Free grid EAs
Grid robots are the second most requested type in the channel after gold, and the grid collection has plenty. A grid EA can run for months without a losing day and then lose the account in an afternoon. Neither half of that sentence is an exaggeration, and understanding why is the whole point of this post.
What a grid EA does
It opens a trade, and if price moves against it by a fixed distance, it opens another in the same direction, and another, until price turns and the whole basket closes at a small combined profit. Some grids trade both directions at once; some multiply lot size on each step, which is a martingale grid. The strategy makes money when the market oscillates and loses when it trends far enough that the basket cannot recover.
Why the equity curve lies
Closed-trade profit is booked every time a basket closes, so the balance line goes up in tidy steps. Meanwhile the open basket sits in drawdown that never shows in balance until it either recovers or hits margin call. A grid's true risk is its floating drawdown, and most screenshots and even many backtest reports show balance instead. Always look at equity.
The four settings that decide survival
| Setting | What it controls | Safer direction |
|---|---|---|
| Grid step (pips) | How fast levels are added in a trend | Wider, or ATR-based |
| Max trades / levels | The hard cap on exposure | Lower, and enforced |
| Lot multiplier | Martingale or not | 1.0 (no multiplier) |
| Basket take profit | How long a basket stays open | Small, so baskets close often |
With these four numbers you can compute the worst case: levels multiplied by lot size at each level, at the distance where the last level opens. That number in money is what a trend can cost you. If it is more than the account, the EA is a countdown.
Sizing an account for a grid
- Run the tester over a period that includes a strong one-way trend on your symbol.
- Note the maximum equity drawdown in money.
- Your deposit should be at least twice that, with the same lot settings. Otherwise reduce the lot.
Where grids work, and where they do not
- Ranging pairs and quiet sessions suit them. Gold in a trend month does not; see the gold collection for why.
- Hedging accounts are required for two-direction grids. On an MT5 netting account they fail.
- A grid with a stop on the basket and no multiplier is a manageable strategy. A martingale grid with no cap is not a strategy, it is a bet on the next trend not happening.
Build your own with visible risk
The EA Builder ships an averaging-grid template built from open-trade-count, distance-from-last-trade and floating-profit blocks, with the level cap and step exposed as inputs. Building a grid yourself is the fastest way to see exactly how the exposure grows, because you wire the rule that adds each level.
Frequently asked questions
Are grid EAs profitable?
They are profitable in ranging markets and lose in strong trends. Whether the net is positive depends entirely on the level cap, lot sizing and how long a trend lasts. The site does not test files; test them on your symbol with a trend period included.
What is the difference between a grid and a martingale?
A grid adds trades at fixed distances. A martingale increases lot size after each loss or each level. A martingale grid does both, which compounds the drawdown.
Do grid EAs need a hedging account?
Two-direction grids do. On an MT5 netting account, opposite trades cancel and the logic breaks. Check the account type before installing.
Why did my grid EA lose everything in one day?
A trend ran past the last grid level and the basket exceeded the margin. That is the built-in failure mode. A level cap sized to the account is the only protection.