A Critical Look at Its Features, Risks, and Promotional Model

Introduction

In the fast-moving world of cryptocurrency trading, automation has become a powerful advantage for traders who wish to reduce manual workload, manage multiple positions, and execute strategies even outside of active hours. 3Commas is among the more prominent crypto trading automation platforms, offering tools that appeal to both novice and experienced traders. This paper will discuss what is 3Commas, the main features of this system, its pros and cons, its pricing packages, who it can best benefit, and the practice of its affiliate/promotional programs.

What Is 3Commas?

Historical Background & Positioning

3Commas is a company that was created in 2017 and has since become one of the most popular automated crypto trading platforms. It is an official collaborator of the largest exchanges Binance, OKX, Bybit and Coinbase. 

Through SSO and API integrations, it connects with more than 15 exchanges (spot, margin, and sometimes derivatives, depending on the exchange) to allow users a unified interface for managing assets and automating trading strategies.

3Commas is often pitched as a “no-code” automation toolkit: traders can set up bots and strategies without needing to code, while still supporting more advanced workflows via signals and APIs.

Core Features

Here’s a structured list of things that cater to the crypto trader’s interest in using 3Commas:

Automated Bots

  • Supercharged DCA Bot:
    This bot dollar cost averages into the market, supports technical indicators (RSI, moving averages, Bollinger Bands), can trade different pairs at once or be limited to a single pair(aka asset) trailing take‑profits, stop‑losses and re‑investment. This is one of the most popular tools for both novices and professionals.
  • GRID Bot:
    For relatively sideways or range-bound markets, the GRID bot places buy and sell orders at predefined intervals. Features include trailing upward/downward movement, dynamic expansion of grid boundaries, and automated closing of trades under preset criteria.
  • Signal Bot:
    This allows you to pass external signals—such as those coming from TradingView alerts—via webhooks. Traders can configure rules on how signals should be handled, and view granular execution logs and analytics.
  • Smart Trade / Manual + Semi-Automated Tools:
    Even outside bots, 3Commas offers a “Smart Trade” terminal that supports features like trailing stop loss, multiple take profit targets, and combining stop-loss with take-profit orders.
  • Backtesting:
    The backtesting functionality is more recently added, and in it you can backtest strategies using 1-minute resolution. It endorses numerous pointers and offers risk measurements (Sharpe ratio, Sortino, drawdowns) to optimize the strategies on pairs.

Portfolio & Account Management

  • Unified Dashboard:
    You are able to see, track, and operate holdings which exist in more than one exchange in one interface, without having to alternate between the exchange UIs.
  • Multi-Client / Sub-Account Management:
    Particularly useful for asset managers or professional traders, 3Commas allows one to operate multiple client accounts, deploy customized strategies per account, conduct bulk operations, and generate reports or invoices. (This often appears under “Asset Manager” or enterprise tier offerings.)

Risk & Execution Controls

  • Trailing Stop Loss / Trailing Take Profit:
    As price moves favorably, stop-loss or take-profit thresholds adjust automatically to protect profit or reduce downside.
  • Break-Even Stops, Position Sizing & Safety Orders:
    Helps to define maximum exposure, adjust safety orders (re-entries at certain levels), and manage risk more methodically.
  • Technical Indicators & Integrations:
    Standard TA support easy to interface with TradingView for charting/signal generation. 
  • Paper / Demo Trading:
    For those who want to try out different strategies without jeopardizing their capital, 3Commas provides demo / paper trading options. 

Security & API Infrastructure

  • API Key Permissions & Safety:
    3Commas never asks for withdrawal rights: we advise users to disable withdrawal on their API keys when adding exchanges as 3Commas preserve funds custody in the exchange. 
  • Security Practices (e.g. IP Whitelisting, Sign Center):
    The platform has infrastructure in place for the secure storage of API keys, IP whitelisting support, and secure account authorization mechanisms. 

