Just a few words that would help you to find the differences between a demo and a real account: As I said, it depends on the broker, so check with your broker if they provide the technical differences we are discussing: - Obvious Psychological differences, there is no risk associated to a demo account. This is what most people talk about. - Slippage, there isn't any on a demo account. - Dividends, I would be surprised if they account for dividends on a paper account - Data fees and feeds are different, unless you have a live subscription and you associate your demo account with a live one. Demo accounts don't normally provide real time data. - Exchange rerouting. - Real executions on market orders. Demo accounts normally fill your market orders at the best price. Market orders on a real account will leave you a few surprises. - Options. Very few have demo options trading. - Margin calls, you don't get any on a demo account. - Trading hours, some demo accounts let you trade regardless on the time, they simulate data for you. You can say "my brokers does some of them" but that is for you to check, the more similar your demo account is to a live one the more you can trust it (Captain obvious gave me a medal). But there is not a broker that provides every single feature that is available for a live account on a demo account, it is simply not possible, just because of the many exchanges and market infrastructures that have to be involved. And that is well known.
4773 Long Positions. No short positions. 99.06% accurate My man is not writing an over-fitting algo at all.
The absolute best "trading to learn machine" is not a demo account or paper account, it is live trading an etf or stock with zero commissions. You can trade one share of SPY, QQQ, AAPL, TSLA or whatever suits your fancy. A one dollar move in the stock will net you $1.00. You only have the SEC fee that is $8.00 per each Million Dollars in stock sold so it is insignificant. You are trading a live account with live fills so you are getting the feel for live market trading. I you are successful then you can up your trading position to 2 shares and get rich. Of course you have to have 25K+ to daytrade but if you cannot afford that then you do have a long way to go to be a profitable trader because losses mean too much to your account. Big mind game that you cannot afford to lose money.