- Enter the volume (you'll see how to calculate it below).
- Enable the stop loss and set it in pips or as an exact price.
- Enable the take profit the same way.
- Review the summary and confirm.
Once the position is open, you'll see the stop and target lines on the chart. You can adjust them by dragging the lines or by editing the position from the bottom panel. Only do so if your plan calls for it: moving your stop to "give a losing trade room" is one of the costliest habits there is. The stop loss guide explains how to place it with a clear rationale.
Other protection features
- Trailing stop: a stop that follows price at a set distance as the trade moves in your favor.
- Default protection: you can set a default stop and target so no order goes out unprotected.
- Market range: on market orders, you can cap how much slippage you're willing to accept from the price you see.
Volume: lots and units
This is where beginners slip up most often. Depending on your settings, cTrader can display volume in lots or in units. In forex, the standard equivalence is:
| Lots | Units | Common name |
|---|---|---|
| 1.00 | 100,000 | Standard lot |
| 0.10 | 10,000 | Mini lot |
| 0.01 | 1,000 | Micro lot |
Indices, metals and other instruments use different contract sizes, so always check the symbol information before trading something new.
How to size a position from your risk
The formula is simple:
Volume in lots = dollar risk ÷ (stop distance in pips × pip value per lot)
Here's an example using a sample $15,000 account:
- Chosen risk: 0.5% = $75.
- Stop loss: 30 pips.
- Pip value on a pair quoted in US dollars: about $10 per standard lot.
- Volume: $75 ÷ (30 × $10) = 0.25 lots, or 25,000 units.
This illustrates the math; it isn't a risk recommendation. To skip the manual arithmetic, use the lot size calculator, and for a deeper look at the method, read our guide to position size calculation.
Leverage and margin
Leverage determines how much margin you need to open a position, not how much you should risk. At 1:100 leverage, a position with a notional value of $27,000 uses about $270 of margin. Having free margin to open more volume doesn't mean you should: your risk is set by your stop and your size.
Useful tools to get started
- Drawing tools: horizontal lines, rectangles for zones and trend lines. They're the foundation for marking support and resistance.
- Indicators: the platform ships with a broad library. Start with a few and understand what they measure before adding more.
- Price alerts: notify you when price reaches a level, so you don't have to watch the screen all day.
- Chart templates: save your indicator and color setup and apply it in one click.
- Depth of market: shows available liquidity at different prices on instruments where it's offered.
- Trade history: reviewing or exporting your history makes it easier to keep a trading journal.
- cTrader Algo: an environment for building or running bots and custom indicators. If you plan to automate, check your account's rules on expert advisors first.
Shortcuts that save time
- F9 opens the new order window on desktop.
- One-click trading lets you trade straight from the buy and sell buttons without opening the order window. It's fast, but it also makes mistakes easier. If you turn it on, always double-check the preset volume.
How cTrader is used at Funded Profit
cTrader is the platform for every Funded Profit account. The process is straightforward:
- Choose your program, either the 1-Phase Challenge or Direct Access, from the challenges page.
- Get your login credentials by email after your purchase.
- Sign in to cTrader on desktop, web or mobile and start trading.
A few rule details worth keeping in mind while you use the platform:
- 1:100 leverage on both programs.
- Maximum risk per trade of 2.5%, which makes the volume calculation above especially important.
- Minimum trade duration of 3 minutes: avoid closing positions within seconds.
- Maximum of 2 IP addresses: if you connect from several places or networks, review the IP change rule to avoid issues.
- Trading day from 20:00 to 20:00 (UTC-4), the period over which daily limits are measured.
Keep in mind that Funded Profit accounts are simulated trading accounts and that trading involves risk. The platform gives you the tools; method and discipline are up to you.
Common beginner mistakes in cTrader
- Mixing up lots and units and opening a position 10 or 100 times larger than intended.
- Placing orders without a stop loss "to add it later."
- Turning on one-click trading without checking the default volume.
- Watching only the balance and ignoring equity while positions are open.
- Piling indicators on the chart before understanding price structure.
FAQ
What's the difference between balance and equity in cTrader?
Balance is your account balance without open trades. Equity adds or subtracts the floating result of those trades, so it shows what your account is worth in real time.
How many units are in a lot in cTrader?
In forex, one standard lot equals 100,000 units of the base currency. Contract sizes differ for other instruments, so always check the symbol information.
Can I use cTrader on my phone?
Yes. cTrader has apps for iOS and Android, alongside the web and desktop versions. If you trade a Funded Profit account, keep the 2-IP-address limit in mind.
How do I set a stop loss in cTrader?
When you create the order, enable the stop loss option and enter the distance in pips or the exact price. You can also add or change it later from the open position or by dragging its line on the chart.