Strengths & Advantages

Below are some of the key advantages that attract users to 3Commas:

  1. No-code Automation for Non-Programmers:
    Users can execute diversified strategies without a single line of code, making automation accessible to traders without programming skills as well.
  2. Rich Exchange Compatibility:
    By bridging many exchanges via APIs, users can trade across platforms from one central hub. 
  3. Comprehensive Risk Tools:
    Trailing mechanisms, safety orders, break-even stops, and fine-tuned position sizing give users advanced risk control.
  4. Strategy Testing & Analytics:
    Backtesting, performance metrics, and comparative analysis improve decision-making and strategy refinement.
  5. Flexibility for Varying Traders:
    No matter if you’re using algorithmic strategies, external signals, or direct management, 3Commas accommodates all—and hybrid workflows too.
  6. Scalable for Professionals / Asset Managers:
    It is client friendly / institutional friendly with multi-accounting, client onboarding, bulk actions and reports.
  7. Affiliate / Promotion-Friendly Structure:
    The site is promotion and affiliate friendly and payments are given to promoters recurrently.

Weaknesses & Risks

There are a couple of trade-offs and things to be wary of in 3Commas:

  1. Learning Curve & Strategy Knowledge Required:
    You do not require any coding; however, to be successful with the bots, you must know the trading concepts, trading indicators, risk management, and market structure.
  2. Not Optimized for Very Casual / One-Off Users:
    When you occasionally trade manually, the price of a bot platform might not be worthwhile to you.
  3. Cost for Full Features:
    The larger features (Signal bots, backtesting, unlimited bots) are all paywalled. The free version is largely simply demo. 
  4. Feature Gaps / Exchange Limitations:
    The API limits of some exchanges might deny access to the futures or derivative markets, or slow down or limit some types of bots. Moreover, the mobile application is not as powerful as the web interface (according to some reviews). 

Pricing Plans & Access Levels

3Commas has various levels that it provides in order to meet the needs of various users. There are different prices and features offered, and an approximate list is given below (although features and pricing can change over time).

Subscription Options

  • Free / Demo Plan:
    Cost: $0
    Access: There is demo / paper trading mode. No real trades allowed. Proto-trading SmartTrades, DCA, and Grid bots are all supported on demo. There are no full features such as Signal bots or backtest. 
  • Pro / Paid Tier(s):
    Historic prices have been as low as ~$37/month and as high as ~59/month with regards to discounting, region or annual bills.
    In a higher tier, users get access to more bot slots, multiple pairs, Signal bots, backtesting, priority support, API features, and more. 
  • Expert / Advanced Plans:
    For more frequent or higher-volume users, these plans offer expanded limits (more bots, more signal capacity, unlimited SmartTrades) and access to backtesting with higher quotas.
  • Asset Manager / Enterprise / Custom Plans:
    Designed for users or companies with many clients/accounts. Includes sub-account management, bulk trades, detailed reporting/invoicing, and service-level support.

3Commas also provides a free trial for paid plans in various countries, so users can try full functionality for a limited time before paying.

Pricing & Regional Variation

Depending on the location of the user, pricing will be based on regional differences, VAT or currency conversions. VAT may be a value in EU regions.

The live 3Commas site or your local dashboard is best to look at to be able to see the exact pricing in your currency and region.

Who Should Use 3Commas?

3Commas is not a universal tool, but rather effective with those users with specific needs and styles:

  • Algorithmic / Technical Traders:
    Individuals who are at ease developing strategies based on indicators or external signals will enjoy the bot automation, backtesting, and strategy optimization.
  • Active Traders Needing Automation & Scalability:
    In case you deal in multiple pairs or with multiple exchanges, it is worth the convenience of centralized management and automation.
  • Signal / Copy-Traders:
    You can incorporate external signals (via webhooks) or use signals generated by communities / providers.
  • Asset Managers / Professionals with Multiple Accounts or Clients:
    The multi-account features, bulk execution, and reporting make 3Commas appealing to those managing funds for others.
  • Intermediate Traders Looking to Scale Up:
    If you have some experience and want to reduce manual oversight and automate repetitive tasks, 3Commas helps bridge that gap.

It is less suited for casual traders doing only occasional trades manually, or users who want a completely “plug-and-play” approach with no learning required.

