[giantg2]

Much of this is true. However it doesn't really answer their question of why most trading bots aren't profitable. So you covered fees which really only affect mostly breakeven trades. That leaves out the trades with any real gains. If you have a bot making positive trades above the fee level (usually minor, like $2) then it's not a concern. The question becomes, why can't the bot achieve these profitable trades?

[weare138]

I don't think it's an issue of bots not being profitable but the simple strategies most of the off the shelf trading bots use not being profitable. There are a ton of financial firms using algorithmic trading bots that make plenty of money doing it. The difference is they're experts and developing their own complex strategies. When you try to run your own trading bot using just the basic strategies most of them use that's who you're competing against. Of course your poor little bot is going to get trounced.