Virtual investing: how to start virtual trading in stocks?
Have you never invested before, but do you find it interesting? Then virtual investing in stocks might be the solution for you! Nowadays, you can virtually invest online and try everything completely risk-free. But how does virtual investing actually work?
What is virtual investing?
With virtual investing, you use an online program to invest. You can try the possibilities completely risk-free with a virtual program. The stock market is simulated, and you can trade in, for example, stocks, commodities, Forex, and options.
How to invest virtually?
Some investors choose to virtually invest in the ‘old-fashioned’ way. They do this by keeping track of their investments on paper.
However, there is a better way: thanks to the rise of online brokers, you can now try investing without risk. Do you want to try virtual investing for free and without risk? Then open a free demo account with the button below:
Why should you consider virtual investing?
Everything is 100% virtual. This means that you do not risk losing money. However, you can also decide to invest with real money. You can easily switch to a real money account within the software.
The virtual account is perfect for training your skills. By virtual investing, you become familiar with the software and discover how investing works. You can compare different strategies with each other, to discover which method of investing works best for you
Be careful with virtual investments!
Some traders become overly confident due to the results they achieve with virtual investments. Because there is no real money at stake, you experience fewer negative emotions.
Your results are often less realistic because when real money is at stake, you make different decisions. Therefore, do not immediately start investing a large amount after trading with virtual money.
Can anyone trade virtual stocks?
Trading in shares used to happen mostly physically, with stock traders travelling to the exchange floor to buy and sell stocks. With the rapid developments in technology, however, you can simply buy and sell stocks from your computer or mobile phone.
Are you curious about which brokers offer virtual stock trading? Have a look at the overview below:
| Brokers | Benefits | Register |
|---|---|---|
 | Buy without commissions. Your capital is at risk. Other fees may apply. | |
 | Speculate with CFD's on increasing & decreasing prices of ! 80% of retail CFD accounts lose money. | |
 | Benefit from low fees, an innovative platform & high security! | |
 | Speculate on price increases and decreases of with a free demo! |
What to watch out for with stocks?
Stocks generally move more erratically than, for example, currency pairs. Because the stock market is smaller, an article in a reputable newspaper can have a big impact on the stock’s price. By keeping an eye on the news, you can speculate on these sudden movements; you can quickly buy and sell stocks virtually.
When you buy a stock, you are basically indicating that you expect the stock to rise. When this happens, the money you earn is credited to your account. You can also indicate that you think the stock will fall, in which case you make money when the price drops. Keep in mind that you can also lose money if you make the wrong prediction.
Do you want to learn more about predicting the price of a stock? The following articles can help you with this:
- Technical analysis course: learn how to recognize patterns.
- Fundamental analysis course: learn to understand company figures.
What is the best method to understand stocks?
Investing in stocks can be a bit overwhelming at first: the options are endless! I started by tracking some Dutch stocks (since I grew up there). This helped me to recognize patterns and understand how to profit from stock market price fluctuations.
Ultimately, practice is the best way to learn how to make money with stocks. You can open a virtual account with a broker to try stock trading.
Do you want to compare brokers where you can open a virtual account? Use the button below to compare the best brokers.
How to achieve better results with virtual investing?
A second reason why virtual investing in stocks can help you invest more profitably, is that you learn practical lessons that you can apply to your investments with real money. By keeping track of the mistakes you make, you can prevent making them again.
Finally, it is also important to invest realistically. Invest as if it were your money at stake to learn how to invest when you really start. And never forget; investing is risky, and you can always lose your investment!
Frequently Asked Questions
With virtual trading or investing, you invest with fake money. Virtual investing allows you to test a broker without risk and try different strategies.
Yes, anyone can invest virtually. If you are 18 years or older, you can also switch to investing with real money.
You open a virtual stock investment by clicking the buy or sell button within the software. With the buy button, you speculate on a increasing price, and with the sell button, you speculate on a declining price.
I am a big fan of eToro’s virtual platform. The software is user-friendly, and you can speculate on stocks, commodities, and currencies with CFDs. Do you want to know more about eToro? Click here!
Auteur
Over Alex Mostert
When I was 16, I secretly bought my first stock. Since that ‘proud moment’ I have been managing trading.info for over 10 years. It is my goal to educate people about financial freedom. After my studies business administration and psychology, I decided to put all my time in developing this website. Since I love to travel, I work from all over the world. Click here to read more about trading.info! Don’t hesitate to leave a comment under this article.