Promotion & Affiliate Programs

One of the interesting angles of 3Commas is how it enables users and marketers to promote it—and earn recurring revenue—via referral, affiliate, and ambassador schemes.

Referral Program

  • Multi-Level Structure:
    The referral system works on three levels:
    • Level 1 (direct referrals): you earn 25% commission on their subscription payments. 
    • Level 2 (referrals of your referrals): you may earn 15% commission. 
    • Level 3: 10% commission from third-level referrals. 
  • Daily Accrual Method:
    To handle refunds or subscription cancellations, referral bonuses are calculated daily and accrue proportional to how long the subscription remains active. 
  • Eligibility & Mechanics:
    When someone uses your referral link and upgrades to a paid plan, the system automatically assigns them as your referral. You can track referral status, registration dates, and commissions via the dashboard.

Affiliate Program

  • Stronger Commissions & Volume Bonuses:
    The affiliate program is more oriented to content creators, influencers, or those with broad reach. Affiliates can get 30–40% recurring commission on subscriptions, plus additional bonuses tied to the trading volume generated by their referrals. 
  • Lifetime Payments & Flexibility:
    As long as the referred user remains active, commissions keep flowing. Also, the trading-volume bonus tiers reward scaling with usage. 
  • Payment Mechanics & Conditions:
    Commissions are paid in crypto (e.g. USDT) on TRC-20 or ERC-20 networks. A minimum withdrawal threshold exists (e.g. $50).
    The affiliates might be required to place invoices according to the terms and follow the rules of promotion (no spam, no false statements).
    Note: The affiliate program is restricted in some jurisdictions (e.g. not available in the European Economic Area). 

Ambassador Top Partner Program

For top-tier promoters, 3Commas may negotiate custom terms—higher commissions, special bonuses, premium support, and closer collaboration. These are not organized in fixed public terms, but as individuals.

How to Promote Effectively

To be a good marketer of a site like 3Commas, consider:

  • Make an informational source (articles, video lessons, tutorials).
  • Offer live demonstrations or case studies (with disclaimers).
  • Leverage social media, crypto communities, blogs, or influencers.
  • Use honest messaging: don’t overpromise returns. Encourage users to demo first or understand risk.
  • Monitor your analytics: see which traffic sources convert best and double down there.
  • Stay compliant: avoid spam, misleading advertising, or violating the platform’s promotional rules (e.g., forbidden keywords, deceptive claims). 

Risks, Best Practices & Caveats

Cryptocurrency trading is volatile and involves some technical aspects, so it is better to consider the following precautions and best practices:

  • Start small and test in demo mode before deploying with real funds.
  • Use minimal API permissions (disable withdrawal, restrict to trading only) and enable whitelisting and IP filters when possible.
  • Monitor bots regularly—automated systems are not “set and forget.”
  • Beware of execution delays or slippage, especially during periods of market volatility.
  • Diversify strategies and avoid putting all capital into one bot or pair.
  • Understand the terms and fees in your jurisdiction (including taxes, commissions, and VAT).
  • Use secure account practices (2FA, strong passwords) and exercise caution regarding phishing or unauthorized access.

Conclusion

3Commas is a full-fledged, advanced platform of automation within the cryptocurrency space. Its robust types of bots (DCA, GRID, Signal), strategy backtesting, single portfolio management, and the ability to support multi-accounts operations make it a good fit that works well with traders that are serious about scaling up their approach.

Potentially, 3Commas is a powerful promotional or affiliate structure, featuring repeat payments, volume-based referrals, and tiered levels of referring that encourage the engagement of the involved parties over time. Nevertheless, as any crypto-related tool, one needs to take responsibility of risk management, knowledge of trading, and be cautious of security to succeed.

Disclaimer

Please be advised that all information, including our ratings, advices and reviews, is for educational purposes only. Crypto investing carries high risks, and CryptoNinjas is not responsible for any losses incurred. Always do your own research and determine your risk tolerance level; it will help you make informed trading decisions

 

Source: https://www.cryptoninjas.net/news/understanding-3commas-a-critical-look-at-its-features-risks-and-promotional-model/